Indianapolis – On Saturday, Nov. 14, the Eastside community will host a special film festival honoring the 30‑year career of local artist Delores Thornton. The event runs from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Fierce Center, located at 5603 E. 38th St., and tickets are $20.
About the filmmaker
Delores Thornton is a playwright, author, spoken‑word artist, filmmaker, and writing teacher. She also founded two publishing houses, Chess Press and Marguerite Press, Inc., which have helped bring regional voices to a broader audience.
Festival lineup
The festival will feature five productions, each reflecting a different facet of Thornton’s storytelling:
- Black Newspaper Origins – a documentary tracing how a Black newspaper grew out of a weekly church bulletin.
- Deep South Girl – an adaptation of Thornton’s novel about a young girl navigating the cruelties of the 1950s Deep South.
- Ida Mae Flashback – a film that opens with a flash‑forward to a death and then returns to the conclusion of the first Ida Mae production.
- Mother’s Stageplay – a filmed stage performance that tells the story of Thornton’s mother.
- Tyrese Smith – a fictional adaptation focusing on a 7‑year‑old boy with autism.
Community impact
Thornton’s work consistently highlights under‑represented stories and offers a platform for voices often overlooked in mainstream media. By presenting both nonfiction and fictional pieces, the festival underscores the power of storytelling to bridge cultural gaps and foster understanding within the Eastside neighborhood.
Practical details
Tickets can be purchased in advance for $20. For additional information, interested attendees may email Thornton at [email protected]. The Fierce Center provides accessible seating and a welcoming environment for families and individuals of all ages.
About Mirror Indy
Mirror Indy is a nonprofit newsroom funded through grants and donations from individuals, foundations, and organizations. Reporter Mesgana Waiss covered this story; she can be reached at 317‑667‑2643 or [email protected].
Original reporting: Mirror Indy — read the source article.
