Author: Greggory W Morris

A PEN America Must-See


At this year’s Annual General Meeting, we gathered virtually to envision the future of PEN America, reflect on how we navigate this fraught political climate, and strengthen our commitment to defend the liberties of writers during this perilous time.

Special remarks were delivered by Jennifer Finney Boylan, President of PEN America’s Board of Trustees, alongside Clarisse Rosaz Shariyf, Interim Co-CEO and Chief Program Officer for Literary Programming, and Summer Lopez, Interim Co-CEO and Chief Program Officer for Free Expression. The vote for new offers and trustees of the board was followed by an insightful conversation with authors Rex Ogle, Padma Venkatraman, and Maggie Tokuda-Hall, and PEN America’s Freedom to Read Program Director, Kasey Meehan about authors, activism, and artistry.

There was no direct mention of Donald Trump at Annual Meeting itself, but in PEN America’s broader 2025 advocacy and press outside the meeting, the organization has publicly commented on and criticized aspects of the Trump administration’s policies.

 

the WORD Editor Gregg W. Morris

 

YALLA PARKOUR Directed by Award Winning Filmmaker Areeb Zuaiter Is a Sublime Story Telling Memoir That Will Have Audiences Wincing, Fidgeting, Gasping in Their Seats
A Must-See Ever There Was One

The Audience Q&A with YALLA PARKOUR Director Areeb Zuaiter took place at the Scandinavia House – The Nordic Center in America on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. It was moderated by Murtada Elfadi, a Variety magazine critic and a curator DOC NYC. Considering it was bitter cold in Manhattan, there was a sizable crowd on a chilling cold evening in the Big Apple. – By Gregg W. Morris

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Hear Ye, Hear Ye: The 7th Annual Micheaux Film Festival Has Officially Kicked Off!

This Film Festival officially kicked off October 23 at The Culver Theater in Culver City, California – this reviewer is zooming in to catch up. There was a red-carpet celebration and the Los Angeles premiere of It’s Dorothy, alongside the series premiere of Remember and additional opening night selections. The Los Angeles premiere of It’s Dorothy brought the story full circle, returning to Culver City where The Wizard of Oz was originally filmed. – Gregg W. Morris, Editor-Reviewer

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Film Review
AFTER DARK, Directed by Scottish-Norwegian Filmmaker Iain Forbes

This is a superb thought-provoking and emotionally resonant film. I regard it as one of those rare gems that is open to much more interpretation than what the publicity suggests. That is, if legions of patrons of the WORD watch it – and they should – I would expect a variety of responses and interpretations about what it’s truly about. It’s a scream of a cinematic Rorschach Test.
– Review by Gregg W. Morris, the WORD Editor-Reviewer

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Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival, October 12-14 2025, Hot Springs, Arkansas

This year, the Forum takes place after the elimination of federal funding for public media, which only amplifies the need for the forum, said Hot Springs Documentary Film Institute Executive Director Ken Jacobson. “With the loss of key sources of federal funding, filmmakers are in need of information about funding, distribution, and new ways of reaching audiences.

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