The International Black Film Festival kicked off with a special screening.
Audience members watched the new film Marshall, which follows a young Thurgood Marshall through one of his greatest challenges as a lawyer of the NAACP.
"He changed the trajectory of how law was being implemented, if you will, for people of color at that time, so he wasn't afraid,” said Hazel Joyner-Smith. “I mean he was a true pioneer, the true superhero."
That screening was held at Belmont University at 7 p.m. Thursday.
“We cannot think of a better place to screen Marshall,” said Dr. Cheryl Slay Carr, of Belmont University. “It’s important to us that our students, particularly as we celebrate diversity at Belmont... that we give students lots of different perspectives. We feel like that's part of the educational process. This is an important film.”
Actors and directors hit the red carpet before the special screening.
The International Black Film Festival has been set to continue through Sunday at several different Nashville venues. To learn more, visit the festival online.
