Oscar-winning filmmaker premieres film at Milwaukee Film Festival

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October 6, 2014

By Michele Fiore, Today’s TMJ4

MILWAUKEE – An Oscar-winning screen writer returned to his Milwaukee roots Saturday night.

John Ridley, Director of "JIMI: All Is By My Side," received an Oscar for the screenplay of "12 Years a Slave." — John Ridley, Director of “JIMI: All Is By My Side,” received an Oscar for the screenplay of “12 Years a Slave.”

John Ridley made a red carpet appearance at the Oriental Theatre for the Milwaukee Film Festival. [Editor’s Note: This first-ever screening of his movie drew a sold-out crowd of well over 1000 movie-goers, plus several hundreds who waited in a “rush line” in the cold for tickets!]

Ridley won an Oscar for “12 Years A Slave” and he is now premiering his latest film, “Jimi: All Is By My Side,” [starring Andre Benjamin].

“I’m thankful. I mean this is amazing, just flying in,” he said. “I remember when I left and went to school and you hope and pray for a moment like this and it’s really, more than anything. It’s close to my mom’s birthday. It’s kind of like a gift. So thank you to everybody of Milwaukee,” Ridley said.

Ridley said the film fest fought hard to have his movie premiere in Milwaukee.

He’s currently working on a TV series in Texas called “American Crime.”

JIMI: All Is By My Side opens in theaters around the country today. For a trailer, venues and showtimes, click here.

On Saturday, October 4, 2014, the Milwaukee Film Festival was proud to host Milwaukee native and Academy-Award winning filmmaker John Ridley for the local premiere of his new film, JIMI: ALL IS BY MY SIDE. Mr. Ridley participated in an extended Q&A with Milwaukee Film Artistic and Executive Director Jonathan Jackson at the sold-out screening at the historic Landmark Oriental Theatre. Video by: Matthew Mixon

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