October’s Scope Screening brought together compelling independent storytelling in Seattle at the Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute. The monthly film festival, helmed by founder Lex Scope, provided a crucial big-screen platform for local artists and underrepresented voices.

This installment showcased a range of short-form content with deeply personal and community-rooted messages. Omari Salisbury and artist Takiyah Ward from Converge Media screened a segment documenting the Vivid Matter Collective's fifth annual repaint of the Black Lives Matter mural, aiming to tell better stories and fight against vandalism to uphold important artwork and cultural representations. 

Many of the featured artists agreed that Scope Screenings is a necessary space for a scene that often lacks the resources and visibility of larger markets. Producer Chris Carthern noted that platforms committed to diverse, short-form content are essential when resources for independent artists are low. Ward credited Lex Scope’s dedication for filling the void in the local scene and encouraging artists to push past their limits by bringing their best work to the table.

Tonight, Tuesday, November 25 at 7 p.m. is the November edition of Scope Screenings at the Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute, 104 17th Ave S, Seattle. Get your tickets at lexscopefilms.com/scopescreenings.

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