Quarantv has been an excellent outlet during the gloomy days of lockdown. From March 17-May 28, 2020, the Twitch channel, founded by two Baltimore filmmakers, streamed a curated blend of films, tv shows, newsreel, cartoons, and other video oddities 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week. Now only live on Thursdays, Quarantv returns this week in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. The programmers have come with a lineup that seeks to educate and inspire those fighting for racial justice in the wake of George Floyd’s death. In the mix you’ll find Agnes Varda’s Black Panthers, Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing, and Lizzie Borden’s Born in Flames programmed alongside a conversation with James Baldwin and Charles Burnett’s Killer of Sheep.

Baltimore filmmakers Thomas Faison and Gillian Waldo went live with their DIY network at the onset of coronavirus shutdown. When Quarantv was in its prime, viewers could tune in at all hours of the night and day to find children competing in local spelling bee competitions, episodes of Antiques Roadshow, and a simulation of the Titanic sinking, which incidentally Weyes Blood stopped by for. There were also screenings of films like Waiting for Guffman, Malcolm X, and the Safdie brothers’ Daddy Long Legs. It was a perfect respite from the Covid-19 news cycle.

But now, after Tuesday’s pause, the channel is shifting gears. The curators have cherry-picked films and other footage they deem important to watch at this moment. These are works that confront Black history, cinema, craft, and resistance. Besides the selections mentioned above, other highlights include RaMell Ross’ Academy Award-nominated Hale County This Morning, This Evening, a talk by Ta-Nehisi Coates on The Case for Reparations, and Göran Olsson’s The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975, which examines the evolution of the Black Power movement from a Swedish perspective. You can find the schedule below.

In addition to Quarantv’s programming, other films we suggest watching include Ava DuVernay’s 13th. The Netflix documentary connects the dots between the end of slavery, segregation, the war on drugs, and the rise of mass incarceration. The film is streaming for free on YouTube. Also available for free on YouTube is Musindo Mwinyipembe and David Koff’s once banned Blacks Britannica. The controversial 1979 made-for-tv film looks at racism in Britain and is just as relevant today as the day they made it. Another film to add to your list is Raoul Peck’s I Am Not Your Negro. Peck’s documentary illuminates James Baldwin’s life and work.

Last, Justin Pemberton’s Capital in the Twenty-First Century is essential viewing. Based on Thomas Piketty’s best-selling book, the film delves into the rise of capitalism and how it has led to massive socio-economic inequality. It’s a documentary that plays like a horror film. Capital in the Twenty-First Century is available via Kino Lorber’s virtual cinema platform, Kino Marquee.

As for Quarantv, you can find the channel here on Twitch. If you find their programming helpful, you’ll want to follow them on Instagram to see what they have in store next. And, If you missed out on the stream, below we’ve included some links where you can catch up with the content.

 

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It’s been a both horrific and inspiring week in Baltimore and around the country. We’ve put together tomorrow’s programming to lend a small hand in educating and inspiring everyone fighting for justice. We believe in a society where everyone’s needs are met. One without police or prisons. The stream starts tonight at 11pm. Fuck the police. BLACK LIVES MATTER. 11 PM 2nite Killer of Sheep 12:20 Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution 2:10 James Baldwin and Nikki Giovanni 4 AM 1968 Baltimore Riots | WJZ-TVReel 4:30 Audre Lorde Interview 5AM Kara Walker: Sweet Talk 6:30 Blockbusting in Baltimore 7AM Craft in America: Threads 8AM Mister Rogers Neighborhood 8:30 Ezra Jack Keats shorts 9AM Eyes on the Prize pt. 1 10AM American Revolution 2 11:30 Agnes Varda: Black Panthers1 2PM Ta-Nehisi Coates: The Case for Reparations 1PM The Black Power Mixtape 2:30 The Quilts of Gee’s Bend 3PM bell hooks: From Pain to Power 4:30 Born in Flames 6PM Hale County This Morning This Evening 7:30 Happy Birthday Today @greenebeard 8PM PRIMETIME Live Featuring: Civics Corner @baby.carhartt @nousfaisons , Brush House @brushhouse , Tim Talks @kim_tabara and Margaret Rorison’s “One Document for Hope” @mrorison 9PM It’s Always Hard to Have Your First Talk Show with Nicole and Rachel @trashbagmanofcharmcity @princessdiana_beaniebabie 9:45 Ask Lexie: Bad Advice for Good People @mountainlex 10:30 Late Night with Inzane Covid Posse @inzanelyrejected_denied 11PM Do The Right Thing

A post shared by Quarantv (@quaran.tv) on Jun 3, 2020 at 12:51pm PDT

Quarantv programming, Wednesday, June 3-Thursday, June 4
11PM F*ck the police. BLACK LIVES MATTER.
11PM Killer of Sheep
12:20AM Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution
2:10AM James Baldwin and Nikki Giovanni
4AM 1968 Baltimore Riots | WJZ-TVReel
4:30AM Audre Lorde Interview
5AM Kara Walker: Sweet Talk
6:30AM Blockbusting in Baltimore
7AM Craft in America: Threads
8AM Mister Rogers Neighborhood
8:30AM Ezra Jack Keats shorts
9AM Eyes on the Prize pt. 1
10AM American Revolution 2
11:30AM Agnes Varda: Black Panthers
12PM Ta-Nehisi Coates: The Case for Reparations
1PM The Black Power Mixtape
2:30 The Quilts of Gee’s Bend
3PM bell hooks: From Pain to Power
4:30PM Born in Flames
6PM Hale County This Morning This Evening
11PM Do The Right Thing