In the midst of a national resurgence of socialism, Mark Judge, renowned author of The Devils Triangle, is set to launch an anti-communist film festival in Washington, D.C.
This comes in the wake of the sudden rise of Democrat Mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani in New York, which has sparked a renewed interest in socialist ideologies.
According to Breitbart, Judge announced his plans on the festivals GoFundMe page, stating, Its time for an anti-communist film festival. Conservatives have been complaining about Hollywood for decades, yet the right has struggled, through lack of will or lack of money, to make movies promoting freedom and revealing the evils of socialism. The answer? Hold an anti-Communist film festival.
The festival has since garnered significant attention on social media, with many, including actor Nick Searcy (Justified), expressing that the timing couldn't be more perfect. In a conversation with Breitbart News, Judge pointed out that despite Hollywood's reluctance to produce anti-communist films, there are still several notable works that celebrate American values, such as The Lives of Others (2006), Dr. Zhivago (1965), and My Son John (1952).
Judge criticized Hollywood's tendency to romanticize communism, citing the Criterion Channel's series "Film Noir and the Blacklist" as an example. He noted that while Hollywood is quick to decry McCarthyism and the blacklist of the 1950s, they often overlook the fact that many of those blacklisted were indeed communists.
He referenced the film Odds Against Tomorrow (1959), written by Abraham Polonsky and starring Harry Belafonte, both of whom were known for their leftist ideologies.
Belafonte, a self-proclaimed leftist, was a vocal supporter of communism, having performed at the "World Peace Concert" organized by East Germany's Communist youth organization. In his memoir, Belafonte wrote, I remained not just liberal but an unabashed lefty. I was still drawn to idealistic left-wing leaderswho seemed to embody the true ideals of socialism.
He was also known for his friendships with Communist figures like Paul Robeson and his admiration for leaders like Hugo Chavez and Fidel Castro.
Polonsky, the screenwriter of Odds Against Tomorrow, was also a known communist. Allan H. Risking, in his book, described Polonsky as a thoroughgoing Communist who took the Fifth when he testified before HUAC [the House Un-American Activities Committee] in 1951 but eventually admitted to Party membership.
Polonsky's 1948 film Force of Evil depicted capitalism as a ruthless system, a sentiment echoed by many creators of 1950s film noir who had survived the Great Depression.
Judge's Anti-Communist Film Festival aims to counteract the leftist propaganda prevalent in Hollywood. He envisions it as a celebration of freedom-loving individuals, both conservatives and reasonable liberals, and a means to prevent the indoctrination of young people with socialist ideologies, which is increasingly common on college campuses. He is currently in discussions with theaters in the D.C. area to host the festival.
Judge hopes that the festival will not only serve as a reminder of the perils of communism but also as a gathering of like-minded individuals for a good time. He plans to showcase a mix of dramas, documentaries, and even absurdist humor, including films like The Lives of Others, I was a Communist for the FBI, Freedoms Fury, The Unbearable Lightness of Being, and The Death of Stalin.
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