OKC film festival's lineup expands: deadCenter announces documentary, music video additions

From a short documentary about new Oklahoma City Thunder center Bismack Biyombo to an award-winning music video from former "America's Got Talent" champion Darci Lynne, OKC's deadCenter Film Festival has announced more new additions to its 2024 lineup.

An Oscar-qualifying festival, the deadCenter 2024 is set for June 6-9 in downtown OKC, with screenings at Harkins Bricktown 16, Oklahoma City Museum of Art, Rodeo Cinema Film Row, Scissortail Park and the new dC Hub at the Fordson Hotel (formerly 21c Museum Hotel).

More than 1,800 films were submitted for this year's deadCenter, which is Oklahoma's largest film fest.

More: OKC Thunder to debut Bismack Biyombo documentary at deadCenter Film Festival

Here's what's newly announced for this year's deadCenter:

Documentaries 'Secret Mall Apartment' and 'Citizen Sleuth' set for OKC festival

Festival organizers announced Thursday three more feature documentaries to go along with the previously announced world premiere of "Saucedo," about retired Oklahoma boxing champion Alex Saucedo, and the Oklahoma premiere of "La Singla," about revolutionary flamenco dancer Antonia Singla.

Returning deadCenter filmmaker Jeremy Workman's feature documentary "Secret Mall Apartment" follows eight young Rhode Islanders who in 2003 created a secret apartment — complete with furnishings and a locked door — in a hidden space inside the Providence Place Mall to make a statement against gentrification, filming everything along the way over four years.

The film, from executive producer Jesse Eisenberg, also features the group’s charitable efforts, such as volunteering at local children’s hospitals and creating massive memorial art pieces for victims of 9/11 and the Oklahoma City bombing.

"Citizen Sleuth," by filmmaker Chris Kasick of Ohio, chronicles a true-crime podcaster from Appalachia who blurs the line between fact and entertainment as she navigates the mysterious death of a local girl, exploring how the power of narrative affects truth, victims and communities.

And "Hail to the Breadsticks!" comes from Emmy-winning writer and producer Donick Cary, a huge fan of the Washington, D.C., pro football team since before he could walk. In the documentary, he embarks on a cross-country journey full of unexpected surprises after his 9-year-old son asks him if the name and Native American logo for the team are racist.

deadCenter adds short documentaries 'BISMACK,' 'Endeavor' and more

• "BISMACK" will take viewers through the challenges, conflicts and triumphs of Bismack Biyombo, 31, who signed to the OKC Thunder in February. It's the seventh short documentary from OKCThunder Films to debut at deadCenter.

• "Built Different," by filmmaker Michael Zubach, goes behind the scenes at the South OKC gym Rival Boxing, where the unique approach of coaches Nikki Burleson and Juwan Cubit has produced four national champions, six runner-ups and four bronze medals.

• "Endeavor," from returning deadCenter filmmaker Bunee Tomlinson, follows a group of adaptive athletes as they prepare for the annual Endeavor Games in Oklahoma, adjusting to life-altering situations, coming to terms with their mental health and pursuing Paralympian status.

• "Chasing Thunder," by Oklahoma City filmmaker and former deadCenter Executive Director Lance McDaniel, celebrates the trailblazing Native American-written and produced musical "Distant Thunder," which OKC's Lyric Theatre first brought to life at First Americans Museum.

Darci Lynne, Branjae, stepmom and more among Oklahoma music videos selected for deadCenter

Festival organizers also recently announced the music videos from Oklahoma entertainers that have been selected for this year's deadCenter:

• "Chaos Candy" by stepmom, directed by Lauren Bumgarner and Lindsey Cox;

• "Hey Highway" by Kaitlyn Killian, directed by Jordan Martin;

• "Nasupeti" by Olivia Komacheet, directed by Bumgarner;

• "Push Our Luck" by Darci Lynne, directed by Reagan Elkins;

• "Strangest Hill" by The Bourgeois, directed by Ty Clark;

• "Too Much" by Branjae, directed by Bobby Ross; and

• "What I Do" by JMASTY, directed by Brylee Russel, Salvador Soldi and Joshua Masterson.

How can people get passes to the deadCenter Film Festival?

deadCenter programmers will present a festival preview, exploring themes across this year's slate and offering tips on how to navigate the event, at 7 p.m. May 1 at Rodeo Cinema Stockyards. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Additional film selections and programming highlights will be released weekly until the festival begins.

Passes for the fest are on sale for $200 at deadcenterfilm.org.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: deadCenter OKC: Film festival announces new lineup additions