MoWest cinema to host Kevin Wilmott

Nov. 7, 2025-Missouri Western State University's Cinematic Arts Program presents a clinical talk by Kevin Wilmott at 2:30 p.m Thursday, Nov. 13 in the Bebe and Crosby Kemper Recital Hall located in Leah Spratt Hall room 101.

Willmottwon an Academy Award and the BAFTA the British Academy award for co-writing the feature film "BlacKkKlansman" with Spike Lee. The film also won the Grand Prix at the Cannes film Festival.

He and Lee co-wrote the feature film "Da Five Bloods" for Netflix which was named the best film of 2020 by the National Board of Review. He also co-wrote and is the executive producer of the critically acclaimed film "Chi-Raq," also directed by Spike Lee.

Award-winning films written and directed by Willmott include "Ninth Street," "CSA: Confederate States of America," "The Battle for Bunker Hill," "Jayhawkers" and "Destination Planet Negro."

Documentaries directed by Willmott include "From Separate to Equal: The Creation of Truman Medical Center," "Gordon Parks Elementary," "Fast Break: The Legendary Coach John McLendon," "William Allen White: What's the Matter with Kansas," "No Place Like Home: The Struggle Against Hate in Kansas" and the upcoming "The Heroic True-Life Adventures of Alvin Brooks."

Willmott co-wrote with Trai Byers and directed the critically-acclaimed feature film "The 24th" about the Houston Riot of 1917, which was nominated for an NAACP image award.

Willmott is a professor in the Media and Film Studies Department of the University of Kansas.

This is part of a series of clinician speaking events sponsored by the Cinematic Arts Program at MoWest. As an example of applied learning, this clinic provides people the opportunity to hear from and interact with working professionals in the film and media arts production entertainment industry.

The talk is free and open to the public.

Missouri Western State University is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. MoWest is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit missouriwestern.edu.