Info courtesy of the New Orleans Film Society:

For the third year, the New Orleans Film Festival will include a programming sidebar of films about music and musicians. Called “keeping {SCORE},” this series was inspired by the city’s long musical legacy and the local audience’s appetite for music films.

This year’s music program has a particularly local slant, in that each of the five films in the sidebar address New Orleans music: in some cases, they do so broadly (as in the case with the Nat Hentoff portrait The Pleasures of Being Out of Step) and others do so more singularly (as in Tradition Is a Temple, a survey of New Orleans music).

Each keeping{SCORE} screening features a live musical component, which is provided with support from the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation. Below are the five films that are part of this year’s keeping{SCORE} programming sidebar, as well as the musical performances that will accompany the screenings:

keeping {SCORE}:

MUSIC FILMS AT THE NEW ORLEANS FILM FESTIVAL - October 10-17, 2013

Bayou Maharajah: The Tragic Genius of James Booker: Bayou Maharajah explores the life, times and music of James Booker, the legendary New Orleans performer who Dr. John proclaimed “the best black, ay, one-eyed junkie piano genius New Orleans has ever produced.” Director Lily Keber, a New Orleans filmmaker, will be in attendance for the screening, which will also feature live music from special guests featured in the documentary. Click for more info and showtimes.

The Pleasures of Being Out of Step: This documentary profiles legendary jazz critic and civil libertarian Nat Hentoff, whose pioneering career tracks the greatest cultural and political movements of the last 65 years. Hentoff was a pioneering journalist who raised jazz as an art form and was present at the creation of ‘alternative’ journalism. Director David L. Lewis will be in attendance, and the screening will be introduced by local music writer Tom Piazza. The screening will also be preceded by live music from local jazz musicians Noah Young and Adam Guthrie. Click for more info and showtimes.

Tradition Is a Temple: This film explores New Orleans’ unique musical culture and the fragility of tradition in the modern world. This performance-based music documentary shares intimate discussions with various iconic contemporary New Orleans musicians, highlighting their history and upbringing, while demonstrating how a musical tradition has shaped their identity, community, and learning environment for the youth of the Crescent City. Following the screening there will be a video exhibit in the “Cinema Reset” gallery of the Contemporary Arts Center showcasing the musical performances of the film. Director Darren Hoffman and producer Kristen McEntyre will be in attendance. Click for more info and showtimes.

A Warehouse on Tchoupitoulas: This Louisiana-made documentary looks at the Warehouse, one of the most infamous music venues in New Orleans, which, during its heyday, played host to Fleetwood Mac, the Grateful Dead, the Allman Brothers, Bob Dylan, Bob Marley, David Bowie, and more. Told by the people who remember it. Prior to the screening, there will be a short music set from local musician Cranston Clements for the half-hour prior to the film. Director Jessy Cale Williamson will be in attendance for the screening. Click for more info and showtimes.

The Whole Gritty City: This documentary, which is having its world premiere at NOFF, tells the story of three New Orleans marching bands as they push to prepare for Mardi Gras parades, and three band directors battling for their students’ lives and souls. It shows lives stopped in their tracks by the violence of the streets, and the power of music to lift and sustain the survivors. The O. Perry Walker “Chosen Ones” Brass Band will provide live music both before and after the premiere screening. Click for more info and showtimes.

Additional music-themed feature films that will screen as part of NOFF include the documentary film Good Ol’ Freda from filmmaker Ryan White about the longtime Beatles secretary, and Omitted, from local director Kenna J. Moore, about the New Orleans bounce music scene and two bounce dancers in particular: Shelby “Skip” Skipper and Donald “Big Choo” Norris.

For tickets, a complete listing of films, and more information, visit www.neworleansfilmsociety.org.