By Jonah Grinkewitz
When the Naro Expanded Video closed in 2019, owners Linda McGreevy and Tim Cooper asked 51鱨վ Libraries to take on their collection of more than 42,000 videos and make it accessible to the community.
While staff members are still processing and organizing the videos, film lovers can soon get a sneak peek of what's to come.
The Libraries will host a free screening, "Naro Minded," on June 16 at 7 p.m. at the Naro Expanded Cinema in Norfolk's Ghent neighborhood.
Showcasing the Naro Video Collection's unique catalog, the screening kicks off with the 1943 landmark experimental short film "Meshes of the Afternoon."
Directed by Ukrainian American filmmaker Maya Deren, the screening will feature a new score performed live by Norfolk electronic artist Karacell.
Attendees can then catch the second film, the 2021 Sundance standout "We're All Going to the World's Fair," directed by Jane Schoenbrun.
The event highlights not only the collection, but also 51鱨վ's dedication to the works of female and LGBTQ artists.
"The Naro, for so long, was such a hub for queer film and female-directed film, so I really just wanted to put that in the forefront to illustrate that that is not going anywhere now that the collection is here," said Kris King, 51鱨վ's Naro Video Collection processor.
He said the video store used to hold events called "Naro Minded," and he wanted to keep that phrase going.
"The two movies we're showing are about personal transformation and stepping outside of yourself," he said. "I feel like every one of these movies (in the collection) is an opportunity to see things through another person's perspective."
King said staff are more than halfway through processing the collection, which will eventually be accessible by loan and for browsing.
In addition to the "Naro Minded" screening, 51鱨վ's Perry Library will offer a teaser-display of old and recently added selections for the fall 2022 semester.
For more details on the free "Naro Minded" film screening, contact King at k2king@odu.edu.
