CULTURE AND THE ARTS
FILM
Third weekend in March
Doko Film Fest gives high school-aged filmmakers from South Carolina and beyond a showcase for their visual storytelling. Its mission is to develop young filmmakers' skills, knowledge, and confidence by providing an outlet for their creativity. The festival promotes South Carolina as a hub for young filmmaking talent. It serves as a networking event that allows young artists to meet peers and professionals as they explore college-level courses in media arts. Doko Film Fest was created by business educator and documentary filmmaker Ray Smith in partnership with Bravo Blythewood, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting the arts in the area. Visit Dokofilmfest.com for more details.
POETRY
J. Gordon Coogler Poetry Festival
April is National Poetry Month and Bravo Blythewood, Blythewood's Cultural Arts Council, celebrates with the annual J. Gordon Coogler Poetry Festival. Coogler was a 19th-century much-celebrated poet (achieving notoriety for his poems on demand) who lived in Blythewood. The Coogler Festival is a month-long series of poetry readings and writing competitions involving community members and local school students.
