The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights

Movies and music can be powerful reflections of our times, past and present, and tell stories that inform and empower millions of people in ways other media cannot.  This week, we highlight four Oscar-nominated films that have found compelling ways to tell stories about civil and human rights.  The Oscars will be shown on TV this Sunday, February 22.

A film about a man who witnessed the assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King has been nominated for Best Documentary Short Subject at this year's Oscars.

"The Witness from the Balcony of Room 306," directed by Adam Pertofsky, tells the story of the final days of King's life through the eyes of Rev. Samuel "Billy" Kyles, a close friend who was with King when he was assassinated in Memphis, Tenn., on April 4, 1968.  Kyles reflects on King's life, the legacy of the civil rights movement, and what led King to work in Memphis.