Stay Prayed Up

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A still from STAY PRAYED UP, a music documentary about the gospel ministry of Lena Mae Perry and The Branchettes of Newton Grove, North Carolina. Courtesy of Stay Prayed Up

A still from STAY PRAYED UP, a music documentary about the gospel ministry of Lena Mae Perry and The Branchettes of Newton Grove, North Carolina. Courtesy of Stay Prayed Up

A still from STAY PRAYED UP, a music documentary about the gospel ministry of Lena Mae Perry and The Branchettes of Newton Grove, North Carolina. Courtesy of Stay Prayed Up

A still from STAY PRAYED UP, a music documentary about the gospel ministry of Lena Mae Perry and The Branchettes of Newton Grove, North Carolina. Courtesy of Stay Prayed Up

A still from STAY PRAYED UP, a music documentary about the gospel ministry of Lena Mae Perry and The Branchettes of Newton Grove, North Carolina. Courtesy of Stay Prayed Up

A still from STAY PRAYED UP, a music documentary about the gospel ministry of Lena Mae Perry and The Branchettes of Newton Grove, North Carolina. Courtesy of Stay Prayed Up

A still from STAY PRAYED UP, a music documentary about the gospel ministry of Lena Mae Perry and The Branchettes of Newton Grove, North Carolina. Courtesy of Stay Prayed Up

A still from STAY PRAYED UP, a music documentary about the gospel ministry of Lena Mae Perry and The Branchettes of Newton Grove, North Carolina. Courtesy of Stay Prayed Up

A still from STAY PRAYED UP, a music documentary about the gospel ministry of Lena Mae Perry and The Branchettes of Newton Grove, North Carolina. Courtesy of Stay Prayed Up

A still from STAY PRAYED UP, a music documentary about the gospel ministry of Lena Mae Perry and The Branchettes of Newton Grove, North Carolina. Courtesy of Stay Prayed Up

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Stay Prayed Up
Directed by D.L. Anderson and Matt Durning

Friday, June 24, 6 pm

Saturday, June 25, 3 pm

Saturday, June 25, 6 pm

Sunday, June 26, 3 pm

$12 / $8 Speed members

“Spiritual and tender.”—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter

This new documentary is a spirited celebration of 82-year-old Lena Mae Perry and her legendary North Carolina gospel group The Branchettes. The film documents The Branchettes as they record their first, fully live album. Through shared prayer, laughter, hardship and praise, this “church gospel noisy crew” demonstrates that music, like faith, isn’t anything without some fire inside.

Stay Prayed Up premiered at the Telluride Film Festival followed by DOC NYC and comingles a concert film with a biography showing the deep appreciation for a sacred and beguiling genre. Gospel music soars in this film and the singers and musicians are heartwarming and engaging. 2021, U.S., DCP, 75 minutes. Recommended for all ages.

On Sunday June 26: CINEMA+ a post-screening discussion led by Dr. Michael Brandon McCormack, Associate Professor, Department of Pan-African Studies and Department of Comparative Humanities (Program in Religious Studies), University of Louisville.