Talking Back in the Dark, Ava DuVernay Hosts Main Character Energy at the Ford
The director curates a one-night interactive movie event in the open air, presented by ARRAY, near the end of the Ford’s season.
Movie nights usually come with a rule about staying quiet. On Thursday, October 29, the Ford, the LA Phil’s hillside open-air venue, will throw that rule out. Ava DuVernay will curate and host Main Character Energy, a one-night movie event presented by ARRAY, the organization she founded, with gates at 6:30 p.m. and the show at 8 p.m.
The Ford’s own listing sets the tone. “Main Character Energy is a movie night that refuses to stay quiet. Talkback is not only encouraged, it is invited.” Clips from films that honor our shared humanity will be paired with voices from thought leaders, artists, actors and filmmakers, and the audience will be asked to respond and, at times, to step into the scene.
“The night is about community immersion with others, shoulder to shoulder in the dark, led by cinema that provokes ideas connecting us to the most defining issues of our time,” the venue says.
The night was part of the LA Phil’s 2026 Ford season announcement in May. “Presented by ARRAY, Ava DuVernay’s Main Character Energy is an evening of film, conversation, and participation,” BroadwayWorld wrote, adding that DuVernay will be joined by special guests.
ARRAY, which runs under the motto “Change Is Ours to Create,” spans ARRAY Releasing for streaming, theatrical and distribution, ARRAY Filmworks for film, television and animation, ARRAY Alliance with its grants and the ARRAY 101 and LEAP programs, and ARRAY Spaces, which includes a creative campus and the Amanda Cinema. It also runs public programming.
It will also be one of the last nights of the year at the Ford, whose 2026 season runs from May 8 to October 31. Tickets start at $23, Kaiser Permanente is listed as the sponsor, and all sales are final. On-site parking is limited and stacked, so the venue points guests to its free shuttle, Metro and ride share as well.
