We’re starting off this year’s festival with a program of great documentaries at the Nickelodeon on Wednesday, April 14 at 6pm. Headlined by USC alum Mark Claywell’s American Jihadist, the program also includes Hodges Usry’s Sweet Georgia Brown and Gabriel Tyner’s Chiefland.

American Jihadist tells the fascinating story of Isa Abdullah Ali, aka Clevin Raphael Holt, who goes from the rough streets of Washington, DC to fighting in Lebanon, Afghanistan and Bosnia. Claywell’s film examines the link between violence in America and the development of religious radicalism. The film recently won the jury prize for best documentary at the Slamdance Film Festival.

Hodges Usry first came to Indie Grits with a short film in 2007. He’s back this year with a film that tells the little-known story of Sweet Georgia Brown - the first black female professional wrestler in South Carolina. The short documentary packs a big punch as we get to see not only her great accomplishments but also the tremendous price she and her children had to pay.

Chiefland is a wonderfully surprising short film that takes the viewer into the ring with Chris Wilson a bull rider in Chiefland, Florida. Ten years after a train accident derailed his career, Wilson is back in the saddle but things have changed.

The opening night reception begins following the program right next door at the Immaculate Consumption.