“I like to push the boundaries,” says Roger Ross Williams.

Williams, former Palmer Township resident who attended Northampton Community College, is an Oscar-winning director

Williams headlines the Greater Lehigh Valley Filmmaker Festival, April 24 to April 26, Frank Banko Alehouse Cinemas, ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks, Bethlehem.

Williams will screen his Oscar-nominated documentary feature, “Life, Animated” (2016), which won the Sundance Film Festival Directing Award and three Emmy Awards, and participate in a question-and-answer session with the audience, 1 p.m. April 26.

Williams is the first African-American to receive an Oscar, for his documentary short film, “Music by Prudence” (2010).

“I haven’t been back to the Lehigh Valley in a while,” says Williams in a Microsoft Teams Meeting video interview April 3 from his home in the Catskills in upstate New York.

“Welcoming Roger Ross Williams to the Greater Lehigh Valley Filmmaker Festival is an incredible moment, not just for this event, but for the region’s growing film community,” states Anthony DeSanctis, Senior Programming Manager, Cinema at ArtsQuest, in a March 20 ArtsQuest press release.

“As an Academy Award-winning director whose work elevates powerful, human stories, Roger embodies the kind of bold, meaningful storytelling we strive to champion,” DeSanctis states.

“His presence creates a rare opportunity for local filmmakers and audiences alike to engage directly with a visionary artist, and we are honored to host him at ArtsQuest for a special discussion of ‘Life, Animated’ and his extraordinary career,” states DeSanctis.

Williams, an Easton High School graduate, attended NCC and transferred to New York University.

“It gave me a great foundation to go to NYU. I’m a big supporter of community colleges,” says Williams.

Williams, 63, has a prolific body of work listed on Internet Movie Database, including 34 films and two upcoming films as producer; 26 movies and one upcoming movie as director, and seven films as writer.

Williams is on the board of Docubox Kenya, a documentary fund and mentorship program in Nairobi that supports African filmmakers; the alumni advisory board of Sundance Institute; Board of Governors, Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, as chair, Documentary Branch and the Documentary Diversity Committee, and the board of Tribeca Film Institute.

Movies and television films that Williams has directed include: “The Super Models,” 2023; “Stamped from the Beginning,” 2023 (nominee, 2024 Primetime Emmy); “Love to Love You, Donna Summer,” 2023; “The 1619 Project,” 2023 (winner, 2023 Primetime Emmy); “Cassandro,” 2023; “High on the Hog: How African American Cuisine Transformed America,” 2021 (winner, 2021 Peabody Award); “The Innocence Files,” 2020; “The Apollo,” 2019, and “God Loves Uganda,” 2013.

Upcoming is a narrative feature, “Strange Arrivals,” that Williams is directing and producing.

“It’s about an interracial couple in 1961. They were the first alien abduction,” says Williams.

The abduction is said to have taken place in Concord, N.H.

Demi Moore and Colman Domingo star in “Strange Arrivals,” with production to begin in the fall.

“It’s a powerful story with a screenplay by Jane Anderson and Toby Ball,” Williams says.

Anderson is a seven-time Primetime Emmy Awards nominee and three-time winner.

Of “Strange Arrivals,” the IMDB synopsis states: “A couple experiences an alien abduction during their honeymoon.”

“I have two incredible actors. They are both incredibly talented. And Colman has been on a roll. And Demi was in ‘The Substance.’”

Domingo was nominated for two Oscars: actor, “Sing Sing,” 2025, and actor, “Rustin,” 2024.

Moore was nominated for an Oscar, actress, “The Substance,” 2025.

Moore and Domingo play characters based on the real-life interracial husband and wife, Betty and Barney Hill.

“It was the first time that alien abduction became a very big story,” says Williams. “[Steven] Spielberg met with them [Betty and Barney Hill] when he was researching ‘Close Encounters of the Third Kind’ [1977].”

Barney Hill appeared on the television show “To Tell the Truth” in 1966, Williams notes, adding that a roadside historic marker, “Betty and Barney Hill Incident,” was erected in 2011 by the New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources.

“When Betty and Barney were married, the Civil Rights Act hadn’t happened,” says Williams.

Barney Hill died in 1969. Betty Hill died in 2004.

Williams has his own production company, One Story Up.

“I’m lucky enough to be able to make work and have it seen by people all over the world in this often challenging world of entertainment,” says Williams.

Of his film, “Life, Animated,” Williams says, “That film has had an incredible journey.”

“Life, Animated” is based on journalist Ron Suskind’s book, “Life, Animated: A Story of Sidekicks, Heroes, and Autism” (2014), about his son Owen.

Says Williams:

“Owen Suskind couldn’t communicate. But he watched classic Disney animated films. One day, his dad realized his son could speak in the voices of Disney characters.

“It’s a very powerful story. Owen creates a whole world of the sidekicks. The film includes animation of the sidekicks.

“It’s the film’s 10-year anniversary. It was 10 years ago that I was with the Suskind family at the Oscars. And it’s nice to bring it home to the Lehigh Valley.”

Williams’ sister Katherine Sallard lives in the Lehigh Valley.

His parents Betty Williams and Willie Williams are deceased.

“I grew up singing in the choir of [Greater] Shiloh Gospel Church,” says Williams. “I love going back to Easton because it has had quite a revival. It was always classic with the circle.

“I received an honorary doctorate from Lafayette College. And my mother used to be a cleaning lady at Lafayette. ‘My mother used to clean your toilets. And here I am standing in front of you,’” Williams says he said at the doctorate ceremony.

“I like to tell stories of underdogs, being an underdog myself,” says Williams. “I’m drawn to those stories of people who overcome great adversity.

“I make documentaries that push the boundaries of storytelling. And I’m always challenged as a film-maker to tell stories in a different way.”

“Oh, it’s a beautiful day,” Williams concludes. “I like gardening. I’m going to go outside and prepare the garden.”

Greater Lehigh Valley Filmmaker Festival: Information, schedule, tickets: https://www.artsquest.org/festivals/more-festivals-and-experiences/greater-lehigh-valley-filmmaker-festival/

Theatrical Movies Domestic Weekend Box Office, April 10-12: “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” continued at No. 1 for two weeks in a row with a robust $69 million in 4,284 theaters, $308.1 million, two weeks.

2. “Project Hail Mary” stayed in place, $24.5 million in 3,817 theaters, $256.6 million, four weeks. 3. “The Drama” stayed in place, $8.7 million in 3,151 theaters, $30.8 million, two weeks. 4. “You, Me & Tuscany,” starring Halle Bailey in the Romance Comedy, $8 million in 3,151 theaters, opening. 5. “Hoppers” dropped one place, $4.1 million in 2,850 theaters, $157.1 million, six weeks. 6. “BTS World Tour ‘ARIRANG’ in GOYANG: Live Viewing,” $2.4 million in 1,189 theaters, opening. 7. “Faces of Death,” Barbie Ferreira, Dacre Montgomery and Charli XCX star in the remake of the 1978 horror film, $1.7 million in 1,600 theaters, opening. 8. “Exit 8,” a Japanese psychological horror film, $1.4 million in 495 theaters, opening. 9. “A Great Awakening” dropped three places, $1.2 million in 1,274 theaters, $4.8 million, two weeks. 10. “Reminders of Him,” $1 million in 1,407 theaters, $47.4 million, five weeks.

Movie box office information from Box Office Mojo as of April 12 may be subject to change.

Unreel, April 17

“Normal,” R; 1 hour, 30 minutes. Ben Wheatley directs Bob Odenkirk, Ryan Allen, Billy MacLellan, Lena Headey and Henry Winkler in the Crime Thriller. A sheriff investigates a bank robbery in the town of Normal, Minn.

“Busboys,” No MPA rating; 1 hour, 33 minutes. Jonah Feingold directs David Spade and Theo Von in the comedy. Two friends get jobs as waiters in a restaurant.

“Lorne,” MPA rated R; 1 hour, 40 minutes. Morgan Neville directs the documentary film about Lorne Michaels, who created “Saturday Night Live” in 1975 and still produces the late-night sketch comedy show. The film includes interviews with Jimmy Fallon, Tina Fey, Steve Martin, Mike Myers and Paul Simon.

“Mother Mary,” MPA R; 1 hour, 52 minutes. David Lowery directs Anne Hathaway, Michael Coel, Hunter Schafer and FKA Twigs in the Music, Drama, Psychological Thriller. A pop singer is betrayed by her fashion designer. The soundtrack includes original songs by Jack Antonoff, Charli XCX and FKA Twigs.

“Lee Cronin’s the Mummy,” R; 2 hours, 13 minutes. Lee Cronin directs Jack Reynor, Natalie Grace and Laia Costa in the Horror film. A young daughter returns to her family eight years after disappearing.

“American Solitaire,” No MPA rating; 1 hour, 35 minutes. Aaron Davidman directs Joshua Close, Gilbert Owuor and Joanne Kelly in the Drama. A United States veteran confronts gun violence in his hometown.

Movie box office information from Internet Movie Database as of April 12 may be subject to change.