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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261013T181500
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DTSTAMP:20261008T045857Z
CREATED:20261008T042212Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261008T045857Z
UID:5809-1791915300-1791925200@reelsisters.org
SUMMARY:Harlem Kick Off 2026 – @Maysles Documentary Center
DESCRIPTION:Join Reel Sisters for our Harlem Kick-off on Oct. 13\, 2026\nFeaturing I know It’s Me\, Tigueronas and\, our opening night film\, Psycho Side Chick.  \nJoin us for an evening of films at Reel Sisters of the Diaspora Film Festival & Lecture Series on Tues\, Oct. 13\, 2026. \nWe are proud to open Reel Sisters 29th Anniversary season with two powerful short films I Know It’s Me directed by Astin Rocks and Tigueronas directed by Imani Celeste. \nOur opening night feature film is Psycho Side Chick\, a new Tubi original film directed by Booker T. Mattison and written by Lynette J. Blackwell with story by Octavia Singleton. Enjoy this Tubi thriller film with your Reel Sisters family before it premieres online on Oct. 16\, 2026! \nSeating is limited\, get your tickets now! \n \nSave $100+ with All Access Passs and enjoy our in-person and virtual showcases. The day pass admits you to all screenings and workshops. \n  \nPsycho Side Chick\nDirector: Booker T. Mattison \nProducers: Donte Lee\, Tressa Azarel Smallwood and Jacobo Rispa \nWriter: Written by Lynette J. Blackwell\, Story by Octavia Singleton \nnarrative\, 92 min. \nAfter being dumped by her married lover\, a crazed woman fights to win him back and will get rid of anyone who stands in her way. The film stars Najah Bradley (Kelsey)\, Blair Anthony Hall (Mario)\, Tatiana Le’Joy (Chloe) and Niles Austin (Jerrell). \n \nI Know It’s Me\nDirector/Writer: Astin Rocks \nnarrative\, 4:37 min. \nKarina makes an important decision about her mental health on the dawn on her new abilities. \n \nTigueronas\nProducer: Flor de oro Tejada \nDirector/Writer: Imani Celeste \n14 min.\, narrative \nAfter ending an abusive relationship with her narcissistic boyfriend\, Aaliyah and her friends hatch a bold plan for revenge on a girls’ night out\, igniting a journey of self-empowerment and sisterhood. \nAbout the Presenters\n\n\nBooker T. Mattison\nDirector/WriterBooker T. Mattison is a screenwriter\, director\, and novelist. He wrote and directed the BET+ original film The Sound of Christmas\, starring Grammy-winning recording artist Ne-Yo. The New York Times called it “a charming\, new holiday film.” It was the #1 movie on BET+ in December 2022 and was submitted for Emmy consideration for Outstanding TV Movie in 2023.\nHe also wrote and directed the psychological thriller Twisted Marriage Therapist\, a Tubi original film that posted one of the platform’s highest completion rates in September 2023. His legal thriller\, the Tubi original film An Unusual Suspect\, premiered on the streamer in April 2025.\nMattison produced and directed the short documentary Beyond the Movement for WABE\, Atlanta’s PBS station\, which aired in September 2025.\nHe previously wrote and directed the film adaptation of Zora Neale Hurston’s short story The Gilded Six Bits\, which aired on Showtime and stars Chad L. Coleman\, T’Keyah Crystal Keymah\, and Wendell Pierce. The Hollywood Reporter wrote\, “Mattison’s direction and feel for her characters match up to Hurston’s sterling piece of fiction… full of atmosphere and strongly developed characters.” \n\nLynette Blackwell\nDirector/Writer \nBorn in Harlem and raised in the Bronx\, Lynette J. Blackwell is an award-winning Producer\, Writer\, Casting Director and Playwright\, whose work spans film\, television\, and theater. Her award-winning short film\, “Twelve”\, earned recognition on the film festival circuit\, establishing her as both a talented writer and director. In theater\, Blackwell found success with her hit stage play\, “Who’s This Sleeping in My Bed\,” which was produced over 25 times alongside her late husband\, legendary hip-hop artist Rob Base. Blackwell transitioned into filmmaking full-time and was selected as one of seven writers for BETher’s Health Initiatives\, earning her first writing credit with a major network. Since then\, she has amassed more than 20+ film and television credits\, including; co-writer of the BET+ holiday film “Style Me for Christmas\,” Co- writer/executive producer of the seven time award-winning horror feature “Urban Flesh Eaters\,” associate producer/co-writer of the #1 STARZ thriller “They Took My Daughter\,” and writer for the upcoming TUBI original\, “Psycho Side Chick.”\n\n\nAfrican Voices Communications\, Inc. is a nonprofit arts organization devoted to presenting art\, literature\, and films by artists of color. African Voices publishes a literary magazine and presents literary readings\, art exhibitions\, and artistic workshops throughout NYC. Visit: www.africanvoices.com. \nThe organization sponsors Reel Sisters of the Diaspora Film Festival & Lecture Series\, the first Oscar-qualifying film festival in the nation devoted to women of color. Visit: www.reelsisters.org.
URL:https://reelsisters.org/event/harlem-kick-off-2026/
LOCATION:Maysles Documentary Center\, 343 Lenox Ave.\, Malcolm X Blvd.\, NY\, 10027\, United States
CATEGORIES:In-Person Film Screenings,Oct. 13, 2026 @Maysles Documentary Center
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ORGANIZER;CN="Reel Sisters of the Diaspora":MAILTO:reelsisters@yahoo.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20261024T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20261024T143000
DTSTAMP:20261007T150601Z
CREATED:20251003T153956Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261007T150601Z
UID:5259-1792846800-1792852200@reelsisters.org
SUMMARY:Section A – 1 pm-2:30 pm
DESCRIPTION:Saturday\, October 24\, 2026\, 651 Arts \nWhy wait in line? Purchase advance section tickets for weekend of Oct. 24-25 at 651 Arts! Reel Sisters and 651 Arts are partnering to present Reel Sisters 29th Anniversary film season! For latest info and program updates visit www.reelsisters.org. Join us for two full days of film screenings\, talk backs\, art and music! Seniors & Students use discount code: SeniorsStudents2026 (bring ID for check in). \n \nSECTION A – Strange Realities | Oct. 24 – 1 pm-2:30 pm \n\n\nWake Up \nDirector:  Ewurakua Dawson-Amoah \nWriter:  Jon Wakins \nProducer:  Parco Richardson\, Issa Rae\, Talitha Watkins\, Deniese Davis\, Jamari Perry \nGenre:  Narrative Short\, 14:24 \nAlana is a brilliant young researcher stationed at Safe Guard Six\, a remote facility dedicated to studying an alien threat known as the Mantis Drone. When the base is unexpectedly overrun by real drones\, Alana sets out on a desperate mission to rescue her brother Jeremy\, who she believes is trapped somewhere inside.As she navigates the crumbling corridors and evades the deadly drones\, the boundaries between memory and reality begin to unravel. Flashbacks from her childhood bleed into the present. Eventually\, Alana reaches Jeremy\, only to uncover a devastating truth\, he died years ago\, and Safe Guard Six is a manifestation of an old game they used to play. What began as a rescue mission becomes a reckoning with grief\, memory\, and the lengths the mind will go to protect itself. \nWallpaper \nDirector:  Issraa ElKogali Häggström \nWriter:  Issraa ElKogali Häggström \nProducer:  John M. Wahl \nGenre:  Narrative Short\, 8:17 \nJoy\, a Black immigrant woman\, and her White husband Jack have just moved to an old house in the Swedish countryside\, seeking solace after a shared trauma. But as Joy immerses herself in writing\, the house reveals unsettling secrets—strange noises\, shifting shadows\, and messages hidden behind the wallpaper—that threaten both their relationship and their lives. In this tense psychological horror short\, isolation\, identity\, and the unseen forces that prey on fear and grief collide. Not everything buried stays hidden. Inspired by The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman and Issraa Elkogali Häggström’s own experiences. \nWhat We Carry \nDirector/Writer:  Karl-Mary Akre \nProducer:  Priscilla Gutierrez \nGenre:  Narrative Short\, 14:27 \nStranded in the rural American South\, an Ivorian couple must fight to escape an unknown predator. \nThe Bathroom \nDirector/Writer:  Marjuan Canady \nProducer:  Marjuan Canady\, Erica Baca\, Eleshia Simms-Harris \nGenre:  Narrative Short\, 5:45 \nThe Bathroom explores three women who attempt to wash their hands in a public bathroom. For two of them\, the automated sinks refuse to work\, while for another\, the water flows with ease. What begins as an ordinary inconvenience transforms into an unsettling encounter with something larger\, as the empty bathroom itself reveals a hidden presence lingering just beyond perception. \nS(HE) CAME ONE DAY \nDirector/Writer:   Jalysa Conway \nProducer:   Jalysa Conway\, Brian Michael Smith\, Denny Dugally \nGenre:  Narrative Short\,  15:00 \nIn a dust storm-ravaged future\, Dr. Gwen Azzi has survived three years completely alone\, sealed inside a government research station and clinging to one rule: don’t let anyone in. But when a desperate stranger appears at her airlock begging for help\, Gwen makes the one choice she can’t take back. Now\, she finds herself trapped with a man who may be her only real chance at human connection…or the reason she doesn’t survive the night. \nUnder Her Skin \nDirector:  Shihan Tan \nGenre:  Narrative Short\,  13:45 \nA professional cosplayer mother uses fantasy to shield her daughter—until reality forces her to take off the mask. \n\n\n\n  \n  \n 
URL:https://reelsisters.org/event/oct-24-section-a/
LOCATION:651 Arts\, 10 Lafayette Ave\, Brooklyn\, NY\, 11201\, United States
CATEGORIES:In-Person Film Screenings,Oct. 24-25, 2026 @651 Arts
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://reelsisters.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Photo-7-4.4.26_MarjTheBathroom-126.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20261024T143500
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20261024T160500
DTSTAMP:20261007T152401Z
CREATED:20261007T152401Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261007T152401Z
UID:5774-1792852500-1792857900@reelsisters.org
SUMMARY:Section B – 2:35 pm-4:05 pm
DESCRIPTION:Saturday\, October 24\, 2026\, 651 Arts \nWhy wait in line? Purchase advance section tickets for weekend of Oct. 24-25 at 651 Arts! Reel Sisters and 651 Arts are partnering to present Reel Sisters 29th Anniversary film season! For latest info and program updates visit www.reelsisters.org. Join us for two full days of film screenings\, talk backs\, art and music! Seniors & Students use discount code: SeniorsStudents2026 (bring ID for check in). \n \nSECTION B – On Our Own Terms | Oct. 24 – 2:35 pm-4:05 pm \n\n\nThe last wish \nDirector/Writer:  Kimberley Ann Surin \nProducer:  Kimberley Ann Surin and Véronique Charbonneau \nNarrative Short\, 15:51 \nAfter the death of her husband\, 70-year-old Rosabella moves in with her daughter Ruth\, along with her granddaughter Romy. Barely settled\, she decides to confront her greatest fear: water. Closer to death than to life\, and determined to leave this world without regrets\, she embarks on a journey to reconcile with her past. After an initial attempt\, she reaches a breaking point. However\, one morning\, an unexpected and unsettling visitor pushes her to face both the water and her inner demons. Will she succeed? The Last Wish is a drama that explores post-traumatic stress\, highlighting the power of breaking painful cycles from the past. \nPULLOVER \nDirector:  Nicole Collins \nWriter:  Nicole Collins and Aadyn Encalarde \nProducer:  Nicole Collins\, India King Robins\, Jazmine McDaniel \nNarrative  Short\, 13:54 \nLOGLINE: During a walk to the store with her younger sister\, a 13-year-old girl is harassed\, triggering a spiral of fear her mother helps her confront. \nSYNOPSIS: After a rainy morning\, the Martin sisters are allowed to walk to the store. On the walk back home\, thirteen-year-old Lyndria and her little sister Kelly play I Spy — laughing\, unbothered\, and innocent. \n\n\n\nLove Song \nDirector/Writer:  Nofisat “Love Nafi” Almaroof \nProducer:  Nofisat “Love Nafi” Almaroof\, Mohamed Williams\, Okema T. Moore \nNarrative Short\,  28:40 \nLove Song is a drama that explores the intersections of ambition\, intimacy\, love and legacy\, as a music producer wrestles with who he is and who he is expected to be. \nFinals \nDirector/Writer:  Mya Baker \nProducer:  Mya Baker\, Tamara Hood\, Sal Munir\, Shanequa Reed \nNarrative short\, 15:00 \nOn the last day of school\, students at Angel High are focused on finishing exams and starting summer\, but beneath the surface\, something is off. Sullivan\, a quiet and overlooked teen\, moves through the day\, carrying pain that no one has taken the time to notice. When Prince\, a Black student\, witnesses something alarming\, he speaks up. But instead of being heard\, he’s dismissed. \nAs time runs out\, a tragic chain of events unfolds\, exposing the consequences of bias\, silence\, and missed warning signs. Finals is a powerful look at who we choose to see\, who we ignore\, and what happens when it’s already too late.
URL:https://reelsisters.org/event/section-b-235-pm-405-pm/
LOCATION:651 Arts\, 10 Lafayette Ave\, Brooklyn\, NY\, 11201\, United States
CATEGORIES:In-Person Film Screenings,Oct. 24-25, 2026 @651 Arts
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20261024T161000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20261024T172300
DTSTAMP:20261007T154241Z
CREATED:20261007T154241Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261007T154241Z
UID:5778-1792858200-1792862580@reelsisters.org
SUMMARY:Section C – 4:10 pm-5:23 pm
DESCRIPTION:Saturday\, October 24\, 2026\, 651 Arts \nWhy wait in line? Purchase advance section tickets for weekend of Oct. 24-25 at 651 Arts! Reel Sisters and 651 Arts are partnering to present Reel Sisters 29th Anniversary film season! For latest info and program updates visit www.reelsisters.org. Join us for two full days of film screenings\, talk backs\, art and music! Seniors & Students use discount code: SeniorsStudents2026 (bring ID for check in). \n \nSECTION C – When Things Get Weird | Oct. 24 – 4:10 pm-5:23 pm \n\n\nNarrated By \nDirector/Writer:  Khaya Fraites \nProducer:  Stephen Szmed \nNarrative Short\, 6:24 \nSamuel \nDirector/Writer:  Shannon Harris \nProducer:  Shannon Harris\, Marsha Harris Gilreath\, James S. Washington\, Shelby Jennings \nNarrative\, 10:55 \nIn “Samuel\,” a riff on the idiom “no use crying over spilled milk\,” Hannah reflects on loss – and eventual gain – on the eve of a milestone birthday. \n“Samuel” is the third and final film in The Idiom Triology\, a three-part series of shorts based on idioms. “THREE birds” and “grist\,” in which Hannah is introduced\, are the first and second films in the series. All three films in The Triology are complete and can be screened individually or together. \nThe Closet \nDirector:  Yiyu Ying \nWriter:  Mary Glen Fredrick\, Holli Harms \nProducer:  Elle Kurata\, Paola Maria \nNarrative Short\, 15:00 \nGrew up in New York\, Michael seeks refuge in an unusual safe space after life upheavals – he starts sleeping in the closet. When his romance with Sophie\, an American-born Chinese girl\, gets serious\, Michael decides to confess his peculiar living habit. Sophie comes from a superstitious Chinese family who deems Michael and Sophie an incompatible match based on their zodiac signs. Faced with these realistic obstacles\, how will Michael and Sophie choose to proceed? \n\n\n\nYOU COULD’VE BEEN A NURSE \nDirector/Writer:  Meg Mateo \nProducer:  Jaymar Cabebe and Dianne Que \nNarrative Short\,  12:20 \nWhen a routine dialysis session fails\, Gwen finds out her mother has only days to live—but it’s their mismatched expectations that creates unforeseen heartbreak. \nHalcyon Days \nDirector:  Grace Hanna \nWriter:  Derek Manansala \nProducer:  Derek Manansala\, Dara Gray\, Eduardo Maia \nNarrative Short\,  15:00 \nAn actor’s attempt to reconnect with his estranged family is derailed when his world inexplicably transforms into a multi-cam sitcom.
URL:https://reelsisters.org/event/section-c-410-pm-523-pm-2/
LOCATION:651 Arts\, 10 Lafayette Ave\, Brooklyn\, NY\, 11201\, United States
CATEGORIES:In-Person Film Screenings,Oct. 24-25, 2026 @651 Arts
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20261024T173300
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20261024T190500
DTSTAMP:20261007T162047Z
CREATED:20261007T162047Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261007T162047Z
UID:5782-1792863180-1792868700@reelsisters.org
SUMMARY:Section D – 5:33 pm-7:05 pm
DESCRIPTION:Saturday\, October 24\, 2026\, 651 Arts \nWhy wait in line? Purchase advance section tickets for weekend of Oct. 24-25 at 651 Arts! Reel Sisters and 651 Arts are partnering to present Reel Sisters 29th Anniversary film season! For latest info and program updates visit www.reelsisters.org. Join us for two full days of film screenings\, talk backs\, art and music! Seniors & Students use discount code: SeniorsStudents2026 (bring ID for check in). \n \nSECTION D – Bloodlines and Belonging | Oct. 24 – 5:33 pm-7:05 pm \n\n\nSaltwater \nDirector/Writer:  Dexcee Lowe \nProducer:  Jade Copeland\, Kerri Birch\, Kirk Dawson\, Nathalie Thomas\, Shrielle Ruddock \nNarrative Short \nWe Had Fun \nDirector/Writer:  Linda Lô \nProducer:  Didar Domehri \nNarrative Short\,  18:38 \nBordeaux\, 1987\, Christmas Eve. Linda (5)\, Biram (9) and Roger (20) live away from their mother who stayed in Gabon. While the eldest son treats himself to a weekend getaway\, his siblings\, left to their own devices\, see snow for the first time and put themselves in danger. \nÓménàlà \nDirector/Writer:  Stephanie Byron-Ene \nProducer:  Sydney Brooks and Chioma Peters \nNarrative Short\,  14:30 \nAn estranged first son must protect the legacy of his late father from his hard-headed uncle while navigating traditional Igbo burial rites. \nThe Heir \nDirector/Writer:  Tia A. Smith \nProducer:  Errol Sadler\, Gold D. Morgan \nNarrative Short\, 19:25
URL:https://reelsisters.org/event/section-d-533-pm-705-pm/
LOCATION:651 Arts\, 10 Lafayette Ave\, Brooklyn\, NY\, 11201\, United States
CATEGORIES:In-Person Film Screenings,Oct. 24-25, 2026 @651 Arts
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://reelsisters.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Photo-3-DSC_0518_edited.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20261024T191500
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20261024T205500
DTSTAMP:20261007T163306Z
CREATED:20261007T163306Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261007T163306Z
UID:5786-1792869300-1792875300@reelsisters.org
SUMMARY:Feature Presentation – 7:15 pm-8:55 pm
DESCRIPTION:Saturday\, October 24\, 2026\, 651 Arts \nWhy wait in line? Purchase advance section tickets for weekend of Oct. 24-25 at 651 Arts! Reel Sisters and 651 Arts are partnering to present Reel Sisters 29th Anniversary film season! For latest info and program updates visit www.reelsisters.org. Join us for two full days of film screenings\, talk backs\, art and music! Seniors & Students use discount code: SeniorsStudents2026 (bring ID for check in). \n \nFeature Presentation | Oct. 24 – 7:15 pm-8:55 pm \n\n\n93’Til \nDirector/Writer: Alterik Miller \nProducers:  Alterik Miller\, Richard Lee Noel\, Petey McGee\, LaRoyce Hawkins\, Sophia Lucia Parola\, Alicia Turner\, Sean Charles\, Romar Bennett \nNarrative Feature\, 01:22:10 \nRahmell\, a struggling Philadelphia painter facing eviction\, meets Yannie\, a vintage clothing seller preserving her late mother’s legacy\, at a job fair neither wants to attend. They ditch the fair and spend one perfect day exploring the city—record stores\, art galleries\, soul food restaurants —falling in love through vinyl\, art\, and presence in a world obsessed with screens.
URL:https://reelsisters.org/event/section-feature-715-pm-855-pm/
LOCATION:651 Arts\, 10 Lafayette Ave\, Brooklyn\, NY\, 11201\, United States
CATEGORIES:In-Person Film Screenings,Oct. 24-25, 2026 @651 Arts
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://reelsisters.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot-2026-10-07-at-10.30.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20261025T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20261025T144200
DTSTAMP:20261007T172253Z
CREATED:20261007T164754Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261007T172253Z
UID:5791-1792933200-1792939320@reelsisters.org
SUMMARY:Section F – 1 pm-2:42 pm
DESCRIPTION:Sunday\, October 25\, 2026 @ 651 Arts \nWhy wait in line? Purchase advance section tickets for weekend of Oct. 24-25 at 651 Arts! Reel Sisters and 651 Arts are partnering to present Reel Sisters 29th Anniversary film season! For latest info and program updates visit www.reelsisters.org. Join us for two full days of film screenings\, talk backs\, art and music! Seniors & Students use discount code: SeniorsStudents2026 (bring ID for check in). \n \nSECTION F – Relative Chaos | Oct. 25 – 1 pm-2:42 pm \n\n\nHatchlings \nDirector/Writer:  Jahmil Eady \nProducer:  Tara Austin \nNarrative Short\,  14:43 \nA resentful teenager is forced to babysit her turtle-obsessed half-brother; meanwhile\, he dives into a vivid fantasy world where he is a sea turtle and she is a tortoise. \nHomebody \nDirector/Writer:  Shruti Parekh \nProducer:  Shruti Parekh\, Laura Scarano \nNarrative Short\, 21:3 \nFacing eviction after her mother’s death\, a young artist searches for creative ways to defend her right to stay in her Brooklyn apartment. \nTill Death \nDirector/Writer:  Yana Bille-Chung \nProducer:  Martina Mossell Lee and Constance Ejuma \nNarrative Short\,  20:00 \nWhen a kind young couple is offered the chance of a lifetime to purchase their dream house from an ailing octogenarian at a fraction of its asking price\, they eagerly accept. However\, the deal comes with a significant catch: the older woman must live with them until her death\, at which point the house will become theirs. \nStand Clear ‘ the Closing Doors \nDirector/Writer:  Stacey Sargeant \nProducer:  Stacey Sargeant and Becky Morrison \nNarrative Short\,  7:23 \nWhen a woman makes a simple request of a fellow NYC subway passenger\, an everyday moment turns into a bizarre battle for space\, peace\, and dignity. Based on true events\, the film uses humor and fantasy to explore the subtle\, often unspoken tensions that Black women encounter in everyday public spaces. \nFlowers Bloom When Touched \nDirector/Writer:  Priyanka Krishnan \nProducer:  Raman Nimmala \nNarrative Short\, 17:15 \nMalar is trapped in a conservative household and has to grapple with the suffocating demands of tradition. She is ready to buy a one way ticket out of it by getting arranged married to a US resident. Yet there’s a catch. \nShe must pass the invasive “two-finger” virginity test first. \nWith less than 24 hours to go\, Malar’s virginity becomes a point of negotiation as Malar and her younger sister Minnal\, embark on a darkly comedic quest to “re-virginize” Malar\, exposing themselves to predatory men\, corrupt systems\, and the absurd lengths society goes to in order to control women’s bodies.
URL:https://reelsisters.org/event/section-f-1-pm-242-pm/
LOCATION:651 Arts\, 10 Lafayette Ave\, Brooklyn\, NY\, 11201\, United States
CATEGORIES:In-Person Film Screenings,Oct. 24-25, 2026 @651 Arts
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://reelsisters.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Photo-7-Screenshot_2025-02-17_at_6.44.21_PM.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20261025T145000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20261025T161000
DTSTAMP:20261007T170505Z
CREATED:20261007T170505Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261007T170505Z
UID:5795-1792939800-1792944600@reelsisters.org
SUMMARY:Section G – 2:50 pm-4:10 pm
DESCRIPTION:Sunday\, October 25\, 2026 @ 651 Arts \nWhy wait in line? Purchase advance section tickets for weekend of Oct. 24-25 at 651 Arts! Reel Sisters and 651 Arts are partnering to present Reel Sisters 29th Anniversary film season! For latest info and program updates visit www.reelsisters.org. Join us for two full days of film screenings\, talk backs\, art and music! Seniors & Students use discount code: SeniorsStudents2026 (bring ID for check in). \n \nSECTION G – Against The Current | Oct. 25 – 2:50 pm-4:10 pm \n\n\nSwim Sistas \nDirector/Writer:  Catherine Joy White \nProducer:  Afua Hirsch\, Amandla Crichlow\, Oriane Pick\, Anais Ferrato \nDocumentary Short\,  11:11 \nSwim Sistas is a poetic\, visually stunning love letter to water\, sisterhood\, and the enduring strength of Black women across generations. \nFeaturing the voice of Academy Award nominee Naomie Harris (Moonlight) as Mami Wata\, part deity and part ancestral memory\, the film flows across generations: from a young girl diving into joy\, to Great Britain’s first and only Black female Olympic swimmer breaking historic barriers\, to a woman learning to swim at 54\, defying a legacy of inherited fear. \nMaking Their Pointe \nDirector:  Kamilah Thurmon \nProducer:  Beatrice Davis-Williams \nDocumentary Feature\, 53:14 \nAfrican-American ballet teachers made it possible for children in underserved communities in Washington\, D.C. to infiltrate the stereo typical world of ballet and thrive as ballerinas during segregation. The cultural shift these teachers created in Washington D.C. has lasted through generations.
URL:https://reelsisters.org/event/section-g-250-pm-410-pm/
LOCATION:651 Arts\, 10 Lafayette Ave\, Brooklyn\, NY\, 11201\, United States
CATEGORIES:In-Person Film Screenings,Oct. 24-25, 2026 @651 Arts
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://reelsisters.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Photo-1-SWIMSISTAS_STILLS_COLOUR_JPEG_18-03-25_3610_1.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20261025T161500
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20261025T173000
DTSTAMP:20261007T171428Z
CREATED:20261007T171428Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261007T171428Z
UID:5799-1792944900-1792949400@reelsisters.org
SUMMARY:Section H – 4:15 pm-5:30 pm
DESCRIPTION:Sunday\, October 25\, 2026 @ 651 Arts \nWhy wait in line? Purchase advance section tickets for weekend of Oct. 24-25 at 651 Arts! Reel Sisters and 651 Arts are partnering to present Reel Sisters 29th Anniversary film season! For latest info and program updates visit www.reelsisters.org. Join us for two full days of film screenings\, talk backs\, art and music! Seniors & Students use discount code: SeniorsStudents2026 (bring ID for check in). \n \nSECTION H – What Fathers Hold | Oct. 25 – 4:15 pm-5:30 pm \n\n\nLove Zuri \nDirector:  Okema T Moore \nWriter:  Nofistat Almaroof \nProducer:  Okema T Moore\, Nofistat Almaroof\, Mohamed Williams\, Nicole Harrison\, Melina Greene \nNarrative Short\,  19:54 \nLeft alone with his non-verbal daughter for the weekend\, a father’s fears about her autism give way to joy when her song teaches him how to truly hear her. \nSPEEDY! \nDirector/Writer/Producer:  Jiin OH \n Narrative Short\, 17;48 \nSeoul\, 1989. Jung-min wants to become a speed-reading prodigy\, just like Dong-hyun—the coolest guy in town\, who can finish an entire book in just 60 seconds! \nTobacco Road \nDirector/Writer:  Kiara Danae Mangum \nProducer:  Sea Mahsati and Aiyana McRae \nNarrative Short\, 18:40 \nThis short coming-of-age drama explores the relationship between Alonzo\, a young single father and his budding daughter\, Ruth who have packed their city life into a truck and are heading south to return to the rural community where he was raised. \nDuring their trip\, Alonzo makes several stops as he grapples with the challenges of his perceived failures and having to face his father. He uses nostalgia as a mask to cloak his real intentions which are not to return home but to drop Ruth off to live with her Grandfather. \nRuth\, with her nose in her sketchbook\, is curious yet fearful of her changing environment. She longs to feel a connection which she finds upon returning to her roots. After their arrival\, Alonzo’s inability to settle himself within his fathers world leads him away\, leaving Ruth with only a letter and a new world to navigate.
URL:https://reelsisters.org/event/section-h-415-pm-530-pm/
LOCATION:651 Arts\, 10 Lafayette Ave\, Brooklyn\, NY\, 11201\, United States
CATEGORIES:In-Person Film Screenings,Oct. 24-25, 2026 @651 Arts
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://reelsisters.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Photo-3-main_Speedy_04.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20261025T174000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20261025T190500
DTSTAMP:20261007T172016Z
CREATED:20261007T172016Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261007T172016Z
UID:5803-1792950000-1792955100@reelsisters.org
SUMMARY:Section I – 5:40 pm-7:05 pm
DESCRIPTION:Sunday\, October 25\, 2026 @ 651 Arts \nWhy wait in line? Purchase advance section tickets for weekend of Oct. 24-25 at 651 Arts! Reel Sisters and 651 Arts are partnering to present Reel Sisters 29th Anniversary film season! For latest info and program updates visit www.reelsisters.org. Join us for two full days of film screenings\, talk backs\, art and music! Seniors & Students use discount code: SeniorsStudents2026 (bring ID for check in). \n \nSECTION I – Rerooted | Oct. 25 – 5:40 pm-7:05 pm \n\n\nMeyolotl \nDirector/Writer:  Lorena R. Valencia  \nProducer:  Lorena R. Valencia and Karla Pedraza Jasso \nDocumentary Short\, 17:00 \nAfter years living in the US\, a filmmaker returns to her hometown to document the bond between her family and the maguey plant that has sustained them for generations. As she observes the deep-rooted bond built on mutual care\, she questions her decision to leave\, yet learns from the plant that her heart can root in new soil and still stay true to where it first beat. \nThe Balcony in Shanghai Still Burns \nDirector/Writer:  Cynthia Zhou \nProducer:  Cynthia Zhou\, Yilun Xiao\, Nightingale Nguyen \nDocumentary Short\,  20:45 \nSixteen years after leaving\, a 1.5-generation Chinese-Canadian returns to her native city alone\, seeking to reconnect with the place that once was home. \nBien Juntitios \nDirector:  Janine Mapurunga \nWriter: Janine Mapurunga and Pedro Garcia \nProducer: Pedro Garcia and Gelli Pascual \nDocumentary Short\, 28:17 \nWhile filming the Manitos\, a group of Spanish-speaking elders in Sacramento\, documentary photographer Janine Mapurunga unexpectedly loses her grandmother in Brazil. Unable to return home to grieve with her family\, she finds solace among the elders she is documenting\, who openly reflect on aging\, loss\, and the reality of mortality. \nThis bilingual short documentary weaves together two parallel journeys: Mapurunga’s intimate embrace of the Mexican Día de Muertos altar tradition as a way to process her grief\, and the elders’ candid reflections on loneliness\, friendship\, and the importance of community in the “third stage of life.”
URL:https://reelsisters.org/event/section-i-540-pm-705-pm/
LOCATION:651 Arts\, 10 Lafayette Ave\, Brooklyn\, NY\, 11201\, United States
CATEGORIES:In-Person Film Screenings,Oct. 24-25, 2026 @651 Arts
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://reelsisters.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Photo-1-Bien_Juntitos_film_graphic_A.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261104T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261104T203000
DTSTAMP:20261008T045140Z
CREATED:20261008T044705Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261008T045140Z
UID:5818-1793817000-1793824200@reelsisters.org
SUMMARY:Table Read – @BRIC
DESCRIPTION:Reel Sisters + BRIC Present An Evening of Staged Script Readings 2026\nOn Wednesday\, Nov. 4\, 2026\, from 6:30 pm-8:30 pm\, Reel Sisters of the Diaspora Film Festival & Lecture Series and BRIC Media Education will present an exciting staged reading of scripts by filmmakers from our Scriptwriting Essentials: The Art of Writing Strong Female Character Series™. Join us for an intimate conversation with the writers on their work-in-progress. Featured writers are Michele Avery\, Kmur Hardeman\, Shaunya Hartley and Thiviya Saraswati. Sandrine Dupiton\, the Reel Sisters Table Read Coordinator\, will host the evening. \nEnjoy an evening of great stories and networking! Refreshments will be available for purchase. Details will be announced closer to the date. \nThe event is free and open to the public. Seating is limited. Please RSVP in advance and arrive early. A ticket does not guarantee entry. \n \nFeatured Writers\n \nMichele Avery is a creative producer\, writer\, and director whose work centers on storytelling\, cultural memory\, and the experiences that shape how we see ourselves and one another. She is co-director of ReRooted Productions\, a cultural arts organization creating work across live performance\, film\, and community-based experiences. Her projects include the stage production Crown of Times\, the immersive Museum of Science experience What’s Hair Got to Do With It?\, and the award-winning short documentary The Free Black Women’s Library. Michele’s background also includes producing and writing for Food Network\, Cooking Channel\, and OWN. Across mediums\, she is drawn to stories that invite curiosity\, connection\, reflection\, and imagination. IG: @bklynpearl. \n  \nKMUR HARDEMAN is a native New Yorker…more or less. Her family moved from New Jersey to Queens when she was a year old\, and she’s lived in New York City’s boroughs ever since. At this point\, she considers herself qualified. \nWhen she is not writing on the subway\, she’s usually feeding her photography habit. She has also been known to model\, and is a Certified Reiki Master and Certified Feng Shui Consultant. Her job\, having recently “eliminated” her position\, has afforded her the time to figure out what the rest of her life might look like… So stay tuned. 🙂 \nIG: Kmur333 \n  \nShanya Hartley was born and raised in Brooklyn\, New York. She studied at both City College and the Fashion Institute of Technology\, earning a degree in fine arts. Her career has spanned entertainment\, fashion\, social media and she currently serves as a Manager of Branding and Marketing for a leading finance company. Beyond her professional work\, she is a dedicated community advocate\, engaging with her local community board as well as her council member and assembly member on issues affecting her neighborhood. This screenplay marks her debut as a screenwriter. IG Handle: @ShopEatandSleep \n  \nThiviya Saraswati (she/her) is a queer Eelam Tamil comedian\, lawyer\, and story-teller from Queens\, NY. She has produced her own comedy show series\, previously “Sanniyans” and most recently “Tamil Komedy Poti.” She received her JD from CUNY School of Law\, in addition to a masters in international political economy and development from Fordham University. She is a BRIC-certified community producer\, and currently working on a number of creative projects\, including a sitcom about queer people of color in New York City\, and a movie about queer Tamil revolutionaries. IG: oviya_NYC \n  \n  \nAfrican Voices Communications\, Inc. is a nonprofit arts organization devoted to presenting art\, literature\, and films by artists of color. African Voices publishes a literary magazine and presents literary readings\, art exhibitions\, and artistic workshops throughout NYC. Visit: www.africanvoices.com. \nThe organization sponsors Reel Sisters of the Diaspora Film Festival & Lecture Series\, the first Oscar-qualifying film festival in the nation devoted to women of color. Visit: www.reelsisters.org.
URL:https://reelsisters.org/event/table-read-bric-nov-4/
LOCATION:BRIC\, 647 Fulton St\, Brooklyn\, NY\, 11217\, United States
CATEGORIES:In-Person Film Screenings,Nov. 4, 2026 @BRIC
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://reelsisters.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Staged-Reading-2024-scaled.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Reel Sisters of the Diaspora":MAILTO:reelsisters@yahoo.com
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261106T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261106T173000
DTSTAMP:20261008T144958Z
CREATED:20261008T144958Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261008T144958Z
UID:5832-1793970000-1793986200@reelsisters.org
SUMMARY:Screenwriter Symposium @BRIC - Nov. 6\, 2026
DESCRIPTION:Screenwriting Symposium – Producing Your Film\nOur Screenwriting Symposium will explore producing your film and the creative possibilities of utilizing AI technologies in filmmaking. \nScreenwriting Symposium (Hybrid) – Fri.\, Nov. 6\, 2026 || 1 pm-5:30 pm @BRIC\, BK \nWe’re Hybrid this year — join us in-person or virtually! \nReel Sisters & BRIC will present a special Screenwriting Symposium for writers focusing on how to turn their script into a film on a low budget and the best practices in utlizing AI technology into creavitively producing a film. Our presenters are Kara Ford and Larry Banks. \nJoin us for an afternoon of networking while gaining access to knowledge that will enhance your career. Registration Fee: $25\, plus Eventbrite Fees. \nAI and the Future of Filmmaking: A New Era of Creative Possibilities \nPresenter: Larry Banks \nWhat role will the artist and filmmaker play in shaping the future of storytelling? \nJoin us in exploring the creative possibilities of AI\, discover emerging hybrid filmmaking technologies\, and envision a future where human imagination and artificial intelligence come together to redefine the art of cinema. \nFilmmaking is entering an extraordinary new era. From LED volume stages that transport us to distant worlds to smaller\, more versatile cameras\, technology continues to expand the boundaries of cinematic storytelling. \nNow\, artificial intelligence is opening an entirely new frontier—transforming everything from writing\, casting\, and storyboarding to cinematography\, editing\, and visual effects. Digital characters\, AI-generated environments\, and hybrid production techniques are making the once unimaginable possible. \n \n \nProducing Your Film on Any Budget\nPresenter: Kara Ford \nGain valuable information and resources on the nuts and bolts of how to produce your film on any budget. Aspiring producers and indie filmmakers looking to gain practical skills should join our interactive workshop. Kara Ford\, the Founder of Boho Chick Productions\, is the author of “How to Produce Your No/Low-Budget Film: A Simple Guide to Making a Great Film on a Shoestring Budget.” \n \nKara Ford\n\nWearing multiple hats\, Kara Ford has produced a variety of projects including short films\, a spec commercial\, promotional videos\, and feature films that include festival award winning “Life’s Passing Me By.” Kara also produced and directed a short film\, “Heads or Tails\,” which aired in TV markets across the country\, and managed the production for “Producing Juliet\,” an award-winning web series from Ward Picture Company. Kara then joined the talented team at Black Noise Media as a producer for the short film and TV series\, “The Trade\,” and the BRIC TV series\, “Soul Kings.” Kara also crafted a safety protocol for indie filmmakers during the pandemic. \nA member of New York Women in Film & Television\, Kara also hosted screenings and co-hosted an awards show for the Reel Sisters of the Diaspora Film Festival & Lecture Series\, was a volunteer and advisor to the ActNow Foundation\, and worked as the Arts and Culture Editor\, and Acting Editor-in-Chief\, for BlackandBrownNews.com (BBN)\, an award-winning news and information service. \n\n\n\nLarry Banks\nLarry Banks\, a highly respected cinematographer and filmmaker\, served on many major films as Director of Photography\, including Juice\, Strapped\, and Fly by Night\, as well as documentaries like Sembene and A Litany for Survival: The Life and Works of Audre Lorde\, and is the director of Blue Stories. He also created the look of several dynamic commercials for brands including Nike\, Levi-Strauss\, and AT&T\, alongside esteemed directors such as Spike Lee\, Forest Whitaker\, and Steve Horn.\nAfrican Voices Communications\, Inc. is a nonprofit arts organization devoted to presenting art\, literature\, and films by artists of color. African Voices publishes a literary magazine and presents literary readings\, art exhibitions\, and artistic workshops throughout NYC. Visit: www.africanvoices.com. \nThe organization sponsors Reel Sisters of the Diaspora Film Festival & Lecture Series\, the first Oscar-qualifying film festival in the nation devoted to women of color. Visit: www.reelsisters.org.
URL:https://reelsisters.org/event/screenwriter-workshop-bric/
LOCATION:BRIC\, 647 Fulton St\, Brooklyn\, NY\, 11217\, United States
CATEGORIES:In-Person Film Screenings
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://reelsisters.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/AI-Tools-Aug-2025.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Reel Sisters of the Diaspora":MAILTO:reelsisters@yahoo.com
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