Welcome to Reel Sisters of the Diaspora

Virtual Program 5 - King of Kings: Chasing Edward Jones
2023-10-28 - 2023-11-10 | Virtual Program
King of Kings: Chasing Edward Jones
Director/Writer: Harriet Marin Jones
Writers: Michel Fessler, Giles Gardner
Producers: Harriet Marin Jones, Quincy Jones, Debbie Allen
Documentary, 98 min.
A filmmaker searches for the truth about her grandfather Edward Jones, a charismatic African American who rose to the heights of financial and political prominence in Depression-era Chicago.  In shaping the destiny of a city, Ed Jones could not however escape discrimination. In conflict with both the mob and the Feds, he was forced into a life on the run.

Section A
2023-10-28 13:00 - 14:25 UTC | Columbia University, Miller Theatre, 2960 Broadway, New York, NY, 10027, United States
Dance In Circles
Writer: Yuming Zhang
Directed by: Yuming Zhang
Producer: Yuming Zhang, Ryan Rosenthal, Hanna Dzaferovic
Narrative, 8:55 min.
Two women dance a duet piece together, exploring their collective traumatic experiences through their movements.

I AM NOT OKAY
Writer: Tiffiney Davis
Directed by: Gabrielle Lansner
Producer: Ben Glickstein, Dean Taucher, Gabrielle Lansner
Documentary, 12:10 min.
A mother and son respond to the unending killings of black Americans amidst the backdrop of the protests that followed the death of George Floyd. Dance and archival photographs are woven together to evoke fear, outrage, and anger and the need for communities to come together and find solutions.

Here Is A Man
Writer: Jarvis D. Matthews
Directed by: Sideeq Heard
Producer: Jarvis D. Matthews, Joanna White-Oldham
Narrative, 18:32 min.
Donny, a young black musician, is on the cusp of becoming the greatest soul singer of the 1970’s, but the quiet dread within his own mind threatens to derail his future. This is film is inspired by the life, legacy, and music of Donny Hathaway.

City of Dreamz
Writer: Imani Celeste
Directed by: Imani Celeste
Producer: Imani Celeste
Narrative, 12:06 min.
City of Dreamz follows four Black art students telling stories of community, divine intervention, and the artistry that led them to this very moment…smoking weed in a cramped NYC apartment trying not to get caught.

RIP, LOL
Writer: Khaya Fraites
Directed by: Charles Coleman, Khaya Fraites
Producer: Hannah Looney
Narrative, 16:22 min.
, goes back home to Richmond, Virginia with her best friend Jackie as her support system, to see her parents and ‘celebrate’ what would have been her older brother’s 26th birthday. RIP, LOL is an examination of grief and how loss affects an entire family.

Section B
2023-10-28 14:30 - 16:15 UTC | Columbia University, Miller Theatre, 2960 Broadway, New York, NY, 10027, United States
Confirmation
Writer: Nana Duffuor
Directed by: Nana Duffuor
Producer: Yaél Bermudez
Narrative, 11:49
Maame is a God-fearing mother who wants nothing but the best for her son, Kojo. But when he befriends an out and proud, expressive young man in their church, Maame must confront her fear of accepting Kojo’s burgeoning sexual identity or risk losing him.

Sunday Dinner
Director/Writer: Monique Needham
Producer: Kashif Boothe
Narrative, 18:30 min.
On paper, life for Maya looks perfect: an athlete, popular, has a loving family, and is head over heels for her girlfriend Jasmine. However, she’s about to risk it all by inviting Jasmine around to Sunday Dinner. With the help of her grandmother, with whom she shares a special bond, will dinner with her quirky family go smoothly, or will they scare Jasmine off?

Ring Shout Let The Circle Be Unbroken
Writers: Olubayo Jackson, Christopher Miles, Iyabo Kwayana
Producer/Director: Olubayo Jackson
Documentary, 17 min.
The exploration of sacred dance in Africa and diaspora leads a NYC teacher on a worldwide journey to reconnect severed cultural ties. Her quest to document the Ring Shout, an age-old praise dance rooted in African Spiritual Traditions leds her to a rural Georgia museum where she discovers a long lost branch of her family and her Gullah Geechee roots. There she must decide if she will honor her elder cousin’s dying wish and embrace the mantle of carrying his legacy and these vanishing traditions forward.

With Woman
Producer/Director: Mia Harvey
Producer: Mia Harvey
Documentary, 27:45 min.
The long-established tradition of African-American home-birth midwifery has been outlawed in the State of Illinois. At the same time, Black women suffer massively disproportionate maternal mortality in US hospital settings. ‘With Woman’ follows Star, a Black, direct-entry midwife, who has taken up the cause of providing Black women with home-births. Star guides Raven through her last month of her pregnancy, from prenatal visits to the astonishingly intimate and agonisingly perilous experience of her birth on the kitchen floor. Felony charges and being separated from her four children are at risk for Star if there is a poor outcome for mother or baby. Through intimate observational black and white footage, the film documents an act of both defiance and radical self-empowerment by Black women—mothers and midwives—in a country so hostile to their very existence.

Section C & D
2023-10-28 16:30 - 20:00 UTC | Columbia University, Miller Theatre, 2960 Broadway, New York, NY, 10027, United States
Join Reel Sisters and While We Are Still Here for Starring Harlem, a daylong film festival, on October 28 from 1pm -8 pm at the Miller Theatre at Columbia University. The afternoon will include film and music celberating the Harlem’s rich film and arts heritage.
Section C – 4:30 p.m.-6:05 p.m. EDT
The Five Demands
Directors: Greta Schiller and Andrea Weiss
Documentary, 75 min.
Directed by Greta Schiller and Andrea Weiss, The Five Demands (2023) revisits the untold story of the explosive student takeover and proves that a handful of ordinary citizens can band together to take action and effect meaningful change. In April 1969, a small group of Black and Puerto Rican students shut down the City College of New York, an elite public university located right in the heart of Harlem. Fueled by the revolutionary fervor sweeping the nation, the strike soon turned into an uprising, leading to the extended occupation of the campus, classes being canceled, students being arrested, and the resignation of the college president. Through archival footage and modern-day interviews, we follow the students’ struggle against the institutional racism that, for over a century, had shut out people of color from this and other public universities.
Moderator: Karen D. Taylor is a writer, curator, and multi-genre artist who has lived in Harlem for over thirty years. She is the founder and executive director of While We Are Still Here, a Harlem-based, heritage-preservation non-profit. Inspired by the national discussion on “gentrification,” Karen is moved to steward the creation of programming that wraps the arts and humanities in a package that is a gift to the future.
Section D – 6:20 p.m.-8:00 p.m. EDT
Sundays at the Triple Nickel
(13 minutes)
Written by Jess Colquhoun and directed by Colquhoun and Adam Rachlitz, Sundays at the Triple Nickel(2020) is a documentary short that features Marjorie Eliot, a woman who is making sure her apartment building’s iconic jazz legacy lives on in the iconic neighborhood of Sugar Hill, Harlem. Marjorie and her son have been hosting jazz concerts in her apartment every Sunday for the past twenty-six years—a pursuit of overcoming grief through music. This film tells the story of the woman behind the piano, and how Marjorie’s generous vision came to be.
Mary Lou Williams: Lady Who Swings the Band
(70 minutes)
Directed by Carol Bash, Mary Lou Williams: Lady Who Swings the Band (2015) features the life and legacy of jazz pianist, Mary Lou Williams, a genius ahead of her time. From child prodigy to “Boogie-Woogie Queen” to groundbreaking composer to mentoring some of the greatest musicians of all time, she never ceased to astound those who heard her play. But for a Black woman in the early 1900s, life as a star did not come easy.

Section A
2023-10-29 13:00 - 14:40 UTC | Maysles Documentary Center, 343 Lenox Ave., Malcolm X Blvd., NY, 10027, United States
Saturday
Director/Writer: Shandrea Evans
Producer: Lexx Truss, Kendra Mitchell
Narrative, 8:35
Feeling homesick after moving to Los Angeles, a young woman begrudgingly visits her great-aunt where she discovers friendship, communal history, and her new city through a fresh lens.

Crown
Writer: Nofisat Almaroof, Karisma Jay
Directed by: Nofisat Almaroof, Karisma Jay
Producers: Nofisat Almaroof, Karisma Jay, Nirine S. Brown
Narrative, 20 min.
Consumed by ballet, Afro-PUNK , and futuristic style- the last thing on Nia’s mind is her hair. her ex 90s prom queen mother Robyn however, is a different story. After learning Nia’s mane needs to be slayed for a dance audition that could change their
lives, Robyn initiates Nia into the tense world of black hair. It’s giving Pandora’s box at the beauty supply store and rollercoaster ride on wash day, all towards the glory of the perfect stage bun. On audition day an unexpected malfunction pushes Nia to fight for her life on the dance floor. This struggle helps Nia and Robyn finally uncover who really wears the crown.

How I Got Over
Director/Writer: Valerie Udeozor
Producers: University Of Louisville and Valerie Udeozor
Documentary, 22 min.
Delores Gordon Alleyne now Age 90 is the first black woman to graduate from University of Louisville Medical School in 1957. In the short documentary narrated with rap music, her story is used to promote health professions in the black community.

Hearsay
Director/Writer: Banban Cheng
Producer: Sheena Alexis Suarez
Narrative, 17 min.
Set in a Chinatown beauty salon, “Hearsay” follows Lili, an outgoing and talkative hairdresser who gets herself in trouble when she gossips about a customer.

Heather’s Voice
Director/Writer: Shicong Zhu
Producers: Robin Wang, Kara Fein, Lameng Bei, Ihsanul Huq
Narrative, 17 min.
Tasked with promoting a tech company’s VR innovations, a young scientist risks her job when she decides to use her creations to faithfully serve a grief-stricken family – rather than follow the company’s wish to stage a publicity stunt.

Section B
2023-10-29 14:50 - 16:12 (America/Halifax) | Maysles Documentary Center, 343 Lenox Ave., Malcolm X Blvd., NY, 10027, United States
Blueberry
Writer: Stephanie Glover
Directed by: Stephanie Glover
Producer: Stephanie Glover
Animation, Short; 5 min.
A determined, practical boy has a change of heart when his favorite food comes to life.

Passenger Seat
Writer: Neha Gautam, Angbeen Saleem
Directed by: Neha Gauam
Producer: Saleem Gondal
Narrative Short, 18:13 min.
A young Pakistani girl from Queens, New York finds her relationship to her father shifting as his taxi business starts to decline with the rise of ride-share apps.

Look Like You
Director/Writer: Snigdha Kapoor
Producer: Pulkit Datta, Lauren Sowa
Narrative, 12:40 min.
While visiting the adoptive family of her eight-year-old biological son, Tara overcomes the hesitation of his parents to relay advice she gathered from growing up as a queer outcast.

Everything Goes Dark
Writer: Mackenzie Chang Russell, Alex Casimir
Directed by: Alex Casimir
Producer: Lexi Notrica
Narrative, 15 min.
A Black high school student prepares to take her senior yearbook photo when insecurities and a tense friendship push her towards a breaking point.

Blue Hour
Writer: J.D Shields
Directed by: J.D Shields
Producer: Diana Ward, Maya Korn, Lauren Avinoam
Duration: 15 min.
Two personal journeys intersect when a struggling young photographer is hired for a cheap last minute portrait gig. The unfolding photo session, while transient, leaves an indelible mark on both women.

Section C
2023-10-29 16:20 - 17:55 (America/Halifax) | Maysles Documentary Center, 343 Lenox Ave., Malcolm X Blvd., NY, 10027, United States
Reunion
Directors/Writers: Timothy S Naylor, Zainab Jah
Producers: Djaka Souaré, Timothy S Naylor, Zainab Jah
Narrative, 15 min.
Isata, a West African immigrant living in the Bronx, while watching a morning talk show recognizes the guest, bestselling author, Mamadou Kargbo. He triggers in her deep memories of surviving a civil war. She wonders, was he once the child soldier who destroyed her family? Setting out to find him, if she is right – will she seek vengeance or grant forgiveness?

Incomplete
Director/Writer: Zoey Martinson
Producer: Korey Jackson, Anne Troupe
Narrative, 10 min.
Evan is on house arrest in a haunted house. Or so he thinks? Evan’s sister went out of her way to rent him a house off the DOC database, in a boughie-ass suburban neighborhood so he could serve the remainder of his sentence in the Jail Diversion Program on house arrest. When his breathalyzer Machine starts to act strange, the Polaroid pictures it routinely prints suggest that Evan is not alone. A faceless figure is also occupying this suburban home. Evan must make a decision to either stay and face his fears or end up serving his remaining time in Jail.

Ghosted
Writer: Charles Lane, Eric Ables, Marquette Jones, Ariel Davis
Directed by: Marquette Kayleen Jones
Producer: Marquette Jones, Bailey Smith, Safiya Songhai, Marques Koranteng
Duration: 9:40 min.
It’s always hard to get your crush to notice you… especially when they have a thing for the un-dead.

Distance
Director/Writer: Jung-Hsin Hu
Animation, 4 min.
Category: Animation, Short, Student
Distance portrays our shared memories – social distancing. It reveals what medical staff undertook during the early Covid-19 time, and how they sacrificed their family time for a better world.

Pandemic Bread
DIRECTOR: Zeinabu Irene Davis
Writers: Marc Arthur Chery and Marivi Soliven
Producers: Nicoletta Vangelisti, Christina Ree and Wayne Yang
Narrative, 20 min.
A short drama about a Filipino interpreter taking an end-of-life call with a doctor and an elderly woman with COVID-19. A story of resilience and hope told through the eyes of the interpreter who bakes bread during the call.

The Love Machine
Director/Writer: Jasmine Lynea
Producer: Jackie Payton
Narrative, 10 min.
Inside of a sleeping ancestor’s memory or dream… Present-day, Philadelphia. Nasir Smith, a teenage scientist, and influencer, desperately wants to challenge intergenerational trauma, by healing his family’s past to welcome back love and compassion in their home. In his family’s basement, Nasir goes Live! presenting his new invention to the world, called The Love Machine. The Love Machine’s intentions resemble a time machine, but here, participants specifically go back to the past to reframe moments of their childhood that caused them trauma.

Section D
2023-10-29 18:00 - 19:00 (America/Halifax) | Maysles Documentary Center, 343 Lenox Ave., Malcolm X Blvd., NY, 10027, United States
In remembrance of our beloved friend and mentor Pearl Bowser, we will offer a special dedication and screening of Midnight Ramble and chat about her impact on our professional and personal lives. Film historian, curator, author and archivist, Pearl’s love for preserving the history of independent Black filmmaking and uncovering Oscar Micheaux’s legacy is unparalleled. Pearl’s Archives are at the Smithsonian National Museum of History and Culture.
Our dedication to Pearl will wrap up Reel Sisters season on Sunday, Oct. 29 at 6 pm. The screening and chat will be held at Maysles Documentary Center, 343 Lenox Ave. Please RSVP as space is limited.
Midnight Ramble
Directors: Pearl Bowser and Bestor Cram
Writer: Clyde Taylor
Documentary, 60 min.
A documentary about the history of African American race films during the Golden age of Hollywood. Featured artists include Toni Cade Bambara, Robert Hall and Elton Fax.
About Pearl
Filmmaker, scholar, preservationist, and collector Pearl Bowser was among the earliest proponents of reviving critical interest in the “race movies” of Oscar Micheaux and other early African American filmmakers, linking them to more contemporary work. This unique compilation inspired by Bowser’s collection (donated to the Smithsonian in 2012) includes short films by Julie Dash (Illusions), John W. Fletcher Jr. & Hortense “Tee” Beveridge (The Hands of Inge), Cheryl Dunye (She Don’t Fade, Untitled Portrait), Harry Gant (By Right of Birth (fragments), American Negro Theater (A People’s Playhouse), Charles Hobson (Soul Food for Christmas from Like It Is (outtakes)), and Bowser herself (The Guest).
Information courtesy of Film Forum and National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Reel Sisters Celebrates Women In Hip Hop
2024-05-17 17:30 - 20:30 UTC | Riverside Theater, 91 Claremont Avenue, New York, NY, 10027, United States
On Fri., May 17, 2024 at 5:30 pm, join Reel Sisters for an evening of readings, and screening of Ladies First: A Story of Women in Hip Hop (Netflix Docuseries, Ep. 4) and Black Love Manifesto written and directed by Liza Jessie Peterson. CR Capers, founder of the Hip Hop Film Festival, will lead a talk on women’s contributions to Hip Hop music with Crystal Whaley, co-executive producer of episode 4 of Ladies First, DJ Franchella, Liza Jessie Peterson, director/writer of Black Love Manifesto, and Evangeline Lawson, photographer and front cover artist of African Voices’ Hip Hop @50th Issue. The event will be held at Riverside Theatre, 91 Claremont Ave. in Harlem.

Reel Sisters Virtual Showcase 2024 - Program 1
2024-10-05 - 2024-10-31 | Virtual Program
Reel Sisters is proud to present our selection of fine virtual films that you can enjoy from your living room or couch! Each section is $5 and no extra charge for film lovers who purchased All Access Passes!
The collection will be available from Oct. 5 through Oct. 31, 2024 (11:59 pm EST)!
Invite friends over and have a watch party!

VIRTUAL PROGRAM 1

Melanie & Kyles
Producer: Robiii World, Tiara West, Marlena Robinson Director: Tiara West
Writers: Tiara West, Ashani Roberts
narrative, 7 min.
Amidst the captivating world of poetry, Melanie and Kyle’s love flourishes. They explore the depth of their emotions through verses that intertwine their souls, revealing a timeless bond of passion, trust, and poetic beauty that transcends their mortal existence.

A Dios
Producers: Christine Rodriguez, Jen Viens Director/Writer: Christine Rodriguez
narrative, 17 min.
A former jazz diva, forgotten by time, is spending the last years of her life in a seniors’ residence with an orderly as her only friend. Unfortunately, she fails to keep her diva ways in check and risks losing the only person she cares about, with time running out to make amends… A short film in English and Kreyol, set in Montreal (Tio’tia:ke), Canada. Available with English or French subtitles.

Hedgehog
Exec. Producers: Rakie Ayola, Adam Smethurst
Director/Writer: Adam Smethurst
narrative, 17 min.
Poised between adolescence and adulthood and living with the challenges of NF1, Josie’s only connection with the world is a love of Shakespeare. When new girl Ash shows up at drama class, Josie seizes the chance to change her story.

Breathe
Producers: Jamie Burton-Oare, Shannon E Riggs
Director/Writer: Jamie Burton-Oare
narrative, 16 min.
For Eric, it is a normal day in his life/neighborhood. For the world, it’s the day Eric faces the reality of taking his last breath.

Reel Sisters Virtual Showcase 2024 - Program 2
2024-10-05 - 2024-10-31 | Virtual Program
Reel Sisters is proud to present our selection of fine virtual films that you can enjoy from your living room or couch! Each section is $5 and no extra charge for film lovers who purchased All Access Passes!
The collection will be available from Oct. 5 through Oct. 31, 2024 (11:59 pm EST)!

Invite friends over and have a watch party!
VIRTUAL PROGRAM 2

Hogtown
Producer: Ania Jamila Director/Writer: Josiane Blanc
narrative, 21 min.
Forced to leave her hometown temporarily, Manuela finds it difficult to adapt to her new surroundings. She has only one thing on her mind: moving back to Toronto. However, an unexpected encounter turns Manuela’s life upside down, calling into question everything she’s known up to now.

Gods of the Universe
Producers: Cathy SitaRam, Charles Mawungwa
Director/Writer: Cathy SitaRam
narrative, 20 min.
Advanced beings must train star children to guide humanity to the next stage of evolution before a catastrophic event destroys Earth, but their methods differ and time is running out.

Melikhaya
Producers: Palesa Shangase, Katie Taylor Directors: Liziwe Damba, Mallory Myers
Writer: Liziwe Damba
narrative, 15 min.
Born into a culture that values male leadership above all, Melikhaya finds it difficult to find her place as a strong African woman. When her brother makes choices that impact the entire community, she is forced to make a tough decision.

Reel Sisters Virtual Showcase 2024 - Program 3
2024-10-05 - 2024-10-31 | Virtual Program
Reel Sisters is proud to present our selection of fine virtual films that you can enjoy from your living room or couch! Each section is $5 and no extra charge for film lovers who purchased All Access Passes!

The collection will be available from Oct. 5 through Oct. 31, 2024 (11:59 pm EST)!
Invite friends over and have a watch party!
VIRTUAL PROGRAM 3

The Narrows
Producer/Director/Writer: Stephanie Allison Daye
documentary, 87 min.
A harrowing account of Canada’s worst case of environmental racism- the displacement and destruction of the people of Africville. In this account, the people of Africville tell their own stories while the producers record the fall-out from a 30 year old case that has reached the ears of not only the present Mayor but all the way up to certain VIPs of the Canadian Parliament.

Reel Sisters Virtual Showcase 2024 - Program 4
2024-10-05 - 2024-10-31 | Virtual Program
Reel Sisters is proud to present our selection of fine virtual films that you can enjoy from your living room or couch! Each section is $5 and no extra charge for film lovers who purchased All Access Passes!
The collection will be available from Oct. 5 through Oct. 31, 2024 (11:59 pm EST)!

Invite friends over and have a watch party!
VIRTUAL PROGRAM 4 – Pregnancy & Birth

Ya Hanouni
Directors: Lyna Tadount, Sofian Chouaib
Writers: Lyna Tadount, Sofian Chouaib
narrative, 2:38 min.
While the Mom and the Dad try to put their baby to sleep, a competition arises between them: who will manage to get the baby to say the first word?

Await
Producers: Raúl Abner Samrah, Samara Pérez Santiago
Director/Writer: Samara Pérez Santiago
narrative, 14 min.
Lili was convinced by her doctor, boyfriend and parents to have a baby she did not plan or want. As she awaits in her birthing pool (her parent’s bathtub), Lili calls her loved ones and figures out that they will all be absent for absurd reasons.

Renacer
Producers: Kelsey McGee, Bobbie Green, Ximena Davis
Director/Writer: Jenniffer J Gonzalez Martinez
narrative, 19 min.
Renacer ignites a fiery exploration of women’s raw truths, casting a spotlight on the electrifying journey of Valeria, a Puerto Rican migrant who boldly embraces her right to choose with an abortion, only to collide head-on with the searing stigma society thrusts upon women who dare to own their bodies.

Reel Sisters Virtual Showcase 2024 - Program 5
2024-10-05 - 2024-10-31 | Virtual Program
Reel Sisters is proud to present our selection of fine virtual films that you can enjoy from your living room or couch! Each section is $5 and no extra charge for film lovers who purchased All Access Passes!

The collection will be available from Oct. 5 through Oct. 31, 2024 (11:59 pm EST)!
Invite friends over and have a watch party!
VIRTUAL PROGRAM 5

Hair
Producer: Amy E. Powell Directors: Wendy Mateo, Lorena Diaz
Writers: Wendy Mateo, Lorena Diaz
comedy, 6 min.
In Mari’s salon, it’s just another day where they spill the tea about life. But today Christina comes in late and through her hair mishaps they rally around her when the truth is revealed.

Petting Zoo
Producer: Alexus L. Addison Director: Malcolm Lott
Writer: Sherryle Kiser- Jackson
narrative, 15 min.
Petting Zoo is about a young African-American professional named Rochelle, who is adjusting to her new role as Assistant Director while navigating a manager who creates a hostile work environment through micromanagement and microaggressions regarding the appearance of her natural hair.

Have I Swallowed Your Dreams
Producer/Director/Writer: Clara Chan
narrative, 6 min.
A poetic conversation between an immigrant daughter and her mother about sacrifices and dreams.

Dragonfly
Producers: Julia Morizawa, James Babbin, Brian Sturges
Director/Writer: Julia Morizawa
animation, 13 min.
A young girl learns of her mother’s survival of the Tokyo Firebombing on March 9-10, 1945 through the eyes of her brother’s spirit.

KULTUR
Producers: Yety Akinola, Maya Gwynn, Alia Bennett
Director: Asari Aibangbee Writers: Asari Aibangbee, Natalie Miles
narrative, 19 min.
A well respected white therapist suggests a social media therapy app, called KULTUR, for two of her patients, both young and Black. One Trans/non-binary, the other Cisgender femme.

Reel Sisters Virtual Showcase 2024 - Program 6
2024-10-05 - 2024-10-31 | Virtual Program
Reel Sisters is proud to present our selection of fine virtual films that you can enjoy from your living room or couch! Each section is $5 and no extra charge for film lovers who purchased All Access Passes!

The collection will be available from Oct. 5 through Oct. 31, 2024 (11:59 pm EST)!
Invite friends over and have a watch party!
VIRTUAL PROGRAM 6

WELL
Producers: Toni Cunningham, Eden Sabolboro, Paige Wood
Directors: Toni Cunningham, Eden Sabolboro
Writer: Toni Cunningham
narrative, 12 min.
WELL depicts the story of one Black American family through 50 years as they fight to stay healthy through three different crises. Through the Tuskegee Experiment, the Flint Water Crisis, and now Covid-19, the family has survived amidst endless obstacles to their health. After losing a loved one to Covid-19, they must reckon with the harm and distrust that has permeated their family for decades.

FIR
Producers: Adéla Konečná, Barbora Smotlachová
Director/Writer: Xueni Yang
narrative, 21 min.
In a suburb of Prague, a lonely girl encounters a lost foreign young man. Despite the age difference, she finds a missing sense of belonging through their shared doubts about home.

The Golden Boy
Producer: Earleatha Oppon
Director/Writer: Elizabeth Peace
narrative, 15 min.
A family drama, about a non-verbal autistic six-year-old boy who with the help of his older sister, proves that his high support needs can’t stop his potential.

From Yard – “Same School”
Producers: Phaedra Benford, Norman Hamilton, Andrea Hamilton, Patrick A. Aitcheson, David Heron, David Walcott
Director: Leland Benford
Writers: Noel E. Dunn, Maya Hall, David G. Heron
narrative, 11:45 min.
A Jamaican immigrant now working in New York as a parole officer is forced to make the tough decision to take in one of his parolees despite them both growing up in the same city of Kingston.

Skate
Producer: Remi R.M Moses Director: Kasey-Anais Blondell
Writer: Kasey-Anais Blondell
narrative, 11 min.
Thea, a lonely 19-year-old girl, struggles to learn how to skateboard on her own. When Thea meets a welcoming community of skater girls at a house party, she is empowered to deal with her social anxiety through skateboarding.

Harlem Kick Off 2024 – Miller Theatre
2024-10-10 18:30 - 22:00 (America/New_York) | Columbia University, Miller Theatre, 2960 Broadway, New York, NY, 10027, United States
Reel Sisters & While We Are Still Here Celebrates The Power of Love & Community
Evening Highlights Include Harlem Fragments, The Dancing Teacher, Superman Doesn’t Steal & It Was All A Dream!
On Thurs., Oct. 10, 2024 at 6:30 pm, While We Are Still Here & Reel Sisters will officially kick off our A State of Grace season in Harlem with a fine selection of shorts culminating in the feature presentation of dream hampton’s It Was All A Dream, an archival documentary featuring legendary rap artists The Notorious BIG, Snoop, Mobb Dee and Method Man from Wu-Tang. Tickets are only $5 for our community Harlem kick off!

Reel Sisters Showcase 2024 – Section A

The Dancing Teacher
Producer: Rui Dong-Scott Director/Writer: YuHan Tsai
narrative, 12 min.
Ballet student Nana discovers that her teacher, Julia, an Asian dancer is facing financial struggles that jeopardize her teaching. Nana’s admiration of Julia is tested when she witnesses Julia stealing from other students during the break. Nana decides to hold on to her secret, using it to manipulate Julia into giving her solo lessons.

Kurta Pants
Director/Writer: Chhaya Shirish Nene Producers: Chhaya Nene, Linda Palmer, Deon van Rooyen and Andrew Onochie.
comedy, 5 min.
A girl is bringing her boyfriend home for dinner. But will her family accept him for all of who he is? In this fast paced comedy, two people from two different backgrounds test their relationship like it’s never been tested before.

Superman Doesn’t Steal
Director/Writer: Tamika Lamison Producers: Chris Beal, Dominique DeLeon, Carol Shine, Ben Ephraim
narrative, 19 min.
Based on true events, Superman Doesn’t Steal is a coming of age story, set during the 1970’s Atlanta child murders- as seen through the eyes of 9 year old Harriet & her brother, who are fascinated with superheroes. However, when they experience a troubling series of events- the impact on their family leaves emotional scars and causes them both to grow up fast as they redefine their definitions of heroes, villains and yes- even Superman.

Harlem Fragments
Director: Cameron Tyler Carr Producers: Flor Tejada, Collin Meath, Ben Thompson, Salma Qarnain
Writers: Wes Andre Goodrich, Danielle Therese Dougé
narrative, 17 min.
An Afro-futurist scrapbook storytelling of a Harlem Black family’s beautiful destruction during the 2008 recession. A natural disaster so mesmerizing you can’t look away from the tragedy. Based on true events.

Oren’s Way
Director: Keika Lee Producer: Eun Bi Chang
Writer: Anna Thorup
animation, 17 min.
A clever princess must capture a magical Golden Fox in order to save her kingdom from eternal sadness but on her journey, she conquers obstacles – the last of which reveals a hidden truth about herself.

Two of Diamonds
Director: Katrina Montgomery Producer: Clairesa Clay
Writers: Katrina Montgomery, Sonya Davis
“Two of Diamonds” revolves around El, a woman coping with the recent loss of her mother.
About the Presenters
While We Are Still Here is a 501(c)(3) organization that includes long-term residents of 409 and 555 Edgecombe Avenue—the average number of years of residence is thirty. Non-resident members are interested in helping to preserve the grand history of these important sites.
When we began, in 2015, our work was, chiefly, focused on 409 and 555 Edgecombe Avenue, but, over time, due to the input of our neighbors, we broadened the scope to include Harlem, in general. And in including more of Harlem, we seek to expand the panorama of its historical narrative, because the lens continues to be tightly focused on the Renaissance of the 1920s; the ravages of 1960s/70s-era drug addiction and dealing (and later, the crack epidemic); the crime and poverty; and now gentrification—but Harlem, in reality, is so much more than all of these things.
Visit: www.whilewearestillhere.org
African 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.
The 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.

Oct. 10 - Section B - One Town At A Time
2024-10-10 20:15 - 22:15 (America/New_York) | Columbia University, Miller Theatre, 2960 Broadway, New York, NY, 10027, United States
Thursday, October 10, 2024, Columbia University Miller Theater
In celebration of Reel Sisters 27th Anniversary Season, we present an afternoon of films by women of color from across the globe.

SECTION B – One Town At A Time – 8:15 pm-10:15 pm
One Town At A Time
Producer/Director/Writer: Roxana Walker-Canton
documentary, 65 min.
One Town At A Time is a documentary for our time. In an era of political unrest and economic insecurity, Americans question American cultural and socio-political identity. Filmmaker Roxana Walker-Canton connects present political and economic struggles to a long history of African American protest against racial discrimination and disenfranchisement. One Town At A Time uses one small New England town’s struggles to change local politics to show the power of local organizing and the power of the ballot. If you want change in your community, you have to have a stake in the game.

Oct. 19 – Section A – Surviving the System
2024-10-19 13:00 - 14:25 (America/New_York) | Spike Lee Screening Room, 1 University Plz, Brooklyn, NY, 11201, United States
Oct. 19, 2024 – Spike Lee Screening Room, LIU

SECTION A – Surviving the System – 1 pm-2:25 pm

How to Sue the Khan
Director: John Beder Producer: Raji Ramanathan, Ben Crump, Cameron S. Mitchell
documentary, 34 min.
From Producer Ben Crump. America’s first hate group, the Ku Klux Klan, dealt out hatred and violence for over a century without penalty – until five Black women and a young Black civil rights lawyer finally forced them to pay for their crimes. The strength of these women and the groundbreaking 1982 civil case set forth by their attorney established a legal precedent that paved the road for today’s fight against organized hate.

Judging Juries (Invited Film)
Producer/Director: Abby Ginzberg
Many criminal defendants are forced to stand trial without a true cross section of the community on a jury. In Oakland, CA this means there are often NO Black people in the jury pool. In California, jurors are only paid $15 per day, making jury service financially impossible for many working and low-income members of the community.

Resilience
Producer/Director: Julia O’Farrow
10 min., documentary
I have an on-going project “Tee-shirt tales” which examines stories behind tee-shirt wearers and creators. On this journey I’ve met a few creators of tees, mainly artists that create tee-shirts. The three artists featured in this documentary share the trait of overcoming obstacles in the pursuit of their dreams.

Oct. 19 – Section B - Sisters on Wheels
2024-10-19 14:35 - 15:45 (America/New_York) | Spike Lee Screening Room, 1 University Plz, Brooklyn, NY, 11201, United States
Oct. 19, 2024 – Spike Lee Screening Room, LIU

SECTION B – Sisters On Wheels – 2:35 pm-3:45 pm

The Solace of Sisterhood
Director: Geneva Peschka, Anna Andersen
Producers: Geneva Peschka, Anna Andersen, Jeremy Blum
documentary, 10 min.
The Solace of Sisterhood follows the Caramel Curves, an all-Black female biker crew in New Orleans, as they defy societal norms by embracing their multifaceted identities. This short documentary explores the lives of co-founders Shanika “Tru” Beatty and Nakosha “Coco” Curry, uncovering their authenticity and vulnerability. The Solace of Sisterhood stands as a compelling testament to the pursuit of finding freedom through legacy and the art of riding.

A Race in the Sun
Producer/Director: K. Nicole Mills
documentary, 20 min.
An exploration of cycling culture through the eyes of Ayesha McGowan who rose through the ranks of the New York City underground cycling world to break barriers as the world’s first African American woman to become a professional cyclist.

The Jam
Director/Writer: Sasha J Manning
Producers: Sasha J Manning, Sass Wright
narrative, 12 min.
At a girls’ night out roller-skating, a young woman becomes distracted by her boyfriend’s looming presence and must decide whether to leave her abusive relationship.

Sunflower Girl
Director/Writer: Holly M. Kaplan
Producers: Holly M. Kaplan, Seika Paradeis
narrative, 13 min.
Rosie, a 13-year-old Chinese-American girl, embarks on a skateboarding escapade through the streets of New York with her crush and his best friend – at the cost of abandoning her little sister and never delivering a forgotten lunchbox.

Oct. 19 - Section C - Family Friendly Shorts
2024-10-19 16:00 - 16:55 (America/New_York) | Spike Lee Screening Room, 1 University Plz, Brooklyn, NY, 11201, United States
Oct. 19, 2024 – Spike Lee Screening Room, LIU

SECTION C – Family Friendly Shorts

Lil’ RED is RIDING the wrong way in the HOOD!
Producer/Director/Writer: Venus Jones
animated film, 7 min.
Lil Red is Riding the Wrong Way in the Hood is a gender and Hip Hop twist on a classic cautionary tale, and it begins when an adventurous little boy gets lost in an urban jungle and runs into a “wolf in sheep’s clothing” and a battle of wits begins. Childhood labor and public safety may sound like heavy topics, but they’re presented in an approachable manner in this timely and important project.

Brownies
Director/Writer: Aisha Ford
Producers: Preston Lee, Carole Murphy
narrative, 13 min.
Set in 1983 at camp, Snot (12) and her all-black girl scout troop seek revenge on an all white privileged troop for calling them a racial slur. However, things take a left turn which leads to a shocking truth.

Hooky
Director/Writer: Princess Usanga
Producers: Sam Brave, Timothy Mark Davis, Brianna Dooley
narrative, 8 min.
‘Goody two shoes’ high school freshman, Nora, agrees to play ‘hooky’ with her rebellious friend, Renee. Their day of skipping school in Miami in 1995 tests their friendship as they navigate through a series of back-to-back calamities. Nora’s struggle with being a second generation Haitian trying to assimilate to American culture hits new heights when she risks her grandparents catching her skipping school.

Butt
Producer/Director/Writer: Lulu Chen
narrative, 10 min.
A dumb girl whose fantasy about pure emotions and love is broken by the cruel reality as she sees the changes of her beloved neighbor, and she chooses to yield to reality, society, and humanity.

Oct. 19 - Section D - The Magic of Music in Film
2024-10-19 18:30 - 19:30 (America/New_York) | Kumble Theater, LIU, 1 University Plz, Brooklyn, 11201, United States
REEL SISTERS – Section D – The MAGIC of MUSIC IN FILM – 6:30 pm-7:30 pm

Experience the Magic of Music in Film!
Presented by Reel Sisters of the Diaspora Film Festival and the LIU Media Arts Dept., this special screening explores how music transforms storytelling. Enjoy a captivating lineup featuring Solo Act, a short film by LIU Media Arts students starring Guitar Gabby of Guitar Gabby & The TxLips, Centerplay, an experimental work by Vie Boheme, and an excerpt from the feature film He Looked Like a Postcard, written by and starring jessica Care moore. Don’t miss this unique event where music and film come together for an unforgettable experience!
Please join us at 7:40 pm for a special screening of “He Looked Like a Postcard”!

Solo Act
Producer: Larry Banks, Kenneth LaZebnik, Kmur Hardeman, Marjorie Clarke
Director: Hope Oliade Wilson
Writers: Martin Majeske, Rachel Fisher, Sean Pollock, Roshan Singh, Rockella Sanon, Sandra Donda Merino
narrative, 22 min.
Punk musician Luci flees Georgia for Brooklyn to enter a contest she may not be ready for.

CENTERPLAY
Writer: Vie Boheme
Directors: Vie Boheme, Charles Fatunbi. Producer: Vie Boheme
experimental, 20 min.
CENTERPLAY is an enigmatic one-woman performance featuring vignettes that blend storytelling, song, dance, and poetry. It weaves a rich emotional tapestry, immersing viewers in the dark, pivotal moments of questioning and growth in the lives of four Black women.

Oct. 19 - Section E - He Looked Like a Postcard
2024-10-19 19:40 - 21:40 (America/New_York) | Kumble Theater, LIU, 1 University Plz, Brooklyn, 11201, United States
Sat., Oct. 19, 2024 • 7:40 pm-9:40 pm @Kumble Theater, LIU
SECTION E – He Looked Like A Postcard

Reel Sisters is proud to present a special Brooklyn screening of He Looked Like A Postcard written by jessica care moore!

He Looked Like A Postcard
Director: Qasim Basir Producers: jessica Care moore, Gingi Rochelle, Lasana Hotep, Samantha Basir and Eve Ensler
Writer: jessica Care moore
narrative, 96 min.
Accomplished Poet and newly single mom, Serendipity, returns home to Detroit with her 10 year old son Idris to find peace and meets a popular muralist who happens to look like a postcard given to her from a close friend. A self love story about the power of using your imagination to create the life you want, Serendipity chooses to manifest her own reality with the stroke of a pen. The film stars jessica Care moore and Tobias Truvillion in the leading roles.
ABOUT THE DIRECTOR
Qasim Basir is an American filmmaker. He wrote and directed Mooz-lum (2011) starring Danny Glover and Nia Long about an African-American Muslim family and how their lives are changed by the September 11 attacks. The film received nominations from the NAACP Image Awards and Black Reel Awards.
Basir also wrote and directed Destined (2016) starring Cory Hardrict. Basir won Best Director at the American Black Film Festival.
Basir’s film A Boy, A Girl, A Dream starring Omari Hardwick and Meagan Good was selected for the 2018 Sundance Film Festival.
Director Statement
When I read this script from award winning poet Jessica Care moore, I knew I wanted to direct it. This is definitely her story, and it’s one we hope many artists and women will be inspired by. We both have a deep love for the City of Detroit and making this film happen during the pandemic here was an inspirational labor of love.

Oct. 20 - Section A - Service
2024-10-20 13:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Center For Fiction, 15 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn, NY, 11217, United States
Sunday, October 20, 2024, Center for Fiction
In celebration of Reel Sisters 27th Anniversary Season, we’re thrilled to host our Sunday afternoon screenings at the Center For Fiction, 15 Lafayette Ave. in Brooklyn (across the street from the Brooklyn Academy of Music).
Snacks, baked goods, tea, coffee and other treats will be available in the cafe!

SECTION A – Service – 1 pm-3 pm

Jellyfish and Lobster
Producer: Elizabeth Rufai Director/Writer: Yasmin Afifi
narrative, 20 min.
A magical realist, dark comedy/drama set within the backdrop of a gritty British care home.
When two old and terminally ill patients discover a magical pool that restores them back to their younger selves beneath the water, they are forced to reconcile with the inescapable truth of their mortality, or drown in the illusion of their past.

The Other Partners
Director/Writer: Destinee Stewar
Producer: Sylvia Ray
comedy, 9 min.
While preparing for their first dinner party together, Rowyn’s boyfriend, Raj, discovers her dildo in a kitchen drawer. Raj, feeling insecure, shames Rowyn for her practices…and then he finds more. What ensues is a comedic battle of the sexes as Raj expresses his discomfort and Rowyn stands up for her right to choose self-love, healing, and sexual intimacy through masturbation.

Red Onion
Director/Writer: Iris Almaraz
Producer: Erin Ploss-Campoamor
narrative, 10 min.
As you peel back the layers of RED ONION, a day in the life of a phone sex operator becomes an exploration of intimacy, death, and human connection.

Three Meals
Director/Writer: Pelin Keskin Liu
Producers: Pelin Keskin Liu, Max Gardner, Yuki Maekawa-Ledbetter
narrative, 15 min.
When her brother’s health worsens, Yasmin returns from living abroad to convince her mother to turn off his life support machine.

Braised (Thit Kho)
Writers: Huong Vu, Dylan Lam
Directed by: Huong Vu
Producers: Huong Vu, Dylan Lam, Ryan King, Samiyah Wardlaw
narrative, 15 min.
Clutching a heart-rending secret, Maggie Nguyen, a Vietnamese-American screenwriter, makes an unannounced visit home to reconcile with her mom. A bowl of braised pork pushes their bond to a breaking point.

Oct. 20 - Section B - Faith & Fate
2024-10-20 15:05 - 16:25 (America/New_York) | Center For Fiction, 15 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn, NY, 11217, United States
Sunday, October 20, 2024, Center for Fiction
In celebration of Reel Sisters 27th Anniversary Season, we’re thrilled to host our Sunday afternoon screenings at the Center For Fiction, 15 Lafayette Ave. in Brooklyn (across the street from the Brooklyn Academy of Music).
Snacks, baked goods, tea, coffee and other treats will be available in the cafe!

SECTION B – Faith & Fate – 3:05 pm-4:25 pm

Ya Hanouni
Directors/Writers: Lyna Tadount, Sofian Chouaib
narrative, 2:38 min.
While the Mom and the Dad try to put their baby to sleep, a competition arises between them: who will manage to get the baby to say the first word?

Exit
Director/Writer: Oriana Ng
Producers: Oriana Ng, Lana Bolycheva
narrative, 5 min.
A dangerous elevator ride tests a couple’s bond.

The Flacalta Effect
Director/Writer: Rochée Jeffrey
Producers: Ebony Elaine Hardin, Takara Joseph
comedy, 8 min.
After a drug with anti-aging properties has apocalyptic consequences, two Black sisters fight for their lives—and looks—in this satirical take on toxic beauty culture.

Ayat (Verses)
Director/Writer: Samina Saifee
Producers: Shubhangi Shekhar, Krishna Trivedi, Alyssa Schroeter, Laith Nakli
narrative, 15 min.
A grieving Islamic Sunday school teacher begins to question his reality when the stories he teaches follow him home.

Unplugging From Amazon
Producer/Director: Raquel “Rocky” Nguyen
documentary, 12 min.
The fight for local economics and fair labor by small publishers and independent bookstores with the world’s largest book market: Amazon.

Black Love Manifesto (Invited)
Director/Writer: Liza Jessie Peterson
experimental, 20 min.
Black Love Manifesto uses photography, video, poetry and music to illuminate and celebrate the beauty and power of Blackness. It is a poetic mosaic of Black history, Black resilience, resistance and revolution, Black excellence, Black Joy and Black Love. It’s a medicinal balm for a weary and wounded people during these horrifying times. It is a battery for perseverance, remembering and hope.

Oct. 20 - Section C – An Unusual Suspect (Premiere)
2024-10-20 16:50 - 18:20 (America/New_York) | Center For Fiction, 15 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn, NY, 11217, United States
Are you ready for a suspenseful thriller penned by award-winning writer/filmmaker Booker T. Mattison?
Reel Sisters is honored to present a world premiere for the TUBI whodunit An Unusual Suspect at the Center for Fiction in Brooklyn on Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024 at 4:50 pm! Sit at the edge of your seat as an ambitious young attorney unravels a serial killer who targets Black women. Written and directed by Booker T. Mattison, the film is set to air on TUBI on March 28, 2025!
The screening will be held at the Center For Fiction, 15 Lafayette Ave. in Brooklyn (across the street from the Brooklyn Academy of Music). Snacks, baked goods, tea, coffee and other treats will be available in the cafe!
RSVP NOW FOR A FREE screening and be the first to see the flick at our premiere!
FILM SYNOPSIS
An Unusual Suspect
Director/Writer: Booker T. Mattison Producers: Roberta Setzu and Christian Ortega
Narrative, 90 min.
Two years out of law school and eager to prove herself, ambitious young attorney VIOLA JANUARY takes on a high-stakes pro bono case: defending a man who was wrongfully convicted of kidnapping a woman. Against all odds, she wins. But as new evidence emerges, Viola realizes the case is far from closed—and now she’s caught in the crosshairs of a ruthless killer determined to keep the truth buried. With her life on the line, Viola must unravel a dark conspiracy before it’s too late.

About The Filmmaker

Booker T. Mattison is an author, filmmaker and professor who wrote and directed the BET+ original film, “The Sound of Christmas” starring Ne-Yo, Serayah, and Draya Michele. The New York Times called the movie “a charming, new holiday film.” This holiday classic is an adaptation of Tiffany L. Warren’s novel The Replacement Wife and was submitted for Emmy consideration for Outstanding TV Movie for 2023.
Mattison’s psychological thriller Twisted Marriage Therapist, a Tubi original film he wrote and directed, boasted one of the highest completion rates on the streaming service when it was released in September of 2023.
Mattison’s next film, An Unusual Suspect, a legal thriller for Tubi, will be released on March 28, 2025.
Mattison’s NYU thesis film, The Gilded Six Bits, adapted from Zora Neale Hurston’s short story, marked the first film or television adaptation of the acclaimed author’s work. The film had its broadcast premiere on Showtime and starred Chad L. Coleman, T’keyah Crystal Keymah, and Wendell Pierce. The Hollywood Reporter said, “Mattison’s direction and feel for her characters match up to Hurston’s sterling piece of fiction…full of atmosphere and strongly developed characters.”
Mattison’s debut novel Unsigned Hype was published by Revell Books in 2009 and was nominated for a South Carolina Book Award in the Young Adult Category. His second novel Snitch was published in 2011 and received a starred review in Publishers Weekly.
Mattison received his Master of Fine Arts in film and television production from New York University and his Bachelor of Science in mass communication from Norfolk State University. He is a tenured professor at the University of Georgia where he teaches directing and screenwriting.

RSVP HERE

Oct. 26 - Section A
2024-10-26 13:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | MAYSLES Documentary Center – Harlem, NY, 343 Lenox Avenue/Malcolm X Boulevard, NEW YORK, NY, 10027, United States
Saturday, October 26, 2024, Center for Maysles Documentary
In celebration of Reel Sisters 27th Anniversary Season, we present an afternoon of films by women of color from across the globe.

SECTION A – Oct. 26 – 1 pm-3 pm

Sleep Training
Director/Writer: Sunita Prasad
Producers: Sunita Prasad, Zackary Drucker, Zach Fleming
narrative, 19 min.
When a new parent’s postpartum depression devolves into bizarre hallucinations, an escape from motherhood becomes necessary to stay sane.

Chocolate Milk
Producer/Director/Writer: Elizabeth Bayne
documentary, 92 min.
Chocolate Milk explores racial inequities in birth and breastfeeding in the US by following the stories of three Black mothers in South Los Angeles over multiple years – a new mom, a WIC employee and a homebirth midwife.

Oct. 26 - Section B - State of Grace
2024-10-26 15:10 - 16:45 (America/New_York) | MAYSLES Documentary Center – Harlem, NY, 343 Lenox Avenue/Malcolm X Boulevard, NEW YORK, NY, 10027, United States
Saturday, October 26, 2024, Center for Maysles Documentary
In celebration of Reel Sisters 27th Anniversary Season, we present an afternoon of films by women of color from across the globe.

SECTION B – State of Grace – Oct. 26 – 3:10 pm-4:45 pm

Ebb & Flow
Director/Writer: Nay Tabbara Producer: Isabelle Mecattaf
narrative, 18 min.
Determined to have her first kiss, Loulwa defies her tumultuous world in search of normalcy. As she braves the streets of Beirut in pursuit of her sexual awakening, she finds herself taking an instant leap into adulthood when her world erupts into a redefined “normal.”

Grace
Director/Writer: Natalie Jasmine Harris
Producers: Natalie Jasmine Harris, Julia Kennelly, Morgan Powell, Samiyah Wardlaw, Latavia Young
narrative, 13 min.
Sixteen-year-old Grace prepares for her baptism in the rural 1950’s South. When she learns she must repent before the ritual, Grace contemplates her romantic feelings toward her best friend Louise.

Cold Feat (Premiere)
narrative, 15 min.
Producer/Director/Writer: Morgan Alicia Smith
A suburban physical therapist’s life is committed to helping others, while sitting on the sidelines of her own dreams.

Muna
Director/Writer: Warda Mohamed
Producers: Angela Moneke, Simon Hatton
narrative, 19 min.
British-Somali teen Muna (Kosar Ali) is desperate to go on the school trip – to have fun with her mates, escape the monotony of her household and, of course, provide the greatest playlist of all time (!!). But her parents aren’t so sure.

Oct. 26 - Section C - Bonds
2024-10-26 17:00 - 18:30 (America/New_York) | MAYSLES Documentary Center – Harlem, NY, 343 Lenox Avenue/Malcolm X Boulevard, NEW YORK, NY, 10027, United States
Saturday, October 26, 2024, Center for Maysles Documentary
In celebration of Reel Sisters 27th Anniversary Season, we present an afternoon of films by women of color from across the globe.

SECTION C – Bonds – 5 pm-6:30 pm

IRON LUNG
Writer: Vee Saieh
Director: Andrew Reid Producer: Carmen Quiros, Marie Alyse Rodriguez
narrative, 12 min.
When a storm knocks out the power to her iron lung, a polio survivor and her caretaker sister find themselves in a race against time to find a new way for her to breathe.

Torn
Writer: Rachelle Le Blanc Director: Tamala Baldwin
Producers: Tamala Baldwin, Rachelle Le Blanc, Curts A D’Amour
narrative, 23 min.
A short film about a young mother having to choose between her devoted boyfriend and her husband who just woke up from an 8 year coma.

Lola
Writers: Grace Hanna, Derek Manansala, Duke Yang
Director: Grace Hanna
Producers: Uloaku Anyiam-Osigwe, Eduardo Maia, Molvatu Sae-ue
narrative, 11 min.
A 13-year-old science prodigy journeys into her grandma’s deteriorating mind to save one precious memory they have together.

Taking Your Best Shot
Director: Aminah Salaam
Producer: Curtis Williams
documentary, 31 min.
Taking Your Best Shot focuses on a Youth Citywide Basketball Tournament held by the New York City Housing Authority for its residents. The protagonists in this film are youth and teen athletes from New York City Housing, also known as ‘the projects’ all over NYC. The main videographers for the film are Black and Latin teens/young adults from these same developments, who are also graduates from our media program, Abstrak Vision.

Oct. 26 - Workshop - Producing Great Films on A Low Budget
2024-10-26 18:30 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | MAYSLES Documentary Center – Harlem, NY, 343 Lenox Avenue/Malcolm X Boulevard, NEW YORK, NY, 10027, United States
Register Now!
Unlock Your Filmmaking Potential!
Workshop: “Producing Great Films on A Low Budget”

On Sat., Oct. 26 at 6:30 pm, Reel Sisters will present Producing Great Films on A Low Budget led by film producer Kara Ford. This hands on workshop will cover the producer’s role in selecting a project, creative financing, securing your team, production planning, problem-solving and more! Registration Fee: $12 ($6.50 for 2+ slots).
Seating is limited, register now!
Aspiring producers and indie filmmakers looking to gain practical skills should join our interactive workshop. Kara Ford, the Founder of BohoChick 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.”
The first 5 people to register will get a free copy of Kara’s book!
Why Join?

Practical exercises to develop your own film project
Network with like-minded filmmakers
Walk away with real-world skills to launch your career!

Who Should Attend? Aspiring producers and indie filmmakers looking to gain practical skills.
Register Now!—limited seats available! Start your journey to the big screen today!

About Kara Ford
Film producer Kara Ford has built a diverse career in independent filmmaking, producing short films, feature-length projects, and TV series. Her production credits include the festival-winning Life’s Passing Me By, and the acclaimed web series Producing Juliet with Ward Picture Company. As a producer at Black Noise Media, she worked on the award-winning short film The Trade and the BRIC TV series Soul Kings. Kara also directed the short film Heads or Tails, which aired nationwide, and developed safety protocols for indie filmmakers during the pandemic.
A member of New York Women in Film & Television (NYWIFT), Kara has hosted screenings and co-hosted awards shows for the Reel Sisters of the Diaspora Film Festival. She has also advised the ActNow Foundation, and served as Arts and Culture Editor and Acting Editor-in-Chief for BlackandBrownNews.com.
Her first book, “How to Produce Your No/Low-Budget Film,” shares valuable insights on filmmaking, film production, and navigating the indie film industry, making it an essential read for aspiring producers and filmmakers.

Oct. 29 - Reel Sisters + BRIC Present An Evening of Staged Script Readings 2024
2024-10-29 18:00 - 20:00 UTC | BRIC, 647 Fulton St, Brooklyn, NY, 11217, United States
RSVP HERE to get your FREE tickets!
On Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024, from 6 pm-8 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 Summer Screenwriting Lab. Join us for an intimate conversation with the writers on their work-in-progress. Featured writers include Freida Jones, Stephanie Rodriguez, Jordan T. Simon and Mari Valdivia.
Come early for a special networking reception! Light refreshments will be served. Details will be announced closer to the date.
The event is free and open to the public. Seating is limited. Please RSVP in advance and arrive early. A ticket does not guarantee entry.
WRITERS BIOS

Mari Valdivia is a writer, aspiring filmmaker and most recently was on the Emmy-award winning season of The Kelly Clarkson Show’s producing team. Currently, Mari is developing a short documentary about Gen Alpha’s early access to smartphones and social media.

In pursuit of their dream to make a film, Stephanie Rodriguez is developing a coming-of-age story set in 90s Queens, NY. This is the writer’s first screenplay, made possible thanks to Reel Sisters. Stephanie has a background in fundraising for cultural institutions around the City, including BRIC Arts Media. Most recently, she contributed to an investigation into disinformation on Spanish-language radio featured on WNYC and a cookbook about island cuisine. Favorite movie,The Birdcage. Current obsession, the West Wing.

Freida Jones was raised in Englewood, New Jersey. This tight-knit small town has caused her to bring together writers, artists and photography in the hopes of creating community. As a storyteller she is currently interviewing actors and photographers for The Black Eye Collective. A background in visual arts has fueled her interest in film and video, where she feels narrative storytelling can be enhanced by the visual lens. A BFA in art from Cornell University and an MFA from the University of Massachusetts in creative writing provides the academic context for her critical lens. Workshops at New Federal Theater and the Center for Media Arts (Manhattan Neighborhood Network) are giving Ms. Jones new insights on how to bring her storytelling to light.

Jordan T. Simon is a writer/filmmaker who exalts and examines the history, profundity, excellence, beauty and wonder of Black people to the world through the lens of science fiction and the speculative. Heavily influenced by Octavia Butler, Rod Serling and Steven Spielberg, Jordan uses the transformative power of the written word and the commonality of the human condition to engender empathy and enrich one’s inner child. Jordan was a second round finalist of the Black Boy Writes & Black Girl Writes Mentorship Initiative and serves as a juror for the Oscar-qualifying African Voices/Reel Sisters of the Diaspora 2024 Film Festival.
