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.

Reel Sisters Virtual Showcase 2025 - Program 1
2025-10-25 - 2025-11-10 | 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 Saturday, Oct. 25 through Monday, Nov. 10, 2025 (11:59 pm EST)!
Invite friends over and have a watch party!

VIRTUAL PROGRAM 1 – Shattered Youth

Red Clay
Director: Christian Nolan Jones
Writer: Omar Epps, Tauheed “2 Chainz” Epps
Producer: Sade Wilkins
narrative, 21:20 min.
“Red Clay” tells the poignant story of Nook, a conflicted teenager navigating the challenging terrains of adolescence amidst his mother’s crippling drug addiction. Caught in a rampant cycle of poverty and desperation within his community, Nook dreams of a better life, but finds himself ensnared in the very world he envisions escaping.

By the Lake
Director: Alex Dauphin
Writer: Alex Dauphin
Producer: Alex Dauphin, Sable Williams, Amer-Marie Woods
narrative, 25:21 min.
Luce is a Black loner from the city whose hard past makes them distrust the future. Reina is a White firecracker from Appalachia who has never heard a “no” she couldn’t sway. While Luce shoots up in an abandoned warehouse, Reina pops pills at home. Both OD. Their paths interwine as they both struggle to get clean.

Shallow End
Director: Maria de la Cruz Rudloff
Writer: Maria de la Cruz Rudloff
Producer: Maria de la Cruz Rudloff, Janet Valentina Manina, Anne Leigh Cooper
narrative, 15 min.
Twenty-something year old Agatha comes home after a lengthy stay in rehab, a shattered person. In her small town, everything seems to remind her of the life she once had and the people she held dear before it all went wrong.

Don’t be late, Myra
Director: Afia Serena Nathaniel
Writer: Afia Serena Nathaniel
Producer: Afia Serena Nathaniel, Nouman Waheed
narrative, 15 min.
A missed school bus leaves ten-year-old Myra stranded in Lahore, where her journey home spirals into a tense fight for survival against the men who stalk her every step.
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Reel Sisters Virtual Showcase 2025 - Program 2
2025-10-25 - 2025-11-10 | 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 Saturday, Oct. 25 through Monday, Nov. 10, 2025 (11:59 pm EST)!
Invite friends over and have a watch party!

VIRTUAL PROGRAM 2 – Bitter Truths

The Village It Took
Producer/Director/Writer: Victoria Wilcox
narrative, 12 min.
After Everstone University (predominately White institution) denies funding the day of the 56th Annual open mic night of the Black Student Union (BSU), BSU event planner Ozanna writes an unauthorized check out of desperation, to protect this event of community & escapism. With not enough money in the bank account when the check is deposited by the vendor, the account is over-drafted.

117 Years of Movie Bullsh*t
Director: Candice Vernon
Writer: Candice Vernon, Frank Adkinson
Producer: Frank Adkinson, Blue Kimble
narrative, 29:50 min.
Frank and Candice, two aspiring Hollywood stars are sent back in time, during the Gone With the Wind Era, by the evil Dick Whitman, an old school studio exec. As Frank and Candice try to get back to the present time, they keep getting stuck in movies of the past as token Black characters.

Back to Where We Were//In The Presence of Our Ancestors
Director/Writer: SHARAYNA ASHANTI CHRISTMAS
Producer: SHARAYNA ASHANTI CHRISTMAS, Bilphena Yahwon
experimental, 4:18 min.
Back to Where We Were //In the Presence of Our Ancestors is a narrative short film directed by Sharayna Christmas that invites us to reflect on the continuity of our past, present, and future. The film weaves ancestral presence, the healing power of water, and the regenerative force of land into a tapestry of guidance and transcendence. Set against the evocative backdrop of St. Helena Island, a sacred Gullah site, the work channels movement inspired by the ancestors of Igbo Landing, accompanied by the resonant music of Georgia Anne Muldrow.

Ownership
Director: Yvonne Huff Lee
Writer: Peppur Chambers
Producer: Yvonne Huff Lee, Peppur Chambers, Matthew Soraci
narrative, 30 min.
When an innocent invitation to an antiques reality show unearths shameful skeletons between two families –one black, one white — three multi-generational women are forced to take painful ownership of their present reality.

Reel Sisters Virtual Showcase 2025 - Program 3
2025-10-25 - 2025-11-10 | 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 Saturday, Oct. 25 through Monday, Nov. 10, 2025 (11:59 pm EST)!
Invite friends over and have a watch party!

VIRTUAL PROGRAM 3 – Dreams In Motion

Dark Skin Bruises Differently
Director/Writer: Susan Wokoma
Producer: Susan Wokoma, Maëva Demurger
narrative, 10:52 min.
Children lie. But when one lie threatens Ms Lawson’s integrity as a teacher, can she keep on defending a student as peculiar as Maria Obasi?

Lana
Director: Laetitia Angba, Julie R. Lissouba
Writer: Laetitia Angba
Producer: Rocío Barba Fuentes
narrative, 16:18 min.
Lana, in her chaotic teenage years, doesn’t live her life exactly as everyone else. Her father, Benjamin, is threaten of deportation from Canada and her family deals everyday with the fear of an expected separation.

Zari
Director/Writer: Shruti Parekh
Producer: Shruti Parekh, Kajri Akhtar
narrative, 19:16 min.
American teen Neelu feels like a fish out of water amidst preparations for her sister’s wedding in Delhi until she forges a brief and unexpected connection with Zeyb, a quiet sari store clerk who moonlights as an internet drag queen.

Can You Hear Me
Director: Shiam Shams, Sayba Talukder
Writer: Shiam Shams
Producer: Rezwan Shahriar Sumit
narrative, 16:59 min.
In the cacophony of Dhaka, Drik, a deaf 9-year-old, finds solace
in his friend Saibo’s stories during their daily rides to school. Their unique bond bridges their different hearing abilities, creating a peaceful haven amidst the chaos. When Saibo suddenly vanishes, Drik is left alone and vulnerable. Lost in Saibo’s drawings, Drik experiences vivid visions of the ocean, but his joy is tempered by worry for his missing friend.

Reel Sisters Virtual Showcase 2025 - Program 4
2025-10-25 - 2025-11-10 | 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 Saturday, Oct. 25 through Monday, Nov. 10, 2025 (11:59 pm EST)!
Invite friends over and have a watch party!

VIRTUAL PROGRAM 4 – Family Ties

Rocked by the Wind
Producer/Director/Writer: Hsiao-Shan Huang
Animation, 13:36 min.
Seeking his bandmates and escaping chores, high school senior Shuan headed to the city, only to be caught in a typhoon later that day. Navigating the fierce storm became an unexpected test in his pursuit of their dream.

Summer Ripples
Director: Yijian Shan
Writer: Yijian Shan
Producer: Manqi Liu, Kunao Yan
narrative, 20:25 min.
In the earthquake-prone city, a lonely Qian meets her online acquaintance Chen Li to end their lives together. As they roam around, their connection deepens. Faced with the exhausted city, the subtle connection between desire and death remains elusive to them.

Memories of ZHI
Director: Mingxing Li
narraive, 22:29 min.
In 2013 China, a sudden event leads 16-year-old orphan Zhi to accidentally kill a boy. Seeking refuge, Zhi flees to a Buddhist monastery, where he meets a kind woman who, unbeknownst to him, is the mother of the deceased boy. Instead of continuing to flee, Zhi decides to deceive the police in an attempt to stay close to her, drawn by the motherly warmth he feels from her.

Falcon Eyes
Director/Writer: Annlin Chao
Producer: Ariel Liu, George Bushaway
narrative, 20 min.
Fourteen-year-old June struggles with face blindness, a condition that makes it impossible for her to recognise people’s faces. As she tries to remember her deceased mother’s face, June also uncovers a secret kept by her father.

Grandma’s Four Color Cards
Director: Sally Phuong Tran
Producer: Ngân Lê, Kiều Vy
experimental, 11 min.
From her tiny house in Saigon’s District 4, 101-year-old Ngoai runs an illegal card game, a traditional Vietnamese pastime, to survive in the slums. With her loyal cat and the support of neighbors, she navigates poverty, demonstrating resilience and strength as a beloved figure in her community.

Reel Sisters Virtual Showcase 2025 - Program 5
2025-10-25 - 2025-11-10 | 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 Saturday, Oct. 25 through Monday, Nov. 10, 2025 (11:59 pm EST)!
Invite friends over and have a watch party!

VIRTUAL PROGRAM 5 – The People’s Way

The People’s Way
Director: William Taft Tyner, Ashley Tyner
Producer: Michael Tyner
narrative, 90 min.
Grappling with the impact of George Floyd’s murder in Minneapolis, three community organizers, Jeanelle Austin, Toshira Garraway, and Robin Wonsley embark on interweaving journeys to care for their communities, find inner healing and build a future towards black liberation.

Reel Sisters Virtual Showcase 2025 - Program 6
2025-10-25 - 2025-11-10 | 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 Saturday, Oct. 25 through Monday, Nov. 10, 2025 (11:59 pm EST)!
Invite friends over and have a watch party!

VIRTUAL PROGRAM 6 – Barrel Children

Barrel Children: The Families Windrush Left Behind
Director/Writer: Nadine White
Producer: Nadine White, John Johnston, Jordan Walters
documentary, 55:42 min.
A stellar debut film from award-winning journalist Nadine White, Barrel Children: The Families Windrush Left Behind peels back the layered tales of Caribbean youngsters who grew up away from their parents before migrating to join them in Britain.

Section A – 1 pm-2:20 pm
2025-10-25 13:00 - 14:20 (Asia/Dubai) | 651 Arts, 10 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn, NY, 11201, United States
Saturday, October 25, 2025, 651 Arts
In celebration of Reel Sisters 27th Anniversary Season, we present an afternoon of films by women of color from across the globe.

SECTION A – Masks & Mirrors | Oct. 25 – 1 pm-2:20 pm

Little Stories, Big Echoes: Beads of Hope
Director/Writer: Dawn Richard
Producers: Chris Hartley and Dawn Richard
Animation, 5 min.
Beads of Hope is a powerful animated short film set in New Orleans, following Dawn, a young Black girl, as she navigates the chaos of a devastating flood that threatens the life of a beloved family member. The story unfolds in a historically Black neighborhood, on the day of Hurricane Katrina—now marking its 20th anniversary.
Facepaint
Director/Writer: Silvana Carranza
Producers: Karsten Otto and Tommy Schutz
Narrative, 15 min.
A party clown with artistic endeavors outside of her day job fights a panic attack during one of her shifts.
The Knife
Director/Writer: Joy Nesbitt
Producers: Grace Odumosu
In The Knife, Ife, a young Black Irish woman, is anxiously awaiting her 20-week pregnancy scan, hoping for good news about her baby’s health. But when the scan reveals unexpected complications, she and her husband, Darragh, are forced to confront a ridiculous reality that will test their trust in the healthcare system.
(G)host Country
Director: Kheyal Roy-Meighoo Writers: Kheyal Roy-Meighoo, Isaac Gazmararian, Koan Roy-Meighoo
Producers: Isaac Gazmararian, Molly Patrick
Animation, 7 min.
Since moving to the UK, international student Kajal has had odd visions. After her concerns are dismissed by her British therapist, Kajal takes matters into her own hands and confronts her haunts.
Missing Rhythms
Director: Regina Hoyles Writer: Aja Houston Producers: Regina Hoyles, Julie Bersani, Toni Adeyemi, Yhá Mourhia Wright
Narrative Short, 15:25 min.
In a mysterious, insane asylum full of missing Black women from all over the country, a woman must use rhythm to remember her true identity and fight being lost forever behind the ominous Blue Door.

Section B - 2:25 pm-3:45 pm
2025-10-25 14:25 - 15:45 (America/Halifax) | 651 Arts, 10 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn, NY, 11201, United States
Saturday, October 25, 2025, 651 Arts
In celebration of Reel Sisters 28th Anniversary Season, we present an afternoon of films by women of color from across the globe.

SECTION B – Transitions | Oct. 25 – 2:25 pm-3:45 pm

In Transit (Invited)
Director: Jean Paulo Lasmar
Writers: Jean Paulo Lasmar, Thiago Fernandes
Doc., 4 min.
Bernie Wagenblast, a well-known voice to anyone who’s been on a NYC subway, has undergone a transition. On the Transgender Day of Visibility, the MTA revealed Bernie’s true voice as a transgender woman for the first time in its history.
Plenum
Director/Writer: Charlene A. Carruthers
Producers: Ahsha Davis, Charlene A. Carruthers
Narrative, 26 min.
An experimental reconstruction of the 1995 Black Nations/Queer Nations Conference, PLENUM follows the experience of siblings Ajani and Tracy, as they make their way from Chicago to New York City. While Tracy is worried that Ajani’s recent HIV positive diagnosis will drive him into isolation, Ajani fears the consequences of telling their father as he enters a new community and phase of life.
Cuming Out
Director/Writer: Jasmine J Johnson
Producers: Mary Ross Bonney, Whitney Fuller
Narrative, 19 min.
Kennedy’s desire for a heteronormative experience sees her embark on a one-night-stand. What could possibly go wrong?
Blackberry Winter
Director: Jason Hightower Writer: Amber Iman
Producers: Jason Hightower, Arizona Newsum, Amber Iman
Narrative, 16 min.
A fairytale Valentine’s Day takes a turn when Amber, our Georgia Peach living in the Big Apple, sees an unexpected text message in her boyfriend’s phone. Launched into a journey of self-discovery, with a future that is uncertain, Amber questions whether to follow her head or her heart to find her way forward.

Section C – 3:50 pm-5:05 pm
2025-10-25 15:05 - 17:05 (America/Halifax) | 651 Arts, 10 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn, NY, 11201, United States
Saturday, October 25, 2025, 651 Arts
In celebration of Reel Sisters 28th Anniversary Season, we present an afternoon of films by women of color from across the globe.

SECTION C – Ancestral Rhythms | Oct. 25 – 3:50 pm-5:05 pm @651 Arts
She Island
Director: Raven Irabor, SIRA Marissa Lewis
Writers: Kadia Blagrove, Dylan Braud, Olivia Jade Khoury, Andrea Knowles
Producers: Raven Irabor, D’Andre Wilson, Miesha Miller, Ashley Laird
Experimental, 16 min.
She Island is an enchanting and experimental film that weaves together folklore, history, and mysticism to tell a powerful story of resilience and cultural reclamation. Set on the fictional Caribbean island of She Island, where women reign supreme and cultural syncretism flourishes, the narrative is inspired by the folkloric character LaDiabless and navigates themes of hybridity, sisterhood, tradition, ritual, preservation, wisdom, and mysticism.
Boil the Cabbage
Director: Candace Mae Williamson Producers: Kaylee Hayes, Jemina Garcia
Doc., 24 min.
Candace is a documentary filmmaker and novice banjo player. As she learns her first tune, “Boil That Cabbage Down,” she reaches out to historians, activists, and storytellers to uncover the complex history of the banjo. Through her journey, we are transported to the past, where the painting “The Old Plantation” is reimagined, revealing the instrument’s origins.
Camille A. Brown: Giant Steps
Directors: Shellée M. Haynesworth, Michelle Parkerson
Producer: Shellée M. Haynesworth
Doc., 15 min.
Camille A. Brown: Giant Steps follows 4-time Tony-nominated choreographer, director, and educator Camille A. Brown (Hell’s Kitchen, GYPSY) as she elevates the possible with bold explorations of everyday movement and African Diasporic dance.

Section D – 5:15 pm-6:47 pm
2025-10-25 17:15 - 18:47 (America/Halifax) | 651 Arts, 10 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn, NY, 11201, United States
Saturday, October 25, 2025, 651 Arts
In celebration of Reel Sisters 28th Anniversary Season, we present an afternoon of films by women of color from across the globe.

SECTION D – Rooted In Resistence | Oct. 25, 2025 – 5:15 pm-6:47 pm @651 Arts

On A Sunday at Eleven
Director/Writer: Alicia K. Harris
Producers: Jeff Chiu, Hayley Brown
narrative, 9 min.
A young Black ballerina performs her Sunday rituals, while facing the pressures to conform to Eurocentric beauty standards.
Yáamay: An Ode to Blooming
Directors: Casse Kihúut, Camaray Davalos Producers: Casse Kihúut, Camaray Davalos
Writers: Emily Clarke, Alexis Munoa-Dyer, Meadow Fuller, Avelaka Macarro, Marlene’ Dusek
narrative, 12 min.
Using original poetry as the foundation, we are taken through a journey examining what it means to be a contemporary California Indigenous woman. With a montage of modern, archival, and animatic visuals, this film becomes as dynamic and alive as the women telling their stories.
Headbang
Director/Writer: Anna Khaja
Producers: Raelle Tucker, Cameron Fife
narrative, 24 min.
An American perspective on the hijab and female empowerment that resonates with universal questions of selfhood and freedom. Through the lens of two different young women, Leila, from secular background, and Amara, from a religious one, HEADBANG explores the complex power of the hijab, and how a seemingly simple piece of cloth embodies both what the wearer imbues it with and what society project onto to it.
A Beauty Supply In Queens
Directors: Oluseyi Olatujoye, Princess Adenike
Writer: Princess AdenikeProducers: Princess Adenike, Caroline Chikezie, Shalom Obiago
narrative, 17 min.
An HBO Short Film Finalist, A Beauty Supply in Queens follows Ms. Aji, a Nigerian mother, and her daughter Tobi as they navigate the challenges of running a beauty supply store in Queens. Amidst fierce competition and underhanded tactics from rivals, the film celebrates their resilience and the strength of their community.
Nannies of New York (Invited)
Director: April Guscott
Doc., 10 min.
Nannies of New York provides uncensored, first-hand accounts of three Afro-Caribbean women’s perspectives working as nannies to wealthy white families in NYC, the stigma associated with the work, and the fight for their rights as domestic workers.
Kiss My Grass
Directors: Mary Pryor, Mara Whitehead
Producers: Justin Benoliel, Luke Anderson, Saki Fenderson
Doc., 15 min.
Kiss My Grass exposes the persistent inequities faced by Black women entrepreneurs in the booming cannabis industry. Executive produced by trailblazers Colin Kaepernick, Rosario Dawson, Mary Pryor, Luke Anderson, and Justin Benoliel, the film takes viewers on an emotional journey through the struggles, corruption, and lack of support these women encounter as they fight for their place in a landscape fraught with obstacles.

A Mess of Memories – 7 pm-9 pm
2025-10-25 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Halifax) | 651 Arts, 10 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn, NY, 11201, United States
Saturday, October 25, 2025, 651 Arts
In celebration of Reel Sisters 28th Anniversary Season, we present a feature screening of A Mess of Memories.

A Mess of Memories – Oct. 25, 2025 – 7 pm-9 pm
Director/Writer: Ebony Blanding
Producers: Mandy McCowan, Hunter Barcroft, Brandon Williams
When their childhood home is threatened by their mother Jovita’s hoarding, estranged siblings Deja, Riley, Mylo, and Brooke are forced to reunite. As they sift through years of clutter, buried memories resurface, tensions ignite, and long-held secrets unravel.

Section F – 1 pm-2:15 pm
2025-10-26 13:00 - 14:15 (America/Halifax) | Center For Fiction, 15 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn, NY, 11217, United States
Saturday, October 26, 2025, Center For Fiction
In celebration of Reel Sisters 28th Anniversary Season, we present an afternoon of films by women of color from across the globe.

SECTION F – Body & Birthright | Oct. 26, 2025 – 1 pm-2:15 pm @Center For Fiction
Abbie
Producer/Director/Writer: Erica Young
narrative, 5 min.
Abbie, a marginalized teenager struggles with her identity and finding a place to fit in.
You Are Not Alone
Producer: Deem Banton
Director: Brittney M Russell
doc., 52 min.
In the United States, Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women, a disparity that rises sharply in the Bronx, one of New York State’s most impacted communities, where Black mothers face a maternal mortality rate nine times higher than their counterparts. You Are Not Alone captures the powerful stories of women in the Bronx navigating pregnancy and advocating for change.
