Podcasts about blackstar film festival

The first great Black filmmaker Oscar Micheaux inspired the 70s revolution of urban dramas and comedies that served as the launchpad for the gritty hip-hop action pieces and soulful family romances of the 80s and 90s. Today, the Black experience is the face of billion-dollar movie franchises and multiple award-winning and groundbreaking series. Is this a Black Renaissance, or is it just dues being paid? In December of 2022, Jay sat with BlackStar Film Festival creator and CEO Maori Holmes to hear her thoughts on the subject. __________________________ Black History Year (BHY) is produced by PushBlack, the nation's largest non-profit Black media company. PushBlack exists to amplify the stories of Black history you didn't learn in school and explore pathways to liberation with people leading the way. You make PushBlack happen with your contributions at BlackHistoryYear.com — most people donate $10 a month, but every dollar makes a difference. If this episode moved you, share it with your people! Thanks for supporting the work. Hosting BHY is Jay (2020-2023) and Darren Wallace (2024). The BHY production team includes Jareyah Bradley and Brooke Brown. Our producers are Cydney Smith and Len Webb for PushBlack, and Lance John with Gifted Sounds edits and engineers the show. BHY's executive producers are Julian Walker and Lilly Workneh. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

EPISODE 120: Segun Akinola is a British-Nigerian composer for film and television who has strengthened many projects with his musical acumen. He is most known for his music in the three series of Doctor Who starring the first female Doctor, Jodie Whittaker. A BAFTA Breakthrough Brit 2017, Segun's other work includes scoring Sundance 2019 favourite and World Soundtrack Award nominee The Last Tree, BAFTA-nominated director Ursula Macfarlane's (Untouchable) feature The Lost Sons, Apple TV+ feature 9/11: Inside The President's War Room, ITV drama Stephen which was executive-produced by Paul Greengrass, multimedia feature A Moving Image, BBC's landmark series Black and British: A Forgotten History and more. His work has screened at acclaimed festivals like Sundance, the BFI London Film Festival, SXSW Film Festival, LA Film Festival, BlackStar Film Festival and many others. He has recently scored Milli Vanilli biopic Girl You Know It's True from Academy Award-winning producers Quirin Berg and Max Wiedemann (The Lives of Others), the BBC's Agatha Christie adaptation Murder Is Easy and a documentary series for producer Richard Brown (True Detective). segunakinola.comContact us: makingsoundpodcast.comFollow on Instagram: @makingsoundpodcastFollow on Threads: @jannkloseJoin our Facebook GroupPlease support the show with a donation, thank you for listening!

In this episode, we delve into the captivating world of Emir Fils-Aime, a multifaceted artist and cinematographer hailing from Queens, New York. With a rich tapestry of experiences that span from the intensity of working in an emergency room to the transformative role of teaching middle school debate, Emir brings a unique sensitivity and intuition to his image-making process. His journey reflects a profound understanding of storytelling, shaped by diverse life experiences that inform his artistic vision.  Emir's recent work includes serving as the Director of Photography for the visually stunning installation visuals for Jill Scott's 20th anniversary tour of her iconic album, *Who is Jill Scott?* His contributions have not only elevated the aesthetic of live performances but have also deepened the connection between the artist and her audience. Additionally, Emir played a crucial role as an additional Director of Photography on the acclaimed documentary *Two Gods*, which premiered at DOC NYC and the Blackstar Film Festival, showcasing his ability to capture complex narratives through a cinematic lens.  As an educator and student of NYU Tisch, Emir is passionate about fostering self-awareness in his students by providing them with a historical context that enriches their understanding of world and social affairs. He believes that art is a powerful tool for reflection and change, encouraging young creatives to explore their identities within a broader societal framework. His commitment to teaching and mentorship highlights the importance of nurturing the next generation of artists.  In our conversation, Emir shares insights from his various projects, including his work with renowned brands like Telfar, Mass Appeal, and Hulu. We explore his creative process, the intersection of art and activism, and the emotional resonance of visual storytelling. Join us for an inspiring discussion that reveals how Emir Fils-Aime continues to make his mark on the art world while empowering others to do the same. Emir Fils-Aime's Website: https://www.emirfilsaime.com/Emir Fils-Aime's ImDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8451549/Emir Fils-Aime's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blntprobe/Emir Fils-Aime's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emir-fils-aime-55307538/Support the showVisual Intonation Website: https://www.visualintonations.com/Visual Intonation Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/visualintonation/Vante Gregory's Website: vantegregory.comVante Gregory's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/directedbyvante/ To support me on Patreon (thank you): patreon.com/visualintonations Tiktok: www.tiktok.com/@visualintonation Tiktok: www.tiktok.com/@directedbyvante

Grounded visionary and dope filmmaker Ashley O'Shay joins Dame and Kiss on this episode of AirGo. Ashley is the director of Unapologetic, an impactful and loving feature documentary capturing two fierce abolitionists whose upbringing and experiences shape their activism and views on Black liberation. The film premiered at the BlackStar Film Festival, broadcast on PBS POV, and was shortlisted for the International Documentary Association Awards. She's currently working on Southmont Drive, a film reflecting on the legacy of her family from Tuskegee, Alabama that's centered on her late grandfather and the 17 children he raised. She talks about the process of building trust with the folks she films, the learning curve of making a film in the midst of movement, and the fight to save her family home in Tuskegee. SHOW NOTES Watch Unapologetic - https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B09P5R5JQD/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r Support Southmont Drive - https://www.instagram.com/southmontdrivefilm/ Get in tune w/ Ashley - https://www.instagram.com/ashley.oshay/ Follow AirGo - instagram.com/airgoradio Find One Million Experiments on tour! - www.respairmedia.com/events Bring us to your community by hitting us up - contact@respairmedia.com CREDITS Hosts & Exec. Producers - Damon Williams and Daniel Kisslinger Associate Producer - Ari Mejia Engagement Producer - Rivka Yeker Digital Media Producer - Troi Valles

Dive into a narrative journey with Asia Nichols, an extraordinary storyteller who defies conventional genre labels, on this week's episode of Sista Brunch. Asia takes us along on her 13-year global adventure from the blue city of Jodhpur to a farm in central Mexico, all while sustaining a creative life out of a backpack. She shares the evolution from social work to unconventional screenwriting, depicting her unique experiences and Black womanhood in her compelling stories. Asia's approach to storytelling weaves the uncanny with the familiar, creating tales that resonate with her identity and the global Black experience. With an SF Film Rainin Grant and Blackstar Film Festival win under her belt, Asia's work is both celebrated and inspiring. We'll explore one of her most captivating narratives, 'So Unfair,' which flips the classic tale of Rapunzel to reflect her own journey toward natural hair acceptance. Join us as we learn how Asia turned a one-year travel plan into a lifestyle and career, inspiring others along the way. Now, she offers coaching to creatives seeking to balance their passion for storytelling with a nomadic lifestyle. Her story is one of resilience, creativity, and constant reinvention, demonstrating that with the right mindset, the world is truly your oyster. Follow us @SistaBrunchPodcast to stay updated on Asia's upcoming projects and to become part of a community that supports and uplifts the voices of Black women and gender expansive individuals in entertainment and media. #AsiaNichols #Storytelling #CreativeLiving #GlobalAdventure

In conversation with Shantrelle Lewis Morgan Parker won the National Book Critics Circle Award for Magical Negro, a poetry collection that ponders the nuances of Black American womanhood. She is also the author of the young adult novel Who Put This Song On? and the poetry collections Other People's Comfort Keeps Me Up at Night and There Are More Beautiful Things Than Beyoncé. A Cave Canem graduate fellow, the recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts fellowship, and the winner of a Pushcart Prize, Parker is the creator/co-curator of the Poets With Attitude reading series and is a member of The Other Black Girl Collective. Her writing has appeared in a variety of venues, including The Paris Review, The New York Review of Books, Best American Poetry, a Broadway playbill, and two Common albums. In You Get What You Pay For, she charts the generational and historical difficulties, traumas, and beauty of existing as a Black woman. Shantrelle P. Lewis is a multi-hyphen creative and scholar who accesses multiple disciplines to help elucidate African Diasporic history, aesthetics, culture and spirituality. After premiering at BlackStar Film Festival, her critically acclaimed directorial debut, In Our Mothers' Gardens, was released on Netflix via Ava Duvernay's Array. Her book, Dandy Lion: The Black Dandy and Street Style, was published by Aperture in 2017. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, LA Times, Variety, Hollywood Reporter, NPR, BBC, Washington Post, Slate, The New Yorker and the Philadelphia Inquirer. She co-founded Shoppe Black with her husband and fellow Howard alum, Tony Oluwatoyin Lawson. As an initiated Lukumi Sango Priest, hoodooist and New Orleans native, Shantrelle can be found waxing poetic about all things African spirituality online and in person at the Beaucoup Hoodoo Shop, the annual Beaucoup Hoodoo Fest this October and within her community, ATRS Book Club. Because you love Author Events, please make a donation to keep our podcasts free for everyone. THANK YOU! The views expressed by the authors and moderators are strictly their own and do not represent the opinions of the Free Library of Philadelphia or its employees. (recorded 3/13/2024)

Welcome to the first episode of a 3-part special on the 2024 International Film Festival of Rotterdam.Host Nadine attended the film festival as a journalist and media maker this year. This series was recorded on site and shares three highlights from the dynamic festival.Madeleine Hunt-Ehrlich is a filmmaker and artist who makes films concerned with the inner worlds of black women. New Faces of Independent Cinema List." Her film "Ballad of Suzanne Césaire" stars Zita Hanrot and Motell Gyn Foster and had it's world premiere at 2024 IFFR. Madeleine's work has been screened all over the world including at the 2023 Berlinale, the 2022 La Biennale di Venezia, the Guggenheim Museum, the Tate Modern and the Whitney Museum of Art. Her films have been awarded special jury prizes for best experimental film at Blackstar Film Festival and New Orleans Film Festival.In this episode, we talk about this review: Jessica Kiang, Variety. You can read Suzanne Césaire's writing in PDF for free: HERE.Watch some of Madeleine's work on Vimeo and visit: www.madeleinehuntehrlich.com for more on her previous works. You can also follow her on Instagram.In the second episode, you'll meet the head of the festival's Hubert Bals Fund - Tamara Tatishvili. In the third episode, you'll hear from Julia de Simone, director behind "Praia Formosa" and winner of the Hubert Bals Fund development program in 2014.Thanks to the IFFR, and its specifically press team, for this opportunity.Nadine Reumer is an actress and producer based in Amsterdam. You can follow the podcast @inherlenspodcast on Instagram. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In conversation with Shantrelle Lewis Ruha Benjamin is the author of Race After Technology: Abolitionist Tools for the New Jim Code, a ''galvanizing'' and ''inventive and wide-ranging'' (The Nation) look at how new technologies reinforce social inequities; and Viral Justice: How We Grow the World We Want, a pragmatic yet poetic vision of the ways in which our minor everyday choices can add up to larger societal growth. Also the author of many scholarly publications, she is a professor of African American studies at Princeton University, where she is the founding director of the Ida B. Wells Just Data Lab. Benjamin's writing has been featured in The New York Times, The Guardian, CNN, The Root, and Vox, among numerous other media outlets. A revelatory call to action, Imagination calls for readers to consider the arena of the mind as a very real space for struggle, interconnectedness, and societal change. Shantrelle P. Lewis is a multi-hyphen creative and scholar who accesses multiple disciplines to help elucidate African Diasporic history, aesthetics, culture and spirituality. After premiering at BlackStar Film Festival, her critically acclaimed directorial debut, In Our Mothers' Gardens, was released on Netflix via Ava Duvernay's Array. Her book, Dandy Lion: The Black Dandy and Street Style, was published by Aperture in 2017. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, LA Times, Variety, Hollywood Reporter, NPR, BBC, Washington Post, Slate, The New Yorker and the Philadelphia Inquirer. She co-founded Shoppe Black with her husband and fellow Howard alum, Tony Oluwatoyin Lawson. As an initiated Lukumi Sango Priest, hoodooist and New Orleans native, Shantrelle can be found waxing poetic about all things African spirituality online and in person at the Beaucoup Hoodoo Shop, the annual Beaucoup Hoodoo Fest this October and within her community, ATRS Book Club. Because you love Author Events, please make a donation to keep our podcasts free for everyone. THANK YOU! The views expressed by the authors and moderators are strictly their own and do not represent the opinions of the Free Library of Philadelphia or its employees. (recorded 2/7/2024)

A conversation preceding the African Film Institute's inaugural screening at e-flux curated by Natacha Nsabimana, featuring two works by Rwandan filmmaker Amelia Umuhire. The African Film Institute is convened by Christian Nyampeta and hosted by e-flux Screening Room. Amelia Umuhire (b. 1991, Kigali, Rwanda) is a filmmaker and artist living in Kigali and Berlin. In 2015, she wrote and directed the award-winning web-series Polyglot, in which she follows the lives of young, deracinated London- and Berlin-based Rwandese artists. Her short film Mugabo was awarded Best Experimental Film at the Blackstar Film Festival, and screened at MOCA Los Angeles and the Berlin Biennale among many other places. In 2018, Umuhire produced the Prix Europa-nominated radio feature Vaterland for the German radio station Deutschlandfunk Kultur. She was a Villa Romana Fellow in 2020, and is currently working on her first feature film. Natacha Nsabimana teaches in the anthropology department at the university of Chicago. Her research and teaching interests include postcolonial critique, musical movements, and the cultural and political worlds of African peoples on the continent and in the diaspora. The African Film Institute aims to create a home and a place of intimacy with African cinema in New York, through developing gradually and organically a viewing program animated by fellowships; a growing library; an active writers' room; and an expanding catalog of recorded dialogs. The African Film Institute draws from the visual cultures that view cinema as an evening school: a popular information system in the service of education, aesthetic experience, and public dissemination—employing a methodology concerning the use of cinema's collective production, and investing in viewing methods informed by different uses of time, visual and textual histories, and social struggles and hopes in mutuality between their own locality and the world at large. 

Bonus episode! This special episode was recorded live this summer at the 2023 BlackStar Film Festival. Maori and guest co-host, multimedia artist, Rashid Zakat interview New York Times Magazine writer and community care worker J Wortham. The three discuss technology beyond screens and devices, the safe space created at Beyoncé's Renaissance Tour, and J's forthcoming book, Work of Body. And get ready for lots of astrology talk!Subscribe to Many Lumens wherever you listen to your podcasts and follow us on Instagram and Twitter @manylumens for the latest.All episode transcripts and show notes are available at manylumens.com.Many Lumens is brought to you by the Open Society Foundations.

Welcome to Art is Awesome, the show where we talk with an artist or art worker with a connection to the San Francisco Bay Area. Today, Emily chats with film and video artist Trina Robinson.About Artist  Trina Robinson:Trina Michelle Robinson explores the relationship between memory and migration through film, print media and archival materials. She wants to get to the root of lost memories, especially in relation to migration, whether the move forced or initiated by a search for new opportunities. We all have a migration story in our bloodlines. She studies the fragments of memory and repurposes them. The lives of her ancestors are the catalyst behind her artwork and their stories are woven into every detail. Why did they leave? What were they hoping to find? What remains? She wants to explore every fracture, fold and glitch to release the trauma that lives inside. Her work has been shown at galleries and film festivals throughout the country including including the BlackStar Film Festival in Philadelphia, the Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD) - a Smithsonian affiliate, the San Francisco Art Commission Main Gallery, Southern Exposure and Root Division in San Francisco, and New York's Wassaic Project.As a storyteller, she traveled the country and telling the story of exploring her ancestry with The Moth Mainstage at Lincoln Center in New York, in addition to touring with them on stages in San Francisco, Portland, OR, Omaha, NE and Westport, CT. Her story aired on NPR's The Moth Radio Hour in October 2019. She received her MFA from California College of Arts in Spring 2022.Her earlier written work was featured in the Museum of the African Diaspora's I've Known Rivers Project, and New Jersey Dramatists Which Way to America at the Jersey City Museum and Puffin Cultural Forum. She has worked in production in print and digital media for companies such as The New York Times, Vanity Fair, The New Republic, California Sunday Magazine and Slack, in addition to working as a teaching artist with Women's Project and Productions in New York.She has been invited to be a speaker or guest teacher at multiple conferences, colleges and high school campuses, including the being the keynote speaker at the 2021 Oregon Heritage Conference, 2019 Kentucky Borderlands Conference, Feminist Border Arts Film Festival at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, N.M., and Design Tech High School in Redwood City, C.A. In addition to discussing her research and approach to storytelling, she also enjoys discussing the importance of raising marginalized voices and how to mindfully create a diverse and inclusive environment at her speaking and teaching engagements.Trina was included in the Museum of the African Diaspora's (MoAD) Emerging Artist Program 2022-2023, and had a solo exhibition in October 2022.Visit Trina's  Website: TrinaRobsinos.comFollow Trina on Instagram: @Trina_M_Robinson--About Podcast Host Emily Wilson:Emily a writer in San Francisco, with work in outlets including Hyperallergic, Artforum, 48 Hills, the Daily Beast, California Magazine, Latino USA, and Women's Media Center. She often writes about the arts. For years, she taught adults getting their high school diplomas at City College of San Francisco.Follow Emily on Instagram: @PureEWilFollow Art Is Awesome on Instagram: @ArtIsAwesome_Podcast--CREDITS:Art Is Awesome is Hosted, Created & Executive Produced by Emily Wilson. Theme Music "Loopster" Courtesy of Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 LicenseThe Podcast is Co-Produced, Developed & Edited by Charlene Goto of @GoToProductions. For more info, visit Go-ToProductions.com

Love + Grit celebrates all things Philly and the BlackStar Film Festival was full of Philly legends and up-and-comers including Emmy Award winner and Mural Arts Philadelphia Black Artists fellow Simone Holland. Simone initially came to the film festival as a cinematographer for another BlackStar Fellow project and returned a second time as a fellow herself. Live from the Daily Jawn Stage at the Kimmel Cultural Campus, Justin and Laiya talk with Simone about her premiere film, All That's Left. The film challenges the perspective of existing, longing for acceptance, all around the epicenter of one's life: the kitchen table. We also had to quiz the audience on Philly's TV and film influences. Can you finish the lyrics to the “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” theme song? Can you name the Netflix western based on Philly's urban riding club?  

Welcome to 'The Truth in This Art,' I'm your host Rob Lee, and today we have a special guest – Violeta Ayala, an exceptional artist who merges technology, storytelling, and culture to create riveting narratives. Violeta is a pioneer in filmmaking and a vocal advocate for her Quechua heritage. Her groundbreaking work redefines the art scene, filmmaking, storytelling, and technology. They discuss Violeta's film, La Lucha, which will have its world premiere at the Black Star Film Festival in Philadelphia. Violeta introduces herself as a futurist and a weaver, who combines different mediums and technologies to create her narratives. She aims to break away from colonial ideas and create a more inclusive and diverse storytelling landscape.Within this episode: Delve into Violeta Ayala's role as a futurist and weaver of stories, challenging traditional filmmaking notions. Explore her belief in education beyond reading and writing and the significance of storytelling in human culture. Discover how Violeta's unique perspective as someone on the autism spectrum has shaped her journey as an artist and filmmaker. Learn about Violeta's latest documentary, "La Lucha," which chronicles the world's longest protest by people with disabilities, advocating for disability rights in Bolivia. Delve into her emphasis on art's role in evoking emotions, challenging perspectives, and fostering self-critical thinking. Violeta discusses her journey as an artist and filmmaker. She shares how her unique perspective as someone on the autism spectrum has shaped her approach to storytelling. Violeta also talks about her early experiences in Bolivia and Australia, her discovery of filmmaking, and her passion for giving a voice to marginalized communities. She delves into the intersection of technology and art, highlighting the evolving nature of film and the need for new narrative languages. Violeta provides insights into her latest documentary, "La Lucha," which follows the longest protest by people with disabilities in the world. She emphasizes the importance of creating art that provokes emotions, challenges perspectives, and opens minds.Join us in conversation with Violeta Ayala, a groundbreaking filmmaker who challenges the status quo. Learn about her advocacy for her Quechua heritage and her upcoming world premiere at the Blackstar Film Festival. Don't miss it!

Welcome to 'The Truth in This Art,' I'm your host Rob Lee, and today we sit down with the inspiring Set Hernandez, a filmmaker and community organizer who uses their platform to amplify the voices of the underrepresented. Set, a queer, undocumented immigrant with roots from the Bicol, Philippines, shares their unique perspective on filmmaking and advocacy. They provide a behind-the-scenes look into their film, "Unseen," which will premiere at the BlackStar Film Festival in Philadelphia. In this episode:* Dive deep into Set's journey as a filmmaker and community activist, and how their personal experiences have shaped their work.* Understand their commitment to storytelling that expands the portrayal of underrepresented communities on screen. * Discover how Set's background as a published linguistics researcher and community organizer has influenced their approach to filmmaking.* Learn about the story behind "Unseen," a unique narrative that explores immigration, disability, and mental health.* Understand how Set's vision of inclusivity and accessibility in filmmaking has guided their creative process for "Unseen."Set opens up about their personal journey as a filmmaker and activist, and how their own life experiences have deeply influenced the stories they choose to tell. They talk about their work with the Undocumented Filmmakers Collective, and how it promotes equity for undocumented immigrants in the film industry. Set also shares the story behind "Unseen," a film that sheds light on the challenges faced by Pedro, a visually impaired, undocumented immigrant, and aspiring social worker. Join us in conversation with Set Hernandez, an advocate who is breaking barriers and pushing boundaries in the film industry. Learn about their vision for creating more inclusive and diverse narratives in cinema, and don't miss the insightful conversation on their award-winning film "Unseen."

Violeta Ayala's documentary 'La Lucha', showcasing disabled Bolivians fighting for pensions, not only secured these pensions but also transformed societal perceptions of disability. Premiered at Blackstar Film Festival, it will air globally in 2024.

Welcome to The Truth In This Art. I'm your host, Rob Lee. In this episode, join us for an insightful conversation with Maori Karmael Holmes, the founder, CEO, and artistic officer of BlackStar Projects. BlackStar Projects is the driving force behind the BlackStar Film Festival, an annual celebration of the visual and storytelling traditions of the African diaspora and global communities of color, featuring films by Black, Brown, and Indigenous filmmakers from around the world.Maori Karmael Holmes is a renowned curator, filmmaker, and writer, dedicated to championing diverse voices in the film industry. As we delve into her inspiring journey, we explore her passion for film, the impact of influential movies and filmmakers during her youth, and the intersection of her personal journey with the founding of the BlackStar Film Festival.Join us as we discuss: Maori's approach to documentary filmmaking, capturing authentic narratives while respecting the privacy and dignity of her subjects. Insights into her powerful documentary "Scene Not Heard: Women in Philadelphia Hip-Hop" and its exploration of underrepresented voices in the music industry. The mission and significance of the BlackStar Film Festival, as well as the programs and initiatives organized by BlackStar that contribute to a more inclusive and equitable landscape for filmmakers. Discover the impact of groundbreaking films showcased at the BlackStar Film Festival, pushing boundaries and challenging traditional genres. Gain insights into the evolving independent film community in Philadelphia, the festival's base, and Maori's exciting highlights from this year's program.Join us for an engaging episode as Maori Karmael Holmes shares her invaluable perspectives on amplifying diverse voices and shaping a more inclusive future for filmmakers.

Four-time guest-of-the-show Maori Holmes sits in for the Mission's YouTube debut of a review of The Best Man (1999) and a critique, assessment, and ultimate appreciation of the whole TBM Universe (The Best Man Holiday, The Best Man: The Final Chapters). Plus, we preview the ‘best movie festival in the world' - BlackStar Film Festival, movin' on up in Philly August 2nd - 6th. Visit blackstarfest.org for tickets because THE MISSION WILL BE THERE LIVE! Rate & Review The Mission on Apple Email micheauxmission@gmail.com Follow The Mission on IG, and Twitter @micheauxmission  Leave a Voicemail for Vincent & Len Subscribe to the Mission on YouTube  Get your Micheaux Mission SWAG from TeePublic We are a proud member of The Podglomerate - we make podcasts work! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Writer / Director Savanah Leaf and star Tia Nomore discuss their new film, Earth Mama, the importance of found family, media representation, and the challenges of recreating an Oakland sideshow. More about Earth Mama With two children in foster care, Gia, a pregnant single mother pitted against the system, fights to reclaim her family. In her close-knit Bay Area community, she works to make a life for herself and her kids, in this singular debut feature from filmmaker Savanah Leaf. A glowing breakout at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. Starring Tia Nomore, Erika Alexander, Doechii, and Dominic Fike. More about Savanah Leaf Savanah Leaf is an Olympian and award-winning filmmaker, whose work weaves magical realism with poignant social commentary. Her latest film The Heart Still Hums (2020) is a short documentary following the stories of five women as they fight for their children through the cycle of homelessness, drug addiction and neglect from their own parents. The film won Best Documentary Short at the Palm Springs International ShortFest, BlackStar Film Festival and Nashville Film Festival and was released with Fox Searchlight Shorts. Her music video ‘This Land' for Gary Clark Jr. was nominated for Best Music Video at the 2020 Grammys. Other recent films include: ‘What's Going On', a film made for Marvin Gaye's 1971 hit song, commissioned by Universal Music's ‘Never Made' series, ‘Dream', a film set to Nikki Giovanni's poem and Flying Lotus' music, commissioned by the 2020 Biden/Harris campaign; ‘We Matter Too', a Webby and Shots award-winning animated visualization of phone calls she conducted with incarcerated people during the COVID-19 Pandemic, commissioned by rapper Common, the ARC and ACLU. More about Tia Nomore Coming up in cypher circles and freestyle battle arenas, Tia Nomore forced her entry into hip-hop's boys club. The 28-year-old's claim as Oakland rap's little sister started as a teenager when she would jump into her older brother's rap circles and ditch class to record G-funk- inspired hyphy music. Now a fully realized artist and experienced Oakland emcee with three records under her belt — 2019's Level, 2018's Gooney Tunes (alongside Bruh from Last Night and MVCK) and 2016 Halloween— Tia's fiery wits, lyrical dismantling and command for respect, continue to bring her to new bold artistic territory. The past two years have seen her sharing stages with Princess Nokia and Smino, and releasing singles “DRIP” and “Skirmish,” two addictive collaborations with fellow Town girl and rapper Stoni. Earth Mama is in theaters now. Find us at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.werewatchingwhat.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or instagram.com/werewatchingwhat THEDHK can be found at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠instagram.com/thedhk ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠twitter.com/thedhk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠facebook.com/thedhkmovies⁠

Today's Episode is with NYC based DP, Bradley Credit. Originally from Washing DC, now based in NYC this cinematographer has done work with brands such as Facebook, Sephora, Snipes, Apple Music, Amazon and many more. He has films that have premiered at BlackStar Film Festival, Atlanta Film Festival, and the Chicago International Film Festival. Recently, he signed with a UTA agency, which we chat about and learn a little about how Cinematographer's ang agents get connected. Throughout this episode you will be able to gain insight into how Bradley works as a DP and hopefully you'll be able to take away a few key pointers to use as you grow in your cinematography career. Enjoy! Follow Bradley Credit: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bradleycreditdp/ Website: https://bradleycredit.com/ Stay in tune with The Creative Gap Podcast! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/creativegap/ Email us for any inquiries: itsthecreativegap@gmail.com Big Thank you to MUSICBED for supplying our Intro & Outro Music

Everyone's talking about Season 3 of Many Lumens! Get excited for the return of the podcast — premiering  April 19, 2023 — and 10 new conversations between host Maori Karmael Holmes and the most groundbreaking artists, change makers, and cultural workers.  BlackStar Projects, home of Many Lumens and the BlackStar Film Festival, creates the spaces and resources needed to uplift the work of Black, Brown and Indigenous artists working outside the confines of genre. Learn more at blackstarfest.org.Subscribe to Many Lumens wherever you listen to your podcasts and follow us on Instagram and Twitter @manylumens for the latest.All episode transcripts and show notes are available at manylumens.com.Many Lumens is brought to you by the Open Society Foundations.

There is a growing ecosystem of people talking about menopause and aging. The Black Girl's Guide to Surviving Menopause sees ourselves as menopausal alchemists, doulas, cartographers, and advocates and has taken up an intentional role in ushering in intergenerational Black voices and narratives into the menopausal landscape. We see our intergenerational work, healing, and storytelling as an ethos. An ethos is "an element of argument and persuasion through which a speaker establishes their credibility and knowledge, as well as their good moral character". Ethos elements include: Phronesis or the wisdom or intelligence you have Arete is the general moral virtue of your argument Eunoia is the goodwill you establish with the audience BGG2SM ethos around intergenerational healing and storytelling is grounded in the belief that there is knowledge, wisdom, and expertise from the menopausal multiverse at every age, and if we create spaces for this energetic exchange through our stories and full-throated truths, we are transformed as individuals and healing across generations is possible. During this episode of the BGG2SM, we explore our relationship with our bodies across three decades and multiple identities as Black people with uteruses with Amber J. Phillips, Sonja Renee Taylor, and our host Omisade Burney-Scott. Enjoy! Episode Notes: Amber J. Phillips, @amberabundance Amber J. Phillips is a storyteller, filmmaker, and creative director. She creates world-building narratives using warm visuals and vulnerable performances through her lens of being a fat Black queer femme auntie from the Midwest. Amber recently released her first short film, “Abundance” about the limitations and radical possibilities of identity. Amber is the producer, writer, and performer of “Abundance” which was most recently a 2021 BlackStar Film Festival @blackstarfest selection and won the audience award for Best Short Narrative. Amber's written and visual work imagines a world where Black womanhood is an abundant overwhelming experience of safety, pleasure, and joy. She is devoted to using radical Black imagination to create stories, art, culture, and community. You can experience more of Amber's work on Instagram and Twitter @AmberAbundance and at AmberAbundance.com Sonya Renee Taylor, @sonyareneetaylor New York Times Best Selling author, award-winning performance poet, activist, and educator, Sonya Renee Taylor, is the Founder and Radical Executive Officer of The Body is Not An Apology, a digital media, and education company committed to radical self-love and body empowerment as the foundational tool for social justice. Sonya has worked in numerous countries and on major media outlets around the world, reaching hundreds of thousands of people with her commitment to radical self-love and transformation. Visit her at www.sonyareneetaylor.com or www.thebodyisnotanapology.com References: Flower of Wands-Gentle Tarot, https://thegentletarot.com/ Zane, https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Zane/269527 Judy Blume, https://judyblume.com/judy-blume-books/ “Say More” menopause and midlife discussion deck (BGG2SM listeners can use the code "OMI20" to get 20% off their "Say More" purchase at https://ourkindra.com/. Check out our open source toolkit http://bit.ly/saymoretoolkit ) Learn more! www.blackgirlsguidetosurvivingmenopause.com Produced by Mariah M. Hosted by Omisade Burney-Scott Theme Music by Taj Cullen Scott Season 4 of the podcast is sponsored by our local NPR station, WUNC, North Carolina Public Radio! www.wunc.org

Amber J. Phillips is a storyteller and filmmaker. She creates world building narratives using warm visuals and vulnerable performances through her lens of being a fat Black queer femme auntie from the Midwest. Amber recently released her first short film, Abundance about the limitations and radical possibilities of identity. Amber is the producer, writer, and performer of Abundance that was most recently a 2021 BlackStar Film Festival selection and won the audience award for Best Short Narrative. Amber's written and visual work imagines a world where Black womanhood is an abundant overwhelming experience of safety, pleasure, and joy. She is devoted to using radical Black imagination to create stories, art, culture, and community. You can experience more of Amber's work on Instagram and Twitter @AmberAbundance and at AmberAbundance.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode, we have filmmaker Bilal Motley and chef Amanda Shulman. Motley's short animated film Quarantine Kids was an official selection at this year's BlackStar Film Festival. Co-directed by his then 9-year-old daughter Bria, the film tells the courageous story of Bria's struggle through the COVID-19 pandemic. The film garnered the duo our first-ever Love + Grit Award! Next up, Her Place Supper Club owner and chef Amanda Shulman is doing things her way. Shulman whips up a menu that changes weekly, an ever-changing wine selection and reservations that need to be booked months in advance.  The hosts also share their top things to do in September.  

Darine Hotait talked about her new film "Tallahassee."Darine Hotait is a writer and film director. Her work focuses on the politics of identity, Arab & African diaspora, and science fiction. She has written and directed a dozen award-winning narrative films that can be seen on Sundance Channel, The New Yorker, AMC Networks, BBC, Forbes, Outfest Now, ShortsTV, and at numerous Oscar-qualifying international film festivals. Named on Disney's Launchpad 2022 list of directors on the rise, Darine's latest film “TALLAHASSEE” premiered at the 10th Blackstar Film Festival. It was nominated for Best Narrative Short at the 22nd Woodstock Film Festival and received the Audience Award at Mizna Film Festival. Tallahassee was released exclusively on The New Yorker in January 2022. She is the recipient of the New York Council on the Arts Artist Award, the New York Foundation for the Arts Immigrant Artist Fellowship, the Jerome Hill Finalist Award, and the AFAC Cinema Award. Her work has received the support of The Sundance Institute, Comedy Central, The Independent Film Project, Maison Des Scenaristes, The Royal Film Commission, the Jerome Foundation, and the Ghetto Film Roster.Created & hosted by Mikey Muhanna, afikra Edited by: Ramzi RammanTheme music by: Tarek Yamani https://www.instagram.com/tarek_yamani/About Movie Night: Movie Night is an interview series that calls for afikra community members who are interested in movies and films to spend time watching along with the entire community. Movies will be announced on afikra's watching list. This interview series will host filmmakers and actors who are featured in the announced movie. Community members will be asked to watch the film on online streaming platforms or online film festivals before the series and join the conversation with the creators of the film. Movie Night is an opportunity for members to ask questions about the plot, behind the scenes, themes, and information about the movie.Following the interview, there is a moderated town-hall-style Q&A with questions coming from the live virtual audience ‎on Zoom.‎ Join the live audience: https://www.afikra.com/rsvp   FollowYoutube - Instagram (@afikra_) - Facebook - Twitter Support www.afikra.com/supportAbout afikra:‎afikra is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region- past, present, and future - through conversations driven by curiosity. Read more about us on  afikra.com

Defense attorneys for three former Sharon Hill police officers charged with killing 8-year-old Fanta Bility after a high school football game are asking a judge to dismiss manslaughter charges against them. I speak with Malcolm Yate, Convenor of the Delaware County Black Caucus about the case and why a coalition of concerned citizens is demanding justice for Fanta.delcoblackcaucus@gmail.comThe 11th annual BlackStar Film Festival takes place August 3-7, 2022. The Festival is an annual celebration of the visual and storytelling traditions of the African diaspora and of global Indigenous communities, highlighting films by Black, Brown and Indigenous artists from around the world. The event will be offered in a hybrid format, with select in person screenings, live programs, and panels at Penn Live Arts at Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia, and online events accessible to a global audience. I speak with Maori Karmael Holmes, Chief Executive Officer, Artistic Director, and Founder of BlackStar Projects and Nehad Khader, Festival Director at BlackStar Projects.https://www.blackstarfest.org/Instagram (@blackstarfest)Twitter (@BlackStarFest)Facebook (BlackStar Film Festival) YouTube (BlackStar Projects) First, I begin with a long-delayed interview that was meant to air before the March of Dimes Walk for Babies in June - then came the mass shooting in Uvalde Tx and then another mass shooting here in Philadelphia on South Street. While the March for Babies has come and gone - the issues they highlight including maternal mortality especially in Black and Brown communities are still relevant. Here's my interview with the March of Dimes ambassador Mom Sanya Brown.https://www.marchofdimes.org/

The 11th annual BlackStar Film Festival takes place August 3-7, 2022. The Festival is an annual celebration of the visual and storytelling traditions of the African diaspora and of global Indigenous communities, highlighting films by Black, Brown and Indigenous artists from around the world. The event will be offered in a hybrid format, with select in person screenings, live programs, and panels at Penn Live Arts at Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia, and online events accessible to a global audience. I speak with Maori Karmael Holmes, Chief Executive Officer, Artistic Director, and Founder of BlackStar Projects and Nehad Khader, Festival Director at BlackStar Projects.https://www.blackstarfest.org/Instagram (@blackstarfest)Twitter (@BlackStarFest)Facebook (BlackStar Film Festival) YouTube (BlackStar Projects)First - if you're like me - you may not completely understand how the Fed raising interest rates is supposed to slow inflation. All many of us see are hikes in credit card and mortgage interest rates. So, we've got an expert to break it down for us - Alicja Plonska - Senior VP Morgan Stanley - one of Forbes Magazine's Top Woman Wealth Advisors.alicja.plonska@morganstanley.com215 497-7074

Rounding out BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month, this special episode of The Unfolding: Presented by #TheLovelandFoundation Podcast, is one of our best yet. Host, @Miriam.Starobin, interviews Denise Beek and Shesheena Bray from Me Too, International. Denise Beek is a communications strategist who has worked in the nonprofit sector for over a decade. She is a Caribbean-American performance writer, improv artist, and board member of the BlackStar Film Festival. As Chief Communications Officer for ‘me too.', she oversees external communications, engages with its stakeholders, and creates strategies to raise the visibility of the organization and center survivors. She works primarily to change the way people talk about sexual violence, this movement's work, and survivorship. Denise's professional trajectory is undergirded by her passion for gender equity and racial justice. Her experience is a mix of arts administration, cultural production and community engagement at organizations like the Painted Bride Art Center, the Black Lily Film & Music Festival, and the Union Square Awards. From 2013-2018, she served as Communications Director for the Leeway Foundation, a regional grantmaker that supports women, trans, and gender nonconforming artists in Greater Philadelphia. Shesheena Bray, Director of Programs: Mother, therapist, activist, educator. Shesheena A. Bray is a Boston native who has taken up roots in Philadelphia. Shesheena came to Philadelphia to attend Temple University in 2003 and fell in love with the rich culture of the city. In service to her new home, Shesheena dedicated over a decade to deepening her understanding of her community's needs as an educator and social justice advocate. In 2014, Shesheena realized her service to Black and Brown communities was best actualized through her passion, mental and emotional wellness. Honing her focus and training, Shesheena earned her M.S.Ed in mental health counseling from The University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education in 2016. In 2017, Shesheena launched Going Inward Wellness, LLC. Through Going Inward Wellness, LLC Shesheena sees individuals and couples for psychotherapy; hosts wellness workshops for global majority women; teaches mindfulness to youth and adults; and hosts a 10-day morning routine program, The Morning Routine Refresh. Notable assignments and partnerships include The People's Emergency Center; the Life After Trauma Organization (LATO); the North Philadelphia Community Healing Project; Village of Arts and Humanity; GirlTrek; What is Mindfulness (WIM); the Institute of Contemporary Art, Philadelphia; and ArtWell. You can also join Shesheena at her weekly virtual meditations, The 720 Meditation.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​The Unfolding: Presented by The Loveland Foundation podcast is here to embrace the tough conversations and offer a new healing modality through vulnerability, honesty, and reciprocity. When we unfold we are committing to an exercise in compassion. Unfolding is language turned into behavior, an energetic exchange, through conversation, which supports you walking towards yourself.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​The Loveland Foundation is committed to showing up for communities of color in unique and powerful ways, with a particular focus on Black women and girls.Support the show

Amber J. Phillips is a storyteller and filmmaker. She creates world building narratives using warm visuals and vulnerable performances through her lens of being a fat Black queer femme auntie from the Midwest. Amber recently released her first short film, Abundance about the limitations and radical possibilities of identity. Amber is the producer, writer, and performer of Abundance that was most recently a 2021 BlackStar Film Festival selection and won the audience award for Best Short Narrative. Amber's written and visual work imagines a world where Black womanhood is an abundant overwhelming experience of safety, pleasure, and joy. She is devoted to using radical Black imagination to create stories, art, culture, and community. You can experience more of Amber's work on Instagram and Twitter @AmberAbundance and at AmberAbundance.com 

Letitia Guillory is a multi-hyphenate creative working in theatre, film, and television. Her episodic series, gATES, and feature film, HOUND DOG are part of the Warner Brother Discovery 150 Innovation Initiative. She produced the award-winning short comedy, Pas Honteux (REVOLT TV) and thriller, Winston, receiving screenings at the American Black Film Festival, Bronze Lens Film Festival, Blackstar Film Festival, TIDE Film Festival, and more. Letitia's scripts have been placed in the Austin Film Festival, Oaxaca Film Festival, and Screencraft TV Pilot Launch among others. Letitia produces events for NYC Parks curates Movies Under the Stars for Brooklyn and serves on the board of the Black TV & Film Collective. She is a member of the Harlem Dramatic Writers Workshop, NYWIFT, and Dramatists Guild and is a proud alum of the University of Texas (BFA, Drama), New York University (MA, Performance Studies), O'Neill Playwrights Conference and a Blackhouse Foundation Multicultural Producers Lab Fellow. Follow Letitia Guillory on Instagram @guilloryletitia ====== 12 Million Podcast is a weekly conversation for the culture that was inspired by the Richard Wright book "12 Million Black Voices" 12 Million is a place for an intelligent and thoughtful conversation with BIPOC entrepreneurs, leaders, influencers, artists, and creators. Follow us on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠@12millionshow⁠⁠

Darine Hotait talked about her new film "Tallahassee."Darine Hotait is a writer and film director. Her work focuses on the politics of identity, Arab & African diaspora, and science fiction. She has written and directed a dozen award-winning narrative films that can be seen on Sundance Channel, The New Yorker, AMC Networks, BBC, Forbes, Outfest Now, ShortsTV, and at numerous Oscar-qualifying international film festivals. Named on Disney's Launchpad 2022 list of directors on the rise, Darine's latest film “TALLAHASSEE” premiered at the 10th Blackstar Film Festival. It was nominated for Best Narrative Short at the 22nd Woodstock Film Festival and received the Audience Award at Mizna Film Festival. Tallahassee was released exclusively on The New Yorker in January 2022. She is the recipient of the New York Council on the Arts Artist Award, the New York Foundation for the Arts Immigrant Artist Fellowship, the Jerome Hill Finalist Award, and the AFAC Cinema Award. Her work has received the support of The Sundance Institute, Comedy Central, The Independent Film Project, Maison Des Scenaristes, The Royal Film Commission, the Jerome Foundation, and the Ghetto Film Roster.Created & hosted by Mikey Muhanna, afikra Edited by: Ramzi RammanTheme music by: Tarek Yamani https://www.instagram.com/tarek_yamani/About Movie Night: Movie Night is an interview series that calls for afikra community members who are interested in movies and films to spend time watching along with the entire community. Movies will be announced on afikra's watching list. This interview series will host filmmakers and actors who are featured in the announced movie. Community members will be asked to watch the film on online streaming platforms or online film festivals before the series and join the conversation with the creators of the film. Movie Night is an opportunity for members to ask questions about the plot, behind the scenes, themes, and information about the movie.Following the interview, there is a moderated town-hall-style Q&A with questions coming from the live virtual audience ‎on Zoom.‎ Join the live audience: https://www.afikra.com/rsvp   FollowYoutube - Instagram (@afikra_) - Facebook - Twitter Support www.afikra.com/supportAbout afikra:‎afikra is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region- past, present, and future - through conversations driven by curiosity. Read more about us on  afikra.com

Felicia Pride is a TV writer / producer and an award-winning filmmaker. She wrote on Ava DuVernay's QUEEN SUGAR and is currently a producer on GREY'S ANATOMY. She's developing shows with FX and Netflix and has previously sold a show to BRAVO. In film, she's the writer and executive producer of REALLY LOVE, produced by MACRO, which debuted on Netflix and became a Top Ten Movie on the platform. And she's sold two features, DEEPER and LIKE IT'S THE LAST, both romantic dramas, to Universal Pictures. She recently made her directorial debut with tender, a short film she also wrote, which won a Lionsgate award at the BlackStar Film Festival and aired on STARZ. Felicia was a Film Independent Screenwriting Lab Fellow and a graduate of NBC's Writers on the Verge program as a comedy writer. Prior to transitioning to screenwriting, she worked as a film distribution exec and an impact producer. Felicia holds an M.A. in writing from Emerson College and runs The Create Daily, a resource for underrepresented storytellers that she founded in 2012.#theentouragepodcast During this episode, she shares: The importance of doing self work Using art to amplify activism  The steps on how to become a writer The importance of cultivating your voice Social media:  Felicia Pride on Instagram: @feliciapride Felicia Pride on Twitter: @feliciapride Felicia Pride's Production Company: Honey Chile The Entourage Podcast Website: theentouragepodcast.com  The Entourage Podcast on Instagram: @theentouragepodcast The Entourage Podcast on Facebook: The Entourage Podcast Intro/Outro Music:  “Waiting IV” by Celeste Betton Link to album: http://bit.ly/celeste-betton-entourage Instagram: @celestebetton Facebook: Celeste Betton Credits:  Episode Host: Randy C. Bonds Executive Producers: Vannesia Darby, Randy C. Bonds, JAVI Production Assistant: Alexis Clark

This episode offers a sneak preview of the upcoming BlackStar Film Festival opening on Thursday, August 3. Senior Program Manager, Nehad Khader discusses this year's festival theme of Resistance. And BlackStar's Artistic Director Maori Karmael Holmes talks about the genesis of the festival and how it has become a kind of family reunion for independent filmmakers of color. Featured tracks in this episode include Nina Simone's Four Woman, Sweet Honey in the Rock's Echo and Horance Tapscott's The Giant Has Awakened.

Maori Holmes & Denise Beek of the Blackstar Film Festival share their thoughts on Lovecraft Country, Blackish, Jayne Kennedy and so much more before celebrating the pageantry of MISS JUNETEENTH (2020) from writer-director Channing Peoples and starring ‘candescent' Nicole Beharie and Alexis Chikaeze. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Christopher Plant sits down to talk about origins of the BlackStar Film Festival with Artistic Director & CEO Maori Karmael Holmes and hear about this year's highlights with Festival Director Nehad Khader. Now in its 10th year, the BlackStar Film Festival is an annual celebration of the visual and storytelling traditions of the African diaspora and global communities of color — showcasing films by Black, Brown, and Indigenous people from around the world. The 2021 BlackStar Film Festival takes place August 4-8. Find out more info here: https://www.blackstarfest.org/2021festival/

In this episode we will introduce Regina Hoyles to you. We will discuss everything from women in film to different paths to making a dream a reality. Regina Hoyles was born and raised in the south suburbs of Chicago, IL, Regina Hoyles is an award-winning actor, writer, and producer who got her start in the entertainment industry as early as nine years old. She is a graduate of New York University's Tisch School of the Arts where she received her BFA in Drama and minored in the Business of Entertainment. Regina created NAPS, an original web series which screened at festivals such as the NYC Webfest and NYU's Fusion Film Festival. Regina wrote, produced, directed, and starred in her first short film entitled ADULLAM which premiered as an official selection in the 2020 Bentonville Film Festival and is now airing on REVOLT TV's anthology series, “Short and Fresh”. Adullam was awarded Best Black Lens Film at the 2020 Sidewalk Film Festival as well as Best Narrative Film in the 2020 Argo's Untold Stories Short Film Awards. She is the Founder/Producer of her production company RLH Productions, which serves to highlight the work of emerging artists of color, particularly amplifying Black voices and all their complexities across genres. She produced the short film TENDER (dir. Felicia Pride) which received the Lionsgate/STARZ Producer Award at the Blackstar Film Festival. As an actor, she can be seen featured on shows such as THE MARVELOUS MS. MAISEL (Amazon), THE CHI (Showtime), ALL RISE (CBS) and  9-1-1: LONE STAR (FOX). Regina is currently based in Los Angeles, CA.Regina HoylesAdullamHosts: Layne Marie Williams & Kat GorospeShow Sponsor:Filmcraft Studio Gear Our partnerships and collaborations are at the heart of everything we do! We build premium chairs.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Graphics/Logo: Brynne WasselMusic By: Devin Delaney & Noisefloor LTD

This week Chelsea, Glynn, & Sade review the Netflix documentary In Our Mother's Gardens, and explore our relationships with our mothers and grandmothers, breakdown generational trauma, and highlight the importance of telling the stories of our matriarchs. Want even more? Bonus episodes, live events, merch and more of the group chat!! Become a Patron at Patreon.com/blackgirlstexting.com Don't forget to rate, comment, our podcast and check out the full episode on our Youtube & subscribe to our channel Follow our IG: @blackgirlstexting and email us at hello@blackgirlstexting.com. Shout out to WTF Media for the studio and production! https://www.wtfmediastudios.com/ More on In Our Mother's Gardens,the documentary debuted at the 2020 BlackStar Film Festival and subsequently earned the Shine Award for best film. The movie features interviews with #MeToo founder Tarana Burke; Tina Farris; cultural critic Dr. Brittney Cooper (Rutgers University); Rev. Dr. Theresa S. Thames (Princeton University); holistic lifestyle expert Latham Thomas; photographer Adama Delphine Fawundu; and NPR’s Senior Director for Programming Yolanda Sangweni.

Felicia Pride is a writer and an award-winning filmmaker. She was a writer on Ava DuVernay’s “Queen Sugar” for two seasons and is currently a writer on ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy.” She developed a drama pilot, a book adaptation, with NBCUniversal and sold a pilot to 20th Century FOX. She sold the erotic romance Deeper to Universal Pictures and is the co-writer and executive producer of the 2020 feature film Really Love, starring Kofi Siriboe alongside Naturi Naughton and Emmy-winner Uzo Aduba. More recently, Felicia is known for her directorial debut, tender. In 2020, tender screened at over 20+ film festivals including Reel Sistas, ABFF, Urbanworld, Frameline44, and the Seattle Black Film Festival where Pride won Best Director and won a Lionsgate / STARZ award at the BlackStar Film Festival. Pride eventually became an author herself in 2008, penning six books, including the young adult novel, PATTERSON HEIGHTS, recognized by the American Library Association. She was tapped by Simon & Schuster to pen two books in their EVERYBODY HATES CHRIS book series based on the hit show. In this episode, we talk about: • Working on my favorite show "Grey's Anatomy" after working on 2 seasons of "Queen Sugar," including how she started working on both and the transition from one to the other • Her thoughts on Fellowships and being a Screenwriting Fellow for Film Independent and an NBC Writer on the Verge with NBC Universal Media • Her directorial debut tender which screened at over 20+ film festivals and how she approached that particular film • Tips to maximize a film's release regarding the marketing, engagement and distribution of your Indie film that she learned as Director of Independent Films at Tugg Inc. • What Transmedia Storytelling is and how it has influenced her storytelling today • Writing for VIBE, The Root, Baltimore Sun, and other publications and then becoming a published author in 2008 with 6 books including the YA Novel “Patterson Heights” while working series of jobs as Production Coordinator, Writer, and Producer at various places including Washington Jewish Film Festival, Participant Media, and Twin Cities Public Television. Wikipedia Website Twitter IMDB Instagram tender Host: Instagram: @MentorsontheMic @MichelleSimoneMiller Twitter: @MentorsontheMic @MichelleSimoneM Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/mentorsonthemic Website: www.michellesimonemiller.com Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/24mmichelle

This week, Desmond is joined by the founder of the BlackStar Film Festival, Maori Karmael Holmes to discuss JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH! They dig into the brilliant performances, the history behind the film, and ways in which Fred Hampton’s legacy lives on. Also, Maori is put to the test with another round of “Who’s Invited”!! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stanley Nelson, documentary filmmaker and cofounder, Firelight Media, and Marcia Smith, writer, film producer, president and cofounder, Firelight Media In 2000, Stanley Nelson and Marcia Smith founded Firelight Media, a nonprofit production company dedicated to using historical film to advance contemporary social justice causes. Through initiatives like the flagship Documentary Lab, Firelight Media’s programming has expanded to mentor, inspire, and train a new generation of diverse young filmmakers committed to elevating underrepresented stories. Firelight also builds impact campaigns to connect documentaries to audiences and social justice advocates. Under Smith’s leadership, Firelight received a MacArthur Award for Creative and Effective Institutions in 2016. Nelson is a documentary filmmaker whose work combines compelling narratives with rich and deeply researched historical detail, shining new light on both familiar and underexplored aspects of the American past. In addition to honors for individual films, Nelson and his body of work have garnered every major award in the industry, such as the MacArthur Foundation Fellowship (2002), the National Humanities Medal (2013), and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (2016). As a writer and film producer, Smith has been the recipient of a Primetime Emmy nomination for writing (2003), the Writers Guild Award for best nonfiction writing (2004), the Muse Award for New York Women in Film and Television (2016), and a Luminary Award from BlackStar Film Festival (2019), among others. In this conversation recorded on September 24, 2020, as part of the Diamonstein-Spielvogel Lecture Series, Nelson and Smith discuss their own mentors and influences, their collaborative practice, and how Firelight has become a premier destination for nonfiction cinema by and about communities of color.

For women's history month we wanted to highlight some women in our lives that inspire us. We sit down with Maori Holmes: curator, film maker, writer and CEO of BlackStar Film Festival. Maori shares with us her relationship with work, the necessity of critiquing Black films, Black folks having the freedom to be mediocre, and how she doesn't watch anything that we watch. Join us.General Inquiries: Contact Us: IG: @aroundthewaycurls Hotline: (215) 948-2780 Email: aroundthewaycurls@gmail.com Patreon: www.patreon.com/aroundthewaycurlsPurchase Drake's Nonstop here: https://music.apple.com/us/album/loyalty-feat-rihanna/1440881047?i=1440881570

JAMAL HODGE is a multi-award winning filmmaker and writer. Since May of 2016, Jamal Hodge's films have been an official selection in over 100 Film Festivals, and have won 50+awards including The Vanguard Award (Best of The Fest) at the Hip Hop Film Festival (2020), Best Director at the Chelsea Film Festival (2020) Best Director at Genre Blast (2020), Best Director at The Hip Hop Film Festival (2019), Best Short Film at The People’s Film Festival (2019), And the Audience Choice Award at the Blackstar Film Festival (2016). In 2018 he directed the first season of Investigation Discovery Channel's 'Primal Instinct' and came on as a Producer on the Animated feature film 'Pierre The Pigeon Hawk' starring Will.I.Am and Whoopi Goldberg.As a writer, his screenplay 'Mourning Meal' won 5 awards (including best short screenplay at NYC Horror Film Festival 2018) and was featured as a finalist in 7 writing competitions. Jamal's poetry is featured in the historical all-black issue of Star*line Magazine and has been featured several times in SPACE AND TIME MAGAZINE, PENUMBRIC Speculative Fiction Magazine, and in the upcoming anthology CHIRAL MAD 5 alongside such greats as Linda Addison, Sharee Renee Thomas, & Jack Ketchum.Motivated by his accomplishments, Hodge has blossomed to take his talents to the next level. Jamal's tone of work, or what he calls, "Inspirational Darkness", can be described as a melding of genres. The Psychological Horror, Thriller, and Inspirational genres are Jamal's usual forte of film making. His mission is to add value to people’s lives through his unique brand of cinema. He’s excited to continue to grow outstanding partnerships to create memorable and impactful cinematic experiences for audiences across the world.For more on Jamal's works go to: https://linktr.ee/directorhQuestions, Comments or Suggestions?Email me at demonddoes@gmail.comor you can contact me on Twitter, Instagram or FacebookMusic by DJ PRhyme

New guest on the show! Felicia Pride is a Film / TV writer and director. She was a writer for two seasons on Ava DuVernay's Queen Sugar and currently writes on Grey's Anatomy. She sold a drama pilot, a book adaptation, to NBC's Universal Cable Productions. She sold the erotic romance Deeper to Universal Pictures and is the co-writer and executive producer of the film Really Love, produced by Macro, which won a Special Jury Prize at SXSW. She recently made her directorial debut with tender, a short film she also wrote, which won a Lionsgate / Starz award at BlackStar Film Festival and several other accolades. Today, we catch up with Felicia, talking about her start in the industry, her Gen X production company, felix and annie, and her inspiration behind tender. It was like talking to a homegirl down the block. Get ready with the cool and chill vibes from the eclectic Felicia Pride.Felicia Pride 'Gram: @feliciapridetender movie 'Gram: @tendermoviefelix and annie 'Gram: @felixandanniefelix and annie Website: https://felixandannie.com#tendermovieSSR ‘Gram: @ajsoreelSSR Twitter: @shessoreelSSR Shownotes: https://shessoreel.com/episode/jenna-andrews/#ShesSoReel #AJsSoReel*This episode includes affiliate links for which I may make a small commission at no extra cost to you should you make a purchase. Read my disclaimer for further info.*

New guest on the show! Felicia Pride is a Film / TV writer and director. She was a writer for two seasons on Ava DuVernay's Queen Sugar and currently writes on Grey's Anatomy. She sold a drama pilot, a book adaptation, to NBC's Universal Cable Productions. She sold the erotic romance Deeper to Universal Pictures and is the co-writer and executive producer of the film Really Love, produced by Macro, which won a Special Jury Prize at SXSW. She recently made her directorial debut with tender, a short film she also wrote, which won a Lionsgate / Starz award at BlackStar Film Festival and several other accolades. Today, we catch up with Felicia, talking about her start in the industry, her Gen X production company, felix and annie, and her inspiration behind tender. It was like talking to a homegirl down the block. Get ready with the cool and chill vibes from the eclectic Felicia Pride.Felicia Pride 'Gram: @feliciapridetender movie 'Gram: @tendermoviefelix and annie 'Gram: @felixandanniefelix and annie Website: https://felixandannie.com#tendermovieSSR ‘Gram: @ajsoreelSSR Twitter: @shessoreelSSR Shownotes: https://shessoreel.com/episode/jenna-andrews/#ShesSoReel #AJsSoReel*This episode includes affiliate links for which I may make a small commission at no extra cost to you should you make a purchase. Read my disclaimer for further info.*

Imran Siddiquee is a filmmaker, writer and activist, whose articles have appeared in The Atlantic, Buzzfeed, Bitch and Salon. They are also an active filmmaker and organize the BlackStar Film Festival. Laura and Adrian talk with Imran about masculinity, pop culture, and race, about being from a place called Springfield and about the complexities of white feminism.

LA-born & Philly-resident, Maori Karmael Holmes is a curator, filmmaker, writer and founder of BlackStar Film Festival: an annual celebration of the visual and storytelling traditions of the African diaspora and of global communities of color, showcasing films by Black, Brown and Indigenous people from around the world. Maori spoke to us about how her creative journey through various touchpoints of visual artistry led her to where she is today, now serving as, among many other things, CEO and Artistic Director of the festival, dubbed by members of its community as 'the Black Sundance'. BlackStar Film Festival just wrapped its 9th edition, learn more on the website here! And follow Maori on IG - @maorikarmaelDon't forget to rate and subscribe!Follow us on IG - @soleil.spaceCheck out our website to follow our work - www.soleilentertainment.comCredits -Producer: Soleil EntertainmentHosts: Micha Cooper-Edwards, Priya ShanmuganathanGuest: Maori Karmael Holmes Editor: Cooper Conley-CurrierMusic: Foreigner Outro Song: Come Back as a Flower - Stevie Wonder

Rashid Shabazz (Chief Marketing and Storytelling Officer, Color Of Change) sits down with Blackstar Film Festival creator and Director, Maori Holmes, to discuss the importance of the Blackstar Film Festival, its origins, and why it’s so important to provide spaces to tell and uplift the work of BIPOC creatives.

Philadelphia film festival focused on films about and by Black, Brown and Indigenous people from around the world. The post Maori Karmael Holmes – BlackStar Film Festival appeared first on Fred Film Radio.

Philadelphia film festival focused on films about and by Black, Brown and Indigenous people from around the world.Maori Karmael Holmes – BlackStar Film Festival was first posted on August 21, 2020 at 11:12 pm.©2015 "Fred English Channel". Use of this feed is for personal non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this article in your feed reader, then the site is guilty of copyright infringement. Please contact me at radio@fred.fm

Philadelphia film festival focused on films about and by Black, Brown and Indigenous people from around the world. The post Maori Karmael Holmes – BlackStar Film Festival appeared first on Fred Film Radio.

Philadelphia film festival focused on films about and by Black, Brown and Indigenous people from around the world. The post Maori Karmael Holmes – BlackStar Film Festival appeared first on Fred Film Radio.

Philadelphia film festival focused on films about and by Black, Brown and Indigenous people from around the world. The post Maori Karmael Holmes – BlackStar Film Festival appeared first on Fred Film Radio.

Philadelphia film festival focused on films about and by Black, Brown and Indigenous people from around the world. The post Maori Karmael Holmes – BlackStar Film Festival appeared first on Fred Film Radio.

Philadelphia film festival focused on films about and by Black, Brown and Indigenous people from around the world. The post Maori Karmael Holmes – BlackStar Film Festival appeared first on Fred Film Radio.

In 1972, the pioneering filmmaker William Greaves captured the National Black Political Convention in Gary, Indiana for his documentary “Nationtime - Gary.” The work has gone unseen for decades, but has now been restored by IndieCollect. It will have a rare screening online at the Blackstar Film Festival. — Raphaela Neihausen and Thom Powers    For more information, click here to visit the film web site.

Philadelphia film festival focused on films about and by Black, Brown and Indigenous people from around the world. The post Maori Karmael Holmes – BlackStar Film Festival appeared first on Fred Industry Channel » FRED Industry Podcast. Maori Karmael Holmes – BlackStar Film Festival was first posted on August 21, 2020 at 11:12 pm.©2015 "Fred Industry Channel". Use of this feed is for personal non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this article in your feed reader, then the site is guilty of copyright infringement. Please contact me at radio@fred.fm

I spoke with Dr. Harry Williams, President and CEO of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, about the new study, The State of Opportunity in America, 2020 about our fragile communities faced with deep poverty and racial bias. You'll be interested to hear what he says about Philadelphia https://advancingopportunity.org/In the middle of a pandemic and in the wake of the social unrest following the tragic death of George Floyd students at Masterman School creating a forum so they could have the necessary conversation around bias discrimination and social unrest. I speak with student organizers Jasmine Dixon and Alison Fortenberry along with fellow student Aden Gonzalez.First, earlier in the week I had a chance to speak with Maori Karmael HolmesArtistic Director & CEO, BlackStar about the BlackStar Film Festival about this remarkable event that highlights some of the most exciting voices in the cinematic arts. It got underway underway on Thursday August 20th and continues through August 26th.https://www.blackstarfest.org/

Ryan White has a youth of 13 years who acquired AIDS through a blood transfusion. This happened in the early eighties when an AIDS diagnosis was a death sentence and he was only given a few months to live. Instead Ryan White survived five more years living a life with significance. Shunned by his community, he found his voice and became an advocate for tolerance and a better understanding of HIV and AIDS. Ryan didn't live to see it come to be but today the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program has provided services for more than half a million people. We'll talk about his legacy with Laura W. Cheever, M.D., Sc.M., Physician and Associate Administrator, HIV/AIDS Bureau, Health Resources and Services Administration.In the middle of a pandemic and in the wake of the social unrest following the tragic death of George Floyd students at Masterman created a forum so they could have the necessary conversation around bias discrimination and social unrest. I speak with student organizers Jasmine Dixon and Alison Fortenberry along with fellow student Aden Gonzalez.First, earlier in the week I had a chance to speak with Maori Karmael HolmesArtistic Director & CEO, BlackStar about the BlackStar Film Festival about this remarkable event that highlights some of the most exciting voices in the cinematic arts. It got underway underway on Thursday August 20th and continues through August 26th.https://www.blackstarfest.org/

Kathleen Collins said, “No one is going to mythologize my life. No one is going to refuse me the right to explore my experiences of life as normal experiences, neither outside nor inside.” — For Week 6 of Black Is Not A Genre, we’re talking magical realism with another landmark double-dip, featuring Kathleen Collins’ ethereal Black intellectual relationship drama Losing Ground (1982) and Kasi Lemmons’ dark, ancestral mystery, Eve’s Bayou (1997). Featured guest: Madeleine Hunt - Ehrlich is the writer and director on the feature film Madame Négritude - Her work has screened all over the world including at the Guggenheim Museum in New York and in Film Festivals such as Doclisboa, True / False, Images Film Festival, New Orleans Film Festival, and Blackstar Film Festival. She has been featured in Essence Magazine, Studio Museum’s Studio Magazine, ARC Magazine, BOMB Magazine, Guernica Magazine, Small Axe journal among others. She is the recipient of a 2020 SF Film Rainin Grant, a 2019 Rema Hort Mann Award, a 2019 UNDO fellowship and grant from Uniondocs / Just Films, a 2015 TFI Future Filmmaker Award and a 2014 Princess Grace Award in film. Her work has been recognized by the Time Inc. Black Girl Magic Emerging Director's series, the National Magazine (ELLIE) Awards and she has received grants from the National Black Programming Consortium and Glassbreaker Films. Madeleine has a degree in Film and Photography from Hampshire College and has an MFA in Film and Media Arts from Temple University.

As promised, a bonus episode with BlackStar Film Festival's Artistic Director & CEO, Maori Karmael Holmes. Due to technical difficulties, some of Maori's audio cut out during the conversation we had in the previous episode with Danny Orendorff and Anne Ishii, and so we set out to have a deeper and more intimate conversation about white supremacy, the arts, and Black Lives Matter. You can read more about BlackStar Film Festival here, and can find out more information about Philly Artists for Black Lives here.

In this episode, Community Engagement Manager Tenara Calem sits down with Anne Ishii (Executive Director of Asian Arts Initiative), Danny Orendorff (Executive Director of Vox Populi), and Maori Karmael Holmes (Artistic Director and CEO of BlackStar Film Festival), the leaders of a new coalition called Philly Arts for Black Lives Matter. Philly Arts for BLM emerged following the proposed city budget cuts to Philadelphia's municipal arts funding. Though the budget has already been voted on (and with it, restored the Philadelphia Cultural Fund), this important conversation demonstrates all the ways in which arts organizations can illuminate the path ahead for racial and economic justice in the city of Philadelphia. To learn more about this work, visit: http://phlartsforblacklives.com/

In another episode that finds our hosts heeding Mayor Kenney’s advice to stay at home and keep each other safe, Laiya, Rachel and Justin talk to Charlie Mack about his unofficial roles as Philadelphia’s Big Brother and star-maker (Will Smith, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Bryshere Gray). Next, they have a conversation with Aunyea Lachelle, host of NBC10’s Philly Live, about the importance of fostering pets during this time – before providing an update on her postponed wedding plans.  The episode wraps with tips for staying entertained while at home. First, you’ll need a pen and paper to write down TV and movie streaming recommendations from Maori Karmael Holmes, founder of the BlackStar Film Festival. Then, master mixologist Andre Darlington shares the secret to a perfect cocktail (a breakfast martini?) and suggests the best cocktail-and-music pairings.

At the 2020 Sundance Film Festival, filmmaker dream hampton moderated a discussion with Color Of Change VP Arisha Hatch, Open Society Foundations’ Rashida Bumbray, and BlackStar Film Festival founder Maori Holmes about the importance of activism and owning our stories. 

The Men kick off 2020 with a review of the socio-noir Queen & Slim, the impressive directorial debut of Melina Matsoukas starring Daniel Kaluuya and Jodie Turner-Smith. Special guest Maori Holmes of the BlackStar Film Festival. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Passionate, Purpose Driven, Accomplished and Enterprising, Chasity Saunders is a notable american actress, plus-size supermodel and TV host with a professional career boasting hundreds of credits, editorials and major fashion campaigns with clients like Ashley Stewart, Target and Beyoncé. Chasity has graced the TV screen and the pages of major publications such as Essence, Glamour and Ebony Magazine. Her budding acting career includes being cast in Award Winning web-series and films such as ISSA RAE Presents: "Get Your Life", Pan African Film Festival and BlackStar Film Festival official selections, "The Divorce Counselor" and Summer hit #FRIEND-ZONED. She was named 1 of Ebony Magazines top 5 black plus size models to know and profiled as 1 of Hello Beautiful's Top 30 under 30. She is currently signed with STATE Management for modeling representation globally and managed by LINK Entertainment. In addition to maintaining a full time acting & modeling career after moving to Los Angeles from New York City where she got her start, this Multitalented Artist is also a freelance TV Host and Entertainment Correspondent who co-owns new media company @AvenuePink She is the host and Executive Producer for YouTube talk show @officialviphappyhour Chasity is also a fashion expert and was recently tapped to appear on BET's The Westbrooks coaching aspiring models; and as the host of "The Art Of Fabulous" a style and beauty TV Show that aired on VIACOM's BET and Centric Television Networks. In addition she's hosted 100's of red carpets and interviewed some of today's biggest stars such as Kevin Hart, Nicki Minaj, Tyler Perry, Idris Elba and Taraji P. Henson just to name a few. As a writer she's penned cover stories for major publications most recently Interviewing Chadwick Boseman, Anthony Anderson & Tracee Ellis Ross for the cover of Ebony Magazine. Networks and Media Companies such as FOX TV, Allied Moxy and The Cashmere Agency often tap @chasitysaunders for her wide reach as a social media influencer! Chasity is often sought after for brand launches, and pop culture events for film, fashion & beauty that help curate the culture; as she is known for keeping her finger on the pulse of what is new, now and next! A Triple Threat with her eyes on empowering other powerful multidimensional millennials to take their lives and their careers to the next tier; she's currently doing the same with her own career by taking her acting to the next level; Saunders was most recently cast and made her TV debut on the highly anticipated Second Season of #TalesOnBET which aired April, 2019! With a true love and passion for fashion she found time last year to launch her first fashion line "Ronnie Leigh" @_ShopRonnieLeigh a unisex fashion brand paying homage to her late father with a fashion show aboard the gorgeous, private Sir Winston Yacht of Long Beach, CA. championing all people to believe in "The Freedom of Fashion for everyBODY" and beauty beyond size leaving us all highly anticipating what's next for this rising star. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/theactorslounge/support

Happy Friday folks! This weekend, August 1st-4th, The BlackStar Film Festival is taking place in Philadelphia. I talk with founder and director of the fest, Maori Holmes about what you can expect to see and do this weekend. The great part about it, is I have Melinda James, cinematographer of Oklahoma Is Black on this week as well. Her film will be playing at BlackStar as well as the DC Black Film festival, so we kill two pre-fest birds with one interview. And last but not least, I’ll talk with Latasha Kennedy, writer/director of One Last Goodbye. Don’t miss the After Show with Latasha on Monday! Attend the BlackStar Film Festival: https://www.blackstarfest.org/ Check out Oklahoma is Black here: https://melindajamesdp.com/Oklahoma-is-Black Find out more about One Last Goodbye here: https://www.lmkentertainmentgrp.com/one-last-goodbye Get Info for DC Black Film Festival here: http://dcbff.org/ Picture Lock Links: Get my new book “Army of One: PR & Marketing For The Indie Filmmaker”: https://www.amazon.com/dp/057844139X Take my PR For The Indie Filmmaker online course here: https://indiefilmpr.thinkific.com/ Get a partner as passionate as you in your film or film event's publicity: www.picturelockpr.com Subscribe to this podcast in iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/kevin-sampsons-picture-lock/id639359584?mt=2 Be sure to visit www.picturelockshow.com for everything Picture Lock! Please give us a review on whatever platform you listen to this podcast on. Thanks so much for your continued support. Drop a line a picturelockshow@gmail.com to say hi and let us know what you think of the show. FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/picturelockshow SNAPCHAT: https://www.snapchat.com/add/picturelockshow YouTube CHANNEL:http://www.youtube.com/picturelockshowTWITTER:https://twitter.com/picturelockshowINSTAGRAM:http://instagram.com/picturelockshowPINTEREST:http://pinterest.com/picturelockshow

The 8th annual BlackStar Film Festival will kick off tomorrow in University City. KYW Newsradio's community affairs reporter and Flashpoint host Cherri Gregg speaks with the festival's director Maori Holmes about this year's line up.

The Micheaux Mission offers a special preview of the 8th BLACKSTAR FILM FESTIVAL with organizers Maori Holmes and Nehad Khader. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The BlackStar Film Festival (BlackStar) returns August 1-4, 2019 with a stellar slate of black, brown and indigenous films from around the globe. The BlackStar Film Festival is an annual celebration of the visual and storytelling traditions of the African diaspora and of global communities of color, showcasing films by black, brown and indigenous people from around the world. Continuing its legacy of discovery and excellence, audiences can expect must-see film premieres, poignant artist discussions, and discover new cinematic favorites from this year’s class of emerging filmmakers. Founded in 2012 by Maori Karmael Holmes, BlackStar has become the hottest event on the film festival calendar. With a program unlike any other, BlackStar is the destination to discover new artists voices from Black and global indigenous filmmakers. Artists including Terence Nance (An Oversimplification of Her Beauty; HBO’s Random Acts of Flyness), and Matthew A. Cherry (9 RIdes; ABC's Whiskey Cavalier), and Nijla Baseema Mu'min (Jinn) have shared their work at the festival and from BlackStar cultivated a fanbase that has grown with their careers. BlackStar Festival Film Highlights: This year’s festival features sneak preview of Hip-Hop: The Songs That Shook America, a new documentary series directed by directed Erik Parker and One9. From Executive Producers Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson, Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter, Shawn Gee, and Alex Gibney, Fear No Gumbo, a documentary feature directed by Kimberly Rivers Roberts, about the 13 years since the deadly Category 5 Hurricane Katrina that made landfall on Florida and Louisiana and the corruption and systemic racism that still victimizes the residents that returned after Katrina. A new documentary from Emmy Award-winning director and Macarthur "genius" fellow Stanley Nelson (The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution). Boss which explores over 150 years of African American entrepreneurship, from bondage to billion dollar moguls. Academy Award-winning director, Roger Ross Williams (Music By Prudence, God Loves Uganda) will be on-hand for the debut of his latest documentary The Apollo chronicling the unique history and contemporary legacy of New York City's landmark Apollo Theater. Panels and Awards: BlackStar will present the Luminary Award to Marcia Smith, President of Firelight Media.  To commemorate the 30th anniversary of Do The Right Thing, filmmaker Spike Lee and activist Tarana Burke will discuss the possibilities of using radical storytelling to center social justice and foster narrative change.  For news and updates go to blackstarfest.org

Maori Karmael Holmes is the founder of BlackStar Film Festival, an annual celebration of the visual and storytelling traditions of the African diaspora and of global communities. She's also a world-renowned curator, organizer, and director. Today, we talk with Maori about film, representation vs. authorship, and so much more! 

Blitz the Ambassador and Face2Face host David Peck talk about his new film The Burial of Kojo, African film making and story telling, magic and allegory, paradox, guilt, genetic memory and truthful moments. Trailer Streaming on Netflix, March 31st. Synopsis Through a magical realist lens, The Burial of Kojo follows the story of Esi, as she recounts her childhood and the tumultuous relationship between her father, Kojo and her uncle, Kwabena. Directed by TED fellow, music composer and musician Blitz Bazawule, the film chronicles the tale of two brothers through the gifted eyes of a young girl who transports the audience to the beautiful lands of Ghana and other worlds that exist between life and death.Born from a newspaper article and a Kickstarter campaign, Bazawule skillfully captures the beauty of a family, even when the circumstances aren't beautiful. The Burial of Kojo is an essential human story of courage and survival. The Burial of Kojo is a 2019 Pan African Film Festival (PAFF) Official Selection and 2018 Urbanworld Film Festival Best Narrative Feature Winner.A Note from the Director:It all began with a newspaper article I read while visiting family in Ghana two years ago. The text was bold and direct…."Galamsey Miners Buried Alive.” That headline stopped me dead in my tracks. For those unfamiliar with Galamsey, it's a local term for illegal gold mining, an extremely dangerous practice with little financial reward and irreversible environmental consequences. I became obsessed with understanding why young men and women risked their lives 30 feet underground, only to be paid a fraction of what the gold was worth. I visited the mining towns of Tarkwa and Prestea to do some research. The more I dug, the more apparent it became who really controlled the illegal gold mining industry in Ghana. Chinese companies assisted by local Chiefs really run the show, operating in the shadows while young local miners suffered all the risks and backlash. I knew immediately this was a story worth telling. However, I didn't want to focus on the obvious theme of victimization. I wanted to craft a narrative that was personal and intimate, giving the audience a glimpse into a Ghanaian family dealing with love, loss, tragedy, betrayal and sibling rivalry.Biography Blitz Bazawule is a Filmmaker and Musician born in Ghana and based in New York. Blitz's short films Native Sun and Diasporadical Trilogìa premiered at New Voices in Black Cinema and Blackstar Film Festival respectively. Blitz is also the founder of Africa Film Society, an organization focused on the preservation of classic African films. As a composer and musician, Blitz has released 4 studio albums, Stereotype, Native Sun, Afropolitan Dreams and Diasporadical. Blitz's feature directorial debut 'The Burial Of Kojo' premiered at Urbanworld Film Festival presented by HBO. Blitz is a TED Fellow and recipient of the Vilcek Prize. Image Copyright: Blitz the Ambassador and Array Now Films. Used with permission. For more information about David Peck’s podcasting, writing and public speaking please visit his site here. With thanks to Josh Snethlage and Mixed Media Sound. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Episode 4 - Sabine speaks with Dana Washington and the topic of discussion is Film.  JOIN PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/atribecalledqueer Follow A Tribe Called Queer: www.atribecalledqueer.com  Instagram | Facebook atribecalledqueer@gmail.com (submit advertising questions via email)     Follow Dana: Instagram | Website  Bio: “Dana Washington is an artist, writer and director  working in photography, film, video, and voice narration. She examines blackness and aesthetics, personal history, memory and fiction to explore race, identity and futurity in visual culture.  Washington has received a Bachelor of Arts in English from California State University, Long Beach and is completing a Master of Fine Arts in Visual Arts at the University of California, San Diego. Select film screenings and publications: Black Radical Imagination Showcase, OUTFEST Fusion LGBT People of Color Film Festival, BlackStar Film Festival, Los Angeles Diversity Film Festival, San Diego Art Institute, LA FilmForum, Gal-Dem Magazine, L.A. RECORD Magazine, and Black Lives Matter.”    Dana's Work: FILMS Daytrips: dana washington - https://vimeo.com/157892735 UNDER BONE (original) - https://vimeo.com/blackdaughters/underbonefilm UNDER BONE (docfiction) - https://vimeo.com/261031367 Heartburn - https://vimeo.com/268154269 Why You Always Talk About Freedom - https://vimeo.com/161437333 Vimeo Page: https://vimeo.com/blackdaughters   VIDEO ART Current State of Everything - https://vimeo.com/301300917/17491c4348 Liberated Zones - https://vimeo.com/263578254 Audio/Visual Series 001-003 - https://vimeo.com/193276784   MUSIC VIDEO Reoccurring Dream - https://vimeo.com/296231633   Mentioned In The Episode: Maad City by Kahlil Joseph  Pariah by Dee Rees and Cinematography by Bradford Young Watermelon Woman by Cheryl Dunye Appropriate Behavior by Desiree Akhavan Bisexual by Desiree Akhavan   Random Acts of Flyness by Terence Nance George Washington by David Gordon Green Raising Victor Vargas by Peter Sollett Pedro Almodovar Filmography Us by Jordan Peele The Proud Family by Bruce W. Smith Queen Sugar by Ava DuVernay  Dear White People by Justin Simien Bad Hair by Justin Simien    Mailing Address for ATCQ A Tribe Called Queer C/O Sabine Maxine Lopez PO Box 26421 Los Angeles, CA 90026

Guest Host Vanesse Lloyd Sgambati speaks with Lauren Holland from BlackStar Film Festival, Ron Stallworth, author of Black Klansman, and for her segment “What is Philadelphia Reading” she talks with musician Jay Fluellen.

This episode is produced in honor of the Blackstar Film Festival, which has taken place here in Philadelphia every summer for the past 7 years. As they describe themselves, The BlackStar Film Festival is an annual celebration of the visual and storytelling traditions of the African diaspora and of global indigenous communities, showcasing films by black people from around the world. With the festival coming up in a few days, I felt inspired to produce some content that explores the film scores and soundtracks. For today's show, we are just going to focus on one of the most misunderstood and highly underrated soundtracks in music history... Stevie Wonder's 1979 album "Journey Through The Secret Life of Plants".This episode highlights these songs from the album: The First Garden Send One Your Love (Music) Power Flower Outside My Window     Find more info about the BlackStar Film Festival here:  https://www.blackstarfest.org/  

First Aired in April of 2014.  Maori Holmes is the Artistic Director of the BlackStar Film Festival.

Today our podcast connects with Akwaeke Emezi. Akwaeke Emezi is an Igbo and Tamil writer and video artist based in liminal spaces. Her debut autobiographical novel FRESHWATER (Grove Atlantic, February 2018) has been reviewed by the Wall Street Journal ('[a] witchy, electrifying story of danger and compulsion') and the LA Times ('a dazzling, devastating novel'). It also received starred reviews from Library Journal and Booklist, and has been recognized on 2018 best/most anticipated books lists by Esquire, ELLE, Cosmopolitan, Buzzfeed, Huffington Post, Bustle, OZY, Electric Lit, and Book Riot, among others. Emezi's first young adult novel, PET, will be published in 2019 by Make Me a World, Christopher Myers' imprint in partnership with Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers. Her short story 'Who Is Like God' won the 2017 Commonwealth Short Story Prize for Africa. She was photographed by Annie Leibovitz and profiled in the February 2018 issue of Vogue Magazine (Modern Families With A Cause). Her video art series THE UNBLINDING recently premiered at Gavin Brown's enterprise in Harlem. Born in Umuahia and raised in Aba, Nigeria, Emezi holds two degrees, including an MPA from New York University. In 2017, she was awarded a Global Arts Fund grant for the video art in her project The Unblinding, and a Sozopol Fellowship for Creative Nonfiction. She received a 2015 Morland Writing Scholarship to write her second novel, and is a 2016 Kimbilio Fellow. Emezi's writing has been published by Granta Online, Vogue.com, and Commonwealth Writers, among others. Her memoir work was included in The Fader's 'Best Culture Writing of 2015' ('Who Will Claim You?') and her experimental short UDUDEAGU won the Audience Award for Best Short Experimental at the 2014 BlackStar Film Festival. She is currently making video art and working on her third novel.     The How The Why is a half-hour podcast documenting the creative process and the creative purpose hosted by Jon-Barrett Ingels. This free weekly series is an educational resource provided to discuss the evolution of literary arts with industry innovators. Interviews are structured as friendly conversations and conducted via telephone. Occasionally, episodes will be recorded live at special events and highlight multiple guests.   Producer: Jon-Barrett Ingels and Kevin Staniec Manager: Sarah Becker Host: Jon-Barrett Ingels Guest: Akwaeke Emezi

On this 1/2 hour special edition of Contemporary Black Canvas, we are highlighting the sixth annual BlackStar Film Festival 2017. For this episode, we were delighted to welcome back festival founder Maori Holmes (Episode 5) and independent filmmaker M. Asli Dukan (Episode 10) to talk about this year’s festival. The sixth annual BlackStar Film Festival, held […] The post EP 16: Special Edition – BlackStar Film Festival 2017 appeared first on Contemporary Black Canvas.

A monologue about a young black woman who is expelled from school for standing up to racism starts a conversation about the high expectations and double standards imposed on students of color in majority-white institutions. Featuring an interview with Angela Antoinette Bey, whose life growing up in Southwest Philadelphia looked very different than the private high school she attended, and an honest conversation with two mother/daughter duos who share the experience being de facto representatives of diversity in mostly white spaces. Click here to read a transcript of this episode. “Dear Black Girl: You’ll come to this private institution with stars in your eyes. You’ll be fooled, used, and abused, so long as you can stand it. And when you finally speak out, you’ll be disappointed.” — from "Pedestals" by Angela Bey  * * * In a perfect world every child would receive a quality education. Instead, our nation continues to face an outstanding achievement gap between white and non-white students. For decades, the children of poor minorities have been expected to attend their respective neighborhood public schools without choice. These schools are historically known to have less than their private counterparts. Less resources, less rigor, lesswhite students and less opportunity for future upward mobility. Upward mobility is the explanation for why many minority parents who have accumulated more wealth and education tend to choose private schooling for their children over public schools, often with the aid of vouchers and scholarships offered by the private institutions. Many of these families eventually discover that these allocations come with a great cost. There are current inquiries to determine the true design of opportunities for students of color to attend private schools. Were these opportunities created to benefit these students or to use them as adornments? It is hard to believe the answer not to be the latter when these institutions continue to fall short at supporting minority students both emotionally and socially. Getting faces of color to fill private school classrooms is only half the battle. Real work and genuine interest are needed in order to stop the ultimate outcome of students of colorlosing out when attending private schools. the conversation Nola Latty (left) is a senior at Friends Select School, where she is an active member of the theater program and numerous other clubs and activities. Her play "Y2K" recently won the Mary Margaret Longaker '27 Playwriting Competition. This fall, Nola will attend the Tisch School for the Arts at New York University to study acting.  Yvonne Latty is a producer and host of Mouthful. She is an award-winning journalist and documentarian. Her documentaries Sacred Poison and Home have been screened internationally. She is the author of We Were There: Voices of African American Veterans, f__rom World War II to the War in Iraq (Harper Collins/Amistad 2004) and In Conflict: Iraq War Veterans Speak Out on Duty, Loss and the Fight to Stay Alive (Polipoint Press 2006). In Conflict was developed into a successful Off-Broadway play. She was an award-winning urban reporter for the Philadelphia Daily News for 13 years.   Olivia Haynes (right) is a senior at William Penn Charter School. As a filmmaker, Olivia has worked with the Scribe Video Center, the Pulitzer Center for Crisis Reporting, and the Blackstar Film Festival. This fall, she will attend Goucher College to study art history and anthropology. Lisa Nelson-Haynes is the Executive Producer of Mouthful and Executive Director of Philadelphia Young Playwrights. Before joining Young Playwrights in 2016, Lisa was the associate director at the Painted Bride Art Center, where she ran the Center’s educational outreach and residency programs, marketing and communications departments and managed contractual relationships with artists. She is also a nationally recognized expert in digital storytelling through her work as a facilitator with Storycenter, which uses the art of first-person narrative as a tool for education, advocacy and community-building. Further reading & resources Check out this video put together by Olivia Haynes and a number of her classmates at William Penn Charter that digs into her black male classmates' experiences at school. Click here to learn more about Philadelphia Young Playwrights. "Pedestals" was performed by Nia Benjamin under the direction of Steve Gravelle Anne Hoffman helped produce and edit "Pedestals" Digital content support from Kiarah Cannady

In this week’s episode, I caught up with filmmaker, festival organizer, and curator Maori Holmes. Most recently, she is the founder of the Blackstar Film Festival in Philadelphia. Prior to Black Star, she was worked with the Jazzyfatnastees to put on the Black Lily Film and Music Festival in 2007 and 2008. She has directed […] The post EP 5 Filmmaker, Curator, Festival Organizer Maori Karmael Holmes appeared first on Contemporary Black Canvas.

During the BlackStar Film Festival, and the premiere of her short film "Rigamo" Che Greyson joins Reggie Black for a walk and talk through Center City Philadelphia. Che opens up about the impact of the work from other filmmakers at the festival. Che also addresses the power of imagery what her mission is as a black filmmaker.  Contact: @FandomFox

For the ‘woke’ ones among us, the eighth month of the year is also know as “Black August,” and for the last five years the BlackStar Film Festival has been a hub for African-centered cinematic art from around the world. To conclude the first season of the Highwater Podcast, we talked to artists and creatives Terence Nance, Darren Wallace, Michael Dennis (Mike D), Nuala Cabral, Eugene Haynes and BlackStar Founder Maori Karmael Holmes about the festival and what’s next in Black film.

This week we bring that jazzy feel good soulful hip hop and discuss the Blackstar Film Festival of 2015. ---Playlist--- Straight Gutta - Method Man ft. Redman, Streetlife, and Hanz On World Renown - K-Otix On A Clear Day You Can See Forever - The Peddlers The Prodigal Return - Sound Providers Elevator Music - Unspoken Heard You - People Under The Stairs Jazz (We've Got) Jazz Bootleg - A Tribe Called Quest Pursuits of Clarity - DJ Mitsu ft. Agape — L.O.V.E. And You & I - Jazzanova I've Known Rivers - Gary Bartz Manteca - Dizzy Gillespie Funky Drummer (DJ Day Edit) - James Brown E=MC2 (Melo D Edit) - J. Dilla --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Damu The Fudgemunk - Another IntroductionK-Def - Soul PaperKev Brown - Another Private ConversationThe Stuyvesants - Future GrooveSpinnerty - 53 Pickup (lil' dave Remix)Quantic Y Anita Tijoux - Doo Wop (That Thing)Chico Mann - Comes and Goes (ft. Annakalmia Traver)Classixx - All You're Waiting For (Switch Remix)Louis La Roche - KaboomDisclosure - When a Fire Starts to BurnKon - All Night (Everybody) ft. Amy DouglasDaniel Crawford - The Awakening IntruthDon-E - Spiritual (ft. C MacIntosh, Junior Giscombe, Lee John, Noel McKoy, Omar, Paul Johnson & Rick Clarke)Fatima (ft. Shafiq Husayn) - CircleSola Rosa - Promise (ft. Oliver Daysoul) [Tall Black Guy Remix]Freddie Joachim - LimitsJazz Neversleeps - LinhQuadron - LFTJohnny Hammond - Tell Me What to Do (Whiskey Barons Rework)The Crusaders - A Ballad for Joe (Louis)Pleasure - Joyous Soia - ObtainingIn-studio guest - Maori Karmael Holmes & Denise Beekwww.Blackstarfilmfest.orgMyron & E - On BroadwayMark de Clive-Lowe - CaravanSoia - VoiceHiatus Kayote - Malika (Mark de Clive-Lowe remix)B. Lewis - FrozenXenia Rubinos - WhirlwindKhari Mateen feat. STS - Full MoonGo Yama - Do The Astral PlaneMayer Hawthorne - Her Favorite Song (Oliver remix)Miles Bonny “& Ta-Ku- As You Sleep On My LapAntonio Carlos Jobim and Astrud Gilberto - Corcovado (TokiMonsta remix)Sango feat. JMSN - AffectionDebruit - Nigeria What?Waajeed - Make It BoomMFSB - TSOP (Steve 1nder edit)Azymuth - In My Treehouse (We Are The Horsemen remix)