A Drink in the Passage (2002) South Africa
Dir: Zola Maseko 29 min
U.S. PREMIERE Short
Adapted from the Alan Paton short story, an award-winning black sculptor enters a competition that, unbeknown to him, is for whites only.
Sunday, 2/9, 11:00am; Wednesday, 2/12, 7:00pm; Monday, 2/17, 10:00am
Afro Deutsch (2001) Germany
Dir: Ayassi 10 1/2 min
Short
A young black male has to escape from a group of racists. On his run he sees flashes of experiences of his entire life.
Sunday, 2/9, 11:00am
Amandla! A Revolution in Four Part Harmony (2001) South Africa/USA
Dir: Lee Hirsch 98 min
Documentary
In South Africa music was a major source of inspiration and hope in the struggle against apartheid. A joyous musical celebration of the indomitable human spirit charted through the music of struggle.
Saturday, 2/8, 6:05pm; Tuesday, 2/11, 8:50pm
Amilcar Cabral (2001) Cape Verde
Dir: Ana Lisboa 59 min
L.A. PREMIERE Documentary
Through the use of archival footage, testimony of his friends and the re-creation of some episodes of his life, a portrait of the leader of the Liberation Movement of Cape Verde and Guinea Bissau is masterfully created. He is seen as a man, politician, humanist, poet and, in some respects, as a myth.
Saturday, 2/8, 6:30pm; Monday, 2/17, 10:00am
Anne B. Real (2003) USA
Dir: Lisa France 91 min
World Premiere Feature
A young girl learns to cope with the adversities of urban life using the "Diary of Anne Frank" as her inspiration. Contemporary hip-hop drama with outstanding performances by Carlos Leon and newcomer Janice Richardson. Featuring Ernie Hudson.
Saturday, 2/8, 8:25pm; Sunday, 2/16, 4:00pm; Monday, 2/17, 2:40pm
Bamako Sigi Kan (2002) Mali/USA
Dir: Manthia Diawara 76 min
Documentary
An examination of the clash between globalization and traditional African values set in the ancient city of Bamako.
Monday, 2/10, 9:25pm; Tuesday, 2/11, 10:40pm
Barbara James (2001) Canada
Dir: Winston W. Moxam 79 min
L.A. PREMIERE Feature
Barbara James is a thirty-something, single, hip and opinionated pregnant black woman. Faced with an abundance of life’s obstacles compounded by mistakes, misinterpretations and miscalculations, she must decide whether or not to keep her child.
Wednesday, 2/12, 3:40pm; Saturday, 2/15, 12:30pm; Monday, 2/17, 10:20am
Beautiful (2002) USA
Dir: Anthony Luckett 26 min
U.S. PREMIERE Short
A confident artist with a disfigured face attempts to show his insecure but attractive neighbor that she is beautiful regardless of how she looks, but her abusive boyfriend keeps interfering.
Friday, 2/14, 1:00pm
Bella (2002) USA
Dir: Physent Walker 20 min
Short
Love story between an older woman and a younger man.
Friday, 2/14, 1:00pm Q&A
Beloved (1998) USA
Dir: Jonathan Demme 172 min
Feature
Sethe is a runaway slave struggling to carve out her own simple existence with her children in rural Ohio in1873. Preventing her from achieving that, however, is the painful legacy of her former life and the desperate measures to which she is driven to keep herself and her family from returning to it. Stars Oprah Winfrey, Danny Glover and Thandie Newton.
Friday, 2/7, 3:30pm
Benjamin and His Brother (2002) Sudan/UK/USA
Dir: Arthur Howes 88 min
L.A. PREMIERE Documentary
Years of civil war in the Sudan have created a generation of young men known as the "lost boys", separated from home and parents, who have spent most of their lives in refugee camps. This intimate film recounts the story of Benjamin and William Deng, brothers joined in the struggle of a seemingly never-ending exile, who are then separated when one is accepted into a United States resettlement program.
Tuesday, 2/11, 3:15pm
Betting on Love (2002) Cote d'Ivoire
Dir: Didier Aufort 97 min
Feature
A modern African tale of a young hairdresser who leads a quiet life in Abidjan while planning for her upcoming wedding. Her world is turned upside down when she wins big at the horse races. Filmed in Abidjan, Paris and Dakar.
Monday, 2/10, 1:00pm; Thursday, 2/13, 3:30pm; Friday, 2/14, 7:20pm; Monday, 2/17, 12:10pm Q&A
Big Pun: Still Not A Player (2002) USA
Dir: Marcos Antonio Miranda 110 min
WEST COAST PREMIERE Documentary
An intimate journey through the life of Christopher "Big Pun" Rios, the rap artist better known as the "Punisher." His debut album sold over 2 million copies. A unique and frightening, sometimes beautiful, painful, haunting and poignant story offering an intimate look inside the world of hip-hop and into the ravaged life of one of its most popular figures.
Saturday, 2/15, 9:30pm; Monday, 2/17, 4:30pm
Big Wigs (2002) USA
Dir: Mad Mathewz 26 min
Documentary
A portrait of a struggling white rapper's quest to break into the music industry. A classic and universal story of the talented but struggling artist.
Thursday, 2/13, 8:20pm; Saturday, 2/15, 9:30pm
Billie (2002) USA
Dir: Beverly Rouse 26 1/2 min
U.S. PREMIERE Short
In the midst of a family crisis, a little girl finds refuge in ballet.
Tuesday, 2/11, 1:00pm; Wednesday, 2/12, 3:40pm Q&A
Black Beans & Rice* (2002) USA
Dir: Doug Thompson 88 min
Feature
A female television reporter has some interesting social, sexual and romantic encounters while investigating alleged gang-related murders in Miami. An exploration of the multicultural mix of South Florida.
Saturday, 2/8, 4:30pm; Thursday, 2/13, 3:45pm
Black Chicks Talking (2002) Australia
Dir: Leah Purcell 50 min
Documentary
Five indigenous women explore what it means to be Black in Australia today. Often joyful, sometimes harrowing, it is a passionate and challenging exploration of Black identity and a celebration of five very different lives.
Monday, 2/10, 5:20pm; Tuesday, 2/11, 1:15pm
Black Soul (2000) Canada
Dir: Martine Chartrand 9 min
Short
In a mesmerizing swirl of light and color, an old lady initiates her grandson into his past. The boy’s ancestry is traced from the mighty Pharaohs to the valiant kings whose praises are sung by a griot beneath the baobab tree to the slave markets of the Americas and through the civil rights struggle.
Monday, 2/10, 3:15pm; Saturday, 2/15, 2:30pm
Bloco Afro and Afoxé: Afro-Brazilian Carnival as a Political and Religious Stage (2002) Brazil/USA
Dir: Carolina Moraes-Liu 18 min
L.A. PREMIERE Documentary
Musical performances, dances and religious manifestations capture the energy of Carnival in Salvador, in northeastern Brazil, one of the largest and most popular celebrations in the world.
Monday, 2/10, 9:25pm Q&A
Blue Moon (2002) USA
Dir: Xavier Greene 29 min
WORLD PREMIERE Short
Examination of love and life and the consequences of taking the two of them for granted.
Wednesday, 2/12, 6:15pm; Friday, 2/14, 1:00pm Q&A
Breath Control: The History of the Human Beat Box (2002) USA
Dir: Joey Garfield 75 min
Documentary
The art of making music with nothing but the human voice is one of the key elements in the development of hip-hop culture. Interviews, live performances, archival footage and animation bring to light this important and neglected ingredient of hip-hop's identity. With the help of Beat Box pioneers Doug E. Fresh, Biz Markie and the Fat Boys, beat box is traced from its basic beat beginnings in the '80s to today's multi-layered, polyrhythmic styles of The Roots' figureheads Rahzel and Scratch.
Saturday, 2/8, 10:50pm
Brother Outsider: The Life of Bayard Rustin (2002) USA
Dir: Nancy Kates & Bennett Singer 84 min
Documentary
Long in the shadow of Martin Luther King, Jr., partly by his own design, Bayard Rustin was one of the chief strategists and organizers of the Civil Rights Movement. A tireless and intrepid warrior for justice, Bayard’s life is explored from his collegiate days as a music student enthralled by the ideals of Communism, to his imprisonment for conscientious objection to World War II, to his crucial role advising Dr. King on the tactics of nonviolent resistance. Proud, Black and gay, Rustin's life is also a study in determination, discipline and self-denial. Myriad testimonials from colleagues and friends, stirring songs of protest sung by Rustin himself and electrifying archival footage round out this inspiring and long-overdue portrait.
Thursday, 2/13, 1:00pm; Friday, 2/14, 5:15pm
China (2002) USA
Dir: Jeffrey C. Wray 60 min
WORLD PREMIERE Short
A couple are living a settled if unexciting life after 30 years of marriage. When the unfulfilled and unhealthy Rudolph suddenly takes up martial arts, Evelyn begins to question her place in his journey of growth and fulfillment.
Monday, 2/10, 3:50pm; Wednesday, 2/12, 7:00pm; Friday, 2/14, 3:30pm
OPENING NIGHT
Civil Brand* (2002) USA
Dir: Neema Barnette 95 min
Feature
When a beautiful young nurse and mother (LisaRaye) is incarcerated for killing her abusive husband, she doesn't realize that she has just become a newly initiated working member of one of the most profitable businesses in America--the prison industrial complex. Also stars N'Bushe Wright, Monica Calhoun, DaBrat, MC Lyte, Mos Def, Clifton Powell, Reed McCants and Lark Voorhees.
Thursday, 2/6; 7:00pm; Saturday, 2/15, 8:45pm Q&A
Coffee, Tea, or Milk (2001) USA
Dir: Natasha Morris 10 min
WEST COAST PREMIERE Short
Five African-American men engage in an emotional conversation exploring the factors, influences and experiences that define their relationships with and preferences in women.
Tuesday, 2/11, 6:05pm
Colour Blind (2002) USA
Dir: Davon E. Johnson 85 min
U.S. PREMIERE Feature
Three friends form a bond of friendship that the pressures of inner-city life cannot break.
Official Selection: Jamaican Film Festival
Saturday, 2/8, 12:00pm; Wednesday, 2/12, 8:20pm Q&A
Concrete (2001) USA
Dir: Andy Watts 15 min
Short
When a reserved botanist tries to teach a little girl about the world of plants, he finds that she is, in fact, teaching him about the world of people.
Best Student Short: Yellowstone Film Festival
Saturday, 2/8, 1:00pm
Currency (2001) USA
Dir: Leona Whitney Beatty 8 1/2 min
Short
An exploration of the value people place on their money and the money people place on their values, following the path of a single dollar bill as it passes between seven different people in an urban city.
Tuesday, 2/11, 1:00pm Q&A
Cut Me a New Path (2003) USA
Dir: Deidre Thomas 94 min
Feature
Three childhood friends make a pact to always be there for each other. Although taking different paths in life, they remain friends, helping each other through the difficulties of life.
Monday 2/10, 9:30pm Q&A
Cutting Horse (2001) USA
Dir: Larry Clark 124 min
L.A. PREMIERE Feature
A modern day western about legendary horseman, Tyler, who returns home after ten years of drifting only to find that his uncle, Doc Pete, and his old friend Sanchez are besieged with a host of problems having to do with sick horses. The hazardous waste from a nearby chemical company owned by Sanchez's mortal enemy, Neil Stone, ends Doc Pete and Sanchez's dream of owning a champion Cutting Horse when their prize horses mysteriously die. At the heart of the film is the bittersweet memories of unrequited love and the dark secret that Sanchez and Stone have shared for over thirty years.
Friday, 2/14, 1:30pm; Saturday, 2/15, 6:05pm Q&A
Cycle (2002) USA
Dir: Nguyen Tran Minh Chieu 7 1/2 min
WEST COAST PREMIERE Short
An urban tale of crime, karma and obsession.
Saturday, 2/8, 1:00pm Q&A
Dadá (2001) Brazil
Dir: Eduardo Vaisman 20 min
Documentary
A film within a film. The fictional Dilson, Dadá and Denis, three inseparable friends who live in Vidigal, a hillside shantytown in Rio de Janeiro, mirror the lives of Jonathan, Thaísa and Jésus, three actors who live in Vidigal and participate in the making of a short film.
Monday 2/10, 9:30pm
Denis A. Charles: An Interrupted Conversation (2002) USA
Dir: Veronique N. Doumbe 75 min
L.A. PREMIERE Documentary
The story of one man's struggle to follow his dream and the obstacles he encounters in his professional as well as his personal life.
Best Film/Video Documentary Production: XVII Black International Cinema-Berlin; 2002 Audience Award/Best Feature: First Detroit Docs; Ciny Award 2002/Outstanding Documentary: CinewomenNY
Wednesday, 2/12, 1:30pm
Destiny (2002) Canada
Dir: Laurie Lambert 20 min
U.S. PREMIERE Short
A teenage girl insists on becoming an actress against the will of her West Indian grandmother who believes that acting is no profession for a decent girl to aspire to. Taking no heed of this old-fashioned advice, the headstrong and determined teenager attends a music video audition. Faced with a choice, the teen has to decide how far she is willing to go to promote her career.
Saturday, 2/8, 1:00pm
Divas: Love Me Forever* (2002) Canada
Dir: Anton Wagner 81 min
L.A. PREMIERE Documentary
Black female impersonators from the Caribbean and the U.S. search for family, home and love in Toronto.
Sunday, 2/9, 3:15pm
Eko Eleko (One Man's Food is Another Man's Poison) (2002) Nigeria
Dir: Bayo Salami 120 min
L.A. PREMIERE Documentary
Using the sacred texts of Ese Ifa Oseogbe as a guide, Chief Priest Yemi Elebouibon, a priest in the Yoruba sacred tradition, draws upon the text to discuss family and personal relationships. Nigerian Television Classic.
Chief Priest Elebouibon will conduct a workshop and be available for personal spiritual consultations.
Wednesday, 2/12, 3:15pm Q&A
Essence of King & Queen (2002) USA
Dir: Shawn Marcus Taylor 15 min
Short
In love and life nothing should be taken for granted. A story of soul mates in search of balance.
Friday, 2/7, 3:00pm Q&A
Everything's Jake (2002) USA
Dir: Matthew Miele 90 min
WORLD PREMIERE Feature
Jake is a homeless man living in New York City who's pretty content with his lot in life. He considers all of New York his home. His infectious enthusiasm and street-savvy attitude makes Jake a natural survivor and his optimism affects even the most straight-laced people he meets. Stars Ernie Hudson, Debbie Allen, Robin Givens, Lou Rawls, Lou Myers and Phyllis Diller. Cast members will be present.
Saturday, 2/15, 2:00pm; Sponsored by SEIU Local 660 African American Committee
Saturday, 2/15, 8:40pm; Monday, 2/17, 2:20pm
Faat Kine (2000) Senegal
Dir: Ousmane Sembene 90 min
Feature
A chic, sexy "liberated" woman, forty-year-old single mother Faat Kine was born at the same time as Senegalese independence. Refusing to give-in to the shame of unwed motherhood and determined to succeed, she becomes a gas-station attendant. Although at first constantly harassed by male customers, she climbs the ladder of success normally reserved for men. Considered one of the world's great directors and the "Godfather of African Cinema," Ousmane Sembene crafts a beautifully told hopeful story of the changing roles of women in Senegalese society.
Monday, 2/10, 8:20pm; Tuesday, 2/11, 2:00pm; Wednesday, 2/12, 3:35pm; Monday, 2/17, 9:20pm
Face (2001) USA
Dir: Bertha Bay-Sa Pan 89 min
Feature
Set in Queens in the '70s and '90s, a coming-of-age story of two women caught between the conflicting cultures of their traditional heritage and the surrounding influence of urban life. A story of love, betrayals and redemption. Stars Treach.
Sunday, 2/9, 11:00am; Wednesday, 2/12, 8:45pm
Familiar Strangers (2003) USA
Dir: Sy Richardson 19 min
WEST COAST PREMIERE Short
Familiar strangers are people we see regularly but don't really know. Two African-American teenaged girls occupy the rear seat on a bus and converse in language that would make a sailor blush, opening a Pandora's Box as the cultures of the bus passengers collide.
Friday, 2/7, 1:30pm; Monday, 2/10, 1:30pm Q&A
Femi Kuti, What's Going On? (2001) France/Nigeria
Dir: Jacques Goldstein 52 min
L.A. PREMIERE Documentary
A portrait of the Afro-beat musician Femi Kuti, son of Fela Kuti, who created the Afro-beat style in the 1970s. Father and son have defined an African urban protest music that is contemporary with reggae and hip-hop.
Sunday, 2/9, 5:20pm; Wednesday, 2/12, 6:15pm; Thursday, 2/13, 8:20pm
First Time Home (2003) USA
Dir: Stephen Minor 75 min
U.S. PREMIERE Documentary
The crew from the Pan African Film Festival goes to post-apartheid South Africa to explore the people, the politics and the culture.
Saturday, 2/15, 4:30pm
Forbidden Wedding (Casamento Proibido) (2001) Brazil/USA
Dir: Flavia Fontes 56 min
L.A. PREMIERE Documentary
A paraplegic from the age of 15, Hedir is forbidden to marry Mara because the Catholic Church suspects that he is sexually impotent. According to Vatican Law 1084, a person who cannot copulate cannot get married in the Church. An intimate account of their personal story and an exploration of disability rights, sexuality and faith.
Honorable Mention: Philadelphia International Film Festival
Friday, 2/14, 1:00pm Q&A
Free (Libre) (2002) France
Dir: Jean-Pierre Saune 93 min
U.S. PREMIERE Feature
Eleven-year-old Hôr flees his war-torn land for Dakar. He is determined not to get mixed up in violence, drugs or prostitution, the daily lot of street children in the big city.
Jury Special Mention: Festival International de Programmes Audiovisuels-Biarritz
Thursday, 2/13, 6:05pm; Sunday, 2/16, 6:30pm
Freestyle (2001) France
Dir: Caroline Chomienne 85 min
WEST COAST PREMIERE Feature
A look into the lives of young rappers in Belzunce, France. As they prepare for a concert, one of them - Karim - has disappeared.
Saturday, 2/8, 11:00am; Monday, 2/10, 3:55pm; Sunday, 2/16, 11:00am; Monday, 2/17, 12:25pm
From Florida to Coahuila-The History of the Black Seminoles (De Florida a Coahuila) (2002) Mexico
Dir: Rafael Rebollar 50 min
U.S. PREMIERE Documentary
Known as the Mascogos in Mexico and the Black Seminoles in the United States, some of these descendants of runaway slaves migrated west in the mid-1800s when US authorities forcibly took their Florida territories. They eventually resettled in northern Mexico, where they negotiated with the government to defend the border in exchange for tracts of land and citizenship.
Sunday, 2/16, 1:15pm
CLOSING NIGHT
G (2002) USA
Dir: Christopher Scott-Cherot 97 min
Feature
A Gatsby-esque love story set against hip-hop’s invasion of the Hamptons, New York. After ten years, two lovers are reunited only to find their circumstances have drastically changed. Summer G, now a rap mogul, has built an entertainment empire with the sole purpose of winning back the love of his life, Sky, now unhappily married to a philandering Wall Street executive. Stars Richard T. Jones, Blair Underwood and Chenoa Maxwell. Cast will be present.
Sunday, 2/16, 6:30pm Q&A
Glue Sniffer (1999) Venezuela
Dir: Elia Schneider 105 min
Feature
A strong social commentary presented through the life of a homeless child on the streets of Caracas, Venezuela. This film literally leaps from today's headlines and gives an in-depth look at the class and social nature of the controversies surrounding the current president Hugo Chavez, who by his own words has the blood of Africa, indigenous people, and Spain flowing through his veins. It was the Venezuelan entry in 2000 for Best Foreign Film Oscar.
Monday, 2/10, 1:35pm; Tuesday, 2/11, 8:10pm; Saturday, 2/15, 11:05am Q&A
God Is African (2002) South Africa
Dir: Akin Omotoso 90 min
L.A. PREMIERE Feature
A coming of age story set at a fictitious South African university in Johannesburg, during the heady days following the 1994 general election, heralding the dawn of a new democracy. Two students organize to protest the treatment of Nigerian writer/environmentalist Ken Saro Wiwa.
Special Jury Prize: Durban International Film Festival
Friday, 2/7, 8:30pm; Saturday, 2/15, 4:10pm Q&A
Gully (2002) USA
Dir: Roderick D. Giles 13 min
L.A. PREMIERE Short
Tyson Beckford stars in this gripping psychological drama about a young street thug who is confronted about his life choices by an unforgiving accuser.
Friday, 2/7, 3:00pm; Monday, 2/10, 5:20pm
Harlem Aria USA
Dir: William Jennings 100 min
Feature
BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND-2002 PAFF AUDIENCE FAVORITE AWARD WINNER
The uplifting, happy tale of a young man so determined to become a professional opera singer that he won't let anything, not even homelessness, a street hustler, or a depressed piano player deter him from his goal. Stars Damon Wayans, Malik Yoba, Gabriel Casseus, Christian Camargo, Edye Byrde, Kirsten Wilson and Paul Sorvino.
Sunday, 2/9, 6:05pm; Monday, 2/10, 7:00pm; Wednesday, 2/12, 1:15pm; Monday, 2/17, 6:40
Honeyboy (2002) USA
Dir: Scott Taradash 82 min
L.A. PREMIERE Documentary
More than a biography of 87-year-old Delta Blues singer David "Honeyboy" Edwards, this film delivers the Blues, its roots, personal accounts of the Deep South before the civil rights movement, heartfelt stories of Edwards' missed recording opportunities and life on the road. Includes appearances by B.B. King, Sam Carr, Willie Foster and others.
President's Award for Best Documentary, Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival, 2002
Sunday, 2/9, 3:20pm; Monday, 2/17, 12:20pm
I’ll Sing for You (2001) France
Dir: Jacques Sarasin 76 min
U.S. PREMIERE Documentary
Singing of Independence in the 1960s, Boubacar "KarKar" Traoré was one of Mali's most popular musicians. Because his music was only played on the radio, he didn't earn enough money to support his family, forcing him to give up his music to work as a tailor and a salesman. After the death of his beloved wife, he left Mali for France and worked in construction. By a stroke of luck, a British producer heard one of his old recordings and helped revive his musical career. His story is told through beautiful black and white photographs and archival film combined with lyrical footage of present day Mali and KarKar's current music: a repertoire of bluesy ballads, mixing traditional, blues and Islamic influences.
Tuesday, 2/11, 4:10pm; Saturday, 2/15, 2:00pm
Jada Who? (2002) USA
Dir: Alfred Robbins 10 min
WORLD PREMIERE Short
Liza, a young lady from Queens, bears an uncanny resemblance to movie star Jada Pinkett-Smith. Using her looks to get the special perks that go along with celebrity, her playful game turns into a nightmare when she is kidnapped by a man who is obsessed with the real Jada.
Kodak Film Grant
Tuesday, 2/11, 6:05pm
Janet & Mark (2002) USA
Dir: J. Gregory Lewis 30 min
WEST COAST PREMIERE Short
A rich experiential journey through time, memory and emotion conveys the compelling portrait of soul mates in the aftermath of dissolution.
Tuesday, 2/11, 6:05pm; Thursday, 2/13, 6:10pm
Jeremiah Strong (2002) USA
Dir: Kevin Shaw 25 min
WEST COAST PREMIERE Short
A drifter tries to make amends for past mistakes while searching for the road "home."
Tuesday, 2/11, 1:00pm; Thursday, 2/13, 1:45pm Q&A
Jimmy Scott: If You Only Knew (2002) USA
Dir: Matthew Buzzell 78 min
Documentary
An intimate portrait of 76-year-old jazz vocal legend Jimmy Scott. Exploring Scott's odyssey of loss and redemption through reminiscence, song and lush Japanese travelogue. With a backdrop of his fabulous music, we enjoy a glimpse into the life of this major artist whose voice was silenced for nearly twenty years.
Monday, 2/10, 1:30pm; Friday, 2/14, 6:05pm; Sunday, 2/16, 2:15pm Q&A
Journey to Little Rock: The Untold Story of Minnijean Brown Trickey (2002) Canada
Dir: Rob Thompson 52 min
WEST COAST PREMIERE Documentary
A poignant and spirited documentary chronicling the remarkable life of Minnijean Brown Trickey, one of the first black students to attend an all-white high school in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1957.
Inspiration Award - Global Visions Film Festival; Best Documentary Nominee - HOT DOCS Canadian International Documentary Festival
Friday, 2/14, 3:00pm; Sunday, 2/16, 3:45pm Q&A
Kabala (2002) Mali
Dir: Assane Kouyate 112 min
U.S. PREMIERE Feature
Kabala, a small village in Mali, has been hard hit by drought and is on the verge of dying. The sacred Well of the Ancestors, a powerful symbol of the village’s spirituality, is not only drying up but has become a dangerous source of cholera. To save the well and thereby the village, the well must be redrilled but the village holy man is opposed to it. A powerful questioning of the role of tradition.
Sunday, 2/9, 9:35pm; Monday, 2/17, 9:05pm
Karmen Gei* (2001) Senegal/France/Canada
Dir: J. Gay Ramaka 86 min
Feature
WINNER OF THE 2002 PAFF BEST FEATURE AWARD
Loosely based upon the Bizet opera, Karmen Gei is about the infinite desire for freedom verses laws, conventions and human limitations. The story is the same... a handsome corporal falls for a beautiful, provocative woman...but the African ambience of this Carmen makes all the difference. A whirlwind of color, Senegalese dance and music, this is awesome African cinema. Contemporary jazz score by saxophonist David Murray.
Sunday, 2/9, 7:20pm; Tuesday, 2/11, 3:45pm
Keepintime (2001) USA
Dir: B+ 15 min
Documentary
The historic meeting of legendary jazz and funk drummers with the hip-hop DJs whom they have influenced.
Thursday, 2/13, 8:20pm
Kevin's Room* (2001) USA
Dir: Sharon Zurek 62 min
Short
Five African-American gay men struggle with common issues related to their community, family and each other. Through participation in a support group, each man learns valuable lessons that will forever impact his life.
Friday, 2/7, 6:05pm
La Tropical (2001) Cuba
Dir: David Turnley 93 min
Documentary
A richly woven tapestry of contemporary life in Cuba set against the backdrop of one of Havana's oldest Afro-Cuban music and dance halls, La Tropical. The club was created in the early 1940s as a spot where black workers, barred from Havana's all-white establishments, could find music and beer flowing freely.
Best Documentary: Miami Film Festival; Second Best Documentary: Sarasota Film Festival
Friday, 2/14, 9:40pm; Sunday, 2/16, 4:15pm
L'Afrance (2001) Senegal/France
Dir: Alain Gomis 90 min
Feature
When a problem arises with his immigration papers, a young Senegalese student living in Paris gets caught up in a volatile situation that causes him to question his own identity--his past, his present and his future.
Silver Leopard of the Best First Feature Film - Locarno Intl Film Festival 2001; Golden Bayard of the Best Film - Namur Film Festival 2001; Toronto Intl Film Festival 2001;
Sundance Film Festival 2002
Saturday, 2/8, 8:30pm; Tuesday, 2/11, 6:45pm
Life's Journey (2002) USA
Dir: James N. Bowman 4 min
L.A. PREMIERE Short
A weary traveler's search for the symbol of life.
Wednesday, 2/12, 1:00pm
Makibefo (2001) UK/Madagascar
Dir: Alexander Abela 73 min
Feature
An intriguing African, story woven around Shakespeare's Macbeth. A tale of a man's quest for power through bloody ambition. Filmed in a fishing village in mystical Madagascar.
Sunday, 2/9, 8:45pm; Tuesday, 2/11, 6:15pm; Thursday, 2/13, 1:45pm; Friday, 2/14, 6:15pm
Man Made* (2002) USA
Dir: Erma Elzy-Jones 15 min
Short
After setting a tasty trap for her unfaithful boyfriend, a young woman takes a very enterprising approach to finding a new man.
3rd Prize: Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame FilmWorks Award
Friday, 2/7, 3:00pm Q&A
Mangwana (1998) Zimbabwe
Dir: Manu Kurewa 26 min
Short
A car crash brings about a chance encounter between two men who have never met on equal terms. A beautiful film full of insight and spirituality.
Sunday, 2/9, 5:20pm; Monday, 2/10, 3:15pm; Saturday, 2/15, 2:30pm
Mboutoukou (2002) Cameroon
Dir: Victor Viyuoh 14 min
Short
Twelve-year-old Napo overhears his older brother and his mother express doubts that he will be able to take over the man-of-the-house responsibilities when his brother goes to boarding school. Hurt by their doubts, he sets out to prove them wrong.
Monday, 2/10, 3:15pm Q&A
Mello's Kaleidoscope (2002) USA
Dir: Monikka Stallworth 20 min
Short
A quirky, thought-provoking comedy explores the nature of reality and perception.
Saturday, 2/8, 1:00pm
Mighty Times: the Legacy of Rosa Parks (2002) USA
Dir: Bobby Houston 40 min
Documentary
Within four days of Rosa Parks' arrest the 50,000 Black people of Montgomery, Alabama joined in a spontaneous boycott which has been called the "second American Revolution."
Grand Jury Prize: Berkeley Film & Video Festival; Platinum Prize: Columbus International Film Festival
Friday, 2/14, 3:00pm Q&A
Minister (2001) Eritrea
Dir: Temesghen Zehaie Abraha 110 min
Feature
An epic-like story of a young Eritrean soldier who deserts the British army in order to protect his village from a marauding bandit.
Sunday, 2/16, 8:45pm
My Nappy Roots: a Documentary about African American Hair-itage (2002) USA
Dir: Regina Kimbell 20 min
WORLD PREMIERE Documentary
A chronicle of the unique cultural phenomenon that is Black hair.
Friday, 2/14, 1:00pm; Saturday, 2/15, 2:30pm Q&A
Nat Turner (2003) USA
Dir: Charles Burnett 58 min
L.A. PREMIERE Documentary
A hero in the Black community and hated in the White community, Nat Turner has remained an enigma throughout history. A portrait of Nat Turner from the time of his revolt in 1831 until now is examined through the words of 10 Black writers who responded to the controversial 1968 book The Confessions of Nat Turner. Starring Carl Lumbly and Tommy Hicks.
Sunday, 2/16, 11:30am; Monday, 2/17, 9:15pm Q&A
Nha Fala (My Voice)* (2001) France
Dir: Flora Gomes 90 min
U.S. PREMIERE Feature
A rare African musical. The exciting and sensual Vita, a young woman about to depart from her home in Guinea Bissau for France, must never sing. An ancient curse passed from generation to generation has it that any woman in her family who sings will die. Don't let the pretty faces and wonderful music deceive you--this is a political film. Famed African musician Manu Dibango wrote the score.
Sunday, 2/9, 1:05pm; Friday, 2/14, 8:10pm; Monday, 2/17, 6:55pm
Ocoee: Legacy of the Election Day Massacre (2002) USA
Dir: Bianca White & Sandra Krasa 27 min
WEST COAST PREMIERE Documentary
The African-American community in Ocoee was once one of Florida’s most prosperous.
On Election Day 1920, it was destroyed and erased from Ocoee's history. The events that ensued when two Black men exercised their right to vote are exposed through the voices of the great-grandson of the man who was lynched and the grandson of the man who led the lynch mob.
Saturday, 2/8, 3:40pm; Wednesday, 2/12, 1:00pm
Of Men and Gods* (2002) Haiti
Dir: Anne Lescot & Laurence Magloire 52 min
Documentary
Prevalent, yet still taboo, homosexuality and gay culture are allowed to flourish within the context of Haiti's Vodou religion. As "children of the gods," the men find an explanation for homosexuality as well as divine protection. They also find an outlet for theatrical expression through exhilarating performances in which they embody the gods. Meanwhile, the AIDS epidemic looms as a continual threat and adds a disquieting degree of nihilism to their relatively optimistic attitudes toward life.
Vues d'Afrique Film Festival, Montreal: Chantal Lapaire Award
Friday, 2/7, 6:05pm
One Quiet Suburban Night* (2001) USA
Dir: Robbie Pickering 7 min
Short
A burglar robs a house and makes his way to the front door to escape, where he is greeted by an unlikely "visitor."
Student Film Finalist: Hollywood Black Film Festival; Short Film Finalist: Urbanworld Film Festival
Tuesday, 2/11, 1:00pm
Partners of the Heart (2002) USA
Dir: Andrea Kalin 58 min
Documentary
Against the backdrop of segregation, a Black carpenter's apprentice changes the course of medical history. With only a high school degree, Vivien Thomas became a cardiac pioneer and a teacher of two generations of America's premier heart surgeons at a time when he could not become one himself. A compelling story of personal triumph. Narrated by Morgan Freeman.
Monday, 2/10, 3:50pm; Wednesday, 2/12, 1:00pm
Passing Through (1977) USA
Dir: Larry Clark 105 min
Feature
A young musician returns from prison with memories of the Black struggle, Attica and Birmingham burned in his mind, only to be confronted with the economic and cultural oppression of the recording industry. An eloquent and powerful testament to the spirit of Black music told through the relationship between the young musician and his musical mentor. Believed by some to be the best jazz film ever made. Screenplay by Ted Lange and Larry Clark with appearance by the late Horace Tapscott.
Saturday, 2/8, 8:45pm. Hosted by KAOS Network
Prenups (2002) USA
Dir: Chad Harris 22 min
WORLD PREMIERE Short
When one thinks of prenuptial agreements, attorneys and contracts come to mind. But for a young couple on their way to elope, it isn't just a printed contract, it’s an agreement to love each other in spite of premarital doubts and temptations.
Friday, 2/14, 1:00pm Q&A
Profit and Nothing But (2001) Haiti
Dir: Raoul Peck 57 min
Documentary
From the director of "Lumumba," a pertinent and impertinent exploration of the profit motive and its consequences on our daily lives, history and outlook for the future.
Friday, 2/7, 6:05pm; Sunday, 2/9, 11:00am
Quest to Ref (2002) USA
Dir: Guy Guillet 15 min
Short
A young man's single-minded obsession to become an NBA referee is tested in the hardest game of his career.
HBO Short Film Award: American Black Film Festival
Saturday, 2/8, 8:25pm; Wednesday, 2/12, 7:00pm Q&A
Rebel in the Soul (2002) USA
Dir: Marie-Francoise Theodore 13 min
L.A. PREMIERE Short
Based on true-life events in 1915, transcending time, space and class, two African-American women who never meet rebel against the "rules" of society and pay the ultimate price for their defiance.
Friday, 2/7, 3:00pm; Monday, 2/10, 5:20pm
Red Satin (2002) Tunisia
Dir: Raja Amari 100 min
Feature
A widow with pent-up sexual energy focuses her attention on her teen-aged daughter whose growing independence leaves her feeling anxious and superfluous. One night, while searching for her daughter, she stops at the local cabaret and finds herself drawn into the tantalizing world of belly dancing. Her visits to the cabaret become a nightly ritual that she keeps secret from her daughter and her snobbish neighbor. After initial reluctance, she joins the dancers on stage, awakening her repressed sexuality.
Saturday, 2/15, 6:20pm; Sunday, 2/16, 9:20pm
Royal Bonbon (2002) Haiti/Canada/France
Dir: Charles Najman 85 min
Feature
An intriguing madman wanders the streets of Cap-Haïtien dreaming he is King Christophe, a liberated slave who defeated Napoleon in 1804, creating an independent Haiti and causing Napoleon to sell the Louisiana Purchase to the U.S. He takes refuge in the grandiose ruins of Christophe's palace, accompanied by Timothy, a young street kid. For a few days the past grandeur of Haiti, the world’s first Black republic, is recreated through the delusions of a madman. "This spirit-filled tragi-comedy merges fact and fantasy, memory and myth, to unearth the mystical roots of modern-day Haiti." - Gaylene Gould
Saturday, 2/8, 2:25pm; Sunday, 2/16, 11:05am; Monday, 2/17, 4:35pm
Sacred is the Flesh (2001) USA
Dir: Carl Seaton 94 min
Feature
After a young couple move from a small town to Hollywood they find their values corrupted. Slowly they destroy their relationship with each other and with all of the people who have loved and supported them. A fascinating study of what happens to those who become addicted to status and fame. Stars Nas, Isaiah Washington, Chenoa Maxwell.
Sunday, 2/9, 8:40pm; Friday, 2/14, 10:10pm; Monday, 2/17, 7:00pm
Salvation (2002) USA
Dir: Bruce R. Schwartz 30 min
WORLD PREMIERE Short
An adaptation of a chapter from Langston Hughes' autobiography, "The Big Sea", recalling a church revival meeting Hughes attended as a child where he pretended to be "saved from sin."
Thursday, 2/13, 6:10pm Q&A
See the Truth (2001) USA
Dir: Jerold Howard 8 1/2 min
L.A. PREMIERE Short
Animation is used to tell the story of a well-meaning parent as he experiences an epiphany and is forced to re-evaluate what he had been taught as a child as well as what he has been teaching his own child.
Saturday, 2/8, 1:00pm; Tuesday, 2/11, 6:05pm; Wednesday, 2/12, 7:00pm
Short Hymn-Silent War (2002) Canada
Dir: Charles Officer 20 min
Short
A pictorial drama that weaves the thoughts and memories of four African-Canadian women whose lives are altered when gun violence claims the life of two young men.
Sunday, 2/9, 11:00am
Shouting Silent (2002) South Africa
Dir: Renee Rosen & Xoliswa Sithole 50 min
Documentary
Told through the eyes of Xoliswa Sithole, an adult orphan who lost her mother to HIV/AIDS in 1996, a look at the children of AIDS victims most of whom are slipping through the cracks of society without love, nourishment, or guidance from parents or mentors.
Friday, 2/7, 3:40pm
sIDney (2002) USA
Dir: Malik Booth 15 min
Short
A hit man, Sidney has a run-in with his boss, Clarissa, about his immoral style of killing. Clarissa scares Sidney into memories of his war-torn life in Bosnia, which triggers his conscience to haunt him and eventually leads to his redemption.
Friday, 2/7, 3:00pm Q&A
Sigmund the See Monster (2002) USA
Dir: Van Elder 15 min
L.A. PREMIERE Short
Sigmund Floyd must choose to spend the weekend with his girlfriend, Rhonda, or his recently widowed mother. Rhonda is ready to leave the relationship. Sigmund seeks the help of an offbeat psychiatrist.
Friday, 2/7, 3:00pm Q&A
Silence (2002) USA
Dir: Mateen O. Kemet 23 min
L.A. PREMIERE Short
The poetically visual story of the life and times of a troubled 16-year-old girl living in the Bronx examines the cycles of abuse that exist within a dysfunctional family.
DGA Award: Honorable Mention; 2nd Place: Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame
Friday, 2/7, 1:30pm Q&A
Sisters in Cinema (2003) USA
Dir: Yvonne Welbon 57 min
WORLD PREMIERE Documentary
A fascinating historical overview of the lives and films of African-American women feature film directors from the early 20th century to the present. Includes interviews with Stephanie Allain, Neema Barnette, Julie Dash, Zeinabu irene Davis, Cheryl Dunye, Shari Frilot, Dianne Houston, Kasi Lemmons, Vanessa Middleton, Ruby Oliver, Euzhan Palcy, Joy (Shannon) S’hani Ache, Cauleen Smith and Alison Swan.
Saturday, 2/15, 6:30pm Q&A
Sonny Listening (2003) USA
Dir: Sheldon Candis 15 min
WORLD PREMIERE Short
An isolated boy frequently finds himself bullied on the school playground. After another brutal butt-kicking, he wanders aimlessly until he stumbles on an abandoned gym. Squeezing through a rusty door, he meets caretaker Nick "Golden Gloves" Archibald, who teaches him the fundamentals of boxing and the most important lesson of all--listening to your heart.
Wednesday, 2/12, 7:00pm; Thursday, 2/13, 6:10pm Q&A
CENTERPIECE
Standing In the Shadows of Motown (2002) USA
Dir: Paul Justman 108 min
Documentary
Known as the Funk Brothers, they put the backbeat -- the soul -- into the countless hits of Motown Records for such legendary performers as the Supremes, the Temptations, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles and many others. Creating music that helped to define the era of the 1960s, providing a soundtrack to the civil rights movement, Vietnam War protests and the social upheavals of the time the Funk Brothers played on more #1 records than the Beatles, the Beach Boys, the Rolling Stones and Elvis Presley combined. Combines exclusive interviews, archival footage, re-enactments, reminiscences and incredible new performances by the reunited Funk Brothers. Joining the legendary hit-machine onstage are contemporary vocalists such as Ben Harper, Joan Osborne, Meshell Ndegeocello and Montell Jordan and R&B greats Chaka Khan, Gerald Levert and Bootsy Collins. If you don’t leave singing after this one, pinch yourself, you may be dead.
Best Non-Fiction Film: New York Film Critics Circle Awards; Nominee: Best Documentary: Broadcast Film Critics Association Critics' Choice Award
Thursday, 2/13, 6:45pm Followed by Back to the Sixties Afterparty
Stolen Moments (2001) USA
Dir: Shaka King 26 min
L.A. PREMIERE Documentary
Exclusive interviews with Russell Simmons, Harry Allen, Rah Goddess and others explore the effects of global capitalism on hip-hop music.
Second Prize: Cine Noir Festival, Wilmington NC; Third Prize: San Francisco Black Film Festival
Sunday, 2/9, 11:00am; Saturday, 2/15, 12:00pm Q&A
Strange & Charmed (2003) USA
Dir: Shari Frilot 14 min
WORLD PREMIERE Short
The love lives of an 8-year-old girl, a 20-something lesbian and a 40-something accountant are told from the point of view of two Quarks (subatomic particles) called Strange and Charmed.
Saturday, 2/15, 6:30pm Q&A
The Actual Importance ... (of Being Somewhat Earnest) (2002) USA
Dir: Leona Whitney Beatty 15 min
L.A. PREMIERE Short
A romantic comedy that delves into the heads of two best friends who can't seem to find the words to admit their true feelings for each other.
Friday, 2/7, 1:30pm; Friday, 2/14, 3:30pm Q&A
The Ball (2001) Mozambique
Dir: Orlando Mesquita 5 min
Short
In a small village in Mozambique, little boys are the great consumers of condoms. With two of them, plus some rags, plastic bags and string, the boys can make a tough football in 10 minutes.
Apollo Award for Best African Film: Apollo Film Festival; Special Jury Prize-Youth Jury: Cannes International Film Festival
Sunday, 2/9, 11:00am
The Beat (2002) USA
Dir: Brandon Sonnier 85 min
Feature
After his brother is brutally stabbed in an alleyway in South Central LA, Flip is dealt an ultimatum by his overbearing father: get a job that brings in a steady paycheck or pursue his passion to become a rapper and live on the street. Overwhelmed by the choice, Flip is thrust into a surreal, bifurcated fantasy world where he lives out both destinies simultaneously, haunted by the tragic circumstances of his brother's death. As his two lifelines unreel, Flip must ultimately confront what gives pulse and meaning to his existence. Stars Rahman Jamaal, featuring Coolio and Brian McKnight.
Friday, 2/14, 8:00pm; Monday, 2/17, 2:30pm
The Best of Both Worlds* (2003) USA
Dir: Lesley Thomas 8 min
L.A. PREMIERE Short
An exploration of what happens when a young woman decides to ignore her instincts about her man. It takes "having your cake and eating it too" to a whole new level.
Tuesday, 2/11, 6:05pm Q&A
The Call (2001) USA
Dir: Princess Monique 25 min
WORLD PREMIERE Short
A woman's past sexual relationships come back to haunt her.
Friday, 2/7, 1:30pm Q&A
The Corporate Negro (2001) USA
Dir: Pstola.com 6 min
L.A. PREMIERE Short
A short comedy exploring the dual life of the Black man in corporate America.
Saturday, 2/8, 1:00pm Q&A
The Forgotten Roots (La Raiz Olvidada) (2001) Mexico
Dir: Rafael Rebollar 50 min
L.A. PREMIERE Documentary
An historical survey of Mexico's often overlooked African population takes us from the slavery era to today's Afro-Mexican communities in Guerrero, Oaxaca, Campeche, Morelos and Veracruz.
Sunday, 2/16, 1:15pm
The Greatest Story Never Told (2002) USA
Dir: P. Platter 11 min
WORLD PREMIERE Short
A secret agent is assigned to surveil a writer who has the goods on the federal reserve bank.
Saturday, 2/8, 6:30pm Q&A
The Guguletu Seven (2001) South Africa
Dir: Lindy Wilson 83 min
WEST COAST PREMIERE Documentary
In March 1986, seven young black men were shot to death by the police in Cape Town’s Guguletu Township. Despite eyewitness reports to the contrary, the police insisted they acted in self-defense. A decade later and after the fall of apartheid, investigators from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) employ their investigative powers to get past the blue wall of silence to uncover the shocking truth. A timely and instructive account of a nation's struggle to expose and document the horrors of the past while seeking reconciliation and peace for the future.
Silver Dhow Award: Zanzibar International Film Festival
Friday, 2/7, 1:00pm; Wednesday, 2/12, 10:10pm
The Killing Zone (2002) USA/Ghana
Dir: Joe Brewster 80 min
WORLD PREMIERE Feature
An African psychiatrist working in inner-city Brooklyn witnesses the death of his best friend at the hands of a 12-year-old homeless boy. Dr. Malcolm Ojewcu is now compelled to search for this killer.
Sunday, 2/9, 1:00pm; Thursday, 2/13, 8:15pm; Monday, 2/17, 4:55pm Q&A
The Life (2001) USA
Dir: Rolando Hudson 15 min
Short
When a twist of fate lands 70-something Emiline Crane at the gates of heaven prematurely, she is sent back to Earth in the body of a much younger woman. Stars Mary Alice.
Wednesday, 2/12, 1:30pm; Wednesday, 2/12, 7:00pm; Friday, 2/14, 3:30pm; Saturday, 2/15, 2:30pm
The Murder of Emmett Till (2003) USA
Dir: Stanley Nelson 52 min
Documentary
An examination of the horrific lynching of a 14-year old boy in Mississippi in 1955 that stirred an entire generation of African-Americans, leading directly to the civil rights and Black Power movements. A film that should not be missed.
Friday, 2/7, 6:05pm; Sunday, 2/16, 11:30am; Monday, 2/17, 9:15pm
The Myth* (2001) USA
Dir: Lena D. Wilson 15 min
Short
The comedic exploits of a 19-year-old African-American male virgin as he tries to overcome his fear of getting "jiggy" with the opposite sex.
Showtime Black Filmmakers Showcase
Tuesday, 2/11, 1:00pm Q&A
The Other World (L' Autre Monde) (2001) Algeria
Dir: Merzak Allouache 97 min
Feature
A modern French-Algerian woman goes looking for her fiancé who has suddenly disappeared in war torn and traumatized Algeria.
Monday, 2/10, 6:05pm; Thursday, 2/13, 4:10pm
The Price of Forgiveness (2001) Senegal
Dir: Mansour Sora Wade 90 min
L.A. PREMIERE Feature
This beautifully shot, allegorical fable rooted in the West African griot storytelling tradition recounts the mysterious events which befell a fishing village on the south coast of Senegal. An unearthly fog sets in motion a chain of events which lead a man driven insane by jealousy to murder his love rival and boyhood friend.
Saturday, 2/8, 6:05pm; Thursday, 2/13, 1:30pm Q&A
The Saint of Fort Washington (1993) USA
Dir: Tim Hunter 103 min
Feature
After meeting in the prison-like Ft. Washington shelter, two homeless men befriend and support one another in their harsh world. When the shelter becomes more dangerous than the streets, they flee in order to survive. Washing cars, selling produce and struggling, the two men are constantly on the move and dream of an apartment of their own. As the two become closer, the mystical healing powers of one is revealed. He can cure bullet wounds and arthritis with the touch of his hands, but unfortunately, he cannot ensure their physical safety. Stars Danny Glover and Matt Dillon.
Friday, 2/7, 1:00pm
The Taste of Dirt (2002) USA
Dir: Yvonne Welbon 12 min
Short
In 1970, race and class issues are experienced by a 7-year-old African-American girl on the playground of her local school.
Tuesday, 2/11, 1:00pm; Wednesday, 2/12, 7:00pm; Saturday, 2/15, 6:30pm Q&A
The World is a Drum (2000) USA
Dir: Carlos Spivey 5 min
Short
Animated claymation about the evolution of the African-American drumming community from the conga-driven 1960s to the robust and fiery Djembe of the 1970s.
Thursday, 2/13, 8:20pm
To Sleep With Anger (1990) USA
Dir: Charles Burnett 105 min
Feature
Family tensions are heightened when a mysterious houseguest comes to visit. Highly recommended for its vivid performances, appealing music and insightful evocation of African-American middle-class life. A Film Classic starring Sheryl Lee Ralph, Carl Lumbly, Vonetta McGee, Mary Alice and Danny Glover.
Friday, 2/7, 9:30pm PRECEDED BY CONVERSATION WITH DANNY GLOVER
Tootsie Roll (2002) USA
Dir: Jessica Peavy 9 1/2 min
L.A. PREMIERE Short
A woman's journey of self-discovery and the realization that Black is Beautiful.
Saturday, 2/8, 1:00pm; Thursday, 2/13, 6:10pm
Triomfeer (2001) South Africa
Dir: J.H. Beetage 18 min
Short
A retired policeman living with his son in Triomf is forced to confront his demons when a man arrives to dig a hole in his garden, unearthing a terrible secret. His son is horrified, but grateful for the chance to lay old hatreds to rest. Superbly acted and well-crafted, the film offers a heart-wrenching yet inspiring vision of reconciliation flowering on the bones of the dead.
Best Student Film, 2002: Apollo Film Festival
Sunday, 2/9, 11:00am; Monday, 2/10, 3:15pm
Unchained Memories - Readings from the Slave Narratives (2003) USA
Dir: Ed Bell & Thomas Lennon 73 min
Documentary
Dramatic readings, along with archival photographs, music, film and period images, provide a unique historical record of life as a slave in the years before the Civil War - from slave auctions to the brutal daily hardships to emancipation. Powerful accounts of former slaves told through interviews read by such celebrated actors such as Samuel L. Jackson, Vanessa L. Williams, Angela Bassett, Ozzie Davis, Jasmine Guy, Ruby Dee, Don Cheadle and Robert Guillaume. Whoopi Goldberg narrates.
Tuesday, 2/11, 9:45pm
Under Another Sky (2002) Algeria/France
Dir: Gael Morel 90 min
Feature
Samy is a fast-living young Frenchman who suddenly finds himself the perpetrator of a hit-and-run car accident. Driven by guilt, he leaves France for his motherland Algeria, a land and a people who, like Samy, carry dark secrets.
Monday, 2/10, 7:15pm; Thursday, 2/13, 9:30pm
Unprecedented: the 2000 Presidential Election (2002) USA
Dir: Richard Ray Perez & Joan Sekler 50 min
Documentary
The riveting story of the battle for the American presidency in Florida in 2000 and the disenfranchisement of 1000s of African Americans. It reveals the undermining of democracy in America and how George W. Bush stole this election and got away with it.
Saturday, 2/8, 3:40pm Q&A
Vivian (2002) USA
Dir: Aimee Dixon 23 min
WEST COAST PREMIERE Short
Once a month, Erin, a focused young woman, has an untimely visit by her close friend, Vivian, who is obtrusive and melodramatic. Vivian strains Erin's otherwise orderly life, especially where her relationship with her good-natured boyfriend, Sean, is concerned.
Best Short: Roxbury Film Festival
Tuesday, 2/11, 6:05pm; Wednesday, 2/12, 7:00pm Q&A
Vivienne Gibson-Forbes: Portrait of a Film Extra (2002) UK
Dir: Abi Fisher 17 min
L.A. PREMIERE Short
The film is a spoof documentary about Vivienne Gibson-Forbes, doyenne of black film extras.
Best Actress - Jay Byrd: bfm International Film Festival
Monday, 2/10, 3:15pm
Waiting for Happiness (2002) Mauritania/France
Dir: Abderrahmane Sissako 95 min
Feature
Young Abdallah returns home to bid farewell to his mother before embarking on a journey to Europe. Back in the bosom of his family, he is witness to the antics of their charismatic neighbors.
Sunday, 2/9, 6:30pm; Friday, 2/14, 3:55pm; Monday, 2/17, 10:10am
Wanted: Soulful Energy Xchange* (2001) USA
Dir: Allen Sowelle 16 min
Short
Can sex be something you think your way through, or is it possible to have a truly soulful energy xchange?
Tuesday, 2/11, 1:00pm Q&A
Water (2002) Italy/USA
Dir: Gabriele Zamparini 14 min
U.S. PREMIERE Short
A young continental-born African man battles loneliness and loss of identity in Harlem until an African sister spirits him home.
Saturday, 2/8, 1:00pm; Tuesday, 2/11, 6:05pm
West Papua (2002) New Guinea/France
Dir: Damien Faure 52 min
Documentary
An unofficial war has been raging in West Papua for over 30 years between the West Papuans and the Indonesian army. Interviews with members of the Movement for the Liberation of West Papua (OPM) reveal their daily trials and bear witness to their struggle to retain their identity.
Friday, 2/7, 3:40pm; Tuesday, 2/11, 1:15pm; Saturday, 2/15, 12:00pm Q&A
Whispers (1999) USA
Dir: Carlos Spivey 7 min
Short
A couple reaffirms their love for each other and their cultural heritage.
Sunday, 2/9, 7:20pm; Saturday, 2/15, 8:40pm