Thank you for attending the 3rd annual Women of Colors Arts & Film Festiva (WOCAFF) Atlanta. The festival screened over 25 films from local and international women of color filmmakers with a record number of filmmakers in attendance.
Apache café hosted WOCAFF's music festival and we were privileged to have the Dynamic, Up and coming neo soul queen, Tiwa Savage perform with her live band. St Juste rocked the house with her thundering beats and fiery lyrics. It was an evening of pure stardom!
Join us again next year for WOCAFF 2008.
If you are interested in bringing WOCAFF to your city and/or would like to volunteer, please email us at iyalodeproductions@yahoo.com
WOCAF's 2007 "Audience Choice Award"
Shoot the Messenger by Ngozi Onwurah
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3rd Annual Women of Color Arts & Film Festival (WOCAFF) - Atlanta March 23rd - 25th 2007
Friday, March 23rd 2007
6:00pm - 7:00pm - Meet & Greet Reception with Filmmakers Suggested Donation $20 Hosted by Women in Film & TV/Atlanta & Reflecting Black Space is limited - Please RSVP by March 20th
reflectingblack@yahoo.com
7:30pm - 10:00pm - Film Screenings
Saturday, March 24th 2007
Film Screening times 12 noon - 6:30 pm @ Auburn Avenue Research Library
Music Showcase 7.30pm -11.00pm (doors open @7.30, show starts @ 9pm prompt!)
Apache Cafe, 64 Third Street, Atlanta
Featuring: Tiwa Savage - Up & Coming Dynamic Nigerian RnB Princess www.myspace.com/tiwasavage St Juste - Eclectic Queen of Alternative Soul www.myspace.com/stjuste
Toni Blackman - Royal Ambassador of Hip Hop www.myspace.com/toniblackmanmusic
Sunday, March 25th 2007
Film Screening times : 1:00pm - 6:00pm @ Aubun Avenue Research Library
Please note that schedule is subject to change. Check back regularly for updates.
Friday, March 23rd Screening Times: 7.30pm -10.00pm Screenings are free and open to the public!
Screening time: Friday March 23 7.30pm Title: For Love of Indigo (ATLANTA PREMIER) Genre: Documentary Country & Year: Nigeria, 2007 Length:6 minutes Director/Producer: Sandra Mbanefo Obiago Screenwriters:Sandra Mbanefo Obiago
Cinematography: Dele Fadahunsi Editing:Kayode Adeleke Music:Nike Center of Arts & Culture Ensemble Piwoyi Women's Dance Troupe Narration: Ayoola Somolu
For Love of Indigo showcases the ground-breaking work of Batik artist Nike Okundaye through her initiative "Art Enterprise." It shows how "Art Enterprise" is a successful way of addressing difficult development issues including the rehabilitation of illegal African immigrants in Europe. Besides creating artistic masterpieces, Nike has given her life to training young people in batik, painting, poetry and performance art.
Screening time: Friday March 23 7.37pm Title: Split Decision Genre: Narrative Country & Year: US, 2007 Length: 7 minutes Director: Sanedria Arne Potter Screenwriter: Kirk A. Moore & Sanedria Potter Director of Photography: Thomas Blake Music: Original music by Blake Vision Sound
This poignant tale examines decisions one has to make in this day of HIV.
Screening time: Friday March 23 7.45pm Title: Days Past the Storm
Genre:Narrative Country & Year: US, 2006 Length:7 minutes Director/Producer: Kysa Daniels Photojournalist: Quentin Whittaker, Darnell Wallan Editing: David Mast Music Score & Orchestration: Israel Charles
Days Past the Storm examines the resiliency of the human spirit and the positive impact Katrina survivors are making in communities where they’ve relocated across the United States. The media has shown numerous generalized and unflattering reports of Katrina survivors who are finding it difficult to integrate into their new communities. This documentary shows us another side of the story. We see a woman who lost almost everything, but was able to get back on her feet and -within four months of one of this nation’s most horrific human tragedies- become a first-time business owner through faith, perseverance and a victorious mindset.
Screening time: Friday March 23 7.54 pm Title: A Girl Like Me Genre: Documentary Country & Year:US, 2006 Director: Kiri Davies Executive Producers: Stepanie Walte Williams, John C. Williams, Deborah Rudolph Producers: ReelWorks
16 year old Filmmaker Kiri Davis revisits the Black-doll White-doll experiment and discovers that the standards of beauty in America are still very whitewashed.
Intermission
Sreening time: Friday March 23 8.15pm Title: Shoot The Messenger (ATLANTA PREMIER) Genre: Feature Country & Year:UK, 2006 Length:100 minutes Director: Ngozi Onwurah Producers: Anne Pivcevic, Yvonne Isimeme Ibazebo Screenwriter: Sharon Foster Cinematography: David Katznelson Editing: Liz Webber Music: Julian Nott
Joe (David Oyelowo) is a teacher with a mission. He's determined to save the black youngsters at his school from a life of gangs, crime and underachievement - whether they like it or not. But when a seemingly minor incident rapidly escalates out of control and he loses his job, he turns against his own community. He quickly descends into madness and hits rock bottom, before realizing he has a lot to learn about love, understanding and a different way of seeing his world.
Saturday, March 24th 2007 Screening times:12noon - 6.30pm Screenings are free and open to the public!
Screening time: Saturday March 24 12 noon Title:ellipsis.. (ATLANTA PREMIER) Genre: Narrative Country & Year:US, 2005 Length: 15 minutes Director/Producer:Kia M.Neal Co-ProducerScreenwriter:Kia M.Neal Cinematography: Chung Pai Editing: Kia M.Neal Original Music:
"For though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad it was said to her; the other will server the younger."
And so it was for the ever-warring Malik, Chase and Roc Bishop, prodigy of ruthless entrepreneurial mastermind Richard 'Roc' Bishop.snr. Malik and Chase he loved, Roc he hated, but Richard's sins haunted them all.
Screening time: Saturday March 24 12.16pm Title: Mechanical Women (ATLANTA PREMIER) Genre: Documentary Country & Year:Nigeria, 2005 Length: 12 minutes Director:Sandra Mbanefo Obiago Producer: Yemisi Ilo Screenwriter: Sandra Mbanefo Obiago Camera: Gariel Opaniyi Editing:Kunle Afolabi Original Music:Wole Oni Rap Artisit: "Yellow Man" Ndudim Agomoh Talking Drum:Oluwadare Odunayo
Sandra Aguebor, a fully trained motor mechanic, set up The Lady Mechanics Initiative
In Lagos, Nigeria five years ago. She wanted to empower and equip young women with technical skills so that they could become independent and self sufficient. Mechanical Women tells one woman's story of breaking down gender stereotypes and providing economic empowerment for women.
Screening time: Saturday March 24 12.29pm Title: AWOL (ATLANTA PREMIER) Genre: Narrative Country & Year: US/Lebanon Length: 18 minutes Director/Producer:Brigid Maher Screenwriter: Brigid Maher Cinematography: Editing: Jeffrey Heibein Director of Photography: Marios Nacher
Original Music:
Keisha Johnson, an African American soldier , goes AWOL in Iraq after she flees a violent incident. On her "walkabout" journey, she encounters children who decide to help her despite their fear. Keisha and the children grow to understand each other in the face of political barriers that have torn their lives apart.
Screening time: Saturday March 24 12.48pm Title:Fried Chicken and Sweet Potato Pie Genre: Documentary Country& Year: US, 2006 Length: 21 mins Director: Bailey Barash Producer: Bailey Barash Screenwriter: Bailey Barash Camera: Al Clayton, Sam Dyces, Charlene Fisk, Keel Heiser, Joe York Editing: Trey Haney
This award winning documentary tells the story of Miss Edna Lewis, the granddaughter of freed slaves from Virginia. It chronicles her life on the farm in Freetown, VA and her exodus to New York City where she became the adored chef for post WW II artists, writers, scholars and performers in Manhattan at Café Nicholson. There she cooked simple but elegant meals on her family's approach to food, fresh and local. In the early 80's Miss Lewis befriended Scott Peacock, an Alabama-born white chef almost 50 years her junior. They were called "the odd couple" of the cooking world and co-authored a popular cookbook, 'The Gift of Southern Cooking" (Knopf, 2003). Miss Lewis died in February, 2006, but Scott ensures her food legacy lives on in his recipes as Executive chef at Watershed Restaurant in Decatur, Georgia.
Q & A with Fillmaker Bailey Barash
Intermission
Screening time: Saturday March 24 1.15pm Title:Winnie and the Duppy Bat (ATLANTA PREMIER) Genre: Narrative Country & Year:UK, 2006 Length:10 minutes Director: Annetta Laufer Producer: Karlene Page
Screenwriter: Director of Photography:David March Editing: Cyril Metzgen Music Composed by : Ciyo Brown
The bitter sweet story of a young Jamaicans girl's attempt to save her dying mother. In the guise of her alter-ego, Danger Girl, she sets out to catch the infamous Duppy Bat--a creature within Jamaican mythology symbolizing the imminent death of someone close.
Indians of African descent go back to the thirteenth century in India and were brought from Africa as soldiers, domestic servants, slave and royal bodyguards. This documentary is an engaging portrait of a contemporary Sidi family in Bombay India.
Screening time: Saturday, March 24 1.53pm Title: Unfinished (ATLANTA PREMIER) Genre: Narrative Country& Year:US, 2007 Length: 18 minutes Director: Arun Vir Co-Producer: Joanne Mclaughlin Asst Camera: Michael Bosman
Raju Dhillon returns home after picking up her mother Uma Dhillon's ashes. She is depressed, isolated and is taking the loss of her mother heavily. She meets up with her estranged father who informs her that her mother had requested that her ashes be taken to India by both of them. A story of race, rejection and forgiveness.
Screening time: Saturday March 24 2.15pm Title: Once More Removed Genre:Documenatry Country & Year:US/India/Guyana, 2006 Length:50 minutes Director/Producer:Shundell Prasad Cinematography: Virendra Khanna, Shweta Jain, Russell Santoes Editing: Music:
The documentary follows filmmaker Shundell Prasad's journey as she travels three continents to trace her roots back to India. Filmed on location in New York, Toronto, Guyana and India, the film examines the massive Indian Diaspora estimated to be over 20 million. The film explores the dark imperial rule over India when Indians were taken as indentured servants and cargoed throughout the world as commodity.
Q & A with Filmmaker Shundell Prasad
Intermission
Screening time: Saturday March 24 3.30pm Title:Forbidden Genre: Narrative Country & Year:US, 2005 Length: 13 minutes Director:Lisa Acrond Producers:Lisa Acrond, Levanys Escobar, Kandyce Evans, Dave Kessinger Screenwriter: Cinematography: Kandyce Evans, Dave Kessinger, Gary Landry, Dennis Muchui, Ravi Patel Editing:Lisa Acrond, Levanys Escobar, Kandyce Evans, Dave Kessinger Music Score:Facette Jones
An urban suspense thriller about a woman who spent the greater part of her childhood consuming the principles of purity. As an adult, she questions what is 'Forbidden' when she meets a handsome gentleman.
Screening time: Saturday March 24 3.44pm Title:Mrs Brown's Beauty: A Story of Art & Inspiration Genre: Documentary Country & Year: US, 2006 Length:12 minutes Director/Producer: Nancy Thompson Videograher: Lis Cox Photography: W.Guy Poole Music:"This little light of Mine" performed by Doris McMurray
Inez Brown never imagined herself to be an artist. In fact, she did not discover her artistic talent until the age of 74. Now her artwork is being exhibited throughout the San Francisco Bay area in places as prominent as the M.H. de Young Museum. The film celebrates the life of an artist who, in losing her natural voice, found her true voice through her art.
Screening time: Saturday March 24 3.57pm Title: A Period Piece (ATLANTA PREMIER) Genre:Narrative Country & Year: US, 2005 Length:20 minutes Director:Camille Holder-Brown Producers: Hue Wiliams Camille Holder-Brown Screenwriter: Director of Photography: Mike Wilson Editing: Digital Sound & Editing: David Singh
If only Sionne could beam herself away to a world where young girls never got their periods, then she would be happy. Fat chance, defying the laws of nature is virtually impossible. Sionne will get her period, it's just a matter of when, where, and in front of whom. What will she do?
Screening time: Saturday March 24 4.18pm Title: Cash Madam (ATLANTA PREMIER) Genre:Documentay Country & Year: Nigeria, 2004 Length:8 minutes Directo/Producer:Sandra Mbanefo Obiago Screenwriter: Sandra Mbanefo Obiago Camera: Gabriel Opaniyi Editing: Music:Sikiru Oloko Band Narration: Sandra Mbanefo Obiago
This film looks at the formidable women traders in Western Nigeria known as the 'Mama Benz' (from their habit of doing business driving around in Mercedes Benz automobiles). Physically flamboyant and with a reputation as tough, no-nonsense negotiators, the Mama Benz buy and sell everything from textiles to machinery in the markets of Lagos, occupying a key entrepreneurial role in the thriving market businesses of the country. But officially, their contribution's don't appear in Nigeria's GDP figures, where they remain an invisible force.
Q & A with Filmmakers Lisa Acrond & Nancy Thompson
Intermission
Screening time: Saturday March 24 4.40pm Title:Hurricane in the Rose Garden Genre: Narrative Country & Year:Nigeria/US, 2006 Length:87 minutes Director: Ime N. Etuk Executive Producers: Jeremy Scroggins,Lavel Berry and Damon Wofford Producer:Pascal Atuma Co-Producer:Tangi Miller Screenwriter: Pascal Atuma, Kamafi Adio Director of Photography: Matt Alcorn Editing: Dan O'brien
One marriage two sets of customs.
Hurricane in the Rose Garden is a family comedy about what happens when a happily married couple's life is suddenly turned upside-down during an unwelcome visit from the husband's very traditional and very opinionated Nigerian Mom.
After five years of marriage, Foot Doctor, Dr. Joseph-Joseph (Pascal Atuma) and his workaholic attorney wife Sade (Tangi Miller) are still happy, still in love and haven't a worry in the world-- so they think. Soon, that all changes when a force of nature arrives at their front door. Her name: Mom (Aloma Wright). His Mom to be exact. His give-you-one-look-and-you-wish-you-were-never-born Mom. And with her withering looks, she's brought along his scheming brother Warrior (Oris Euheuro), and a laundry list of rules and traditions. And at the top of the list, one very old Nigerian custom: either Sade becomes pregnant or her son must divorce her at once! Now Dr. J. finds himself in the middle of a war between wife and mother, good and evil, darth vader and luke skywalker! Of course Dr. J. will plead the fifth on who is who, but you'll have to watch to find out who will win.
Q & A with Actor, Prodcuer & Screenwriter, Pascal Atuma
Sunday, March 25th Screening times: 1.00pm - 6:00pm Screenings are free and open to the public
Screening time: Sunday March 25 1.00pm Title:Shy Feet Genre:Documentary Country & Year: US, 2006 Length:3 minutes Director: Nubia aht Rahim Co-Producer: Charles Young Cinematographer C. Martin Music: Toine Tracks
"Dance Historian, Deejay Pnut, explains the evolution of Chicago footworking."
Footworking is a style of dance currently popular amongst the urban youth in Chicago. It combines movements that encompass chiefly leg motion with very little upper body activity. Deejay and dance historian DJ Pnut explains the roots of the dance as being derived from ancient African rituals and celebrations.
Screening time: Sunday March 25 1.04pm Title:Queens of Sound Genre:Documentary Country & Year: Jamaica/Austria, 2006 Length:74 minutes Director:Sandra Krampelhuber Producer:Dieter Strauch/Very Vary Filmproduction Screenplay: Cinematography: Philipp Kroll, Sandra Krampelhuber Editing: Dieter Strauch Sound:Philipp Kroll, Dieter strauch
This film explores the long neglected female side of Reggae and Dancehall music in Jamaica. Three generations of women in the Jamaican music business tell us about their role in past and present, their first steps into the career, their struggle for acceptance in a male-dominated business, their life paths and big success. World-famous musicians such as Marcia Griffiths, Tanya Stephens, Sasha, Cecile, Chevelle Franklyn, Queen Ifrica, Macka Diamond and Lady G - just to name a few, as well as women behind the scenes, f.e. Barbara Makeda Blake Hannah (Rastafari activist, film-maker, author, journalist, broadcaster), Nordia Rose (hottest music video director in Jamaica), Jade Lee (artist management) or Sandra Joy Alcott (founder of JAFA - Jamaica Association of Female Artists), give us an understanding of Jamaica's music scene from a female point of view.
Intermission
Screening time: Sunday March 25 2.30pm Title:Bleach My Skin White (ATLANTA PREMIER)Genre:Documentary Country& Year: UK, 2000 Length:30 minutes Director: Dami Akinnusi Producers: Screenplay: Cinematography: Editing: Music:
On her journey to peel away at layers to uncover the reasons why people still lighten their skin, filmmaker Dami Akinnusi meets with experts in the field of Dermatology Psychiatry and Cultural History. Dami also seeks the voice of the community on Angie Le Mar's radio show on London's Black Radio Station,Choice FM and joins in the public debate. As she journeys with a young woman who lightens her skin, she asks the question: why in the 21st Century is there still a negative attitude towards darker skin?
This lyrical, unsettling film conveys the experience of children of mixed racial heritage. Suffering the aggression of racial harassment, a young girl and her brother attempt to wash their skin white with scouring powder. Starkly emotional and visually compelling, this semi-autobiographical testimony to the profound internalized effects of racism and the struggle for self-definition and pride is a powerful catalyst for discussion.
Screening time: Sunday March 25 3.17pm Title: And Still I Rise Country & Year:UK, 1993 Length:30 minutes Director: Ngozi Onwurah Producers: Screenwriters: Cinematography : Editing: Music: Sound:
Inspired by a poem by Maya Angelou, this powerful film explores images of Black women in the media, focusing on the myths surrounding Black women's sexuality. Like COLOR ADJUSTMENT, in which Marlon Riggs looked at images of Black people on television, AND STILL I RISE uses images from popular culture to reveal the way the media misrepresents Black women's sexuality. A combination of fear and fascination produces a stereotypical representation which in turn impacts on the real lives of Black women. AND STILL i RISE intercuts historical and media images with hard-hitting contemporary views of women of African heritage as they struggle to create a new and empowered perspective.
Intermission
Screening time: Sunday March 25 4.05pm Title:I Wish You Love (Que reste- t-il de nos amours)
(ATLANTA PREMIER)Genre:Narrative Country& Year: US, 2006 Length:4 minutes Director: Mojisola Shabi Sreenwriter: Elizabeth Frank
Cinematography: Jarrod Kloiber
A short film about a date gone wrong.
Screening time: Sunday March 25 4.10pm Title:American Blackout Genre:Narrative Country& Year: US, 2006 Length:92 minutes Director:Ian Inaba Executive Producer: Stephen Marshall Producer: Anastasi
Co-producer: Jean-Philippe Boucicaut
Editing: Jean-Philippe Boucicaut, Liz Canning, Ian Inaba
Original Music: Michael Bearden
Many have heard of the alleged voting irregularities that occurred during the presidential elections of 2000 and 2004. Until now, these incidents have gone under- reported and are commonly written-off as insignificant rumors or unintentional mishaps resulting from an overburdened election system.
American Blackout chronicles the recurring patterns of voter disenfranchisement from Florida 2000 to Ohio 2004 while following the story of Georgia Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney. Mckinney not only took an active role investigating these election debacles, but has found herself in the middle of her own after publicly questioning the Bush Administration about the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Featuring: Congressional members John Conyers, John Lewis, Stephanie Tubbs-Jones, Bernie Sanders and jounalists Greg Palast and Bob Fitrakis.
