THURSDAY - MARCH 3, 2005
Festival Opener
BLOCK 1
7-9pm
On the DL
Documentary
Director: Andrew Gura
The lead member of the Grammy Award winning band The Roots (?uestlove) and producer/DJ and former member of Digable Planets (King Britt), confront the daunting task of getting their driver*s license (for the first time) at the ripe old age of *30-something*.
The Industry
Documentary - 62 minutes
East Coast Premiere
Director: Kwame Amoaku
With exclusive footage from performance rehearsals, concerts, and backstage, The Industry exposes the politics behind the making of Outkasts* Speakerboxx/ Love Below, Kanye West*s College Dropout, and Ludacris* Chicken and Beer*. Executive produced by Russell Simmons.
FRIDAY - MARCH 4, 2005
BLOCK 2
7-9pm
Four Women of Genesis
Short Subject - 5 minutes
Director/Producer: S. Torriano Black
An artistic interpretation in dance, black & white still photography, and dramatic reenactments of four contemporary versions of characters from the Book of Genesis in the Bible. Inspired by the song *Four Women * by Nina Simone.
The Male Groupie
Short Subject
The tale of two childhood friends who, seemingly on the same path toward success, are steadily drifting apart. Blase Skippy is a multi-platinum rapper, actor, and entrepreneur. His friend, Ton, who has creative potential, lives vicariously through Blase. Their relationship takes a turn on a not-so- typical night out when their journey meets a bittersweet fork in the road.
A Spoonful of Sugar
Short Subject
Relationships are tough for teenagers at the best of times, but for one young girl things are just that little bit more complicated.
In Time
Short Subject - 19 minutes
Sundance Premiere/East Coast Premiere
Directors: Maurice A. Dwyer and Adetoro Makinde
As a Nigerian-American, Bisi has lived her life balancing between the freedom of an American lifestyle and the beliefs of her Yoruba
ancestors. On the eve of her wedding, tradition takes over*but it could cost her the man she loves.
Holiday
Short Subject - 22 minutes
Director: Jennifer DeClue
Lela sings jazz, loves jazz, idolizes Billy Holiday. This young songbird experiences Billie*s presence firsthand as she searches for an answer to her question*Who am I?
BLOCK 3
9-11pm
Train Ride
An off-campus get together goes horribly wrong for college freshmen Katrina (MC Lyte) when Will, a sociopath senior, drugs ger then joins his boys in date raping her. What follows is a riveting drama of betrayal, survival, and justice as Katrina wages the battle of her life. The film features Esther Rolle's final film appearance.
SATURDAY - MARCH 5, 2005
BLOCK 4
10am-12 noon
KIDDY CINEMA
Dreamsong
Director: Mikal Odom
Jenny sees the school talent show as her opportunity to make her *musical daydreams* come true. But when turned down because she doesn*t follow her pop star wannabe peers, Jenny steals the show with a performance that wouldn*t be possible without self-belief*and imagination!
Kirikou & the Sorceress
The tiny Kirikou is born into an African village upon which a sorceress called Karaba has cast a terrible spell. But no sooner has Kirikou delivered himself from his mother's womb than he wants to rid the village of Karaba's curse and understand the cause of her wickedness.
BLOCK 6
1-3pm
Still Black, At Yale
Documentary - 34 minutes
Directors/Producers/Writers:
Andia Winslow and Monique Walton
A documentary that demystifies the idea that black affiliates at Yale are a cohesive community despite their institutional categorization. The filmmakers examine the ways in which students, in particular, deal with the notions of identity and belonging within the historical racial hegemony of Yale University.
The Private Prison Problem
Documentary - 16 minutes
World Premiere
Director: Natalie Bullock-Brown
Executive Producer: Tonyia Rawls
Produced by Charlotte-based Grassroots Leadership, this documentary exposes the toxic nature of the private prison industry. Offered to many rural southeastern communities as a form of economic development, private prisons only benefit the prison industry.
The Quorum
Documentary - 60 minutes
Director: Maurice Martinez
A true story about social change and racial integration in New Orleans in a coffeehouse in 1964. Police arrested 73 persons, accused them of *playing guitars out of tune, engaging in conversations without conclusions, and disturbing the peace.* This documentary unveils the sociocultural fabric of New Orleans.
BLOCK 7
3-5pm
Tribute to Oscar Michaux
Meet the descendants of the man considered the Father of Black Cinema. Includes the screening of his first film "Within Our Gates".
BLOCK 8
5-7pm
Making the Rent
Short Subject - 10 minutes
Director: Zelie Dember-Slack
Dexter Williams quits his job impulsively to search for a better, more fulfilling career. Dexter falls on hard times and must resort to making some fast cash. His buddy Keith offers him a few interesting options.
Thangs
Short Subject
Our hapless hero trys on ganster fashion to succeed with the ladies by buying a tricked out car. However, it gets him more than he bargained for as he embarks on a misadventure frought with social commentary, that includes racial profiling, the standoffish reaction of his fellow prep school brothers, and the ultimate manipulation of his materialism by "real" gansters.
Adventures of Super Nigger
Short Subject
You are now entering The Negro Zone. Three average African American males are about to start an average day, or are they? This film short confronts the many stereotypes perpetuated on the black man.
Negro Zone
Short Subject
You are now entering The Negro Zone. This hilarious short confronts the many stereotypes perpetrated on Africaan-American males. Meet three average African-American males who are about to start an average day, or are they?
Shoot-Out
BLOCK 9
7-9pm
Emerging Filmmaker
Hanelle Culpepper
Meet our 2005 Emerging Filmmaker honoree as we screen four of her shorts, including Leila, Six & the City, The Wedding Dress, and A Single Rose, which won Best Short Subject in 2004. Leila
BLOCK 10
9-11pm
Au Pair Chocolat
Feature - 87 minutes
Director: Benson McGrath
Producer: Abigail McGrath
When Harlemite Tawney Washington lands a job as an au pair girl for the wealthy Tomlinson family on Martha*s Vineyard, she brings a lot baggage than her luggage.
SUNDAY - MARCH 6, 2005
BLOCK 11
2-4pm
Glass Camouflage
Short Subject
Director: Les Rivera
The black lead singer of a punk rock band tries to fit in in a world where he is constantly made aware that he may not fit in.
Forget Tomorrow
A mysterious man sitting in a quaint neighborhood coffee shop quietly takes notice to a young woman*s unhappy relationship. When it is revealed she plans to marry her verbally abusive boyfriend the next day, He offers her the needed but unwanted advice that she should *Forget Tomorrow.*
Simply Untitled
Short Subject
Dylisha is an artist whose life is torn apart by her drug addicted sister and failing romance. She must put the pieces of her life back together, or else risk any sense of complacency and self-worth.
TwentyFour
Director: Maori Holmes
A video-poem written and produced on the eve of the director*s 24th birthday. It deals with family, love, art, and the desire to meet the obstacles of life and turn them into opportunity.
Festival Closer
BLOCK 12
5pm
Rondro
Documentary: 60 minutes
Director: John Roberts
A legend in local sports, Rondro Boney is said to be the only player that could shut down Michael Jordan. Through this documentary we see why Rondro was, as one coach said, "the best pure athlete I ever saw."
