Kuma2.net Blog

Starting September 20th, the Audre Lorde Film & Cultural Festival Tour will be making the rounds at several college campuses. From the University of Hawaii to Hunter College in NY, there will be several stops along the way. The full program includes several films and a reading:
The films:

• A Litany for Survival: The Life and Work of Audre Lorde by Ada Griffin and Michelle Parkinson
• The Edge of Each Other’s Battles: The Vision of Audre Lorde by Jennifer Abod
• Hope in My Heart: The May Ayim Story by Maria Binder
• Audre Lorde – The Berlin Years 1984 to 1992 by Dagmar Schultz

The reading by Ika Hügel-Marshall from Invisible Woman: Growing Up Black in Germany

Here is a pdf with tour details (not all venues will have the full program): Fall 2012 USA Audre Lorde Film & Cultural Festival Tour

If you want to own a copy of Audre Lorde – The Berlin Years, it appears you can reserve one now by buying/donating. Once the educational dvd goes on sale, it’s not clear whether or not a retail version will be made available.

Filmmaker Tiona McClodden and publisher Lisa C. Moore announce their collaboration for a feature-length documentary film, Untitled Black Lesbian Elder Project. UBLEP will highlight interviews with black lesbian elders in their 60s, 70s and 80s from across the United States and situate them in a range of black historical movements, spanning the decades between the 1930s and 1980s.

Director M. Asli Dukan is making an anthology horror film based on stories from Skin Folk by Nalo Hopkinson. Donations to this project are tax deductible.

Pariah

Focus Features has closed an acquisition deal for worldwide rights for Pariah, the Dee Rees-directed coming of age story of a 17-year old African American teen from Brooklyn trying to find her place in the world, and coming to terms with her identity as a lesbian.

Sipping On Ink Interview: Pariah – The Film

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Mississippi Damned

Mississippi Damned will be airing on the Showtime Network this month and in March it will show on The Movie Channel. Here’s the schedule.

Sippin On Ink Interview: “Mississippi Damned” director Tina Mabry and producer Morgan Stiff

What It’s About
After literally forcing a lover in the closet to avoid a confrontation with her mother, Felicia decides that it may finally be time (for the sake of her relationship and sanity) to come out. She convinces her other closeted friends that they should all come out together–and they make a pact to do so within 30 days. As each woman contemplates coming out, she will have to face her own separate fears, challenges, and consequences.

Why It’s Good
Family is not a preachy, after-school special type of movie where coming out magically saves the day. The characters are well-rounded and their stories are engrossing. We have:

• Kemp–a pro-basketball player who has to consider “her image”
• Felicia–an actress who wonders if Hollywood and her Jamaican parents can handle her truth
• Tonya–who finds herself in crisis mode when her sister unexpectedly shows up on her doorstep
• Melanie–a woman fighting for the right to see her daughter
• Monifah–salon owner who, among other things, has to deal with homophobic clients
• Sabrina–a doctor who is worried that accepting her sexuality will be hazardous to her spiritual health.

Though Family deals with serious issues, it is full of funny moments. The writing, bolstered by the comic timing of the actresses, is on point. When the credits roll, you will be left wanting more but in a good way. Six months later, what will Felicia and crew be up to?

The multi-talented Faith Trimel directed the film, wrote the screenplay and was one of the principle cast members. With so many duties you would think that she would have faltered somewhere along the way, but she didn’t. We are looking forward to seeing what she does next.

The Verdict
Equal parts drama and comedy, Faith Trimel’s Family is a great movie.
Buy It!

Get more info and buy the dvd at familythefilm.net

About the Film:

Here’s a review of black./womyn: conversations…that I wrote for a movie ticket site-

Most mainstream ideas of who black lesbians are and what they are like come from images/media NOT created by black lesbians themselves. That’s why black./womyn: conversations… is such a breath of fresh air. The documentary contains interviews with a wide variety of black lesbians who discuss a multitude of topics.

I would say that the overarching theme of the movie is: How do you exist/survive in a world where everything that you are (black, female, lesbian) is NOT valued–if not downright despised?

Though people are frank and honest, it’s not a depressing film at all and has quite a bit of humor.

About the DVD:

Time and care went into the designing of this package–it looks like a special, deluxe edition. Watch it unfold (literally) here: ‘black./womyn.’ Individual Edition DVD First Look
Another great feature is a bonus “making of” interview with Executive producer / Director Tiona McClodden.

The Verdict:
Tiona McClodden made a high quality film–and then went a step beyond to transform it into an absolutely beautiful, must have DVD. Buy it.

Beyond The Stereotypes

Most mainstream ideas of who black lesbians are and what they are like come from images/media NOT created by black lesbians themselves. That’s why black./womyn: conversations is such a breath of fresh air. The documentary contains interviews with a wide variety of black lesbians who discuss a multitude of topics.

I would say that the overarching theme of the movie is: How do you exist/survive in a world where everything that you are (black, female, lesbian) is NOT valued–if not downright despised?

Though people are frank and honest, it’s not a depressing film at all and has quite a bit of humor.

To keep up with when/where the film will be shown (and keep your eyes peeled for a dvd), join the Facebook Group, the director’s MySpace Page, or subscribe to the film’s blog.

I first saw this film at DC Black Pride and couldn’t wait to see it again. Bought my copy on Sunday. Oh, wait, have no clue what this is? See the trailer, visit the website, and then buy your own copy.