Film Archive

Caribbean Cinenatic Festival

February 9-12, 2012

We hosted our Caribbean Cinematic Festival, with films from Trinidad, Jamaica, Bahamas, Cuba, and Haiti, that covered issues ranging for religion to sexual orientation to the integration of cricket. Below is a list of the screenings:

Feb. 9: Caribbean Diaspora in the UK

• 6p.m. The Story of Lover's Rock (UK)

Feb. 10: Current/Social Issues

• 6p.m. Children of God (Bahamas)
• 8:30p.m. The Almighty Penis (Trinidad)
• 8:50p.m. The Power of Vagina (Trinidad)

Feb. 11: Historical Films

• 11a.m. Fire in Babylon (UK)
• 1:30p.m. First Rasta (Jamaica)
• 4:30p.m. Egalite for All (Haiti)

Feb. 12: Music

• Noon La Salsa Cubana (Cuba)

Film Screening: Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire

Saturday, July 31, 2010

Community Folk Art Center and Light Work Gallery are excited to present the 2009 feature film Precious, based on the novel Push by Sapphire, on Saturday, July 31 (time TBD). The film will be screened in Watson Theater at the Robert Menschel Media Center at 316 Waverly Ave. on the Syracuse University campus. Admission to the screening is free, and a panel discussion will follow the film. This critically acclaimed and Academy Award-winning film tackles tough societal issues as it follows the titular character through unimaginable hardships in 1987 Harlem. Directed by Lee Daniels and presented by Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry, Precious brings these issues to the forefront. We hope that you will join Community Folk Art Center and Light Work on July 31 for the film.

Film Screening: "La Raiz Olvidada/The Forgotten Root"

Thursday, April 15, 2010, 7:00 pm

CFAC will screen the film "La Raiz Olvidada/The Forgotten Root" by filmmaker Rafael Rebollar Corona, with a discussion facilitated by Dr. Kwame Dixon to follow the film. "La Raiz Olvidada/The Forgotten Root" chronicles the African presence in Mexico, discussing the cultural, social and economic repercussions of African presence throughout the country.

The harbor of Veracruz, and the harbors of Pánuco and Campeche were the main channels through which enslaved Africans were introduced to Mexico. From there, they were taken to practically all of the country to work in mining, cattle raising and other activities. In the Gulf of Mexico shore they worked mainly in sugar cane cultivation and processing. As a consequence, important African settlements developed in this region. In the area of Costa Chica, on the Pacific shore, Africans replaced indigenous labor.

Filmmaker Rafael Rebollar Corona uses music, artwork, interviews and cultural activities to illustrate the African influence on Mexican culture.

AFRICAN CINEMATIC FILM FESTIVAL
FEBRUARY 16 - 18, 2006

Moolaade

Thursday, February 16th 7pm

Six girls escape from an African ceremony of female circumcision. Two flee to the city while one of the wives of a village tribesman, takes four in. She puts the spell of Moolaade, protection, over the girls, to keep them safe.

In Rwanda We Say

Thursday, February 16th 9pm

This film captures the fledgling steps toward reconciliation between Hutu and Tutsi after the government released 16,000 confessed killers back into their communities.

Diaspora Conversations: From Goree To Dogon

Friday, February 17th 7pm

Actor Danny Glover and director Manthia Diawara travel through West Africa from Goree to Dogon, creating conversations that link different sides and accounts of the African diaspora.

Conakry Kas

Friday, February 17th 9pm

In January 2003, director Manthia Diawara visited Guinea-Conakry to see what was left of the artists.

Kirikou and the Sorceress

Saturday, February 18th 12pm

When a sorceress's curse dries up the land and the male inhabitants mysteriously disappear, Little Kirikou embarks on a perilous journey to save his village. The story is based on West African orature.

Faat Kinne

Saturday, February 18th 2pm

Faat-Kine is a single mother with two children, two ex-husbands, a pushy mother and assorted friends. She is the manager of a sparkling new gas station, but her success has been hard-bought. Nonetheless, she values her control over her own life, and tries to balance modernity with tradition.

In and Out of Africa

Saturday, February 18th 5pm

This documentary explores with irony and humor issues of authenticity, taste, and racial politics in the transnational trade in African art.

COMMUNITY FOLK ART CENTER'S ANNUAL CINEMATIC FESTIVAL PRESENTS
"Keepin' It Reel '08: Exploring Hip Hop"
February 14- 17, 2008

In honor of Black History Month, the Community Folk Art Center presents its annual Cinematic Festival. This year we will be exploring Hip Hop culture. Beginning Thursday, February 14 through Sunday, February 17 the festival will showcase independent works from emerging filmmakers. The festival explores such topics as misogyny in the rap world, Hip Hop in Africa, graffiti, as well as increasing popularity of Christian Hip Hop.

Our festival will begin with the screening of Byron Hurt's groundbreaking documentary, "Beyond Beats and Rhymes," which will be followed by a discussion with the filmmaker. That night will also be the debut of 16 year-old filmmaker Ziggy who will screen his short film "Hip Hop: My Revolution."

On Saturday, the festival will begin with a graffiti workshop for high school age students and the screening of the graffiti documentary "Rock Fresh." Following the workshop, filmmaker Dante Kaba will screen his film Mixtress X which details the experience of women deejays. The day will conclude with "The Hip Hop Project," a documentary about a group of New York City teens who utilize Hip Hop to transform their lives. We will conclude our festival on Sunday with the screening "Holy Hip Hop." This film provides an opportunity to learn more about Christian Hip Hop.

There is something for everyone! Come out and experience a festival that looks in depth at the worldwide phenomenon that is Hip Hop. The graffiti workshop is free but you must register and the cost per film is $5.00.

• Keepin' It Reel 08: Exploring Hip Hop
• Thursday, February 14, 2008 Beyond Beats and Rhymes 7pm
• Friday, February 15, 2008 Hip Hop Colony 7pm
• Saturday, February 16, 2008 Free Graffiti workshop 12 pm
• Saturday, February 16, 2008 Rock Fresh 1pm
• Saturday, February 16, 2008 Mixtress X 4pm
• Saturday, February 16, 2008 The Hip Hop Project 7pm
• Sunday, February 17, 2008 Holy Hip Hop 3pm

Caribbean Cinematic Film Festival Program

(Syracuse, NY) - The Community Folk Art Center is excited to announce the line-up of films selected to be screened at 2008 Caribbean Cinematic Film Festival, taking place October 23 - 26. All film screenings and special events will take place at the Community Folk Art Center, located at 805 East Genesee Street in Syracuse New York. For tickets and additional information, visit www.communityfolkartcenter.org or call (315) 442-2230.

The festival will be a four-day celebration of Caribbean cinematic storytelling. This year's schedule boasts a line-up of thought-provoking, entertaining independent cinema, documentaries, short films and animation from Trinidad, Barbados, Jamaica, Tobago and Cuba. The goal of the annual Community Folk Art Center film fest is to showcase the rich creativity, vision and thematic breadth of film makers, producers and actors found in communities of color locally, nationally and internationally. Besides screening a unique collection of films, the festival will also feature Q&A sessions with guest directors, workshops and panel discussions. The Caribbean Film Festival is produced by the Community Folk Art Center Inc., a non-profit visual arts and culture organization that is dedicated to providing audiences with opportunities to discover and engage art that fosters better understanding and communication between peoples of diverse cultures, faiths, and lifestyles.

The Caribbean Cinematic Film Festival opens Thursday, October 23rd at 7:00 p.m. with a screening of Guttaperc by award-winning Bajan producer/director Andrew Millington. This semi-biographical drama tells the story of a 10-year-old boy spending a holiday with his grandparents in a small Barbados village. The holiday is interrupted by news that the government plans to build a tourist resort on village land, a turn of events that leads the young boy to learn hard truths about society's contradictions. Stay for an 8:30 p.m. Q&A with Director Andrew Millington. Millington has worked on numerous industry and independent productions, serving as assistant director on Haile Germima's internationally acclaimed Sankofa. Born in Barbados, Millington has lived in the U.S. for 13 years and studied film at Howard University in Washington, D.C. Millington is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Radio, Television and Film at Howard University

Friday, October 24th at 7:00 p.m. Millington will treat attendees to a world premiere screening of his new drama Zora's Dream. This is a powerful and poignant story of a grandfather's visit to South Carolina's sea islands. This visit triggers the grandfather' traumatic memory of the lynching of his father and teaches his granddaughter the importance of fighting injustice. Other festival highlights include a panel discussion with director Andrew Millington and Dr. Shelia Aird. Panelists will discuss the impact of tourism and corporate development on Caribbean culture. Dr. Aird received her P.h.D in Latin and Caribbean History and M.A. in History from Howard University. Dr. Aird is currently an Assistant Professor and Academic Area Coordinator of Global Studies at SUNY Empire State College. Prior to her appointment at Empire State College, Dr. Aird was an adjunct Professor in the African American Studies Department at Syracuse University. Saturday, October 25th is packed with cinematic goodies. Screening at 1:00 p.m. will be Animae Caribe presented in collaboration with the Animae Caribe Film Festival of Trinidad. This collection of family friendly animated short films is sure to delight any young film fest' adventurer.

At 2:00 p.m. for the young animae enthusiast is an Animae Workshop with artist Yvonne Buchanan in the 2-D art room. Cost of admission is $2 per child. At 2:00 p.m. in the Main Gallery will be a Talk and Q&A with Founder and Director of Caribe Anime, Camille Abrahams. Screening at 6:00 p.m. is Sistagod by director Yao Ramesar. Sistagod is the first feature of a trilogy that tells the story of the coming of a black female messiah in the future, during a period known as the Apocalypso - a global holocaust that she alone survives. Director Yao Ramesar is an award-winning Caribbean filmmaker, born in Tamale, Ghana, West Africa. Ramesar holds a B.A. in Film Production and M.F.A. in Film Directing from Howard University, where he studied under African American filmmakers Haile Gerima and Abiyi Ford. He lectures in TV/Film at the Festival Centre for the Creative Arts, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad. Closing out this year's festival, Sunday, October 26th at 3:00 p.m. is !Yo Soy Boricua, Pa'Que Tu Lo Sepas! (I'm Boriqua Just So You Know). Rosie Perez in her directorial debut, explores the political history, social activism and national pride of Puerto Rican people. This labor of love takes her from New York to Miami and finally the island of Puerto Rico. Through the richness of the island's history, we discover its complex relationship with America. From sterilization programs in Puerto Rico to economic empowerment protests in New York, led by the Young Lords, Rosie, seamlessly weaves together interviews and narrative and creates a documentary that is both entertaining and educational.

The Community Folk Art Center is sponsored, in part, by the New York State Council on the Arts, the Cultural Resources Council, The Coalition of Museums & Art Centers at Syracuse University, The College of Visual and Performing Arts at Syracuse University and The Office of the Chancellor at Syracuse University. Our media sponsors are CNY Latino, Urban CNY and WAER 88.3. The Genesee Grande and Park View Hotels are the official accommodations for guests of The Community Folk Art Center. The Community Folk Art Center is a unit of the African American Studies Department in the College of Arts and Sciences at Syracuse University. CFAC is a vibrant cultural and artistic hub committed to the promotion and development of artists of the African Diaspora. The mission of the center is to exalt cultural and artistic pluralism by collecting, exhibiting, teaching and interpreting the visual & expressive arts.

CARIBBEAN CINEMATIC FILM FESTIVAL SCHEDULE:

October 23
7:00 p.m.
Guttaperc (84min, 1998 USA and Barbados)
Director: Andrew Millington

8:30 p.m.
Talk-back with director Andrew Millington

October 24
7:00 p.m.
Zora's Dream (90min, USA and Barbados)
Director: Andrew Millington

October 25
1:00 p.m.
Animae Caribe: Short Films

2:00 p.m
Q&A with Founder and Director of Caribe Animae Film Festival, Camille Abrahams

2:00 p.m.
Kids Animae Workshop with artist Yvonne Buchanan
Cost: $2

6:00 p.m.
Sistagod (72min, Trinidad and Tobago 2006)
Director: Yao Ramesar

October 26
3:00 p.m.
!Yo Soy Boricua, Pa'Que Tu Lo Sepas! (I'm a Boricua Just So You Know)
(86 min, USA 2006)
Director: Rosie Perez