Tag Archives: African-American Cinema

Daughters of the Dust playing in Philly!

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Press Release

Black Chick Media, LLC & Cohen Media Announce 25th Anniversary Release of Daughters of the Dust

Los Angeles, December 7, 2016: Premiering in 1991, Julie Dash’s magnificent film Daughters of the Dust broke ground as the first movie directed by an African-American woman to receive an extensive theatrical release. Since then, this exquisite story about a Gullah family in the 1900’s has continued to garner praises. It was added to the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress in 2004, and more recently, acted as a heavy inspiration for Beyoncé’s visual album Lemonade. Currently, the film is being re-introduced to mainstream audiences in a colorful new way; Cohen Media Group, distributors of the film, has created a rich 2K restoration that will be released in theaters this fall. Most recently, Daughters of the Dust has won a Special NY Film Critics Circle Award for its 25th anniversary release.

Daughters of the Dust is the story of conflict and struggle between changing values in the early 1900’s as a Low Country family, living on one of the sea islands, prepares to migrate, leaving their land and legacy for the promise of the North. The film focuses on the women of the Peazant Family; the carriers of traditions and beliefs firmly linked to their African heritage.

Daughters of the Dust will play Philadelphia at the Ritz at the Bourse from December 9-December 15, 2016.

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#WADFF Final Call: There’s still time to submit your films

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Contact:

WADFF
c/o The Brooklyn Chapter of The Links, Inc.
PO Box 50013
Brooklyn, NY 11205-0013

Black Chick Media, LLC

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Brooklyn, NY 1 March 2016: The Brooklyn Chapter of The Links announces the final Call for Film Entries for the 15th Annual Women of African Descent Film Festival (WADFF). WADFF will showcase films focused on Women, their families, neighborhoods, and the global community. Featuring an international roster of films, the Festival will take place on Saturday, May 7, 2016 at LIU Brooklyn, Media Arts Department, Spike Lee Screening Room, 10 am – 6 pm.

Films must be produced, written, or directed by a female filmmaker of African descent and must have been completed on or after June 1, 2010. All work must be submitted by March 18, 2016. Jurors Choice Awards and stipends will be presented to participating filmmakers.

Continuing its legacy of showcasing the talent and accomplishments of artists of African descent, The Women of African Descent Film Festival is celebrating its 15th Anniversary in 2016.

Formed in 1952, The Brooklyn Chapter of The Links is dedicated to the support of educational, civic and cultural activities in Brooklyn. It is a chapter of The Links, Inc. an international, not-for-profit corporation, whose membership consists of 14,000 professional women of color in 282 chapters located in 41 states, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. The Brooklyn Chapter works under the guidelines of its national organization in providing services to its Brooklyn Community in five mission areas:  The Arts, Services to Youth, National Trends and Services, International Trends, and Health and Wellness. A focus of the Chapter’s arts programming is to empower women and youth by lending support and encouragement to emerging artists – with a particular focus on filmmakers for the past 15 years.

The foundation for all of the chapter’s programs and services is rooted in the African American tradition of giving and volunteerism. Members share a deep sense of communal responsibility, and for the past 63 years, have been committed to actively initiating and supporting educational, cultural, and civic programs that positively impact the lives of people of African descent residing in Brooklyn.

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Travel Notes of a Geechee Girl: The Life of Vertamae Smart

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Photo credit via blogs.indiewire.com

Photo credit via blogs.indiewire.com

Julie Dash, the amazing director behind Daughters of the Dust, Illusions and The Rosa Parks Story has created a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo to support her latest film, Travel Notes of a Geechee Girl.  To continue production, the team needs to raise $55,000, which is no small feat with only three days left.  This documentary tells the overlooked and often forgotten life story of culinary anthropologist, actress, writer and poet Vertamae Smart Grosvenor.

We had the pleasure of meeting Ms. Dash in 2007 at a film festival in Columbus, Ohio, and to say we’re excited she is releasing another film would be an understatement.  As we so often mention here at Black Chick Media, the lives of African-American women are hardly ever told…And don’t even get us started on the lack of recognition and support for women filmmakers (African-American or otherwise).

Please join us in supporting this fabulous project and legendary director.  Follow the film on Twitter at @SocialGeechee and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vertamae?fref=ts

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