Habari Gani? What is the News?

Hotep and Greetings!

The Film Festival Rollercoaster is the News!  In the past two weeks, Healing History: The Documentary has been screened in two countries – Bermuda and the United States.  In the next couple of weeks, it will been shown in Cameroon, Central Africa and in France.  It is amazing!

The premier at the Bermuda International Film Festival (BIFF) was well attended and part of the opening night screening of documentary short films.  Comments were very complimentary and a sampling of them can be read under Film Festivals: What Folks Are Sayin’.  I was delighted that the filmmaker, Kristin Alexander, came for the premier and we were truly gratified by the enthusiastic response.

Mwalimu and Kristin Alexander on the red carpet at BIFF

Mwalimu and Kristin Alexander on the red carpet at BIFF

The Healing History Weekend was enhanced by the debut of the dramatic presentation Everything We Should Be, a play utilizing my poetry as inspiration and dialogue.  Written by Ms. Shalane Dill, it was performed by her drama guild students, The Berkeley Players, a group of aspiring, high school actors from The Berkeley Institute.   An Encore Presentation of both the film and play is scheduled for Sunday, May 31st at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute.  Tickets are already selling!

Mwalimu and The Berkeley Players

Mwalimu and The Berkeley Players

St. Louis, Missouri has been in the news so much lately that I was filled with excitement and anxiety simultaneously.  Having the film accepted by Africa World Documentary Film Festival (AWDFF) was an awesome opportunity, as they have venues worldwide and Healing History was accepted by the community venue, The Better Family Life Community Center.  My graduate school colleague and director of the festival, Dr. Niyi Coker, was a beautiful host, delighting me further in sharing that the film was also accepted by the venue in the Cameroon, Central Africa!

Dr. Niyi Coker and Mwalimu

Dr. Niyi Coker and Mwalimu

Of course, my anxieties were unfounded, as the people were warm and welcoming and my schedule full!  I read and signed books at the Progressive Emporium Bookstore and Education Center, the Ngoma Cultural Celebration and at the AWDFF venue, The Better Family Life Community Center, who requested a second screening!  The comments were awesome and possibilities are brewing…

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Habari Gani?  What is the News?  The film festivals are the news!!!

 


Habari Gani? – What Is The News?!

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Hotep and Warn Greetings!

Habari Gani?  What is the News?  The International Pan African Film Festival, Cannes, France is the NEWS!!!  Kristin Alexander, the filmmaker of Healing History: The Documentary, got a brief e-mail, straight to the point:

Hello Director,

Your Film is selected for Le Festival International du Film PanAfricain de Cannes.
The FIFP will take place in Cannes from 29 April to 3 May 2015 @ Novotel Cannes Montfleury.

Cannes Festival Poster

Cannes Festival Poster

Without a doubt, the excitement has officially begun!!!  Of course, we were looking forward to the experiences we will have at the Bermuda International Film Festival and the Africa World Film Festival in St. Louis, but Cannes?!!  It is every filmmakers’ dream to have a film accepted in Cannes!  Also amazing: of the couple thousand film submission for this prestigious festival, only FIFTY were selected…. a high honor indeed!

So preparations have begun…  getting the film subtitled in French, plane tickets to be purchased, hotel reservations to be made and packing . . .   we are going to  Cannes, France!  And we are filled with gratitude.

Habari Gani?  This is the news from your servant and Mwalimu in culture and empowerment! Asante for reading and come back soon! Hotep!