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Africans With Mainframes [short film]
Synopsis
This mockumentary follows LaJoye Watkins, a reclusive Brooklyn woman with an unwavering determination to unearth a hidden truth that challenges conventional music history: that electronic music owes its roots to the ingenious innovation of black Southerners during the 1920s. Within the walls of her modest apartment, she harbors a treasure trove of forgotten records and fragmented memories. LaJoye’s historical tour de force explores themes of loneliness, revenge, and reclamation, taking us on a journey toward spiritual awakening.
This film screens as part of the Shorts 7: Black Perspectives – Resonance program.
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Apostles of Cinema [short film]
Synopsis
Apostles of Cinema explores Tanzania’s unique film culture, examining the art of pirating, local cinema houses, and distribution networks while raising the question of whether the means by which we access films truly matters. The remarkable short film captures how cinema creates community, inspires creativity, and emphasizes the need for preservation.
This film screens as part of the Shorts 7: Black Perspectives – Resonance program.
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The Vacation [short film]
Synopsis
On the final day of summer, a barber envisions a relaxing beach day with friends, only to encounter car trouble that derails their plans. This unexpected setback becomes a catalyst for candid discussions about identity and aspirations. Amidst what might appear as a mundane situation, Carrillo adeptly crafts a narrative that delves into existential reflections.
This film screens as part of the Shorts 7: Black Perspectives – Resonance program.
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Look Back at It [short film]
Synopsis
Following an unsuccessful date, a 40-something single mother gets her groove back with a little assistance from her teenage daughter. Along the way, she discovers the rewards of daring to take risks and the essential importance of savoring life’s pleasures. Look Back at It beautifully portrays loving intergenerational relationships and women rediscovering their emotional, social, and sexual empowerment.
This film screens as part of the Shorts 7: Black Perspectives – Resonance program.
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Ethan Lim: Cambodian Futures [short film]
Synopsis
A finely observed portrait of celebrated Chicago chef Ethan Lim as he develops his restaurant, Hermosa, this short doc touches on issues of family, culinary culture, and displacement due to war. Born into a refugee camp and brought to the US at a young age as his family fled the Khmer Rouge’s violent coup in Cambodia, Lim crafts dishes that feature authentic Cambodian flavors, imagining how the country’s cuisine might have developed had it not been interrupted by civil war.
This film screens as part of the Shorts 1: City & State – Revelations program.
212 W Van Buren St., Suite 400
