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FOUNTAINHEAD® TANZ THEATRE

in association with

THE COLLEGIUM - Forum & Television Program Berlin
& Cultural Zephyr e.V.

in co-operation with

Foundation Diversity Forum, Warsaw/Poland

present

XXIII. BLACK INTERNATIONAL CINEMA BERLIN/GERMANY, WARSAW/POLAND & U.S.A. 2008

DIVERSE & TOGETHER
A Complexion Change

BERLIN
MAY 8-12
MOVIEMENTO CINEMA
KOTTBUSSER DAMM 22
BERLIN/KREUZBERG

Intercultural Dialogue within a Migratory Society.
The future is with us, how do we respond to the inevitabilities of population change, clash or cooperation?
Partial Portrait / Past, Present, Future?
A relationship of Europe to the world and the human contributions to a developing Europe, at dawn of the 21st century.

From May 8-12, 2008 Fountainhead® Tanz Theatre presents under the direction of Prof. Donald Muldrow Griffith and Prof. Gayle McKinney Griffith, the 23rd edition of the intercultural and interdisciplinary film/video festival Black International Cinema Berlin at the Moviemento cinema in Berlin/Kreuzberg. The XXIII. Black International Cinema Berlin/Germany, Warsaw/Poland & USA 2008 will be presented under the theme "DIVERSE & TOGETHER - A Complexion Change."

Black International Cinema Berlin is a yearly interdisciplinary, intercultural film/video festival produced and directed by FOUNTAINHEAD® TANZ THEATRE / THE COLLEGIUM - FORUM & TELEVISION PROGRAM BERLIN and CULTURAL ZEPHYR e.V. and screens cinema from Africa, the African Diaspora and other films from varied intercultural backgrounds or perspectives.

The festival focuses on presenting cinematic works of an artistic, cultural or political nature coinciding with the shared values of people from Africa, the African Diaspora and people with an interest in intercultural communication and the interfacing and sharing of educational, social, artistic and economic resources.

Furthermore, Black International Cinema is open to ALL filmmakers and contributes to better understanding and increasing cooperation between people from various cultural, ethnic, national and religious backgrounds, in order to reduce prejudice and support a peaceful and respectful living together in our multi-faceted societies. The philosophical basis of the festival is derived from our mission statement.

In addition to film and video presentations the festival also provides artistic and academic events.


HISTORY

Black International Cinema Berlin was founded 1986 in Berlin/Germany. The intercultural and interdisciplinary festival is produced and directed by Fountainhead® Tanz Theatre, which was founded 1980 in Berlin by two US-American artists Donald Muldrow Griffith (awarded New York City Off-Broadway actor, dancer, singer and producer) and the former prima ballerina Gayle McKinney Griffith together with three other artists. Both are co-producers and directors of Fountainhead® Tanz Theatre.

Fountainhead® is a production, performing, teaching and distribution unit. People with different national, cultural, ethnic, social-economic and religious backgrounds, of both genders and different sexual identities are working together in various artistic and cultural fields, with the intention to create, promote and bring about an intercultural exchange through the projects available.

Besides a variety of activities in the fields of dance, theatre, music, film/video festival/distribution, publication, television, exhibitions, workshops, seminars and the publication of 5 anthologies, the production, direction and realization of the annual intercultural, interdisciplinary film/video festival Black International Cinema and the television program The Collegium - Forum & Television Program Berlin, weekly telecast on Sundays from 9-10 p.m. and once a month live, belong to the focal point of work by the Fountainhead® Tanz Theatre.

In 1990, Fountainhead® founded Cultural Zephyr e.V. as a non-profit organization.

Black International Cinema Berlin originated from the Black Cultural Festival, which was produced and directed by Fountainhead® Tanz Theatre in 1986 for the first time in Europe, a 3-week event in Berlin, which presented the contributions of Black people to world culture through film, theater, dance, music, workshops and seminars, and was an homage to the legendary tap dancer, Carnell Lyons.

Since then, Fountainhead® Tanz Theatre produces and directs the Black International Cinema annually in Berlin and additionally, in other European and US-American cities.


MISSION STATEMENT

FOUNTAINHEAD® TANZ THEATRE / BLACK INTERNATIONAL CINEMA BERLIN/
THE COLLEGIUM - FORUM & TELEVISION PROGRAM BERLIN & CULTURAL ZEPHYR e.V.

...are an international, intercultural community of persons engaged in achieving increasing understanding and cooperation between individuals and groups in support of democratic procedures and the elimination of violence, religious, ethnic and gender persecution, youth exploitation, homophobia and racial hatred through the process of art, education, culture and dialogue.

Prof. Gayle McKinney Griffith studied at the New York Juilliard School of Music and Connecticut College (School of Dance). She aspired to a dance career and subsequently became the first Ballett Mistress and Soloist in the original Dance Theatre of Harlem. She appeared on world famous stages such as Carnegie Hall, Sadlers Wells and the Palladium. As a teacher of different dance techniques, she taught at many schools and companies. By extending her work to film, television and musicals, she enriched her knowledge in the entertainment and production field. Thus, she owns a rich treasure of experience which now finds its expression through the productions of FOUNTAINHEAD®. Currently she specializes in the training of classical ballet and special body placement.

Prof. Donald Muldrow Griffith completed his studies in Psychology and Pedagogics at the University of Loyola, Chicago, Ill.. After considerable time as a practicing group therapist, teacher and probation officer for juvenile offenders, he began his training in acting, classical singing and also studied a variety of dance techniques and styles. His career began in the USA as an actor, singer, dancer, fashion and magazine model, choreographer and he performed featured roles in musicals, theatre and film productions. Mr. Griffith played, for instance, the starring role in the New York City Broadway musicals "Pippin" and "Stop The World, I Want To Get Off" as well as in the Off-Broadway musical "Lyrics Of Sunshine And Shadows," where he portrayed the poet, Paul Lawrence Dunbar. He was awarded "Most Promising New Off-Broadway Actor" by the "Broadway Critics" for his featured roles in "Contributions", a three act drama. In addition he acted in featured roles for television commercials, among them Papermate Pens, Bounty Towels and Revlon Cosmetics. Furthermore he narrated industrial shows for clients such as Ford Motor Company, New York Telephone and Metropolitan Life Insurance Co.. His talent, creativity and experience as a singer, actor, dancer, director and choreographer are characteristic of FOUNTAINHEAD's® work today.

Mottoes:
"I may not make it if I try, but I damn sure won't if I don't..." - Oscar Brown Jr.
"Mankind will either find a way or make one." - C.P. Snow
"Whatever you do..., be cool!" - Joseph Louis Turner
"Yes, I can...!" - Sammy Davis Jr.
"Yes, We can...!" - Barack Obama

Fountainhead® Tanz Theatre/Black International Cinema Berlin/
THE COLLEGIUM - Forum & Television Program Berlin/Cultural Zephyr e.V.
March 10, 2008

FOR INFORMATION
Fountainhead® Tanz Theatre
Black International Cinema Berlin
The Collegium - Forum & Television Program Berlin
Cultural Zephyr e.V.
Tempelhofer Damm 52
12101 Berlin/Germany
Tel.: 0049(0)30 - 7821621 / 75460946
Fax: 0049(0)30 - 7863466
e-mail: bicdance@aol.com

http://members.aol.com/bicdance
http://www.fountainhead-tanz-theatre.de
http://www.black-international-cinema.com
http://www.black-international-cinema.com/BIC08/html/bic_08.htm