”Only when lions have historians will hunters cease being
heroes.” - African Proverb
A Complexion Change
Transnational & Intercultural Diplomacy
An International Media Project (UNESCO)
XXXIII. 2018 Black International Cinema Berlin
"Footprints in the Sand?" ExhibitionBerlin 2018
Visual Documentation – Photographic Exhibition
May 11-13, 2018
Opening Ceremony: May 11, 5 pm
Haus der Demokratie und Menschenrechte (Robert-Havemann-Saal)
House of Democracy and Human Rights (Robert-Havemann-Hall)
Greifswalder Str. 4, 10405 Berlin-Prenzlauer Berg
Production/Direction/Curation
Prof. Donald Muldrow Griffith
Fountainhead® Tanz Théâtre
in association with
Cultural Zephyr e.V.
A remembrance from then, to now and into our
future ...
33 years past, as a significant contribution to the first historic European
Black Cultural Festival, Black International Cinema Berlin was created and
presented on Welserstraße at the Arsenal Cinema, under the tutelage of Erika
Gregor and Fountainhead Tanz Théâtre.
Through the international experiences of filmmakers from everywhere, the
term Black became defined as intercultural, international diplomacy and was
open to all!
And so once more, during May 11-13, 2018, presenters through film, art
exhibition, seminars and publications offer their view points during the
XXXIII. 2018 Black International Cinema Berlin / "Footprints in the Sand?"
ExhibitionBerlin 2018.
We look forward to sharing with you and yours.
Past – Present – Future
“I Wonder…?”
This year's leitmotiv is initiated with "I Wonder ...?" and
later raises questions that address a wide range of socially relevant
issues, with the complex question, "What do we learn from the past and
present for today and the future?" The examination of the past should always
bring a critical assessment for Europeans of the colonization periods and
their
far-reaching consequences: wars, flight, migration, xenophobia, racism,
exclusion of various population groups, anti-democratic sentiments, economic
imbalance, endangerment of a peaceful and cooperative coexistence. The Black
International Cinema Berlin intends to stimulate a discussion of these
issues and also contribute to changing the perceptions of people from the
African Diaspora and marginalized groups.
Presented are films from Africa, the African Diaspora and contributions with
intercultural and international themes. This year's films come from Sierra
Leone, USA, Senegal, Germany, Madagascar, Belgium and Switzerland.
On May 11 at 5 pm, founder, producer and director of the event, Prof. Donald
Muldrow Griffith, will open the XXXIII. 2018
Black International Cinema Berlin in the Robert Havemann Hall at the House
of Democracy and Human Rights.
Following the opening, the festival will feature the Belgian American
co-production VIBRANCY OF SILENCE – A DISCUSSION WITH MY SISTERS. In this
documentary, Marthe Djilo Kamga takes us along, as she engages in fruitful
conversations with four African female artists who, like her, know
exile as well as how necessary it is to transmit to younger generations what
they have learned as their multiple identities evolved and fused. After the
film, a discussion takes place.
The 8 pm screening begins with EUROPE by Bernd Leideritz, a music video from
the album "Humans Humans!" by MFA Kera, with Mike Russell, for the song
"Europe". It is regarding a migrant in a big European city.
This is followed by the William Greaves production RALPH BUNCHE: AN AMERICAN
ODYSSEY. It documents the life of Ralph Bunche – a scientist, diplomat,
citizen and human rights activist, the first Black man to win the Nobel
Peace Prize for negotiating the ceasefire in the Middle East between Arab
states and Israel. Ralph Bunche is probably the most overlooked public
figure of the 20th century.
Also on display at the festival are four films from the project ON THE MOVE,
which present perspectives of a young generation in West Africa. One of the
productions is MAYILLAH'S STONY PATH / AUF HARTEM PFLASTER by Santigie Sesay
and Alexander Baffour Nsiah. It portrays young Mayillah, who, because of her
family's poverty, is to fund her education by crushing stones – a job
entailing hard physical labor in a dangerous working environment. Also
included is DANSA, a short feature film directed by Mohamed Janneh.
Protagonist Morris loves to dance, but his father has other plans for his
future. After a series of setbacks, however, a light can be seen at the end
of the tunnel.
Another production from the US is '63 BOYCOTT by Gordon Quinn. The film
explores the boycott in Chicago on October 22, 1963, when more than 250,000
students boycotted Chicago public schools to protest racial segregation. '63
BOYCOTT, with unseen 16mm footage of the march and today's reflections from
the participants, combines the forgotten story of one of the largest civil
rights demonstrations in the North with topical issues surrounding
ethnicity, education, school closures, and youth activism.
YEMI'S DILEMMA, a feature film by Sade Oyinade, tells the story of Nigerian
American sisters of the first generation, Yemi, Lola and Tayo. Yemi is the
oldest and is supposed to marry a Nigerian like her sisters. But for months,
she’s been keeping a huge secret from her parents that will forever change
the dynamic within the family and alter the bonds of sisterhood for better
and for worse.
In BLACK BORDER WARRIORS: THE SEMINOLE NEGRO INDIAN SCOUTS, Joseph P. Hill
tells the epic story of Native American Indians who fought in the wars
between Native Americans and Europeans in the American West of the 1870s and
1880s.
Another production by director Bernd Leideritz entitled HIRA GASY – FAHRENDE
MUSIKANTEN MADAGASKARS / HIRA GASY – TRAVELLING MUSICIANS FROM MADAGASCAR
permits us to immerse ourselves in the world of Hira Gasy, a
musical/theatrical tradition from the highlands of Madagascar, which is
mostly performed open air. The Hira Gasy is the Malagasy moral authority, it
is sung and spoken about the values of Malagasy society. Especially in the
rural area, the spectators often take long walks in order to experience a
performance. Hira Gasy is not just entertainment, but an opportunity for
people to come together.
The filmmaker Dr. Eve A. Ma portrays the artist Hershell West in her
documentary THE ARTIST IN SOCIETY: TALKING WITH HERSHELL WEST. Contrary to
the expectations of his family and society in the segregated south of the
USA, where West grew up, he is now a painter, muralist, art teacher and art
advocate living and working in the California San Francisco Bay Area.
In memoriam of Roswitha and Jimmy Günther, who produced Pfeiffer's Ballhaus
at the community access television station ALEX-Open Channel Berlin for more
than 20 years, the festival presents A PORTRAIT OF ROSWITHA GÜNTHER / EIN
PORTRÄT ÜBER ROSWITHA GÜNTHER, a Fountainhead® Tanz Théâtre production of
the television magazine THE COLLEGIUM - Forum & Television Program Berlin
directed and moderated by Prof. Donald Muldrow Griffith. Also included in
the program is the documentary BLACK PEOPLE, BLACK BERLIN, also under the
production and direction of Prof. Donald Muldrow Griffith. The film was
created prior to the fall of the Berlin wall. Interviewees are members of
the Berlin African Diaspora: Black Germans, Black Americans and Black
Africans. Topics include social, political, economic and cultural content as
well as intercultural marriages, refugee status and their hopes and dreams
for the future. Among the interviewees are Johnetta Page/USA, Mona
Agbaje/Swaziland, Robert Harrel/USA, Dr. Mahoma Mwaungulu/Malawi and Mai
Opitz Ayim/Germany.
Another highlight is the William Greaves production IDA B. WELLS: A PASSION
FOR JUSTICE. With readings by Pulitzer-Prize-Winning author Toni Morrison,
this work documents the life and times of Ida B. Wells, the pioneering
African American journalist, activist, suffragist and anti-lynching crusader
of the late 19th and early 20th century.
In addition to informative and exciting films, visitors have the opportunity
to participate in a seminar entitled "The future of our world ‒ Perspectives
from Pope Francis, the CIA and others" presented by Dr. Sabine Grund and in
the visual documentation "Footprints in the Sand?" ExhibitionBerlin 2018.
The exhibition paints a picture of the activities and cultural, historical
contributions of various people for Berlin and other places with the
intention to prevent them from becoming "footprints in the sand". The
exhibition also contributes to the documentation of the history of
Fountainhead® Tanz Théâtre, which has been implementing interdisciplinary
art and cultural projects in Berlin since 1980, focusing on transnational,
intercultural diplomacy and the promotion of respect and recognition as well
as cooperation and exchange in our multicultural society in Berlin and
beyond. In conclusion, visitors may be informed and consulted at Ricky's
Book Stand, which includes more than 200 works by international Black
authors. Ricky Reiser is an artist, author and journalist residing in
Berlin.
Admission to all events is free of charge.
e-mail: bicdance@aol.com
Tel.: 0176-38085459, 030-7821621
Prof. Donald Muldrow Griffith/Fountainhead® Tanz
Théâtre, May 3, 2018
