Shorts: Black Lens Documentary
Weree
Directed by Tal Amiran
15:00 • United Kingdom
Having fled the Liberian civil war, renowned self-taught artist Johnson Weree is seeking asylum in the Netherlands, where he lives undocumented and without a fixed address.
Solace of Sisterhood
Directed by Geneva Peschka & Anna Andersen
10:05 • United States
The Caramel Curves are an all-Black female biker crew in New Orleans who defy societal norms by embracing their multifaceted identities. This short explores the lives of co-founders Shanika “Tru” Beatty and Nakosha “Coco” Curry, uncovering their authenticity and vulnerability.
Mama’s Sundry
Directed by Brody Kuhar & Joshua Cannon
15:00 • United States
In South Memphis, married artists Bertram Williams and Talibah Safiya transform their creative practices into vehicles for a higher purpose. Enter Mama’s Sundry, a collaborative movement fostering wellness and sustainability through education.
Please Ask For It
Directed by Allison Waid
20:00 • United States
Down on the Blues Alley in Holly Springs, Mississippi, you might meet David “Fox” Caldwell, the beloved owner of Aikei Pro’s Record Shop. Amid waves of change and pressure from other business owners in town to close up shop, Mr. Caldwell keeps the dream alive, against all odds.
Ma ŋaye ka Masaala a se ka Wɔmɛti (From God to Man)
Directed by Lansana Mansaray
14:59 • Sierra Leone
On the day Lansana Mansaray was born, a tree was planted in his name in his father’s Limba village. Now an Emmy and Peabody nominated filmmaker, Mansaray returns to the same village to better understand the essential relationship that Limbas share with the trees that define every aspect of community life.
Legacy in the Making: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
Directed by Dominic Gill
7:07 • United States
Trailblazer Alvin Ailey established the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in 1958 to highlight African American narratives through movement. Current Artistic Director Robert Battle notes how Ailey triumphed over the challenges of his time to share his unique perspective.
Empathy in Africa
Directed by Dan McDougall
9:42 • United States
Empathy in Africa follows three women — a patient and two healthcare workers — in the Diepsloot township of Johannesburg, South Africa. The women personify resilience in the face of tremendous obstacles and are reaching for a more hopeful future with the opening of the area’s first health clinic.