ADIFF 2015 Closing Night film “BaddDDD Sonia Sanchez” will be one of the highlights of the BEST OF ADIFF program to be held at Teachers College, Columbia University from Friday, January 8 to Sunday, January 10, 2016.
“BaddDDD Sonia Sanchez” won ADIFF 2015’s Public Award for the Best Film Directed by a Woman of Color. Director/Editor Sabrina Schmidt Gordon will receive her award on Saturday, January 9 @ 8:30pm during an AWARD Ceremony to be followed by the encore screening of the film, a Q&A with the director and reception.
“BaddDDD Sonia Sanchez” is a performance-filled documentary about poet, playwright, activist; seminal figure in the 1960s Black Arts Movement; mentor to generations of poets and hip-hop artists Sonia Sanchez, the legendary 80-year old artist for whom writing is both a personal and political act.
Other films in the Best of ADIFF include ADIFF 2015 Opening Night film “The Man Who Mends Women, The Wrath of Hippocrates” by Thierry Michel which tells the story of Dr. Denis Mukwege, a man who has dedicated his life to assist women subjected to rape in his native DRC. ADIFF 2015’s Centerpiece screening “Cu-Bop: Cuba – New York Music Documentary” by Shinichi Takahashi, a documentary for all music lovers that explores the African roots of Cuban jazz and documents what happens when expats return to the source of their inspiration, will also be part of the selection.
Returning for the Best of ADIFF are several films that explore historical themes including “If Only I Were That Warrior” by Valerio Ciriaci – ADIFF 2015 Gala Screening – which moves in and out of Ethiopia, Italy and the United States to tell us a story of unpunished war crimes, colonial wars and African history; “Invisible Heroes: African Americans In The Spanish Civil War,” by Alfonso Domingo and Jordi Torrent that introduces us to the remarkable story of African Americans who fought as volunteers in Spain for democracy and for civil rights that were denied to them in their own country and “The Blind Orchestra” by Mohamed Mouftakir, a humorous yet critical look at the life of a group of musicians in Morocco during the early years of the reign of Hassan II.
Two films presented in the Black British program made the cut for the Best Of ADIFF: Honeytrap by Rebecca Johnson which tells a story of fifteen-year-old Layla (Jessica Sula – Skins), a beautiful and naive Trinidadian girl who, freshly arrived from her native land, quickly embarks on a journey of love, sex, hip hop and violence and “Second Coming” by Debbie Tucker Green, an emotional and intimate drama about a woman in a London family who faces a dilemma with her husband (Idris Elba) and the tensions and communication issues associated with her situation.
Rounding up the selection is “Hear Me Move” by Scottnes L. Smith. Labeled the first Dance Movie of South Africa and featuring cameo appearances by South African stars Amanda Du Pont, Boity Thulo and Khanyi Mbau, “Hear Me Move” received huge popular acclaim last year in its home country and was one of the most popular films of ADIFF 2015.
For more information about the Best of The African Diaspora International Film Festival, to receive screeners and high resolution images please contact Diarah N’Daw-Spech at (212) 864-1760/ fax (212) 316-6020 or e-mail [email protected]. Festival web site: www.nyadiff.org.
The African Diaspora International Film Festival is a 501(c)(3) not for profit organization. Support for ADIFF come from ArtMattan Productions; the Office of the Vice President for Diversity and Community Affairs, Teachers College, Columbia University; the New York City Council in the Arts, WBAI and Public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency.
BEST OF ADIFF AT A GLANCE
WHERE: Teachers College, Columbia University
525 West 120th Street – Room Milbank Chapel
Train 1 to 116th Street
Free parking Saturday and Sunday
WHEN: Friday, January 8 to Sunday, January 10, 2016
SCHEDULE:
FRIDAY, JAN. 8, 2016 – The Chapel
6:30PM The Man Who Mends Women
9:00PM Cu-Bop
SATURDAY, JAN.9, 2016 – The Chapel
2:00PM
If Only I Were That warrior – Q&A 4:10PM
HoneyTrap 6:10PM
Second Coming 8:30PM
BaddDD Sonia Sanchez – Q&A & Reception
SUNDAY, JAN 10, 2010 – 179 Grace Dodge
2:00PM The Blind Ochestra
4:30PM Invisible Heroes – Q&A
6:40PM Hear Me Move
All films $12/$10 except Sonia Sanchez at $15 one price.
Weekend Pass: $70
CONTACT
Tel: (212) 864-1760
http://www.NYADIFF.org
