WMM: Black Women Directors Film Series at BAM!

Brooklyn Academy of Music - New Series Features WMM Filmmakers

BLACK WOMEN DIRECTOR FILM SERIES AT BAM! ONE WAY OR ANOTHER:  BLACK WOMEN'S CINEMA, 1970-1991 "One Way or Another: Black Women's Cinema, 1970-1991" assembles dozens of titles, of varying lengths, genres, and countries of origin, spotlighting two decades' worth of provocative,  profound, personal, and political moviemaking..." - Melissa Anderson, The Village Voice "...The result is an exhilarating tapestry of voices, some speaking in consort, some resisting consensus. That also describes much of the work in "One Way or Another," which despite its framing feels unbound. There's so much to discover..."  - Manohla Dargis, The New York Times A scene from ILLUSIONS, directed by Julie Dash We are thrilled to announce that 17 films distributed by Women Make Movies will be featured in the new BAMCinematek series, "One Way or Another: Black Women's Cinema, 1970-1991." This dynamic program runs February 3rd-23rd, and features acclaimed and award-winning films by Black women film directors. Click here for screening times and tickets. On the occasion of the recent restoration and re-release of Julie Dash's 1991 masterpiece, BAMcinématek celebrates the black women directors who blazed the trail for that landmark film. The filmmakers represented in this series all worked far outside the mainstream, often with limited resources, overcoming a historically hostile system in order to tell their stories on screen. Taken together, their work represents a rich history of long-undervalued independent filmmaking. "One Way or Another" is co-programmed by BAMcinématek's Nellie Killian and Michelle Materre; founder, host-producer, Creatively Speaking Film Series; Associate Professor of Media Studies and Film at The New School. Kudos to Michelle Materre who is a WMM board member! Click on the images and titles for more film information. FOUR WOMEN "Dancer Linda Martina Young portrays the four Black women described in Julie Dash's dance film set to Nina Simone's stirring ballad." - UCLA Film &  Television Archive ILLUSIONS     "One of the most brilliant achievements in style and concept in recent  American filmmaking..." - Clyde Taylor,  Guest Curator Whitney Museum of Art PRAISE HOUSE "Celebrates the nourishing, uplifting effect of visions but makes very clear their terrible  pain and cost." - Jennifer Dunning, New York Times REMEMBERING THELMA Guggenheim Award-winning filmmaker Kathe Sandler provides viewers with a lively profile of dance instructor and performer Thelma Hill. STORME, THE LADY  OF THE JEWEL BOX "Pays homage to this exceptional woman while disclosing the illusions inherent in notions  of gender." - Martha Gever A MINOR ALTERCATION Two adolescent girls get into a fight at school and are suspended. The incident is the focal point for an examination of racial attitudes within both girls' families as well as institutional racism in school. VISION OF THE SPIRIT: A PORTRAIT OF ALICE WALKER "**** Entrancing. Displays warmth and a down-to-earth quality that coincides with the author's writings. This wonderful portrait is a mixture of beautiful pacing and personal artistic vision." - American Film and Video Association Evaluations A DIFFERENT IMAGE "Extraordinary, a fresh and clear expression of an acute sensibility." Kevin Thomas Los Angeles Times  PERFECT IMAGE? Bright and imaginative in its approach to its subject, PERFECT IMAGE? exposes stereotypical images of Black women and explores women's own ideas of self-worth.  KILLING TIME/  FANNIE'S FILM "What is marvelous about this film is that it makes clear that Fannie Drayton has got a life outside her job... and that what she really loves is that other life and that independence." - Valerie Smith Interviewed in Iris:  A Journal About Women   YOUR CHILDREN COME BACK TO YOU "Director Alile Sharon Larkin's film masterfully presents a child's perspective on wealth and social inequality." - Samuel B. Prime CYCLES "A brilliantly innovative reflection on Black womanhood." - Michael Wilmington Los Angeles Times     ON BECOMING A WOMAN "An excellent resource for schools, churches and community groups that are working to prevent  teen pregnancy." Marian Wright Edelman Children's Defense Fund THE MAIDS "Provides a unique, insightful look into one of the last vestiges of colonial relations between blacks and whites." - Kimberly Everett Media Alternative Project PICKING TRIBES "A delightful, provocative film invoking a universal response to the  search for identity." - Newark Black Film Festival A POWERFUL THANG "...A catalyst for in-depth discussions of intimate relationships. Dynamic  and entertaining!" - Gloria Gibson-Hudson Black Film Center Archive, Indiana University