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Welcome to the 2nd Annual
Returning
October 24th - 27th, 2024
Check out our
2023 Exclusive Screenings and Winners!
Last year's festival was packed with an exciting lineup of movies, captivating discussions, and interactive experiences. Here are the five highlighted features that make our festival an unforgettable cinematic journey!
HIGHLIGHTED SHORT FILM
REST STOP | DIR. CRYSTAL KAYIZA
Best US Short Film 2023
Sundance Film Festival
"On a bus ride from New York to Oklahoma, Meyi, a young Ugandan American girl, realizes her place in the world through her immigrant Mother’s ambitious efforts to reunite their family."
*this project was filmed in Schenectady & Albany*
2023 SHORT FILMS
NOTHING LIKE HOME
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Momma | Dir. Jeffery Jackson, Narrative Short
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Sea Glass | Dir. Renee McPherson, Narrative Short
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Flames | Dir. Deondray Gossfield & Quincy LeNear Gossfield, Narrative Short
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How to Deal With Fame |
Dir. Tiffany Ike, Narrative Short
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Wolf and Cub | Dir. Marvin Bynoe, Narrative Short
"NOTHING LIKE HOME" explores themes that remind us of home, our relationships with ourselves, our parents & our childhood friends. We move you through the full spectrum of what "home" may mean to us all.
IT HURTS SOMETIMES
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Amina | Dir. Shanrica Evans, Narrative Short
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Interception: Jayne Kennedy American Sportscaster | Dir. Safiya Songhai, Doc Short
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Rest Stop | Dir. Crystal Kayiza, Narrative Short
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Affirming Ourselves | Dir. Aurora Sikelianos, Doc Short
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The ATL Waterboyz | Dir. Antoinetta Hairston-Stallings, Doc Short
"IT HURTS SOMETIMES" explores our resilience! We share stories that remind us of our strength as we strive to thrive in an experience we have been forced to survive in.
KEEP IT
PUSHIN
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7 Minutes of Heaven | Dir. Neen, Narrative Short
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Jahleel & Star | Dir. Monique Wilhoit, Narrative Short
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Redi Love | Dir. Daysia Leneé Hiller, Doc Short
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Alexandra McGee | Dir. Nicole Cone, Narrative Short
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The Gift of Color | Dir. Daniel Nathan Nunley, Narrative Short
"KEEP IT PUSHIN" is about acceptance. These films all deal with varying scenarios that force their characters to deal with rich & root-shaking situations & the choices we have to make after.
Thursday
7:00pm: Special Feature Screening-
"A Summer of Violence"
@Spectrum 8 Theater
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9:00: Filmmaker TalkBack
9:30: Reception @Renaissance Hotel
Friday
10am-2:30pm: "Soul and Soil" Screenings @Renaissance Hotel
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2:30-5:00pm: "Finding Flow" Screenings
5:30pm: Panel Discussion
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7:00pm: Special Feature
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9:00: Mixer and Networking
Saturday
10am-1:30pm: "It Hurts Sometimes" screenings
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1:30-4:30: Friday Highlights and Special Feature
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4:30-10:30pm: "Pieces of Me" screenings
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11:00pm: Afterparty @ The Fuze Box
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Sunday
10am: "Take Me Back" screenings
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12:15pm: Awards Ceremony
Volunteering
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Ushers: Assist with seating attendees, scanning tickets, and directing patrons to appropriate theaters
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Box Office Attendant: Sell tickets and passes, and distribute festival schedules and promotional materials
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Guest Services: Greet guests, answer questions, provide information about events and venues, and handle guest complaints or concerns
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Line Management: Manage lines and queues for popular events, distribute wristbands or tickets, and ensure that attendees enter the venue in an orderly and efficient manner
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Event Transition: Help with organizing and executing special events such as opening and closing ceremonies, parties, and awards ceremonies
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Technical Support: Assist with audio and visual equipment, including setting up and testing projectors, screens, and sound systems
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Media: Assits media capture team with getting footage & photos throughout the festival locations
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Public Relations: Assist press team, including distributing press materials, escorting media personnel, and managing interviews with filmmakers
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Translation and Interpretation: Assist with language translation and interpretation for non-English-speaking attendees and filmmakers (Spanish & ASL preferred)
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Festival Operations: Provide general support for festival operations, including setting up and breaking down venues, managing merchandise sales, and running errands. Must have great attitude & communication skills
