San Francisco Black Film Festival
MOVIE SCHEDULE FOR A.A.A.C.C., SAT & SUN
..
African American Arts and Cultural Complex
Buriel
Clay Theater
Saturday 06/16
762
Fulton Street
..
Start time 12pm Runtime 139
Directing
Reality (10m, U S A)
dir.
by Michael Blackman
Reale is the lead actress of the popular
husband and wife Reality TV Show, 'Reale and Kevin.' However, the show
director, Miles, has eyes for Reale and looks forward to season and show
finale. His hope: He wants Reale to divorce her husband when the show is over.
However, when the show gets picked up for another season, several incidents
have an unusual effect on this behind-the-scenes love triangle.
.
Generation
Me (129m, U S A)
dir. by Ericka Marsalis-LaManna
Malias stable relationship with her boyfriend
Chris quickly falls apart when she discovers misleading messages from another
woman on Chris social networking page. Malia gets sucked into a whirlwind of
new age revenge but soon learns the danger of relying on non-verbal forms of
communication that her self indulgent generation has become so accustomed to.
..
Start time 3:05pm Runtime 132
778 Bullets
(18m, U S A)
dir. by Angela
Aguayo
In November 1970, university, state and local
police shot 778 Bullets into an off campus rental house in Carbondale, IL. The
residence was rented to a handful of university students, some were assumed to
be associated with the local Black Panther Party. Unlike other police raids of
known Black Panther residences across the country, the Carbondale Panthers shot
back. Using archive material, newspaper accounts, witness testimony and experts
in the field, 778 Bullets recovers a little known history of resistance and
resilience of the human struggle for self-determination. The dominant memory of
the Black Panther Party would have us believe that the Panthers existed only in
major urban cities; this story documents a more rural presence of radical
politics and the struggle for civil rights.
.
Keeper of the Flame (30m,
U S A)
dir. by Brian Nelson
When hurricane-ravished New Orleans, the
enigmatic Mardi Gras Indian culture serves as a pillar in the community and a
symbol of strength in the midst of adversity. When the Big Chief of a prominent
Indian tribe dies unexpectedly, he passes the leadership of the tribe on to an
unlikely candidate: his young grandson Michael, who has the heart of a warrior
but the appearance of a sheep. Unhappy with his fathers decision to pass him
up for the younger Michael, Michaels uncle Trι forms his own tribe and
challenges Michaels position as a Chief and his role as a man in general. In
this coming-of-age story, a young boy must decide how important it is to keep
the flame of his ancestors burning and whether he is willing to do what it
takes to show that he is worthy of his calling.
.
In the Land of
the Free... (84m, United Kingdom, U S A)
dir. by Vadim Jean
The Angola 3: Herman Wallace, Albert Woodfox
and Robert King, have spent almost a century between them in solitary
confinement in Angola, the Louisiana State Penitentiary. Herman and Albert are
still held in solitary confinement TODAY after thirty seven years. How could
this be? In America
In Obamas America
In the Land of the Free... is a documentary feature
narrated by Samuel L Jackson that examines the story of these 3 extraordinary
men who claim to have been targeted by the prison authorities for being members
of the Black Panther party because they fought against the terrible conditions
and systematic sexual slavery that was rife in the prison. Herman and Albert
were subsequently convicted for the murder of a prison guard, Brent Miller.
There was no physical evidence against them. The
main eye witness was bribed and promised his freedom by the warden in exchange
for testifying and another key witness was a legally blind, mentally retarded
sociopath. A bloody fingerprint from the scene was shown not to belong to
Herman or Albert and yet never tested against the rest of the prison
population.
..
Start time 6:05pm Runtime 127
This Ain't Yo
Movie (6m, U S A)
dir. by Derek
Pretty Boy Dow
This Ain't Yo Movie, a short written and
directed by Derek Pretty Boy Dow, fast forwards right past all the foo-foo
cerebral crap about the glory of being a film director, and cuts straight to
the chase - being in the director's seat is sometimes like being in a pressure
cooker. And when the whistle blows, some-body's goose is gonna' be fried. The
pretty-sexy-gritty life of a film director is a complicated tango. It's a
delicate balance of sanity, satisfaction, control-freak ism, and sheer madness.
Having to deal with arrogant actors, crazy writers, demanding studio executives
and everything in-between, film directors have to juggle all the latter while
working to communicate a unique vision that well represents the beautiful
cacophony of collaborative efforts that finally produce a film. Aint the end
of the day, if youre not the director This Aint Yo Movie.
.
The Donut Shop
(27m, U S A)
dir. by Brad Mays
Supreme Donuts is in trouble, which means Roy
is in trouble. With a fiancee and two infant twins to support, he needs to turn
his business around. Unfortunately, the bank isn't impressed with Roy's plans
for organic donuts. With his back against the wall, Roy decides to risk
everything on a totally new concept - wholesome choco-nut donuts with a
definite kick. Before long, his buzz-inducing concoctions are a huge hit, and
Roy's troubles are just beginning.
.
The
Contradictions of Fair Hope (68m, U S A)
sub. by S. Epatha Merkerson & Rockwell Metcalf
July 1865. Over 4 million slaves have been
freed. Forced to roam the antebellum countryside, and ill prepared to cope with
the realities of their new found freedom, the freed slaves formed 'benevolent
societies' throughout the South to respond to the abject hunger, illness and
the fear of a pauper's grave.
Set in rural Alabama, the film traces the
development, struggles and gradual loss of tradition of one of the last
remaining benevolent societies in America, known as 'The Fair Hope Benevolent
Society,' and provides an unprecedented look at its complex and morally
ambiguous world.
.
Thugs, The
Musical! (26m, U S A)
dir. by Liam Sullivan
'Thugs, The Musical' is a
faux documentary about Michael Gardner, a mediocre, slightly delusional,
'non-urban' black actor in Hollywood. After years of auditioning but not being
considered 'black enough' to be cast in any of the stereotypical roles that his
fellow black actors have been getting (the Gangsta, the fast-talking Sidekick,
the doomed Black Guy at the party in the horror movie), Michael decides to
write, direct and star in his own theater production - an epically bad play
called 'Thugs, The Musical!' - to show Hollywood (and the world) that he, too,
can 'act black.'
African American Arts and Cultural Complex
Buriel Clay
Theater
Sunday 06/17
762 Fulton
Street
.. Start time 12pm Runtime 136
20 Years Later
(11m, U S A)
dir. by Ulrich Que
20 years later is the
story of a young combative, immature thirteen year old who has to overcome his
biggest obstacle; his attitude. As he lay to sleep, he sees himself 20 years
later as a manic-depressant, unhappy, and miserable actor who later commits
suicide. As he awakens, he realizes that having a positive attitude will not
only get him ahead, but save his life.
.
Mikel's Faith
(22m, U S A)
dir. by Alexander Etseyatse
Golden glove boxing champ Mikel Hill was
sentenced to prison for 25 years for murder. Served 4 years, won an appeal on
the decision and is immediately release. The day he gets out of prison, Mikel tries
to adjust back to life out of prison with his wife & daughter who thought
he was doing a quarter century. Mikel tries to restore his former life and
confronts his past friends, enemies and makes a revelation within 24 hours of
his release.
.
The Trial of Ben
Barry (33m, U S A)
dir. by Shea E. Butler
An estranged son, in and out of prison for
twenty years but now a changed man, returns home to help his elderly father
confront and face up to the mistakes of his past -- including the killing of a
voter's rights organizer 35 years earlier -- leading to both men's reconciliation,
redemption and salvation.
.
Dar He (70m, U S
A)
dir. Rob Underhill
..
Start time 2pm Runtime 128
Zane (21m, U S
A)
dir. by ien chi
Zane, a
young man who's grown up in a ghetto neighborhood as the only white kid his
entire life, comes to a moment in his life in which a crucial decision may
determine the rest of his life's path. Whether or not to follow the common path
of crime, or suffer the consequences of doing the right thing - he must choose
for himself despite the intense pressures around him. While Des pressures Zane
to join the city gang with him, another friend Henry urges Zane to break the
pattern and pursue a life more worth living. In the end, the most important
decisions lie in Zane's own hands - but if he chooses to turn around and do
good, will it be too late?
.
The Sealed
Letter (9m, U S A)
dir. By Sandra
Zondre Smith
.
Fight Night
Legacy (23m, U S A)
sub. by Hisonni Johnson
When former boxer and ex-con Andre Johnson
discovers that his health is failing, he goes home to rebuild the life he left
behind five years earlier. After a failed attempt to make amends with former
fiancee, Andre reluctantly decides to visit his father's boxing club to find
that his records have been overtaken by his older cousin Mickey. Surprisingly
enough, Andre is welcomed home with open arms by his father and former trainer
and even offered work as sparring partner for his top ten ranked cousin Mickey.
During a routine sparring session the rivalry between Andre and Mickey explodes
into an all out brawl and at the end of the fight Andre is faced with a
multitude of decisions could change his life forever.
.
Doin' It In The
Park : Pick-Up Basketball, NYC (75m, France, U S A)
dir. by Kevin Couliau, Robert Garcia
DOIN' IT IN THE PARK :
PICK-UP BASKETBALL, NYC is an independent documentary directed by Bobbito
Garcia and Kevin Couliau. The film explores the definition, history, culture,
social impact and global influence of New York's outdoor summer basketball
scene, the worldwide 'Mecca' of the sport.
..
Start time 5:30pm Runtime 144
Junior (11m, U S A)
dir. by Jeffrey Elmont
sub. by Marcus Dϊpree
Seven years after a police raid gone wrong,
Detective Daniel Abrams Sr. and son Daniel Abrams Jr. (Junior) are confronted
with the consequence of a mistake that proved fatal for the son of Marvin
Williams Sr. Recently released from prison after a term of wrongful
imprisonment, revenge-seeking Williams re-enters Abrams life with a sinister
and unexpected plan to exact justice on his own terms.
.
Corre (Run) (29m, U S A)
dir. by Erick Smith-Gunn
This story revolves around
a young ad exec, who, on the day of his big promotion, is challenged with a
problem that could change the course of his life forever.
.
GhettA Life (104m,
Jamaica)
Dir by Chris Browne
GHETTA LIFE is an against the odds action
drama set in a politically turbulent inner city community of Kingston. Derrick,
a determined inner city teenager realizes his dream of becoming a champion
boxer despite a country, community and family conflicted by divisive political
system.
Check
www.sfbff.org for information and more
scheduling + special events.
sfbff@sfbff.org 415.400.4602 - See you
there!