WORLD PREMIERE In his provocative 2021 book, The Devil You Know: A Black Power Manifesto, New York Times opinion columnist Charles M. Blow calls for a “reverse Great Migration” of African Americans from the North back to the South to upend today’s political power structures while reclaiming the land and culture they left behind. South […]
WORLD PREMIERE Drawing inspiration from Frederick Wiseman’s classic aesthetic, Nepalese filmmaker Kesang Tseten spends a year observing the community and culture of Himalayan immigrants in and around the Jackson Heights neighborhood of Queens. During the buildup to the 2020 U.S. Census, the inhabitants reveal their motivation to have their presence recorded, encouraged by visits from […]
WORLD PREMIERE For 30 years, Chef Jimmy Lee Hill has dedicated himself to the gourmet culinary training program he leads at Lakeland Correctional Facility in Coldwater, Michigan. The pioneering program gives incarcerated men. a prestigious skill they can take back into the workforce and provides a sense of purpose as they serve their time. As […]
NYC PREMIERE With Barack Obama, Justin Timberlake and Peyton Manning among its notable clientele, The Rendezvous has fed three generations of customers its legendary Memphis barbecue. While the aroma of ribs and pork shoulder are a powerful draw, this city institution, founded by Greek restaurateurs, is famous for the personalities and impeccable service and of […]
NYC PREMIERE Lea Najjar’s debut follows plumes of smoke from the devastating 2020 explosion in Beirut and guides us through the rooftops of the city where men play kash hamam with pigeons, luring them in, casting them away, watching them fly. In this cyclical motion, Najjar finds a resonance with the endless strife of living in […]
WORLD PREMIERE When filmmaker Elettra Fiumi inherited her father Fabrizio Fiumi’s archives, she discovered a man she knew nothing about. Fabrizio, along with the group of radical architects called 9999, imagined architectural innovations and anticipated a future that is still forthcoming. He was also founder of the Florence Film Festival. In coming to know her […]
NYC PREMIERE Before Miami’s South Beach became a glamorous party hub, a group of local outcasts in the club one-upped each other in an ongoing quest for the next big catch. Starting as reckless teens, Rene de Dios, JD “Jimbo” Hammer, and Shannon “Seaweed Jr.” Bustamante paddle into the deep ocean, with bloody bait in […]
NYC PREMIERE Lydia Emily is a mural artist, teacher, single mother, and one of the innumerable Americans who are navigating an unforgiving healthcare system, as she lives with advancing multiple sclerosis, which threatens to put an end to her career. This inspiring film records Emily’s dedication to create amidst mounting debt and an ever-present sense […]
WORLD PREMIERE Using his camera as a “weapon against injustice,” Chinese-American photographer Corky Lee brought art and politics together through his decades-long documentation of the Asian American experience. The Queens, NY native captured all aspects of the AAPI experience, from Lunar New Year to street protests, from Pakistani Independence Day to Diwali and more, uplifting […]
WORLD PREMIERE: Each summer in the woodlands of New Hampshire, aspiring Kris Kringles convene at Santa Camp. When three “nontraditional” recruits join the ranks of their fellow Clauses, they begin an uphill battle in the struggle for acceptance. After camp, our newly minted Santas return home with hopes of changing their own communities’ relationship with Santa Claus. – Brandon Harrison The first screening will […]