Portland Film Festival 2023

Black Stories Shorts Block

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6 films in package
Fireflies Save The Night
Hiding in a bedroom closet, an embattled teenager comforts his younger sister and discusses the purpose of fireflies before finding a solution to his family's misery.
13
A woman seeking closure from her childhood abuser realizes that forgiveness is... overrated.
So Misunderstood
In the office, Alice Scott feels the pressure to hold it all together, even when her world is falling apart. But the pandemic changes everything.
Becoming
Two brothers seeking acceptance from one another struggle to understand each other. Shawn wrestles with his dreams and reality, trying to break away from the societal chains weighing him down. While Rashad has succumb to the weight of world, and has forgotten what it means to dream. After Rashad saves Shawn from getting jumped at park, Shawn attempts to connect with his brother. Yet Rashad, a man of action rather than words is still cold towards his baby brother. It takes their parents and Shawn's imagination that help them realize they are both feel like caged birds ready to be set free.
RAW
RAW is an expression of black female divinity as the image and likeness of God. The project was created to explore where black people overcame individual oppression through the power of ritual, solidarity, and trust in a higher power. It dives into our ancestral roots, seeking awareness and surrender in our truth. The ancestral blood of the African Diaspora built the American institutions in which black people struggled for inclusion and where there's still little acknowledgment of the African toil embedded in university buildings and White House walls. RAW visually expresses the hurt of xenophobia and the beauty of finding human agency and trust in a higher power as we heal our country through individual and collective invocations.
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RAW (an acronym for "Reflections of African Women") is an expression of black female divinity and the recognition of black women as the image and likeness of God. It celebrates the strength, resilience, and beauty of black women while acknowledging their historical and cultural contributions.

  • Year
    September 2022
  • Runtime
    5:09
  • Language
    English
  • Country
    USA, New York City
  • Rating
    PG-13
  • Genre
    Culture/Travel/Food/Arts, Environment, Historical, Social Justice/Activism
  • Awards
    Featured Director for KaKo Wellness & Arts
  • Note
    THE LEGACY OF BLACK CATHOLIC NUNS | RAW, short for “Reflections of African Women,” serves as an ode to black divinity, paying homage to the often unsung black nuns during the era of slavery. These courageous women reclaimed their bodies as vessels meant solely for GOD’s use, a revolutionary act during a time marked by oppression. Becoming nuns allowed them to find identity, purpose, and human agency. In stark contrast to the contemporary context where religion can be misused to deny women’s bodily autonomy, we must recognize and celebrate the invaluable contribution of these black nuns in reclaiming religion as a source of community, connection, honor, and bodily integrity. The music video RAW stands as a testament to the enduring inspiration these black nuns provide. It serves as a poignant reminder that their legacy must be remembered and celebrated. Jennifer Mary Mears’ vision is to honor their profound impact, offering a historical visual that has long remained unsung and unseen, ensuring that their story continues to resonate with generations to come.
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  • Director
    Jennifer Mary Mears
  • Screenwriter
    Jennifer Mary Mears (visual concept) Roe Major (lyrics)
  • Producer
    Sita Ragbir, Pattie Liang
  • Executive Producer
    Jennifer Mary Mears, Britton Smith
  • Filmmaker
    Jennifer Mary Mears
  • Cast
    Natascha Hardee from ABC's The Golden Bachelor, Kelly "Greenlight" Thomas, Robin Michelle Taylor, Roe Mayor (Rapper), Nilaja Loveless, Tova Moreno
  • Cinematographer
    Moe LaRena
  • Editor
    Christian Rosario
  • Music
    Roe Major
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