We're Not the Average Girls in Your Videos...! Graduating from "Video Girls" to Filmmaking Women

The International Black Women's Film Festival opens their festival with a gala screening at the newly refurbished African American Art & Cultural Complex in San Francisco's historic "jazz district".

We're not the average girls in your videos...!
Graduating from "video girls" to filmmaking women, the International Black Women's Film Festival was established to provide a wider audience for Black women filmmakers from around the world, while sharing a glimpse into the world of Black women filmmakers. Few people are aware
of the accomplishments of Black women filmmakers.

Festival organizer Adrienne Anderson re-discovered such gems as the poignant Sister, Sister (1982) -a made for television movie written by Maya Angelou that, in hindsight, was more gripping and timely than many of the movies to-date. Also in the line up is Rachel Raimists Nobody Knows My Name (1999), a documentary exploring the hip-hop phenomenon and how women are addressing the conflicting messages in much of the urban-bred music. Finding the cinematic voice(s) of other filmmakers has been difficult, Filmmakers throughout the African Diaspora have made such strides in filmmaking that when Spike Lees movie 'Shes Gotta Have It
took off, we were inundated with Black movies...and thats a 'good thing!" But when you looked closer, It was so difficult finding a woman filmmaker; I honestly believe that was one of the reasons why 'Daughters of the Dust took off the way it did. We were so happy to finally start seeing [African American] women filmmakers creating lush, beautiful films with 'real Black women characters and situations...we couldnt get enough of it."

Unlike such African American filmmakers as Spike Lee (Do the Right Thing, 1991; The Summer of Sam, 1999), the Hughes Brothers (From Hell, 2002; Menace to Society, 1995) or John Singleton (Baby Boy, 2001; Boyz N the Hood, 1991), very few people can name such filmmakers as Julie Dash
(Daughters of the Dust, 1991; Funny Valentines, 1999), Kasi Lemmons (Eve's Bayou, 1997; Caveman's Valentine, 2001), Euzhan Palcy (A Dry
White Season, 1989; Sugar Cane Alley, 1983), Pratibha Parmar (Warrior Marks, 1993; A Place of Rage, 1991) and Rachel Raimist . Rarely known
outside of their communities, these women have directed beautifully written films and have had nominal success among the independent film
industry. Robin Bates, a globe-trotting entrepreneur and CEO of Cafe de la Soul was eager to help bring the stories of Black women to the general public, "As Black women, we have so many stories to tell. This festival will give participants insight to our brilliance, our creativity, our talent, and most importantly, our lives."

In collaboration with Café de la Soul: Your Guide to Black Paris and the African American Art & Cultural Complex, this festival will introduce
you to new and classic films, workshops and speakers from the film industry, in arts-supportive environments and positive exchanges. You'll find faces you would never expect, while discovering film experiences you thought were out of reach. Co-organizer Cafe de la Soul's Constance Bryan's enthusiasm is indicative to the sentiments of many of the supporters and sponsors of this festival, " I'm honored and excited to be involved in the event, and hope that it will inspire other women AND girls to pursue filmmaking!"

The IBWFF is slated for three days, November 15 - November 17, 2002, in San Francisco, California --a hub of diversity and innovation!

The opening night gala will be held at the African American Art & Cultural Complex in San Franciscos Western Addition neighborhood, the
home of the historic jazz district", beat poets and Bill Grahams the Fillmore. This festival is a vanguard event and serves as testament to
the achievement, strength and creativity of Black women in film and Black women filmmakers. Everyone will identify their humanity, emotion
and spirit in these films, while recognizing their own heart and soul in the art of these filmmakers.

So join us November 15 - 17, 2002, in San Francisco, California and help us celebrate the achievements of Black women and the bright future of film...

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