e
THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS
November 18, 2021 - November 24, 2021 • 15
Arts & Entertainment Film/TV page 15 | Theater page 17 | Food page 20 | Jazz page 21
Pg. 18 Your Stars
29th African Diaspora International Film Fest is back––Nov. 26 through Dec. 12 By LAPACAZO SANDOVAL Special to the AmNews There is an African proverb that says, “Those who respect the elderly pave their own road toward success.” There is great wisdom imparted in this simple statement. Mother Africa and the ancestors are calling, as they often do, and starting November 26 through December 12 there is a wonderful opportunity to listen, hear and watch because the African Diaspora International Film Festival (ADIFF) will be celebrating their 29th anniversary both in person and virtually. There are special screenings planned followed by Q&As at Cinepolis in Manhattan, a selection of in-person screenings at Cinema Village, and an online selection of 77 films from 38 countries from November 26 to December 12, 2021, including 38 world, U.S., and New York premieres. “I’m particularly excited to open ADIFF NYC 2021 with ‘The Sleeping Negro,’ a thought-provoking film that explores what it means to be a Black man in America today. I can’t wait to participate in the in-person conversation that will take
place with direcCO titles including tor Skinner Myers some in competion Opening Night. tion this year. It’s been too long Other highlights since we’ve been include a World able to get togethBlack History proer in person to celgram, a strong selecebrate Black culture tion of South African in such a powerful cinema, LGBTQ+ way,” shared Diarah themed films, SpeN’Daw-Spech, the cial Presentations, festival’s co-founder. and Zoom converThe ADIFF fest sations. is presenting an Opening Night eclectic selection film, the criticalof recent and less ly acclaimed drama Still from “Fighting for Respect: recent films that are African American Soldiers in WWI” “The Sleeping thought-provoking Negro” by Skinner and entertaining, some by independent Myers will have its New York premiere filmmakers and others coming direct- screening in person at Cinepolis on Nov. ly from major international film festivals 26 in the presence of the filmmaker. Acsuch as Berlinale, Sundance, Cannes, To- cording to Ulkar Alakbarova on movronto, FESPACO, and Durban. Several re- iemovesme.com, “The Sleeping Negro” vivals are also part of the program. is “a superb character study of a Black ADIFF 2021 wants to recognize FESPA- man, how he sees himself and how he CO––the largest film festival on the Afri- was treated by society, it is surreal yet real can continent that, since 1969, represents and terrifying.” a rare opportunity for African storytellers Following on the footsteps of the LA to showcase their creations on a global Rebellion filmmakers, the film’s director stage––with a selection of 15 FESPA- Skinner Myers tells a very personal and
intimate story in a radically non-traditional cinematic style as a means to express freely his feelings as a Black man in America. Other highlights Include: The world premiere presentation of “Fighting for Respect: African American Soldiers in WWI” by Joanne Burke, a historical documentary that captures the plight of African American soldiers who fought in WWI, receiving the Croix de Guerre military decoration from France, while still fighting discrimination and hatred at home in America. · “A Son (Un Fils)” by Mehdi Barsaoui is an intense family drama starring FrenchTunisian actor Sami Bouajila, winner of the Orizzonti Award for Best Actor, Venice Film Festival 2019 and winner of the César Awards, France for Best Actor in 2021. The in-person Gala screening of the film on Dec. 9 at Cinepolis will be followed by a Q&A. www.AfricanDiasporaDVD.com www.AfricanFilm.com www.NYADIFF.org
HBO’s ‘Black and Missing’ debuts Nov. 23
Four-part documentary series “Black s and Missing,” by multiple Emmy winner - Geeta Gandbhir and award-winning - documentarian, journalist, author and activist Soledad O’Brien, follows sistersm in-law and Black and Missing Founl dation founders Derrica and Natalie - Wilson as they fight an uphill battle to bring awareness to the Black missing e persons cases that are marginalized by d law enforcement and national media. r The series, which was three years in the - making, takes on new urgency given the r renewed national conversation on “miss- ing white woman syndrome.” “Black and Missing” debuts back-tom back episodes Tuesday, Nov. 23 (8-10 - p.m. ET/PT), with the final two episodes o airing back-to-back on Wednesday, Nov. e 24 at the same time. All four episodes of - the series will debut on HBO and will be t available to stream on HBO Max. e Haunted by these stories of vanished ; loved ones and driven by the need for atf tention and assistance for these forgotten - women, former law enforcement officer Derrica and public relations expert Natae lie operate a grassroots organization that - raises awareness in communities, alerts f media outlets to the plight of thousands of women and children and urges police departments to allocate more resources to this scourge. - Cases of missing Black people remain unresolved four times longer than those
of white people. “Black and Missing” pulls back the curtain to explore how systemic behaviors and attitudes stem from centuries of deeply rooted racism. The series also exposes the stark disparity in the media coverage of white and Black missing persons. This intimate look at Derrica and Natalie’s personal crusade to locate missing Black people also highlights stories of hope and closure as the Black and Missing Foundation contributes to the resolution of several high-profile missing persons cases. The Black and Missing Foundation works in several ways to change the narrative surrounding missing Black people, providing volunteers for work on the ground, and serving as an important advocacy platform to help bring these stories to light. By keeping these stories and the missing in the news media, Derrica and Natalie put increased pressure on police departments to keep cases open and active. “Black and Missing” includes wrenching testimony from the families and loved ones of missing women, from activists and volunteers with their own stories of loss to law officers and historians with first-hand experience in this field. Participants include John Walsh, founder of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children; Vince Warren, executive director of the Center for Constitutional
“Black and Missing” (HBO)
Rights; Dr. Renee Murrell, FBI victim specialist; Glenn Kirschner, former assistant D.A.; Debra Sines, former assistant U.S. attorney; Thomas Stack, Baltimore head of trafficking; T.J. Smith, Baltimore chief of police. “Black and Missing” kicks off a collection of four gripping documentary titles that debut on Tuesdays, beginning November 23. Exploring crime-related stories and the issues surrounding them, the anthology includes:
“The Slow Hustle” (December 7), a searing look at corruption within the Baltimore Police Department, through the prism of a veteran officer’s mysterious death, as local journalists, family and the community strive to find the truth. Directed by Sonja Sohn.
“The Murders At Starved Rock” (December 14 and 15), a three-part documentary series exploring the 1960 brutal murders of three women in Starved Rock State Park in LaSalle County, Illinois, and the decades of questions and doubts that “Life Of Crime: 1984-2020” (November have haunted the son of the prosecutor 30), an intimate verite documentary that in the case, as the man found guilty seeks spans 36 years in the lives of three friends to clear his name after 60 years in prison. from Newark and captures the highs and Directed by Jody McVeigh-Schultz. lows of the vicious cycles of drug addiction and street crime in one of the roughest Visit www.hbo.com/movies/ parts of New Jersey. Directed by Jon Alpert. black-and-missing for more info.
