Film Program: The transformative power of film & non-extractive storytelling

Presenters: Eli Jacobs-Fantauzzi , Andrés Cediel, Adrian L. Burrell, Adamu Chan

The way we make our films is just as important as the films we make. We as filmmakers are paving the way for a more just and equitable documentary film industry. In this session we will discuss not only how our work transforms lives but also how our lives have been transformed by the work.

Jingle (Working Title) directed by Andrés Cediel

13 minutes (sample)

The short film “Jingle” (working title) documents the journey of two pairs of Navajo sisters who travel across the country on a quest to heal the land and its people through the power of the jingle dress and dance. Led by fine arts photographer Eugene Tapahe, they create stunning images that promote love, strength, and inspiration, while raising awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women.

What These Walls Won’t Hold (2023) directed by Adamu Chan

43 minutes

Adamu Chan’s powerful documentary transcends the COVID-19 pandemic, revealing resilience and hope inside San Quentin State Prison. As a formerly incarcerated person, Chan offers an insider’s perspective on his journey to freedom while amplifying the voices of his community on both sides of the prison walls.

The Saints Step In Kongo Time directed by Adrian L. Burrell

19 minutes

A mixtape of Black life and American history from my familial perspective.

Learn more about the Seminar.