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By Indie Means Necessary

BlackStar Projects, home of the annual BlackStar Film Festival, celebrates and provides platforms for visionary Black, Brown, and Indigenous artists.

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@BlackStarFest - 42 mins

"Write the tale that scares you, that makes you feel uncertain, that isn't comfortable. I dare you." -@MichaelaCoel https://t.co/3R7cWoLYlx

@BlackStarFest - 4 days

RT @seen_journal: In Issue 002, curators Erin Christovale and Meg Onli discuss their new retrospective of Ulysses Jenkins's work, which ope…

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"For [Felicia D.] Henderson, working on Family Mat "For [Felicia D.] Henderson, working on Family Matters offered an introduction to a defining feature of her long career in Hollywood. Negotiated authenticity is the phrase she uses to describe what many Black screenwriters are tasked with producing—Blackness, sure, but only of a kind that is acceptable to white showrunners, studio executives, and viewers." Hannah Giorgis (@hannahgiorgis) in a recent article for @theatlantic on the history of Blackness in television production.⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ You can read/listen to the full article at the link in our bio.⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ [Image Description: The first image is an illustration from Danielle Del Plato which features a towering stack of vintage televisions. On the screens, stills from popular Black television shows can be seen, creating a collage. The second image is a graphic displaying the title of Giorgis' article "Most Hollywood Writer's Rooms Look Nothing Like America: Could that finally be changing?" The last graphic shows a quote from Hannah Giorgis, as written above.]
Our 10th Anniversary Print Sale Continues with a n Our 10th Anniversary Print Sale Continues with a new limited edition print from interdisciplinary artist and scholar Dr. Fahamu Pecou! @fahamupecou’s work (#BSFF13, #BSFF17, #BSFF20) combines observations on hip-hop, fine art, and popular culture, while addressing concerns around contemporary representations of Black masculinity. He was most recently at BlackStar Film Festival in 2020 with the short film "We Can't Cop Cars Without Seeing Cop Cars."⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ His contribution to the print sale is titled "While Seed." There are only 30 prints available.⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ Check out the link in our bio to learn more! ⁠⁠ Fahamu Pecou⁠⁠ While Seed⁠⁠ 2020⁠⁠ 8.5 x 11 in.⁠⁠ Pigment print⁠⁠ Edition of 30⁠⁠ #BlackStar10 ⁠⁠ [Image Descriptions: The first image is of the piece "While Seed" by Dr. Fahamu Pecou. It depicts two Black people dressed in loose clothing. One sits on the ground and wraps an arm around their leg. The second figure, who seems shirtless, leans on the back of the first whilst turning their head to look at something in the distance. The next image features the same art with the title and artist's name included. The third is a graphic advertising BlackStar's 10th Anniversary Print Sale.]
"Seeing this archive and working on this and still "Seeing this archive and working on this and still, you know, discovering films, I just know that there are just so many radical ideas and expressions of Blackness in Black cinema's past that can really help shape Black cinema's future." - Maya Cade (@sooulamazing) in an @npr interview on the creation and importance of the recently launched Black Film Archive. ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ @theblackfilmarchive showcases Black films made from 1915 to 1979 that are currently streaming.⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ Read/listen to the full interview at the link in our bio and visit the archive itself at blackfilmarchive.com. ⁠⁠ [First image is a still from Dry Wood, a 1973 documentary short directed by Les Blank with Maureen Gosling. It shows a Black person in a teal shirt and thick-framed glasses playing a violin. The BFA noted that it is currently available to watch via Criterion Channel.]
Such a heartbreaking and tremendous loss... ⁠ ⁠Here is Michael K. Williams speaking on stage at the 2014 BlackStar Film Festival in Philadelphia, with @rashidzakat. ⁠ ⁠ Rest in peace. 🙏🏾 🖤 ⁠ ⁠ ---⁠ ⁠ Photo by @primarilydave⁠
If you're still reflecting on last month's festiva If you're still reflecting on last month's festival (we definitely are!) check out Issue 002 of @seen_journal, where a number of films and panelists from #BSFF21 are also featured! Here are just a few examples: ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ "The importance of who sits behind the camera—who gets to edit, frame, and share a piece of media— is a fact that the film itself reminds us of repeatedly." — @imransiddiquee reviews WRITING WITH FIRE from directors @rintuthomas and @mentalsyrup⁠. @writingwithfire.film won Best Feature Documentary at this year's festival.⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ "Indeed, perpetual alienation from land has defined Blackness in the Americas." - @cacata_fea in their review of @liboriofilm. In addition to screening LIBORIO at the festival, director @ninomartinezsosa appeared on the "Caribbean Film and Relational Poetics" panel (along with Issue 002 guest editor, @dahsawn).⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ @jlin_p, who you may have seen on the Composer's Roundtable panel during the festival, contributed a one-of-a-kind annotated score to this issue. This is only available in the print edition!⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ Read the above reviews and more on the #SeenJournal site, where you can also buy the physical copy. Link in our bio!⁠⁠ ⁠ All panels and conversations are available to re-watch via our Facebook page as well.⁠ #BlackStar10 ⁠⁠ [Image Descriptions: The first image is a still from the film "Writing With Fire" and shows three people sitting and looking at something off-screen. One person holds up a video camera to record a video. The second image is a quote from Imran Siddiquee, as written above. The third image is a still from the film Liborio that shows a line of people walking in a mountainous region. They all wear hats or head coverings and gaze at something off-screen. The fourth image is a quote from Dixa Ramirez D’Oleo written out above. The fifth image is a photo by David Evan McDowell showing a spread from Seen, open to Jlin's annotated score for Tower.]
Are you thinking of applying to BlackStar's *new* Are you thinking of applying to BlackStar's *new* Philadelphia Filmmaker Lab? Join us this Friday, September 3, for an info session to learn more about the application process and program!⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ 🕐 Info Session | Friday, Sept 3 | 1 PM ET 📝 Register via the link in bio or at blackstarfest.org/lab⁠⁠ 🗓 Applications are due September 13⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ BlackStar is proud to present the inaugural Philadelphia Filmmaker Lab, uplifting emerging and mid-career Black, Brown, and Indigenous artists in the Greater Philadelphia area. The Lab will support four filmmakers by making equipment, space, crew, mentorship, funding and critical feedback available over the course of a 12-month program. BlackStar will act as an executive producer on the short films created and premiere them at the 2022 BlackStar Film Festival. The Lab is a partnership with Comcast with additional support from All Ages Productions, Independence Public Media Foundation, Kickstarter, Vimeo, and Wyncote Foundation.⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ #PhillyFilmmakerLab #byindiemeansnecessary ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ ---⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ [Image Descriptions: Two-card carousel advertises BlackStar's Philadelphia Filmmaker Lab Info Session on Sept 3, and the subsequent deadline for lab applications, which is Sept 13. Both cards feature the headline text accompanied by a multi-colored gradient circle, all against light gray. The second card also highlights the Comcast and "Black Experience on Xfinity" logos.]
We're excited to continue our 10th Anniversary Pri We're excited to continue our 10th Anniversary Print Sale with a new limited edition print from festival alumnus @andreapippins (BSFF13, BSFF14, BSFF15, BSFF16, BSFF17, BSFF18, BSFF19)! An incredibly skilled graphic designer, Andrea Pippins has worked on illustration and graphic design projects for ESPN, Instagram, Malala Fund, National Museum of African American History and Culture, and many more. Pippins' work centers on her mission of empowering women and girls through creative expression.⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ Her contribution to our print sale is titled "Coiffuture: Shine," and is a limited edition; only 30 will be available for purchase. Head to the link in our bio to learn more and purchase your print!⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ #BSFF21 #BlackStar10 #ByIndieMeansNecessary⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ [Image Description: The first image shows the print "Coiffuture: Shine" by Andrea Pippins. It is an illustration of a person with several halo-like rings above their head. An antenna can be seen at the top of this multi-layered halo. The second image is an announcement for the BlackStar 10th Anniversary Print Sale.]
The 10th annual BlackStar Film Festival officially The 10th annual BlackStar Film Festival officially wrapped up earlier this week — and that means it's time for some rest and reflection! These photos capture just some of the many people that came together safely to make this year's hybrid festival happen online and off. Huge thanks and gratitude to the entire BlackStar staff, festival team, volunteers, juries, program committees, panelists, filmmakers, performers, board members, vendors, attendees, sponsors, community partners and everyone else who made the festival possible amidst yet another challenging year.⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ We're taking some time off as a team and will be posting only occasionally over the next two weeks 😌. Meanwhile, you can catch up on any panels you missed on our Facebook page or grab some #BSFF21 merch while it lasts at the link in bio!⁠ 🖤 🖤 🖤⁠⁠ #BlackStar10 #byindiemeansnecessary ⁠⁠⁠ 📸 @embassy730 & @terrellhalseyart⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ ---⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ [Image Descriptions: Three photos show groups of people posing during the 10th BlackStar film festival. The first is taken outside of a restaurant, the second is outside in front of the festival's pink step-and-repeat, and the third is taken at the radio station where The Daily Jawn was filmed.]
Applications are now open for our inaugural Philad Applications are now open for our inaugural Philadelphia Filmmaker Lab! This is a new program from BlackStar, presented in partnership with @Comcast, designed to uplift emerging and mid-career artists in the Greater Philadelphia area. Apply now at blackstarfest.org/lab!⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ BlackStar’s Philadelphia Filmmaker Lab will support four Black, Brown and/or Indigenous filmmakers by making equipment, space, crew, mentorship, funding and critical feedback available over the course of a 12-month program. BlackStar will act as an executive producer on the short films created during the Lab and premiere them at our festival next year.⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ More info at the link in bio!⁠⁠ Apply by September 13. ⁠⁠ Additional support for the Lab is provided by @allagesproductions, Independence Publica Media Foundation, @Kickstarter, @Vimeo, and Wyncote Foundation.⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ ---⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ [Image Descriptions: A carousel of three graphics announces BlackStar's Philadelphia Filmmaker Lab. In addition to the information listed above the graphics feature the BlackStar, Comcast and Black Experience on Xfinity logos. There is also a multi-colored rectangle, filled with the BlackStar organizational colors, that appears on each slide.]⁠⁠

2020 Festival Re-cap

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