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cinéSPEAK presents Best of Fests 2024
November 21, 2024 @ 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Join cinéSPEAK for our third annual Best of Fests. In this program, we feature some of our favorite short films from Philly-based filmmakers that recently screened at our region’s film festivals. The film screening will be followed by a filmmaker Q&A.
This program includes films that screened at BlackStar Film Festival, Philadelphia Latino Arts and Film Festival, Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival, and Diamond Screen Film and Media Arts Festival at Temple University.
**EVENT FLOW:
Doors @ 6:30PM
Film Program @ 7:00PM
Q&A with filmmakers to follow
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**COVID SAFETY**
Masking is encouraged. If you feel unwell or have had a known COVID exposure in the last 5 days, please test, mask, and/or stay home.
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**TICKETS: $10
If you cannot afford the full ‘General Admission’ price, please use the ‘Pay-What-You-Can’ ticket option, No one turned away for lack of funds
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ABOUT THE PROGRAM —
CURATOR STATEMENT:
For the third time, it’s an incredible opportunity to present films made by Philadelphia filmmakers to Philadelphia audiences. Every year now, I get the pleasure of watching some really compelling work from professional filmmakers, artists, and student filmmakers alike. Best of Fests is a commitment to making sure that filmmakers here in the 215 feel like they have screens and another space to showcase their work; and so we lean on film festivals here in Philadelphia to recommend some of their favorites. This year’s program is full of family: family stories, family memory and history, family loss, and unexpected familial joys. We hope you enjoy! —Vernon Jordan, III, Curator At-Large
THE FEATURED FILMS:
Rock Springs
Dir. David Huang / 2023 / 15 minutes
From Sponsoring Partner Philly Asian American Film Festival
A fictional retelling of the 1885 Chinese Massacre in Rock Springs, Wyoming, focusing on two Chinese miners—brothers Leo and Lor.
A Million Dollar Cage
Dir. Kyndra Kennedy / 2023 / 35 minutes
From Sponsoring Partner Philly Latino Arts & Film Festival
A Million Dollar Cage follows Kent Mendoza and a group of formerly incarcerated youth as they battle for justice in Los Angeles County, fighting against outdated perceptions and political resistance to transform the broken youth justice system and secure the support and opportunities they were once denied.
Baby Brother
Dir. Harold Batista / 2023 / 12 minutes
From Sponsoring Partner Diamond Screen Film Festival
It’s the mid-eighties and six-year-old Timmy is going to be a big brother. There is nothing he wants more in life than the premier home video game system. When his mother loses the pregnancy, Timmy offers to give up his video game savings to buy a new baby brother.
Perfect Strangers
Dir. Shawn Salomon / 2022 / 14 minutes
From Sponsoring Partner Diamond Screen Film Festival
Perfect Strangers is a personal documentary that centers around filmmaker Shawn Salomon’s family and all of the experiences they’ve had growing up and learning about the existence of two younger sisters.
Do You See Me
Dir. Walé Oyéjidé / 2024 / 6 minutes and 25 seconds
From Sponsoring Partner Blackstar Film Festival
A love story about loss and never letting go. While wrestling with trauma, a boy finds solace in waking dreams.
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ABOUT THE VENUE — The Rotunda
The Rotunda is a community-gathering place that is fueled by the belief that art is a catalyst for social change and that the arts can lead to the formation of meaningful partnerships between the University of Pennsylvania and surrounding neighborhoods.
Accessibility: There are seven steps up to enter the venue on the entrance on the left side of the building. There is a ramp equipped for wheelchairs, strollers, walkers, and all other assistive devices on the right side of the building, which can be accessed by following the concrete path from Walnut Street. There is a single-occupancy, all-gender, ADA restroom with a baby changing station on the first floor. There are additional all-gender restrooms in the basement. The venue is not air conditioned.
Parking/Transportation: There is limited paid street parking available near the venue. The venue is a short distance from the 40th Street stop on the Market-Frankford Line and accessible by bus routes 40 and 42. There is a bike rack on site.
Learn More: www.therotunda.org
Follow: @the_rotunda_philly
—GOT QUESTIONS?? Hit us up: info@cineSPEAK.org
ABOUT CINÉSPEAK:
cinéSPEAK is a Philadelphia-based arthouse cinema and journal that cultivates experiences and opportunities for filmmakers and moviegoers, celebrating and strengthening local community and global movements for collective liberation.
Our multidisciplinary work directly supports emerging artists, filmmakers, and writers through screenings, salons, and cultural reporting—all of which center the stories from those historically excluded in the film and media industry. We bring independent films to new audiences, partnering with community organizations to create a more equitable and nourishing cinema ecosystem.
cinéSPEAK is an independent charitable 501(c)(3).
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