Scribe Video Center

Visiting form Brazil, filmmaker Diosmar Filho will be in-person at Scribe Video Center to screen and discuss Terras Que LibertamJoin us for a screening of the documentary film "Lands That Release: Stories of the Cupertinos" co-sponsored by the Ubuntu Center on Racism, Global Movements & Population Health Equity at Drexel University. The screening will be followed by a conversation about land-based resistance struggles in Brazil with Diosmar Filho, co-director and producer of the film, and Dr. Ashley Gripper, faculty at the Ubuntu Center.About the FilmLands That Release/Terras Que Libertam documents the trajectory of the Black Quilombola population living in Chapada

Please join us for a three-day screening event featuring Jean Marie Téno

Please join us for a three-day screening event featuring Jean Marie Téno

Please join us for a three-day screening event featuring Jean Marie Téno

What is the history of your neighborhood?Precious Places Community History Project Premiere Since 2003, Scribe Video Center’s Precious Places Community History project has facilitated the production of 118 short documentaries about the public spaces, buildings, parks in the greater Philadelphia area that reveal the untold story of our region. Produced collaboratively with members of local communities, these carefully crafted films draw from the memories of neighbors to tell the story and the contemporary struggles of the places where we live.Please join Scribe in celebrating the premiere of 7 new films in the Precious Places Community History project including documentaries on ACES

Free outdoor screening series bringing independent short films and videos to vibrant public spaces throughout PhiladelphiaHosted by Philly Thrive, join us for a screening of short films and community-led discussion surrounding environmental justice, community organizing, and neighborhood history.7:45pm - Live Music Performance by Samantha Rise8:00pm - 9:45pm Film Program & DiscussionFilm Program:On the Fenceline: A Fight for Clean Air (Dir. Tara Eng, Kristen Harrison, Alex Klein, and Alisha Tamarchenko / USA / 2021 / 25 Minutes): An empowering story documenting how residents and Philly Thrive organizers in Philadelphia shut down the east coast’s largest oil refinery and fought for their

Free outdoor screening series bringing independent short films and videos to vibrant public spaces throughout PhiladelphiaHosted by Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture, join us for a special screening of documentary films made by women from the SWANA region, followed by an open discussion on community-organizing in Philadelphia. Programming co-curated by Joseph Fahim.7:45pm - Poetry Reading by Nada Abuasi8:00pm - 9:45pm Film Program & DiscussionFilm Program:Confessions of the Family Torchbearer (Dir. Lara Bedewi / USA / 2024 / 16 Minutes): This handmade docushort spotlights the filmmaker’s relationship with Middle Eastern culture by exploring intergenerational dynamics between her mother, teta, and herself. Intercut

Free outdoor screening series bringing independent short films and videos to vibrant public spaces throughout PhiladelphiaHosted by Urban Creators, join us for a screening and community-led discussion showcasing empowering stories with family, fantasy, music, and unity at the core.7:30pm - Live Performance7:45pm - 9:30pm Film Program & DiscussionFilm Program:Dear Philadelphia (Dir. Renee Maria Osubu / USA / 2021 / 27:48 Minutes): With the help of their family, friends, and faith, three fathers unravel the incomparable partnership of forgiveness and community in North Philadelphia.The Love Machine (Dir. Jasmine Lynea / USA / 2022 / 9:45 Minutes): After successfully building a time

Scribe Video Center and Jewish Currents present a 20th-anniversary screening of Young Jewish And LeftTwenty years ago, ​​Michael Chameides and Irit Reinheimer traveled across the U.S. and interviewed over 50 Jews who identify as anarchists, leftists, radicals, communists, or socialists. They were looking for a Jewish culture that coincided with their values. Scribe Video Center and Jewish Currents present a 20th-anniversary screening of Young Jewish And Left, a 55-minute documentary that weaves interviews and experimental filmmaking to build a conversation about queer culture, Jewish Arab history, secular Yiddishkeit, anti-racist analysis, and religious/spiritual traditions into a multi-layered portrait of Leftist Jewish

Please join us for the screening of "Bitter Cane" followed by a post screening discussion with DeeDee Halleck.An award-winning documentary about the colonial exploitation of the Haitian people, Bitter Cane was filmed secretly by a collective of Haitian and American filmmakers—many part of the Mouvement Haitien de Libération, an underground revolutionary organization—during the dictatorship of Jean-Claude (“Baby Doc”) Duvalier. The film’s deep insights into the exploitation and foreign domination of the Haitian people remain all too relevant today.After BITTER CANE was filmed in Haiti – clandestinely during the regime of Jean-Claude Duvalier – the director was identified as “Jacques Arcelin.”

Join WURD hosts Joann Bell and Dr. James Peterson for a live broadcast at Scribe Video Center.Special Broadcast: WURD on Democracy with Joann Bell & Dr. James Peterson – Oct 29!WURD on Democracy is bringing you a special broadcast this October 29, from 5PM to 7PM, hosted by Joann Bell and Dr. James Peterson, live from Scribe Video Center, 3908 Lancaster Avenue in Philadelphia. We’ll be discussing the importance of your vote in shaping the future as Election Day approaches. Tune in to get insights on voter power and how we can make a difference in 2024. Don’t miss this

Join us for the DHPY Premiere at the Institute of Contemporary ArtJoin Scribe Video Center and the Institute of Contemporary Art at Penn to celebrate new works from Scribe’s 2024 Documentary History Project For Youth program. Each year, youth participants create short documentary films as a way to explore some aspect of the social, political, and cultural history of Philadelphia. This year’s films explore “Community Memory." Filmmakers include: Amina Frink, Ayah Free Hapi, Bernard Tate Cross, Braeden Cross, Kamani Bright, Kenna Augustin, Malaya Ulan, Ramon G. Gilmore Jr., and Talan Callicut

Each person at Pennhurst had a File. Each person at Pennhurst had a Life.File/Life is a community-led exploration of the Pennhurst archives produced by the Insitute on Disabilities, Temple University, CEHD. Seven archivists (all people with disabilities and/or family members) share stories from the archives that made them listen, feel, imagine, and remember. In doing so, they ask the question: Can a file ever contain a life? Stories are told through a variety of mediums, including short films of varying artistic styles, that together create an hour-long, deeply personal, visual, and aural exploration of the archives.The film is a co-creation

Please join us for our annual holiday/winter party!Join us for a Scribe tradition to celebrate the end of year holidays and gather together as we prepare for a return of light. We will have food, drinks, games, live music, and dancing.Feeling festive? Consider donating a toy to the toy drive or becoming a member at scribe.org/annual-appeal.

Join us for the work in progress screening of Brittany Shyne's directorial debut, "SEEDS."Scribe Video Center will be screening SEEDS (USA, work in progress).SEEDS is a portrait of centennial farmers in the geographical south. Using lyrical black and white imagery, this meditative film examines the decline of generational black farmers and the significance of owning land.Brittany Shyne is an independent filmmaker based in Dayton, Ohio. Working in the narrative and non-fiction art form, her work seeks to depict the complexity of everyday life by examining themes such as personal histories, alienation, and cultural modernization. Utilizing observational techniques and poetic language,

Filmmaker and multi-disciplinary artist Thomas Allen Harris’ body of work is being honored at the Scribe Video Center.Since the mid-1980s, multidisciplinary artist and filmmaker, Thomas Allen Harris Jr (Tahj), has used a wide range of media including video, photography, installations, film, and performance to examine the nuances of Black and queer identity and subjectivity, particularly within the construction of the diaspora and the family model.Harris has been developing a co-creative and socially engaged practice that re-interprets identity, autobiography, and representation in the digital archive. For over three decades, by interweaving personal biographical material, Harris illuminates the notion of family through

A series to explore Black and Puerto Rican political thought, activism, and storytelling through screenings of oral history interviews.The Power Politics Listen-Ins at the Free Library of Philadelphia is a series hosted by Scribe Video Center to explore Black and Puerto Rican political thought, activism, and community storytelling through screenings of oral history interviews and discussion.The schedule:March 31st - Karen WarringtonApril 7th - Alfie PolittApril 14th - John ChurchvilleApril 21st - Barbara Easley-CoxApril 28th - TBDMay 5th - Bilal QayyumMay 12th - Rev. Pamela WilliamsMay 19th - Joann BellEach session will feature immersive audio stories followed by a guided discussion,

Street Movies! is a free screening and performance series bringing artists and independent short films to vibrant community spacesPresented in partnership with Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture, join us on Thursday, April 3rd for a curated screening of Middle Eastern shorts that combine politics with sci-fi and the supernatural. This program is co-curated by Joseph Fahim and will feature an opening performance by Palestinian composer and Buzoq player, Jiryis Murkus Ballan.Film Program:In Vitro (Dir. Larissa Sansour & Soren Lind, Palestine/Denmark/UK, 2019, 28 min): Commissioned by the Danish Arts Foundation for the 58th Venice Biennale, In Vitro, co-directed with Søren Lind, is

Please join us for a Producers Forum screening featuring Dawn Logsdon and Lucie FaulknorFree for All: The Public Library by Dawn Logsdon and Lucie Faulknor (USA, 2025, 85 minutes) Free For All: The Public Library chronicles the more than a century long evolution of the nation’s public libraries, tracing the battles over who can enter, what belongs there, and who makes these decisions, while exploring how public commons are defined and defended. The film examines historical elements such as the central role of women, the institution’s role in cultural movements such as the Harlem Renaissance as well as current struggles

A series to explore Black and Puerto Rican political thought, activism, and storytelling through screenings of oral history interviews.The Power Politics Listen-Ins at the Free Library of Philadelphia is a series hosted by Scribe Video Center to explore Black and Puerto Rican political thought, activism, and community storytelling through screenings of oral history interviews and discussion.The schedule:March 31st - Karen WarringtonApril 7th - Alfie PolittApril 14th - John ChurchvilleApril 21st - Barbara Easley-CoxApril 28th - TBDMay 5th - Bilal QayyumMay 12th - Rev. Pamela WilliamsMay 19th - Joann BellEach session will feature immersive audio stories followed by a guided discussion,

A series to explore Black and Puerto Rican political thought, activism, and storytelling through screenings of oral history interviews.The Power Politics Listen-Ins at the Free Library of Philadelphia is a series hosted by Scribe Video Center to explore Black and Puerto Rican political thought, activism, and community storytelling through screenings of oral history interviews and discussion.The schedule:March 31st - Karen WarringtonApril 7th - Alfie PolittApril 14th - John ChurchvilleApril 21st - Barbara Easley-CoxApril 28th - TBDMay 5th - Bilal QayyumMay 12th - Rev. Pamela WilliamsMay 19th - Joann BellEach session will feature immersive audio stories followed by a guided discussion,

Please join us for a Producers' Forum screening of the People's Way with Ashley Tyner and William TynerThe People’s Way by Ashley Tyner and William Tyner (USA, 2025, 75 minutes)At the intersection of East 38th Street and Chicago Avenue in Minneapolis, three community organizers—Jeanelle Austin, Toshira Garraway, and Robin Wonsley— embark on various and interweaving journeys after George Floyd’s murder to care for their communities, find inner healing, and forge a path towards Black liberation. Each one does this in their own way, whether demanding accountability for the murder of a community member by police, building a community-centered approach to

Please join us for these three day of screening events featuring the films of Yoruba RichenYoruba Richen is a prolific Peabody award-winning documentary filmmaker whose body of work illuminates issues of race, space, and power and elevates the voices and stories that have historically been marginalized. Her films have been featured on multiple outlets, including Netflix, MSNBC, FX/Hulu, HBO, Peacock, and PBS. She is Founder of the production company, Promised Land Film, and is the Founding Director of the Documentary Program at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY.This Body of Work will showcase two evenings highlighting Yoruba’s

A series to explore Black and Puerto Rican political thought, activism, and storytelling through screenings of oral history interviews.The Power Politics Listen-Ins at the Free Library of Philadelphia is a series hosted by Scribe Video Center to explore Black and Puerto Rican political thought, activism, and community storytelling through screenings of oral history interviews and discussion.The schedule:March 31st - Karen WarringtonApril 7th - Alfie PolittApril 14th - John ChurchvilleApril 21st - Barbara Easley-CoxApril 28th - TBDMay 5th - Bilal QayyumMay 12th - Rev. Pamela WilliamsMay 19th - Joann BellEach session will feature immersive audio stories followed by a guided discussion,

Please join us for a Storyville screening of "Standing Up for Madinah" by Zainab SultanStand Up for Madinah by Zainab Sultan (USA, 2024, 25 minutes)This story follows Madinah Wilson-Anton, an African American woman elected as Delaware’s first elected Muslim State Representative. She opposes U.S. support for Israel and fights to pass a ceasefire resolution. Members of her own Democratic party threaten to censure her over her outspoken pro-Palestinian stance, and she faces abuse and trolling online. Despite this, Wilson-Anton persevered and introduced a resolution in the Delaware House calling for a permanent end to Israel’s war on Gaza. She advocates

A series to explore Black and Puerto Rican political thought, activism, and storytelling through screenings of oral history interviews.The Power Politics Listen-Ins at the Free Library of Philadelphia is a series hosted by Scribe Video Center to explore Black and Puerto Rican political thought, activism, and community storytelling through screenings of oral history interviews and discussion.The schedule:March 31st - Karen WarringtonApril 7th - Alfie PolittApril 14th - John ChurchvilleApril 21st - Barbara Easley-CoxApril 28th - TBDMay 5th - Bilal QayyumMay 12th - Rev. Pamela WilliamsMay 19th - Joann BellEach session will feature immersive audio stories followed by a guided discussion,

Free community-centric screening series bringing independent short films and videos to vibrant public spaces throughout PhiladelphiaScribe and Brewerytown-Sharswood Neighborhood Coalition present Street Movies! Undercover, a film screening and performance event on Friday, May 30th. Join us at Celestial CDC (2800 W Thompson St) for a curated screening of short films about local history in Brewerytown-Sharswood, and the power of community organizing. Hosted by BSNC’s Sunshine Unlimited team and featuring an opening dance performance by Shirladelphia Classics.All Street Movies! Screenings are free, open to the public, and family-friendly.Film Program:Walls and Doors: Inspirations From Our Elders (Directed by Jubilee School, 2008, 23

Join us for the screening of the two Color Congress curated collections entitled "Reclaiming Identity" and "Reclaiming Power."The Resistance & Joy Screening Tour is a bold new initiative presenting a powerful slate of twelve short documentaries, all directed by filmmakers of color. These films explore urgent and deeply personal themes, from LGBTQ+ rights and intergenerational healing to advocacy, cultural preservation, and the resilience of communities reclaiming spaces.Reclaiming Identity: Stories of LGBTQ+ love and resilience, intergenerational healing, and communities reclaiming their spaces. These films center on personal and collective journeys of self-discovery, healing, and belonging. Through intergenerational storytelling, bold artistic expression,

Come together for this exploration of North Philly community memory and culture through oral history.Scribe Video Center in partnership with Dr. Diane Turner presents “We Remember and We Recall: North Philadelphia Oral History Project,” an oral history event.The Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection of Temple University Libraries, with grant support from the Alston-Beech Foundation, presents: “We Remember and We Recall: North Philadelphia Oral History Project.” A community memory initiative, this project gives voice to current and former residents of North Philadelphia, enabling community members to share the rich history and culture of community life as they have experienced it and

Hear from experts and community members shaping what it means to protect Black Historic Districts.The Dox Thrash House Project, Brewerytown-Sharswood Neighborhood Coalition, and Community Design Collaborative presents “In Pursuit of Preservation: A Community Conversation for our Black Historic District,” a panel discussion.Produced by Scribe Video Center for the North Philadelphia History Festival.___________________________________________________________________________________________ABOUT THE PROJECT:The Dox Thrash House Project, Brewerytown-Sharswood Neighborhood Coalition, and Community Design Collaborative are hosting an important community conversation about officially nominating their neighborhood as a Local Historic District! Come together with neighbors, cultural stewards, and design thinkers for a panel discussion to explore how historic district recognition

Jubilee students present their version of the Freedom Library honoring Dr. John ChurchvilleScribe Video Center in partnership with Jubilee School Students present “Return of the Freedom Library,” a pop-up library and celebration of Black history and literature.__________________________________________________________________________________________ABOUT THE PROJECT:In 1964, John Churchville, inspired by the work of Malcolm X, created the Freedom Library. Its purpose was to expose his North Philadelphia community to the under-told stories of Black history and literature.On July 25th, Jubilee students in grades 4th and 5th grades will present their version of the Freedom Library in order to honor the legacy of the original library and

Join us in this musical celebration of North Philadelphia’s jazz history and culture!Scribe Video Center in partnership with Friends of the Tanner House and Strawberry Mansion CDC presents “Black Buttafly & The Nu School Collective: Jam Session Tribute to Grover Washington Jr.,” a one-night-only performance.__________________________________________ABOUT THE PROJECT:Born in Buffalo, NY, but maintaining a very special connection with North Philadelphia, Grover Washington Jr.'s mix of jazz and rhythm and blues soon made him a legendary musician, composer, performer, and one of Philadelphia’s musical ambassadors to the world.In this one-night-only offering, Black Buttafly and the Nu School Collective reactivate, remix, and improvise

Step into the history and culture of West African and Puerto Rican diasporas in North Philly’s community gardens with this AR installation.Iris Brown (Norris Square Neighborhood Project), and Anula Shetty & Mike Kuetemeyer (Termite TV Collective) present Places Of Power - Villa Africana Colobó Garden, an immersive AR installation.___________________________________________________________________________________________ABOUT THE PROJECT:Places Of Power: Villa Africana Colobó Garden is an immersive AR/VR documentary, public art, and community media project that celebrates the West African diaspora in Puerto Rican culture and the legacy of Grupo Motivos, a group of Puerto Rican women who transformed vacant city lots into vibrant community gardens. Project

Explore decades of everyday life in Strawberry Mansion with this archival photography exhibition and neighborhood story circle.Scribe Video Center in partnership with Friends of the Tanner House & Strawberry Mansion Learning Center presents Strawberry Mansion Through the Years - A Neighborhood Storyshare Exhibition.___________________________________________________________________________________________ABOUT THE PROJECT:A unique multigenerational community storytelling event in honor of the North Philadelphia History Festival, featuring a temporary exhibition of a curated set of historical Strawberry Mansion neighborhood images. What stories emerge from us revisiting these images and the periods of neighborhood life they represent? This opportunity for a neighborhood story circle seeks to bring about more

Free outdoor screening series bringing independent short films and videos to vibrant public spaces throughout PhiladelphiaScribe Video Center presents the 28th annual year of Street Movies! This film screening and performance series tours outdoor community spaces across Philadelphia every August with a program of independent short films from local, national, and international filmmakers, curated in partnership with neighborhood-based organizations. All events are family-friendly and open to the public.Join us for this free outdoor screening in partnership with Masjidullah: The Center for Human Excellence. Join us for a live performance and a screening of five short films, followed by a community

Free outdoor screening series bringing independent short films and videos to vibrant public spaces throughout PhiladelphiaScribe Video Center presents the 28th annual year of Street Movies! This film screening and performance series tours outdoor community spaces across Philadelphia every August with a program of independent short films from local, national, and international filmmakers, curated in partnership with neighborhood-based organizations. All events are family-friendly and open to the public.Join us for this free outdoor screening in partnership with Bartram's Garden. Join us for a live performance and a screening of five short films, followed by a community discussion.7:30 pm - Live

Free outdoor screening series bringing independent short films and videos to vibrant public spaces throughout PhiladelphiaScribe Video Center presents the 28th annual year of Street Movies! This film screening and performance series tours outdoor community spaces across Philadelphia every August with a program of independent short films from local, national, and international filmmakers, curated in partnership with neighborhood-based organizations. All events are family-friendly and open to the public.Join us for this free outdoor screening in partnership with Friends of Mifflin Square Park and The Cambodian Association of Greater Philadelphia. Join us for a live performance and a screening of five

What is the history of your neighborhood?Precious Places Community History Project PremiereJoin us at Scribe for the premiere screening of three new documentaries produced by community groups in collaboration with Scribe Video Center. The works include documentaries on West Philadelphia High School (West Philadelphia), The Cure at Simon Gratz High School (Hunting Park), and UC Townhomes (West Philadelphia).Scribe Video Center’s Precious Places program is a regional community history project created to document the spaces that hold the memories of our communities and define where we live. Precious Places teaches the video production process to participating groups, fostering projects authored by

Free outdoor screening series bringing independent short films and videos to vibrant public spaces throughout PhiladelphiaScribe Video Center presents the 28th annual year of Street Movies! This film screening and performance series tours outdoor community spaces across Philadelphia every August with a program of independent short films from local, national, and international filmmakers, curated in partnership with neighborhood-based organizations. All events are family-friendly and open to the public.Join us for this free outdoor screening in partnership with Strawberry Mansion CDC. There will be a live performance and a screening of four short films, followed by a community discussion.7:45 pm -

Free outdoor screening series bringing independent short films and videos to vibrant public spaces throughout PhiladelphiaScribe Video Center presents the 28th annual year of Street Movies! This film screening and performance series tours outdoor community spaces across Philadelphia every August with a program of independent short films from local, national, and international filmmakers, curated in partnership with neighborhood-based organizations. All events are family-friendly and open to the public.Join us for this free outdoor screening in partnership with One Art Community Center, featuring a live performance and a screening of five short films, followed by a community discussion.7:45 pm - Live