Thematic Series

(c) DEFA Film Library 2020

Sponsors:

Our thanks to the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Boston, the Goethe-Institute Boston and the UMass Arts Council for their support. Other co-sponsors at UMass Amherst include Film Studies; German & Scandinavian Studies; Music & Dance; and Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies. Thanks also to the artists, curator Kevina King and the DEFA Film Library team, who are all making this film festival possible.

Black Lives in Germany

Resilience - Art - Hope

A virtual Black German Film Festival,

October 2020 - April 2021

 

In solidarity with the international Black Lives Matter movement, the DEFA Film Library at UMass Amherst is pleased to announce a virtual Black German Film Festival. Showcasing films by Black German filmmakers, actors, scholars and activists, Black Lives in Germany: Resilience, Art and Hope offers viewers a bold and refreshing look at the diversity of the Black diaspora and contemporary Germany.

The film series war curated by Kevina King, DEFA Film Library.

 

All virtual events in English and free and open to the public. Each virtual event includes one or more Vimeo film screenings, followed by a Zoom Webinar Q+A and discussion with filmmakers and other guests.

 

Click on Event Titles for more information

and watch all the recordings on FILMBOX, our Digital Teaching Archive.

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AUDRE LORDE, MAY AYIM AND THE BLACK GERMAN MOVEMENT

 

  • LIVE VIRTUAL DISCUSSION (Oct. 22, 2020)

A virtual discussion with director Dagmar Schultz and author Ika Hügel-Marshall. Moderated by Sara Lennox and hosted by curator Kevina King (both UMass Amherst) and made possible in part by the Consulate of the Federal Republic of Germany.

 

Watch the recording on FILMBOX, our Digital Teaching Archive.

 

  • FILMS

Audre Lorde – The Berlin Years 1984-1992

(Audre Lorde – Die Berliner Jahre 1984–1992, 2012, Germany, dir. Dagmar Schultz, script Ika Hügel-Marshall, ed. Aletta von Vietinghoff, 79 min., color, EN ST)

 

Hope In My Heart – The May Ayim Story

(Hoffnung im Herz. Mündliche Poesie - May Ayim, 1997, Germany, dir. Maria Binder, co-prod. Dagmar Schultz, 29 min. color EN ST)

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REFRAMING DIVERSITY IN GERMAN CINEMA

 

  • LIVE VIRTUAL DISCUSSION (Nov. 5, 2020)

A discussion with director Sheri Hagen about reframing diversity in German cinema and her film At Second Glance. Moderated by Rosemarie Peña (Rutgers). Hosted by curator Kevina King (UMass Amherst) and and made possible in part by the Consulate of the Federal Republic of Germany.

 

Watch the recording on FILMBOX, our Digital Teaching Archive.

 

  • FILM

At Second Glance

(Auf den zweiten Blick, 2013, Germany, dir. Sheri Hagen, 92 min., color, English subtitles)

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BLACK SPACES / BLACK VOICES

 

  • LIVE VIRTUAL DISCUSSION (Feb. 11, 2021)

A virtual discussion with the well-known actor and founder of Panthertainment, Tyron Ricketts, and filmmaker Denise Ekale Kum. Moderated by activist Jeff Kwasi Klein. Hosted by curator Kevina King (UMass Amherst) and made possible in part by the UMass Arts Council.

 

Watch the recording on FILMBOX, our Digital Teaching Archive.

 

  • FILMS

Afrodeutsch

(Afrodeutsch. Ein Kurzfilm gegen Rechte Gewalt, 2001, Germany, dir. Ayassi, script Tyron Ricketts, 10:33 min., color, EN ST)

 

Winter Solstice

(Wintersonnenwende, 2014-15, Germany, dir. Denise Ekale Kum, 6:43 min., color, EN ST)

 

Natsu's Treasure

(Natsu No Takaramono, 2017, Germany/Japan, dir. Denise Ekale Kum, 14:40 min., color, EN ST)

 

Respringendo

(2019, Germany, dir. Denise Ekale Kum, 25:36 min, color, EN ST)

 

Somewhere in Between Us

(2019, Germany, dir. Denise Ekale Kum, 3 min., color, music by Cloudy June)

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BLACK STORIES AND DIASPORA

 

  • LIVE VIRTUAL DISCUSSION (Mar. 11, 2021)

A webinar discussion with director Branwen Okpako (UC Davis) about The Education of Auma Obama and her other films, representing 20 years of stories about Black German lives and experiences. Moderated by historian Tiffany Florvil. Hosted by curator Kevina King (UMass Amherst) and co-sponsored by the Goethe-Institut Boston and the UMass Arts Council.

 

Watch the recording on FILMBOX, our Digital Teaching Archive.

 

  • FILMS

The Education of Auma Obama

(Die Geschichte der Auma Obama, 2011, Germany, dir. Branwen Okpako, 80 min., color, doc., EN ST)

 

Curse of Medea

(Fluch der Medea, 2014, Germany, dir. Branwen Okpako, 44 min., color, EN ST)

 

Valley of the Innocent

(Tal der Ahnungslosen, 2003, Germany, dir. & script Branwen Okpako, 85 min., color, EN ST)

 

Dirt for Dinner

(Dreckfresser, 2000, Germany, dir. Branwen Okpako, 73 min., color, doc., EN ST)

 

LoveLoveLiebe

(1999, Germany, dir. & script Branwen Okpako, 35 min., color, EN ST)

 

Landing

(1997, Germany, dir. Branwen Okpako, 11 min., b/w, EN ST)

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PERFORMANCE AND HISTORY

 

  • LIVE VIRTUAL DISCUSSION (Apr. 8, 2021)

A webinar discussion with actress and director Lara-Sophie Milagro and dancer and poet Lauren Cox. Moderated by Jamele Watkins (UMN). Hosted by curator Kevina King (UMass Amherst) and made possible in part by the UMass Arts Council.

 

Watch the recording on FILMBOX, our Digital Teaching Archive.

 

  • FILMS

On Noah's Blood-Stained Rainbow, We Dance

(A filmed reading of Monageng "Vice" Motshabi's play, produced by Label Noir in cooperation with the Gorki Theater. Germany, 2020, dir. Lara-Sophie Milagro, 36 min., color, EN ST)

 

A Spark of Passion that Shaped a Lifetime

(USA, 2018, dir. Lauren Cox, 12:22 min., color)

 

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