By Mabel Pais
Krishna Ashu Bhati’s “The Ugly Truth” and Swapna Kurup’s ”Ela: Breaking Boundaries” among them
The Harlem International Film Festival (Hi), New York takes place May 5-15. This 17th Edition is a hybrid presentation of the annual event. Harlem International Film Festival’s Program Director, Nasri Zacharia, said, “We are excited to once again have screenings at the New York Public Library and Columbia University, which both hold wonderful memories for this film festival. At the same time, we look forward to sharing so many wonderful films virtually to introduce our audiences throughout the state of New York to films from around the world. And, of course, we’ll continue our efforts to truly showcase the filmmakers and the setting of our beloved home neighborhoods of Harlem, Upper Manhattan and the Bronx, which we call the HUB.”
2022 HI FILM LINEUP
OPENING NIGHT SELECTIONS
A Gorgeous Mosaic
DIR: Jamal Joseph l USA l 25m l World Premiere
A portrait of David Dinkins, the first Black mayor of New York City.
An American Street Mural in Harlem
DIR: Ano Okera l USA l 39m l World Premiere
Love is in the Legend
DIR: Myra Lewis l USA l 1h 50m l World Premiere
Friday Screenings at Columbia University
Clarisa
DIR: Philip Knowlton l USA l 17m
Let’s Talk Mental Health in Color
DIR: Camille Bradshaw l USA l 56m
Swimming Against the Current
DIR: Aminah Salaam l USA l 55m
Saturday Screenings at the AMC Magic Johnson Theater Harlem 9
Blurring the Color Line: Chinese in the Segregated South
DIR: Crystal Lee Kwok l USA l 1h 17m
Preceded by
Shot in Italy
DIR: Mirko Bischofberger l Switzerland l 16m
Sign the Show
DIR: Cat Brewer l USA l 1h 36m
Saturday Shortcuts #1
Uptown Shorts From Harlem to the Bronx
(TRT: 1h 6m)
B-Box
DIR: Xavier Michael Griffiths l USA l 10m
En Avant
DIR: Sarah Jean Williams l USA l 13m l East Coast Premiere
If My Voice Rang Louder Than My Skin
DIR: Kyra Peters l USA l 4m l East Coast Premiere
Lowlife
DIR: Alexandra Hinojosa l USA l 9m
Pécho
DIR: Luis Villanueva, Pier Paolo, Mason Coburn l Philippines l 2m
Silent Partner
DIR: Aristotle Torres l USA l 16m
Sheila
DIR: Gabri Christa l USA l 8m
Saturday Shortcuts #2
Black Love Matters
(TRT: 91 min)
An American Street Mural in Harlem
DIR: Ano Okera l USA l 39m l World Premiere
Black.Eco
DIR: Shauna Davis l USA l 12m
Black Love Manifesto
DIR: Liza Jessie Peterson l USA l 20m
Black Rainbow
DIR: Zig Dulay l Philippines l 20m l International Premiere
VIRTUAL SCREENING SELECTIONS
NARRATIVE FEATURES
Broken Blooms
DIR: Luisito Lagdameo Ignacio l Philippines l 1h 43m l East Coast Premiere
Maya And Her Lover DIR: Nicole Sylvester l USA l 1h 46m
Never Better
DIR: Julianne Fox l USA l 1h 21m l World Premiere
Person Woman Man Camera TV
DIR: Niav Conty l USA l 1h 17m
Playing Through
DIR: Balbinka Korzeniowska l USA l 1h 27m
Raise Your Hand
DIR: Jessica Rae l USA l 1h 31m
Ranch Water
DIR: Sophie Miller l USA l 1h 20m
The Ugly Truth
DIR: Krishna Ashu Bhati l Germany l 1h 36m
The Walk
DIR: Daniel Adams l USA l 1h 44m
What is Buried Must Remain
DIR: Elias Matar l Lebanon l 1h 35m l World Premiere
DOCUMENTARY FEATURES
Cinema and Sanctuary – Hans Richter & America’s First Documentary Film
DIR: Dave Davidson l USA l 60m
City of a Million Dreams
DIR: Jason Berry l USA l 89m
Dying for Gold
DIR: Catherine Meyburgh & Richard Pakleppa l South Africa l 1h 39m
Ela: Breaking Boundaries
DIR: Swapna Kurup l USA l 53m
Exclusion U
DIR: Ginger Gentile l USA l 1h 25m
Girls for Future
DIR: Irja von Bernstorff l Germany l 1h 22m
Hiroshima: City of Water
DIR: Chris John Brooke l UK l 1h 8m
Landis, Just Watch Me
DIR: Eric Cochran l USA l 1h 35 min
Leveling Lincoln
DIR: Arden Teresa Lewis l USA l 1h 19m
Manzanar, Diverted: When Water Becomes Dust
DIR: Ann Kaneko l USA l 1h 24m
My Mother’s Son
DIR: Jose Batista-Ayala l USA l 1h 27m
Samira’s Dream/Ndoto ya Samira
DIR: Nino Tropiano l Ireland l 1h 28m
Stateless
DIR: Michéle Stephenson l Haiti l 1h 34m
The Rumba Kings
DIR: Alan Brain l Peru l 1h 35m
Tonton Manu
DIR: Patrick Puzenat & Thierry Dechilly l France l 1h 30m
Truth Tellers
DIR: Richard Kane l USA l 58m
Ushiku
DIR: Thomas Ash l Japan l 1h 27m
Why We Walk
DIR: Eric Bishop l USA l 55m
WEBISODES
Bronx’ish
DIR: Danielle Alonzo l USA l 9m
How Did That Happen?!
DIR: Laurence Shanet l USA l 27m
How to Hack Birth Control
DIR: Sassy Mohen l USA l 27 m
Lost/Found
DIR: Brian Christopher White l USA l 24m
QauranDream!
DIR: Jeffrey Elizabeth Copeland
SHORTS
American Justice on Trial
DIR: Andrew Abrahams & Herb Ferrette l USA l 40m
Birdie
DIR: Andrew Edison l USA l 13m l East Coast Premiere
Just a Moment
DIR: Djigui Diarra l France l 28m
Last Laugh
DIR: Paul Lewis Anderson l USA l 25m
Out of Tune
DIR: Portlynn Tagavi l USA l 15m
Pat! A Revolutionary Black Molecule
DIR: Lupe Tofaceit l USA l 9m
Resurrection! Airto Moreira & the Preservation Hall Jazz Band
DIR: Dale Djerassi l USA l 21m
The Mason Ring
DIR: Terry Dawson l USA l 15m
Think Like a Filmmaker
DIR: Eli Berliner l USA l 5m
When I Get Grown – Reflections of a Freedom Rider
DIR: Chris Preitauer l USA l 32m
Wildcat
DIR: Cat Dale l USA l 15m
TICKETS
For Film festival passes, tickets, and more information on the Harlem International Film Festival, go to HarlemFilmFestival.org
THE HARLEM INTERNATIONAL (Hi) FILM FESTIVAL
Celebrating the art of cinema in the home of the Harlem Renaissance, The Harlem International Film Festival (Hi) inspires and entertains by honoring dynamic films by anyone about anything under the sun. Conceived from the belief that we all have unique experiences and perspectives to share, the Festival actively seeks and exhibits fresh work. He is committed to exemplifying the eminence that Harlem represents and is dedicated to bringing attention to the finest filmmakers from Harlem and across the globe.
(Mabel Pais writes on The Arts and Entertainment, Social Issues, Cuisine, Health & Wellness and Spirituality)