The long road to today

• by Raphaela Neihausen, November 05, 2008

Written by Nicole Alicia Watson

Last night at the IFC, I walked tentatively into the theatre. The returns had just started to come in and it was hard to pry myself away from the TV screen downstairs—even though all the pundits, experts, and media mouths had little to say at 7:45 pm.  But I went into the theatre to watch STF’s screening of CHISHOLM ‘72, an amazing film about Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm, a self-described “mavericky,” African-American woman from Brooklyn who sought the democratic nomination for the presidency in 1972.

Chisholm failed to win the nomination and the film makes it clear that she was campaigning at a time when the US was never going to see an African-American woman as a viable candidate. When asked why she made the film, director Shola Lynch explained that she wanted to know why someone would enter a race, knowing that winning was not an option, but in working on the film she realized that winning, “wasn’t black and white, it was nuanced.” Chisholm ran because she had every right to. For those who may have said to Chisholm, you can’t run, I imagine her replying, “Yes, I can.” Her campaign was an ideological victory.

As I watched the film I thought, “it’s true, the more things change, the more they remain the same.” It was an important election year. The US was in a war that had no end in sight. Florida and New Hampshire were key states. Politicians didn’t always like to answer the questions they were asked. Americans were genuinely trying to find a means for change and as Congresswoman Chisholm explained, “the only thing you’ve got going for you is your one vote.”

By the time the screening was over, many of us realized that gathering to watch CHISHOLM ‘72 on election night ’08 was the perfect thing to do. The message was clear: this year, Americans had the option to cast our one vote for a candidate that was once an impossibility.

A little after 11 pm, I realized, the more things change—the more things CHANGE.

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Some photos from the STF reception at 99 Below:

1) L to R: Filmmaker Mikaela Beardsley and magazine editor Kyla Dunn having a beer while waiting for election results

2) L to R: Michael Doyle (currently enrolled in NYU’s Documentary Development class) and Raphaela Neihausen trying to stay calm

3) L to R: Journalists Christine Hauser, Jing Zhou and Jaff Warzer anticipating the election returns

4) The results come in finally!

Related Film/Screening:
CHISHOLM 72 by Shola Lynch

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The Bourne Identity

• by Raphaela Neihausen, November 02, 2008

Members of the Black Documentary Collective, STF regulars and film-fans alike came out for a special evening of remembrance.  It was a tribute to the late St. Clair Bourne, who passed away last year at the age of 64 (see NYT obituary).  The evening began with introductory remarks by his sister, Judith Bourne, and was followed by a screening of his documentary MAKING DO THE RIGHT THING . 

Some snapshots of the evening:

1) From L - R: Kathe Sandler (director of A QUESTION OF COLOR), William Greaves (who gave Bourne an early opportunity on the TV show BLACK JOURNAL), Thomas Allen Harris (director of 12 DISCIPLES OF NELSON MANDELA) and Sam Pollard (editor of various Bourne and Spike Lee films, not to mention CHISHOLM 72 - playing at STF on Nov. 4) - who all participated in a Q&A after the screening.

2) Judith Bourne (sister of the director) speaks with Mark Rabinowitz (blogger of the Rabbi Report)

3) Filmmaker Laurens Grant with filmmaker Jesse Epstein

4) Michele Stephenson and Joe Brewster, whose latest film is SLAYING GOLIATH

Related Film/Screening:
ST. CLAIR BOURNE TRIBUTE by St. Clair Bourne

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SCENES FROM THE SUNDANCE FUNDRAISER

• by Raphaela Neihausen, October 28, 2008

The Sundance Institute will always have a place close to my heart for their crucial grant to my first outing as a producer MISS GULAG. So when they throw a fundraiser, I’m not going miss it. Last night, they held their annual New York City gala at Roseland in the heart of Broadway’s theater district. They kindly offered a lower priced admission for the after party (and an extra discount to the STF email list) to make the event more accessible to the average indy filmmaker. The city’s documentary community was out in full force, as pictured here:

“EXAMINED LIFE” SNEAK PREVIEW

• by Raphaela Neihausen, October 28, 2008

Last night at the IFC Center, director Astra Taylor unveiled her new documentary EXAMINED LIFE in a special screening for STF pass holders and invited guests at the IFC Center. The film portrays eight contemporary thinkers - including Cornel West, Kwame Anthony Appiah, Martha Nussbaum and Judith Butler - talking about their philosophies as they wander through the urban landscapes of New York, Toronto, Chicago and San Francisco.

The film will get a theatrical release in 2009. Pictured here L to R: ethicist Peter Singer who’s featured in the film delivering a memorable monologue in Times Square, along with STF host Thom Powers and Taylor.

FLYING ON ONE ENGINE

• by Raphaela Neihausen, October 24, 2008

STF regular Joshua Weinstein will be presenting his film FLYING ON ONE ENGINE at the Rubin Museum of Art (17th St & 7th Ave) this evening at 7pm. FLYING ON ONE ENGINE follows wheelchair-bound-aneurysm-stricken surgeon Dr. Dicksheet as he travels to India to perform free operations in marathon-like surgery sessions.  Good luck tonight, Joshua!