Under the Influence of Lisa Cortes and Lisa Jones
/Saturday, April 12th, 7:30pm
Under the Influence of Lisa Cortes and Lisa Jones
(A look at the work of filmmaker Lisa Cortes, and dialogue between Cortes and writer Lisa Jones about womanhood – woman as powerful, vulnerable, complex, and still waging an ever-constant struggle for self-determination.)
Imagine A Future
Directed by Shola Lynch and Lisa Cortes, produced by Lisa Cortes, 2013, 30 min.
Imagine a Future, a powerful documentary that follows Janet Goldsboro, an African-American teen from Delaware who travels to South Africa on a journey of self-acceptance and self-discovery. As she digs deeper into her roots, she also explores historical and contemporary beauty and the self-esteem challenges faced by many Black women. The documentary also features the likes of Gabourey Sidibe, Michaela Angela Davis, Gabrielle Douglas, Tatyana Ali and Melissa Harris-Perry — all of whom give their own unique perspectives. This documentary challenges viewers to change the conversation by re-thinking and re-imagining standards of beauty.
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbSLw3f-IDY
Kwaku Ananse
Directed by Akosua Adoma Owusu and produced by Lisa Cortes and Julio Chavezmontes, 2013, 26 min.
Kwaku Ananse is an intensely personal project which draws upon the rich mythology of Ghana. A young outsider named Nyan Kronhwea attends her estranged father's funeral. Overwhelmed at the procession, Nyan retreats to the spirit world in search for her father. The short film combines semi-autobiographical elements with the tale of Kwaku Ananse, a trickster in West African stories who appears as both spider and man. Ananse teaches us that there are two sides to everything and everyone.
Q&A with filmmaker Lisa Cortes and writer Lisa Jones to follow screening.
2013 Winner - Africa Movie Academy Award, Best Short Film
2013 Nominated - Golden Bear for Best Short Film, Berlinale Shorts
2012 Focus Features Africa First
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-t6bYip32W8
BPT: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/631222
