The 20th Oakland International Film Festival announces opening films at the Grand Lake Theater on September 15th, 2022. The first set of films will begin with a short film called “Sweet Biriyani” directed by Jeyachandra Hashmi.
Sweet Biriyani deals with a food delivery guy and his experiences in a single day. Marimuthu, a law student, delivers food for his family’s economic needs. He enjoys riding the bike all day, listening to a variety of songs. On what looked like an ordinary day, Marimuthu encounters humiliation, prejudice, and arrogance. How did he find his solace, and what was his retaliation? Sweet Biriyani answers it intensely and humanely.
Following, “Sweet Biriyani”, the short film “Into The Archives of Billy X “, directed by Damien McDuffie
In an unassuming house in Sacramento, one of the most comprehensive private collections of Black Panthers material sits on the shelves of original Party member and archivist William “Billy X” Jennings. Featuring images of Tupac Shakur, Maya Angelou, and many other familiar faces, Into The Archives gives you a rare glimpse at a historical exhibition of Bay Area history, most of which has still not been digitized.
Following the “into the Archives of Billy X, the feature film ” The Sleeping Negro” Directed by Skinny Myers.
“The Sleeping Negro”,The young black man, simply identified as “Man,” must resolve the personal meaning of his blackness when his white boss orders him to commit fraud to benefit the corporation. Struggling with an overwhelming sense of shame for going through with the illegal demand, Man seeks consolation by discussing his unease with a black former friend and his white fiancé. Those conversations lead only to further confusion and frustrations… “
The above films: “Sweet Biriyani”, “Into The Archives of Billy X” and The Sleeping Negro will screen in this sequence starting at 6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., followed by Question and Answer sessions.
Therefore, the sequence of films will screen at:
6:00 p.m. – “Sweet Biriyani” – running time – 23:46 min
6:30 p.m. – “Into The Archives : Billy X” – running time – 9:33 min
6:45 p.m.- “The Sleeping Negro” -running time – 01:12:00 min
Early bird tickets are $10.00.
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