THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 21st , 2023
The Historic Grand Lake Theater
3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Through the eyes of Black children, their families, and the helping industry that has developed out of the housing crisis, A Rising Tide follows the strategies of families and service providers struggling with homelessness. Discussions on housing include impacts on social, emotional, educational, and medical conditions families are facing.
Based in Oakland, CA, “Drop The Act” is a six-week course, built for Black Men to examine their lives and deconstruct the performative norm that constantly surrounds them. Students enrolled in the course were interviewed throughout the process. This documentary tells their story.
September 21st
6:15 p.m. – 8:45 p.m.
The Historic Grand Lake Theater
After the death of his parents, young Siji Martin finds himself displaced to his Aunty Iyabo’s home as a “houseboy” in Lagos, Nigeria. Siji struggles to fit in with his peers at his new school who refer to him as “garbage”. Luckily, he befriends comical classmate Claxton and develops his first crush on the ever-studious Tiwa.
Fast forward to the present. Determined to rise above his impoverished status, adult Siji opts to navigate the upper-class business world in Nigeria. In the process of corporate climbing, he gets engaged to Zola, a rich social media influencer from a very powerful and connected family.
Shortly after Siji’s engagement, Tiwa returns to Lagos for a trip after living her adult life in Oakland, California, United States. The two reunite and feel the sparks of an unrequited love, almost two decades old. Siji must now face his strong feelings for Tiwa and decide which is more important to him, true love or wealth and power . . .
JOHNNY is a 12-year-old Latino boy whose mom, an undocumented immigrant from Colombia, has been arrested by I.C.E. She needs an immigration lawyer, but a good lawyer costs $5K.
EMILIO, Johnny’s dad, asks ÁLVARO, a drug dealer, for a loan. But Álvaro knows Emilio can’t repay $5K. So Álvaro offers Emilio a job instead — work for his drug enterprise and Álvaro will give him the money he needs. But Emilio hesitates at the offer.
With the clock ticking, Johnny decides to do the job on his own, and sneaks away to work in Álvaro’s enterprise. When Emilio discovers Johnny has done this, he rushes to get his son back. On this fateful day, both father and son learn the realities before them and the choices they must make to survive.
Inspired by true events.
September 21st
9:30 p.m. – 11:30 p.m.
THE HISTORIC GRAND LAKE THEATER
It’s 1997, and 9-year-old Jimin just moved to California. Despite her mother’s imploring, Jimin refuses to speak to her father who stayed behind in Korea. However, when a major financial crisis devastates their home country, all hopes that he can join them in America dissipates. Now, Jimin must gather the courage to take the next steps alone.
“When it Reigns” is a short narrative film about a young woman, Reign Bishop, who falls in love unexpectedly, and is forced to choose between romance and dance, when her two worlds collide.
Eighty-one-year-old Jauncie has Alzheimer’s Disease and is lost for almost 24 hours. Her family searches frantically for her without success. Sometimes tragedy links people unexpectedly.
A teenage boy must endure a series of challenges and trials on his quest to become a man.
A masculine-presenting actress has been given the role of a lifetime as the star in a Broadway-bound production, where she plays a character that dresses and presents quite the opposite of her. When her mother comes to town for the performance, she is reminded of how she falls short of the traditional expectations of womanhood.
A grandon and grandmother bond over a magical game of musical chess.
