#lhaaff

#TWIST23 + #LHAAFF: See RAFIKI in Seattle Oct 21

The #LangstonHughesAfricanAmericanFilmFestival is proud to support Seattle's #TWIST23 Queer film festival. 

Sunday, October 21, 2018 at 7:00 PM: We’re honored to co-host the closing night film RAFIKI by Kenyan director Wanuri Kahiu (you may have seen her science fiction short, PUMZI, at one of our past festivals). The screening is at  SIFF Cinema Egyptian, 805 E. Pine St, Seattle, WA 98122.

RAFIKI

Wanuri Kahiu; 2018; Kenya; 83 min; in Swahili with English subtitles; Northwest Premiere

On a sunny afternoon in Nairobi, Kena is hanging out with her friends in a local café when she spots Ziki—and is instantly smitten with her vibrant, free-spirited energy. Turns out, though, that Ziki’s father is running against her own father in a local political campaign. Despite their families’ rivalry, the two young women start to meet up and get closer. Keeping their attraction secret, they spend time discussing their dreams and ambitions, soon finding intimacy in a little camper away from prying eyes in the gossipy neighborhood.

As their relationship develops, family pressure and danger lurk for the two lovers. In a place that does not want to admit that queerness exists and love is love, Kena and Ziki are destined to be wives and mothers. Both must choose how to survive in this coming-of-age story where the stakes are high.

Ticket link: https://threedollarbillcinema.org/twist23/2018/9/4/closing-night-film-party-rafiki?rq=Rafiki 

Deaf Friendly screening.

Content Warnings: Graphic Violence, Non-Explicit Sexual Situations, and Vulgar Language

LHAAFF Celebrates 14 Years of Black Film

LHAAFF 2017 is a four day curated experience in the heart of Seattle dedicated to celebrating Black brilliance in independent cinema. In its 14th year, the festival presents provocative films and works about the Black experience shot from an independent lens. Experience over 20 films and events over four days. This year’s festival features engaging panel discussions and in-depth chats with filmmakers, industry professionals and community leaders. Special guests include: Saul Williams, David Walker, Charles Murray, Anisia Uzyeman, Nnegest Likke, Sol Aponte, Jennia Aponte, Nathan Hale Williams, and Chef Tarik Abdullah.

LHAAFF Presents: Do Black Heroes Matter? | Panel discussion | 4/29/17 12pm

David F. Walker is an award-winning comic book writer, author, filmmaker, journalist, and educator. His work in comic books includes Shaft (Dynamite Entertainment), winner of the 2015 Glyph Award for Story of the Year, Power Man and Iron Fist, Nighthawk, Fury, Secret Wars: Battleworld (Marvel Comics), Cyborg (DC Comics), The Army of Dr. Moreau (IDW/Monkeybrain Comics), and Number 13 (Dark Horse Comics). In 2015, he wrote the novel Shafts Revenge, the first new novel starring private detective John Shaft in nearly 40 years. He is also the creator of the critically-acclaimed YA series The Adventures of Darius Logan. Recognized as a leading scholar expert of African-American cinema who has been interviewed by such news outlets as The Los Angeles Times, New York Daily News, and BBC, Walker produced one of the definitive documentaries on the topic of Blaxploitation films, Macked, Hammered, Slaughtered, and Shafted. His publication BadAzz MoFo became internationally known as the indispensable resource guide to black films of the 70s, and he is co-author of the book Reflections on Blaxploitation: Actors and Directors Speak. Walkers most recent book, Becoming Black: Personal Ramblings on Racial Identification, Racism and Popular Culture, was released in winter 2013. Walker has worked on projects with filmmaker Quentin Tarantino, Aaron McGruder (creator of The Boondocks), and director/producer Reginald Hudlin (House Party, Django Unchained).

90 DAYS: Directed by Nathan Hale Williams, Jennia Fredrique Aponte 

90 DAYS confronts the realities surrounding living and loving with HIV. Written and directed by Jennia Frederique Aponte and Nathan Hale Williams, The cast includes Teyonah Parris (Survivor’s Remorse, Mad Men, Chi-Raq, Dear White People) as Jessica, Nic Few (The Chadwick Journals, Gideon’s Cross) as Taylor, and Rodney Chester (Noah’s Arc) as Kyle. Executive Produced by Jussie Smollett and Sol Aponte.

April 30th, 5PM TELL THEM WE ARE RISING-The Story of Historically Black Colleges | Dir. Stanley Nelson

The story of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) began before the Civil War and influenced the course of our nation yet remains one of America’s most important untold stories. Until now.

Tell Them We Are Rising: The Story of Historically Black Colleges and Universities is the first and only feature documentary and multi-platform project to research, gather, and share a rich mosaic of stories that relay the history of HBCUs.Tell Them We Are Rising is produced by Firelight Films and directed by master documentarian Stanley Nelson, producer of The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution.

EVERYTHING BUT A MAN, 4/28/17 8:00PM

Star MONICA CALHOUN (of The Best Man/Holiday) plays Vanessa A.Price, a sexy, smart, self-made career woman who's got everything but love. She's got her own house, nice car, high paying job and a degree from Stanford. The only thing missing from her successful life is a good man. Secretly lonely, but always presenting a strong face to the world, Vanessa resolves to be single forever. Until she meets Max, a handsome, mysterious, French-speaking foreigner who just may be her perfect match. But his radical lifestyle differences threaten to shake up her world and challenge everything she believes about love, relationships and what being a "strong" woman really means.  Also stars JIMMY JEAN-LOUIS (Phat Girlz, NBC's Heroes) and Camille Winbush (The Bernie Mac Show). Directed by Award Winning, African-American woman director NNEGEST LIKKÉ (Phat Girlz, Ben & Ara). Nngest Likke scheduled to attend.

DREAMSTATES, Directed by Anisia Uzeyman       

Equal parts love story, road movie, and Americana, DREAMSTATES tells the haunting tale of two wayward souls (Saul Williams and Anisia Uzeyman) discovering their love for one another in their dreams and reality while touring the United States with some of the most pivotal figures of the Afro-Punk movement. Sultry, sensual, and quixotic, an underground portrait of America: haunted and hollow.

DREAMSTATES screens 4/29/17 at 8pm. Director Anisia Uzeyman and poet, musician and renaissance artist Saul Williams will be in attendance.