UWHFF23 Program

Juneteenth 2023

Ebony Roberts

Andres Gallegos

Colin Pawlowski

Jeta Stephens

Onyx Roberts

UWHFF23 Title Sponsor

GroundFloor Studios (GFS) provides a space for collaboration and accessibility where makers can bring professional-level creative visions to life while making a social impact. This multi-purpose media production studio exists as a partnership between ChatterBlast Media and Big Picture Alliance – made for creatives by creatives. Centrally located and in close proximity to multiple modes of transportation, GroundFloor grants convenience and flexibility in addition to a vast collection of highend production equipment. GroundFloor also serves as a workforce incubator and source of social impact, allowing for the personalization of the creative process from inception to completion while cultivating a diverse pipeline of emerging young creatives, all in one place.

Master of Ceremonies: Williametta SimmonsSonpon

Dr. “Sweetie”Simmons-Sonpon wasborn in Liberia, West Africa. Sheimmigrated to the United States in 1995due to the Liberian Civil War.Dr. Simmons graduated from Upper Darby High School in 2000 and continuedhereducation at WidenerUniversity.Today, Dr. Simmonsisa LicensedPsychologistwith over10 years of experiencein the mental health field.She obtained herMasters in BusinessAdministration (MBA) with a concentration in Health Care Management(HCM)and Doctorate in Psychology (Psy.D) from Widener.Dr. Simmonsisthe ownerof IntegrativePsychological & ConsultingServices, located in Bala Cynwyd,PA. Shespecializesin mood and anxietydisorders,marriage and familytherapy, trauma, andpsychosis.

Our Jury:

Kyra Knox

Kyra started workingin the filmindustryas an actor whilebalancinghercorporate job. A friendaskedher to helpproduce a film. Sherealizedthat not onlywas she good, butshe lovedit! Shetook a leapof faith,quither day job, andbegan workingas a full-timeproducer. Kyra's latest project “Bad ThingsHappen in Philadelphia,”willdebutatthisyear’s American Black FilmFestival.Herfilm"TheTime Thief,"screened duringthe2022 UWHFF.We are honored to haveKyra be a UWHFF23judge.

Hakima Benjamin

Hakimais an independentshort filmproducer, writerand director from Newark,New Jersey. Shebegan writingshortstories of personal experiencesand fantasyin her early teensto escape the socioeconomic hardshipsof her environment.Todate, Hakimacontinuesto work with other directors and writersto help produce independentshortand featurefilms.Her stories featurevariousfacets of the Black experience. Hakima's short film“Call End”screened during the 2022UWHFF program andwe are now honoredto haveHakimaas a UWHFF23judge.

Martin Alfaro

Martin is the newly promoted General Manager of Al Día News. Martin is a prominent member of the media community. He loves community organizing and highlighting individuals making a difference in their communities. In 2018, he founded the annual Martin Alfaro Scholarship at his alma mater to help one undergrad student with the financial burden of attending college. Alfaro is part of several nonprofit advisory boards, including the Greater Philadelphia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (YPN) and Graduate Philadelphia. We are honored to have Martin as a #UWHFF23 judge.

UWHFF23 Lineup

“Black.Matters”

Thisfilmisa visual protestabout therevolution happeningin America. Narrated by a spoken-wordpoem that highlights whatmany Black Americansare feeling,our frustration,our pain and the difficultywehaveconvincingothersthat there isa problem that needsimmediate attention, a problem that has been deeplyembedded in every fabric of our society for decades, even centuries.This filmisnot onlyabout the struggle, it isalso about the power of ourvoices, and theimportance of havingalliesfromdifferentcultural,social andeconomic backgrounds,all coming together to standup andfight against police brutalityandsystemic racism. Thisfilmshowsthe beauty, grace, pride andstrength that allowsourpeople to continueto rise.

Directed by:

Kyndra Kennedy

Kyndra isan LA filmmakerwhostudied screenwritingatthe American University of Paris.After workingin IT, Kyndra decided to start her own company in her fieldof passion,film,with CinematographerandEditor, Kenneth Cuadrado.

KYNA Media,Kyndra Kenneth’s production company, is committed to continuingtheir filmmakingadventurethrough the creation of more ground-breaking,barraising,anddown-rightfun-lovingfilmand videoproduction. KYNA Mediais on a mission to expandhorizonsand go beyond the expectationsof clients,partnersand audiences.

“La Guagua 47”

AL DÍA Newsand Ritmo Lab’s “La Guagua47”CommunityFilmProject exploresthe woven multiculturalfabricof Philadelphiathrough theperspectiveofa vibrant, blossomingLatinx communityin thecity. The shortfilmredefinesthe American landscapethrough the story of a youngmigrant, alonein this boomingmetropolis. Searchingfor others of Latinoheritage, they discovera vehiclethat takeshim on a journeyto the heart of the Barrio, a place that radiates a senseof home andbelonging.Thisvehicleisthe iconic SEPTA#47 bus, a historic transportation route that connects the seeminglydisparateLatinxcommunitiesacross the city. Thiswork exploresthe significanceof Latinxcommunitiesin Philadelphiathrough the integral roleof publictransportation for migrants, the socio-economicallydisadvantaged, and populationsdeemed‘other’.

Directed By: Pedro Escarcega

Born in Mexico Cityin 1983, Pedro Escárcega has always been inspiredby the art of photography and videography.He earned a communicationsdegree from ColegioAmericano de Fotografia Ansel Adams in MexicoCity, before movingto the U.S. in 2008. He livedin Houston,Texas andLos Angeles, California,then hesettledin Wilmington,Delaware.In 2013, Pedro foundedDream Art Studio,a full-servicevideo production company that produces a widerange of English and Spanish videos.Asa director, Escárcega is a natural visual storytellerandmanagesall creativeaspects of his productionsin effortsto capture hisvision forthe project. “He hasfivebusinesspartnerswhoshareownershipof four differentcompanies — Dream Art Studio,Dream Art Music, MangosMarketingandYummySessions.Pedrohas a 10year-old son and livesin Bear, Delaware.

“Heart Beats”

Heartbeatswascreatedasa responsetotheissuesofcolorism, homophobia andself-identity within theblackcommunity.Thefilmtellsthe storyoftobiasandjosiah,twoyoung star-crossed loverswhomustfind thecouragetostandupforlove againsttheiropposing worlds.Andin doingso,theylearnanevengreater lessonofremainingtruetoself.

Director, writer, producer, actor and editor are just a few of the titles that best describe Jonathan Rowan. Jonathan is the true definition of talent, drive, passion, creativity and vision. Considered a man of many talents behind and in front of the camera, there is no limit to the skills that he possesses. Combined with intellect, charisma, perseverance, creativity and a work ethic rivaled by few, Jonathan Rowan is destined to be one of Hollywood's next leading filmmakers. One of the first things that attracted Jonathan to the art of filmmaking was his love for the arts.

Directed by: Jonathan Rowan

“From Digital Divide to Digital Equity"

“From

Digital Divide to Digital

Equity" is a short documentary that uplifts the voices of Philly students, teachers, and organizers leading the fight for equitable internet access during and beyond the COVID pandemic - from parking lot WiFi to internet for all.

Directed

by:

Nasya Jenkins

Nasya Jenkinsisan artist from Philadelphia.Sheisan experienced in Photographer, Filmmaker,and Graphic designer.Her artistry is based in empathy, representation of her community,and emotional exploration.Nasya’s goal isto tell and encourageothers to create bold andauthenticstories through all mediums.

Overthe past eight years Nasya haslenther talentsto local nonprofit and marketingorganizations, most notably BigPicture Alliance and ChatterblastMedia.Her work with BPA, culminatedin an Emmy Nomination

“Family Reccipe”

A girl's baking lesson from her grandfather teaches her acceptance as she learns the similarities between ingredients and people.

Directed by: Kamari Bright

Operating with the belief that everything she creates is intended to foster understanding of self and surroundings, Kamari Bright is an emerging videopoet whose work heavily reflects those themes. Her work has screened at various festivals across the world, and she hopes to spread awareness of video poetry as an outlet for creatives everywhere.

“Oreo”

An “Oreo” named White Mike runs into some old friends and wacky strangers while waiting for a bus to a job interview

Benjamin’s Director Statment:

I have often been called an ‘Oreo’ growing up in the suburbs as an upper middle class black kid that didn’t go to majority black schools. As a result, I often struggled with how I was perceived and am perceived by my own race. I think more and more black kids are growing up like I did and having similar struggles. This film is for my fellow so called ‘Black-ish’ people out there.

Directed by: Benjamin Jefferson

“Awaking Sankofa"

“Awaking Sankofa" isa multi-dimensionalartistic investigationinto the historieswe find ourselvesto be a part of as Africansinthe diaspora.The filmwas shot on locationinone of Ghana'scolonialports, Cape Coast DungeonCastle, where enslaved Africanswere shipped throughthe Door of No Returnto the Caribbeanand Americas.Created by artistsIanKeteku,Komi Olaf and Donisha Prendergast,thisAfro-futuristicfilmtravels throughtime and space on a journey to re-connect the dots of a scattered history while observing our present state today.The piece experimentswithgenerationsof emotionssteeped inphilosophiesand opinionsof revolutionthat nowlive as poetry,film,painting,dance, photography,theater,sculpting,music,food,fashion, language,spirituality.

Directed by: Donisha Prendergast

Donishatravelstheworld, telling storiesto advancehumanity.She hasproduced work for outletssuch as National Geographic & BET. As a leader& communityorganizer, her activismhasignightedprojects from buildingaschool for girlsin Kenyato marchingto upholdindigenous rights.

1942 is a multidimensional experimental film that explores a grandson finding self through the journey of culture, lineage, and history.

Keyssh is a multimedia creator/writer and community organizer from Southwest Philly. They use their deep love of Black studies and abolition to create art that helps people learn and unlearn their biases around culture and oppressive social systems. When people see their work Keyssh wants them to see the influence their ancestors and the past they had on them. They want to create art that speaks to the emotional and physical freedom of humans. Art is their expression of freedom.

Directed : Keyssh

DattBys

“Blue Journey”

Blue Journey is a short film that explores the journey of generational healing. It is a love letter to the children of the diaspora who carry the traumas of our ancestors. What does it mean to heal yourself? What does it mean to heal your bloodline? How does nature support our return to self? How does our past inform our future? How do our ancestors guide us along the way? These are the questions Blue Journey asks.

Chisom Chieke is a multi-hyphenated filmmaker who’s had a passion for storytelling for as long as she can remember. As a Black woman, an intersectionalproduct of the Black diaspora, she writes, directs, and produces stories that explorethe past, present, and future of radicallove, acceptance, andgrowth within diasporiccommunities. She is fueled by art, nature, andcollaboration. Chisom is a second rounder for the SundanceTV Development Track (2021), Official Selection award recipient at the Sabira Cole Film Festival, and a member of “Insecure” producer, Amy Aniobi’s 2021 TRIBEmentorship program. Chisom createsfrom the point of view of underdogs, outcasts, and misfits, bringing a new perspectiveandincisive wit toBlack storytelling. Shecurrentlyproducesat Maestro Filmworks, an Emmy winning production company in Philadelphia, PA.

Directed by: Chisom Chieke

A young queer person gains confidence through the artform of drag.

Dircted By: Ileana Lam

Ileana Lam is a MexicanChinese lesbian artist based out of Los Angeles, CA. She creates illustrations and films that explore identity and how the internal emotional world translates to physical expression.

“What If Black Boys Were Butterflies?”

WhatIfBlackBoysWere Butterflies? ,wascreated because the director foundthat whileother boys can enjoy a childhoodof freedom, for many reasons,“Black boyhood” is a brief, complicated existence.WhatIfBlackBoysWere Butterflies?isan urgent social document. For Blackboys, freedom isa luxury.Throughouthistory,this hasbeen foundto be true. Thisfilm exploresthat idea. Showingyoung Black men enjoyingtheir youth and seekingliberation from these complexities,alongsidetheintimate off-screen conversation between two Black men,provides a closer look intothisAmerican reality.

Directed by: DaeQuan Collier

DaeQuan Collierisafilmmaker,born and raisedin Bronx, New York.As an artist of color, DaeQuan believesthat hisidentityis an indisputablepart of his artistry that cannot be avoidedin his work, andhe strivesto create work that properly illustratestheirhumanity. Growingup in the Bronxallowedhimto come across people andcommunities that often go untold.He believesthat theirstories are complex, beautiful,and important, and heworks to tell them. More at @daequan.

Freedom Hill is a documentary that explores the environmental racism that is washing away the town Princeville. Explored through the lens of Marquetta Dickens, a native who recently moved back to help save her hometown Princeville, a main character itself, is brought to life through several vignettes. This film uncovers the continuing legacy of racism in the U.S. and how the refusal to reckon with its own history still impacts and extends into the lives and lands of Black Americans today. The documentary uses Princeville, its residents and Marquetta’s journey back home as vehicles to examine what that responsibility, and lack thereof, lookslike

Directed by: Resita Cox

Resita isa North Carolina-born,Chicagobased independentfilmmakerandartist. Resita launchedhercareer in journalismat WTVD-TV in Raleigh,NC and WCTI-TV in New Bern, NC as a multimediajournalistand newsreporter. Resitatransitionedfrom newsmedia to documentary filmin 2018 & holdsan MFA from Northwestern University in Documentary Film.Her film'Freedom Hill,' a documentary about the environmental racism that iswashingawaythe firsttown chartered by Black people in the nation, will screen duringourprogram