Our Right to Gaze is an annually curated touring anthology of short films by emerging Black filmmakers, presented by Full Spectrum Features. This is the third year cinéSPEAK has partnered with Full Spectrum Features to screen the program in Philly.
This year’s program was curated by Open Television (OTV), a non-profit streaming platform and media incubator for intersectional storytelling, with artists and their creative visions at the center.
**EVENT FLOW:
4:30 PM Doors
5:00 - 6:20 PM Film Program
6:20 - 7:00 PM Mix & Mingle Coffee Time
**TICKETS**
$10
If you cannot afford the full 'General Admission' price, please use the 'Pay-What-You-Can' ticket option, No one turned away for lack of funds—
**ABOUT THE PROGRAM**
Curator Statement: The third edition of Our Right To Gaze explores the theme “Bittersweet Healing.” In a world marked by rapid changes and ongoing challenges, these films delve into the persistent and nuanced efforts of healing within the Black community. This collection celebrates the resilience, complexity, and intersectionality of the Black-lived experience, offering an evocative look at how healing unfolds in diverse and often complicated ways. These stories illuminate the powerful narratives of perseverance and transformation.
Total Runtime: 78 mins
ABOUT THE FILMS:
MnM
Dir. Twiggy Pucci Garcon / 15 min / Filmmaker Location: New York
MnM depicts the lives of two nonbinary chosen sisters, Mermaid and Milan, who are emerging runway divas in the drag ballroom community. They celebrate their joy, siblinghood, and unapologetic personas.
New Hire
Dir. Aquarius Ester Alegria / 10 min / Filmmaker Location: Chicago
New Hire is an afro-surreal short film that tells the story of a recently deceased Chicagoan working their first gig for a corporation that has dead people perform ghostly tasks to pay off debt.
Some Sweet Day
Dir. Rasheed Peters / 19 min / Filmmaker Location: Chicago
Some Sweet Day is an intimate exploration of the question: "When flesh and heart fail, what remains?” This story follows the filmmaker and his mother, Camille, as they navigate life after the loss of a husband and father. It's a story of wrestling with tough emotions, regrets, and the lasting impact of grief.
Across, Beyond, and Over
Dir. Brit Fryer / 11 min / Filmmaker Location: New York
Across, Beyond, and Over is a hybrid documentary about two estranged trans men who used to date in middle school reconnecting over a long weekend to develop a film about their past.
A Living Sculpture
Dir. Diana Ali Chire / 8 min / Filmmaker Location: Los Angeles
Francesca, a horn player and music student, is contemplating the pros and cons of continuing a relationship with artist Nick and the problematic idea of the female muse.
LIBIAMO!
Dir. Kin Marie / 3 min / Filmmaker Location: Chicago
At a bustling food spot in Auburn Gresham, Chicago, regulars eagerly await their orders when a customer and their toddler enter. The customer's curiosity about the best menu item ignites a passionate debate among the patrons.—
ABOUT THE PROGRAMMERS:
Full Spectrum Features
Full Spectrum Features is a Chicago-based nonprofit organization committed to driving equity in the independent film industry by producing, exhibiting, and supporting the work of women, BIPOC, disabled, and LGBTQIA+ filmmakers. We also aim to educate the public about important social and cultural issues, utilizing the power of cinema to foster understanding in our communities.
Open Television
Open Television’s mission is to transform the way film, television and entertainment industries support independent artists and communities marginalized by their race, gender, sexuality, class, disability or nationality. Through intentional artist development and holistic community development, the award-winning platform provides a network of care to identify, activate and mobilize the next generation of storytellers.