Unspool Hollywood

Empowering Hearts: 19-Year-Old Refugee Girl Champions Mental Wellness for Refugee Youth Spotlighted in Documentary, Pan African Film Festival World Premiere

Los Angeles, Cali. (Feb. 5, 2024) –

As a child of Rwandan refugees, Divine Mugisha
has been living in the Dzaleka Refugee Camp since she was nine months old. Extreme poverty, hunger, and mental health challenges plague the camp. Despite facing these hardships herself, Divine advocates for education access and mental health services for her refugee community.

As a young advocate, she founded the Supportive Pillar Organization (SPO) to help youth stay in school. During the development of SPO, she discovered that mental health issues were a serious obstacle preventing people in the camp from continuing their education. Divine realizes that she must now leave her lifelong home, friends, and family to pursue her own education so that she can better address the tragic mental health issues at the camp.

The powerful documentary short "A Divine Journey" follows Divine through her
personal journey volunteering, teaching and serving others as she aspires for higher
education and awaits acceptance to university.

The world premiere of “A Divine Journey" will be at the Pan African Film Festival (PAFF) in Los Angeles on Feb. 10, 2024 at Cinemark Baldwin Hills Crenshaw.

The story examines how an underserved yet dedicated and determined young woman
can change the world for many. Audiences will witness a passionate young woman
who defies the odds and rises above her hardships as she starts a non-profit cause
and serves her community at Dzaleka refugee camp.

The Pan African Film Festival (PAFF) showcases a broad array of Black creative works from the world over, highlighting those that reinforce positive images and help to destroy negative stereotypes. The festival spotlights over 200 films elevated by black filmmakers with subject matter by African talent, telling stories about Africans and people with African descent.

“We work to produce documentaries that spotlight positive stories from Africa,” said
Ivanovitch Ingabire, Burundi based co-director of ”A Divine Journey.”

"I am honored and proud to bring Divine's inspiring journey to the Pan African Film
Festival," said Annette King, the producer and co-director of the documentary from
Splicer Films. “We see this as an opportunity to uplift an inspiring yet underrepresented story about a young African changemaker solving issues at a grassroots level. By telling Divine’s inspirational story, we aim to foster resilience,
compassion, and empowerment to bring about change in the world around us”

"A Divine Journey" will screen at the upcoming Pan African Film Festival, along with other films including narrative short film "Kingdom On The Coast" and the comedy special "We're Pregnant and Other Lies". All three films are directed by African filmmakers and talent that come from diverse backgrounds who aim to share diverse
stories of underrepresented groups from new perspectives.

Pan African Film Festival(PAFF) is the largest and most prestigious Black film festival in the United States. From 100 million dollar blockbuster premieres to newly emerging Hollywood talent, PAFF showcases a broad array of Black creative works from the world over, highlighting those that reinforce positive images and help to destroy negative stereotypes. PAFF is a unique opportunity to come together through film and
art to explore new worlds, meet new people and acquire new information and ideas.

For more information, visit: bit.ly/paff-2024

For more information on the the cause in the film, visit Supportive Pillar Organization
(SPO) website: https://www.supportivepillarorganisation.org/

About Splicer Films:
Splicer Films is a Palo Alto based production company focused on telling stories of purpose and impact that inspire audiences to create a better world. https://www.splicerfilms.com/

Additional Films by Splicer Films:

Additional documentaries by Palo Alto based Impact Producer, Annette King are
"Finding Ubuntu" and “Fear Not”.

“Finding Ubuntu” follows the inspiring journey of Maick Mutej, a refugee who emerges as a human rights advocate for thousands of refugees.Maick's story exemplifies resilience, compassion, and the transformative impact of community based organizations.

“Fear Not” explores a passionate grassroots changemaker, Evelyne Keomian, in her
quest to break the cycle of poverty through education for her communities in Côte
d'Ivoire and Silicon Valley.

For more information about Splicer Films event screenings, visit: bit.ly/SFFESTS

“Anecdotals” Screening at the Pan African Film and Arts Festival

. "Anecdotals" is a compassionate exploration of the nuanced vaccine debate, that focuses on questions—not answers, and people—not politics. This is not a divisive movie and should not be considered controversial at all, but unfortunately it is.

Everyone has been affected by the COVID vaccine debates and many of us have lost families and friends over differing POVs. We need to get better at respecting diverse opinions and disagreeing without fighting. Anecdotals is a big step in opening the conversation and creating awareness, and will bring people together.

“Gaining Ground: The Fight for Black Land” Screening at the Pan African Film and Arts Festival

Gaining Ground: The Fight for Black Land is a stirring 2023 documentary produced by NBC personality Al Roker and written and directed by Emmy-nominated Director Eternal Polk. In addition to being selected for PAFF, Director Eternal Polk has also been nominated for a Jury Prize: Best Director – First Feature Documentary.

In the post-enslavement era, Black Americans acquired millions of acres of farmland, 90% of which is no longer in Black hands due to violence, eminent domain, and discrimination. But a lesser-known issue, “Heirs' Property,” has had a devastating effect on Black land ownership. This film spotlights the legacy of Black farming in America and how landowners are now reclaiming their agricultural rights and forging paths to generational wealth.

Screening Dates/Times/Location

- February 8 - 9pm
- February 13 - 3:45pm
- Cinemark Baldwin Hills Crenshaw - 3650 Martin Luther King Jr, Blvd, Los Angeles CA 90008

The film recently won the 2024 Jury Prize at Brand Storytelling in Park City, Utah, an officially sanctioned event of the Sundance Film Festival. In addition to this award, Gaining Ground has racked up 18 festival selection laurels and the following awards at prestigious film festivals:

- Best Documentary - FILMTEENTH International Film Festival - 2023
- Best Feature Documentary - Essence Film Festival - 2023
- Best Documentary Feature - DC Black Film Festival - 2023
- Audience Choice Award - DC Black Film Festival - 2023
- Best Documentary - BronzeLens Film Festival - 2023
- Best Feature Film - Detroit Black Film Festival - 2023
- Best Documentary Marcom Award - Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals (AMCP) 2023
- Best Trailer - Carolina Film Festival - 2023

Gaining Ground - Trailer _ A 2023 Charlotte Black Film Festival Official Selection from Glorified Media on Vimeo.

Documentary from John Deere and Al Roker Entertainment Puts the Spotlight on Land Ownership Challenges Facing Black Farmers

MOLINE, Illinois (June 13, 2023) – Deere & Company (NYSE: DE) and Al Roker Entertainment today announced a new documentary focused on the legacy of Black farming in America and the devastating impact of heirs’ property – property passed to family members by inheritance, usually without a will or proper estate planning. Without a clear title, Black farmers are unable to qualify for government assistance, equipment financing or agricultural programs designed to optimize their land. In 2020, John Deere created the LEAP Coalition in partnership with the National Black Growers Council and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund to provide resources for farmers and landowners to resolve heirs’ property issues.

“This film serves as an important platform for Black farmers to delve into their history while also discussing impactful ways to sustain agriculture and places to go for help with legislation and available grants,” said Al Roker, executive producer. “The organizations featured in the film are creating change and it’s one of the reasons our company was so interested in getting involved with this important work.”

Created in partnership with Emmy-nominated director Eternal Polk, the documentary, Gaining Ground: The Fight for Black Land, addresses how landowners are reclaiming their agricultural rights and their paths to generational wealth. The film will debut at the American Black Film Festival in Miami on June 15, 2023, and appear in screenings across the country this summer.

“Documentaries can offer a lens into history and shed light on a forgotten or untold story. It's more than just a form of storytelling, it's a way to offer new viewpoints on an issue, create lasting dialogue, and drive change,” said Gaining Ground director Eternal Polk. “With Deere’s support, we were honored to help bring this important story to life. This documentary provides resources to those who are dealing with heirs’ property and shows others how they can get involved to support this cause.”

Black land ownership peaked in 1910 at 16 to 19 million acres, which was about 14 percent of total arable land in the United States. A century later, 90 percent of Black-owned land has been lost, and heirs' property has been the leading cause for that decline. The documentary shines a spotlight on the challenges Black farmers and landowners’ must navigate to preserve their land for future generations. The film additionally showcases subject matter experts and practitioners who are actively working to address these issues.

"For farmers, land provides more than a livelihood, it provides a legacy. For far too long, Black farmers have had to deal with often coercive constraints, barriers and systems that result in involuntary loss of land, economic value and wealth. This documentary provides an opportunity for folks to tell their stories, highlight injustice and hopefully serve as a catalyst for concerted action to address this little known but important and pervasive issue” said Marc Howze, Senior Advisor, Office of the Chairman, Deere and Company. "The message of this documentary is clear: We need to do more to help Black farmers and landowners unlock the tremendous value in the land they already own to help us feed, clothe and shelter a growing population while pursuing opportunities to build wealth and provide a legacy for future generations.”

ABOUT THE LEAP COALITION

John Deere created the LEAP Coalition in 2020 in partnership with the National Black Growers Council and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. The LEAP Coalition provides legal, educational and other resources to help farmers and landowning families gain clear title of their land. It works to unlock economic value for farmers, while also eliminating systemic barriers to wealth building faced by Black farmers and other historically disadvantaged communities.

To learn more about the LEAP Coalition, to help Black farmers, and provide support to support LEAP coalition partners visit: https://www.deere.com/gainingground.

To learn more about the documentary, visit: https://gaininggroundthefilm.com/.

About John Deere

Deere & Company (www.JohnDeere.com) is a global leader in the delivery of agricultural, construction, and forestry equipment. We help our customers push the boundaries of what's possible in ways that are more productive and sustainable to help life leap forward. Our technology-enabled products including John Deere Autonomous 8R Tractor and tillage solution, See & Spray™, and E-Power Backhoe are just some of the ways we help meet the world's increasing need for food, shelter, and infrastructure. Deere & Company also provides financial services through John Deere Financial.

For more information on Deere & Company, visit us at www.deere.com/en/news/.

About Al Roker Entertainment

Formed in 1994, Al Roker Entertainment (ARE) is an industry-leading producer of original, award-winning TV programs and digital content. Led by 14-time Emmy winning TV personality and trusted media authority Al Roker, ARE partners with a creative consortium of producers, directors, writers, agencies, and talent to ideate, produce, activate, and amplify original content globally, using a variety of broadcast, cable, OTT, social, and streaming platforms. ARE works with brands, non-profits, ad agencies, and PR companies to generate and inspire audiences through social impact branded entertainment storytelling.

Los Angeles’s PAN AFRICAN FILM FESTIVAL “SHAPING US” Exciting Debut Film by a Lagos-born Filmmaker

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Shot entirely in a single location, SHAPING US is a thought-provoking, much needed film that explores and celebrates the love, beauty, and depth of human relationships, touching upon themes of motherhood, female emancipation, and friendship.

Kambili, a first time filmmaker was born in Lagos and raised in the UK. She channels her passion, diverse life experiences and commitment to truth in her work, and this film is particularly representative of her style and storytelling talent.

Kambili also appears in the film as Ara, one of the lead character - she is also an extremely talented actress.

I would love to know if you might be interested in covering the exciting news that SHAPING US will screen at The Pan African Film Festival? Might you be interested in an interview with Kambili?

The film is set to receive a lot of buzz across the festival circuit.

“Taking Back the Groove” Screening at the Pan African Film and Arts Festival

Director and Producer: Celia Aniskovich
Producer(s): Roddy Lindsay
Executive Producers; : Raekwon, Russell Peters, and Bradley Credit
Cinematographer; Brett Banks, Editor; Atish Mehta, Composer

Taking Back the Groove reintroduces the world to Bronx-born ’80s disco superstar Richie Weeks. A writer, singer, and producer who was compared to Quincy Jones at his height, Richie created quintessential New York Disco and performed in the likes of Studio 54 and Paradise Garage, all while maintaining day jobs as a postal worker and bricklayer. His mega-hit Rock Your World made it to #1 on the dance charts in the ’80s, and has since become a landmark song in the field of disco and house music.

While his ingenious mixes appealed to a kaleidoscope of glitter and lamé-clad partiers, his songs were never truly his own. Like many Black artists throughout American recording history, his talent was strip mined to enrich white-owed record labels.

When disco cooled down, Richie Weeks and many other artists like him faded from view. But now, a new series of previously unheard recordings, from his private trove of 300 vintage tracks, is bringing him fresh recognition.

Taking Back the Groove tells the story of how Richie Weeks clawed back the right to his own music in the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement and his ongoing fight to restore his legacy and share his music.

15th Annual AAFCA Awards

The African American Film Critic Associations (AAFCA) announced the AAFCA award winners for its 15th annual awards show.

The AAFCA Awards will take place on Feb. 21, 2024, at the Beverly Wilshire in Beverly Hills, CA.

The films that will be recognized films are The Color Purple and American Fiction, highlighting performances from Colman Domingo, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Lily Gladstone and more. The AAFCA also annouced its top 10 films of 2023.

AAFCA president and co-founder Gil Robertson made the announcement: “It’s become a tradition to announce our winners on MLK Day. And what a great year for cinema showcasing the vibrant tapestry of Black storytelling, where diversity is not a trend, but an imperative. This year’s winners have inspired, challenged, and moved us and we are delighted to celebrate them and their cultural impact.”

AAFCA's Top 10 Films Of The Year

American Fiction
Origin
The Color Purple
Oppenheimer
Past Lives
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Poor Things
Anatomy of a Fall
Killers of the Flower Moon
Barbie

Winners of the 15th Annual AAFCA Awards:

Best Drama: Origin
Best Comedy: American Fiction
Best Musical: The Color Purple
Best Director: Ava DuVernay (Origin)
Best Screenplay: American Fiction
Best Actor: Colman Domingo (Rustin)
Best Actress: Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor (Origin)
Best Supporting Actor: Sterling K. Brown (American Fiction)
Best Supporting Actress: *TIE* Da’Vine Joy Randolph (The Holdovers), Danielle Brooks (The Color Purple)
Best Ensemble: The Color Purple
Breakout Performance: Lily Gladstone (Killers of the Flower Moon)
Emerging Filmmaker: Cord Jefferson (American Fiction)
Best Independent Feature: A Thousand and One
Best Animated Feature: Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Best Documentary: Stamped From The Beginning
Best Music: The Color Purple
Best International Film: Io Capitano
Best Short Film: The After

View New Clip “Sunrise” (Lionsgate) – in Theaters and Digital/On Demand on January 19th, 2024

In Theaters and On Digital and On Demand January 19, 2024

Director: Andrew Baird
Writer: Ronan Blaney
Cast: Guy Pearce, Alex Pettyfer
Producers: Martin Brennan, Jib Polhemus, Nathan Klingher, Ford Corbett
Distributor: Lionsgate
Rating: R
Genre: Thriller
Run Time: 1 hour 34 minutes

When an ex-cop named Fallon returns to the scene of a horrific crime, the residents of a rural town soon discover that this dark visitor is really a vampire who feeds on blood and fear. After he is befriended by a kind immigrant family, the instinctive killer is faced with a choice between revenge and redemption. Guy Pearce and Alex Pettyfer star in this thrilling tale penned by Academy Award®-nominated screenwriter Ronan Blaney.

The Rainbow Bridge” World Premieres at Sundance US Shorts Magical Cinema from Maverick Filmmakers

Writer, Director, Editor and Composer: Dimitri Simakis
Starring: Thu Tran, Heather Lawless, James Urbaniak, David Brown, and global rapper Fat Tony
Run time: 13 minutes
Country: United States
Language: English

Sundance US Narrative Short Film—Midnight Shorts

Tina and her elderly dog visit a mysterious clinic offering human-to-pet communication. Two sinister doctors uncover an otherworldly bond between them that transcends time and space. They might be the key to something greater... but at what cost?

Tina (Thu Tran) and her elderly dog, MeeMoo (voiced by Fat Tony), visit "Rainbow Bridge Enterprises," a mysterious clinic offering human-to-pet communication. The esoteric Dr. Bailey Picadillo (Heather Lawless) and her burnout partner, Herb (James Urbaniak ), detect a cosmically strong bond between their new patients, triggering a journey across time and space where Tina and MeeMoo can properly say goodbye in their final, fantastical forms. Chaos ensues as Tina is abruptly thrust back to reality while MeeMoo is left behind in the transcendental Rainbow Realm. Tina may feel a bittersweet sense of relief, but Dr. Bailey gets more than she bargained for when the fabric of reality might have just split wide open…

Sundance In-Person Screening Times Premiere Monday, January 22^nd at 10pm MST in the Midnight Shorts program at the Ray in Park City

Friday, Jan 26^th at 9pm MST in the Midnight Shorts program at the Gateway 6 in SLC

Saturday, Jan 27^th at 4:30pm MST in the Midnight Shorts program at the Holiday 1 in Park City

About the Filmmakers

Dimitri Simakis is a filmmaker, musician, illustrator and co-creator of the found-footage collectives Everything Is Terrible! & the slightly more terrifying, Memory Hole. The EIT! collective has made 8 feature length found-footage films and has toured North America regularly for the past thirteen years. Simakis’ background in immersive storytelling is seen by millions at Pizza Pals Playzone, on permanent exhibition at Meow Wolf’s Convergence Station in Denver, CO. Simakis is currently the Creative Director for GIPHY, the world’s largest GIF library on the internet. Producer Suki-Rose is a director, producer, multidisciplinary artist and co-founder of Spooky Kind Productions alongside Dimitri Simakis. Suki-Rose is a former Disney Imagineer, former creative executive for SpectreVision, videogame designer, miniaturist & fabricator. Her short films (Ding-Dong, Teddy Too-Big, CHOMP) all blend her unique approach to the uncanny and the absurd. Dimitri Simakis & Suki-Rose have been generating creative work in tandem for over 10 years – showing audiences and Hollywood that they are filmmakers’ to watch.

“The Rainbow Bridge” is a Sci-Fi fantasy comedy and in many ways a cinematic sibling in spirit to 80’s fantasies like “The NeverEnding Story,” delving deeply into the bonds we have with our pets addressing themes of loss, denial and acceptance, through the lens of one woman’s esoteric journey. The filmmakers tackle such tragic loss through a fantastical, silly and thoroughly entertaining lens. The filmmakers world building creates an homage to 80’s cinema that is both grounded and brilliantly bonkers all at the same time.

Writer, Director, Editor and Composer: Dimitri Simakis
Starring: Thu Tran, Heather Lawless, James Urbaniak, David Brown, and global rapper Fat Tony
Run time: 13 minutes
Producers: Suki-Rose and Michael Scott
Cinematographer: Seannie Bryan
Production designers: Courtney Andujar and Hillary Andujar

The African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA) Announces the AAFCA 2024 Special Achievement Awards Recipients: Jamie Foxx, Datari Turner, Fatima Robinson, Michael Latt, Deon Taylor, Killers of the Flower Moon and Delta Airlines

Awards will be handed out at the 7th Annual AAFCA Special Achievement Awards Luncheon on March 3rd at the Los Angeles Athletic Club

AAFCA will also be celebrating the AAFCA Awards recognizing outstanding achievement in film its annual celebration on February 21^st. Winners of the AAFCA Awards will be announced January 15.

LOS ANGELES, January 11, 2024 – The African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA) is proud to reveal its esteemed list of 2024 Special Achievement Honorees chosen for their prolific contributions to the entertainment industry. These outstanding honorees will be celebrated at the organization’s 7th Annual AAFCA Special Achievement Awards luncheon, taking place on Sunday, March 3rd in the Centennial Room at the Los Angeles Athletic Club in downtown Los Angeles.

The intimate, invitation-only luncheon will bestow honors upon the feature film “Killers of the Flower Moon,” which will receive the Stanley & Karen Kramer Social Justice Award for shining a light on the true story of the infamous Osage Nation murders.

Jamie Foxx and Datari Turner, the producing duo behind Foxxhill Productions, will be honored with AAFCA’s Producers Award for their exceptional work on three high-profile films released in 2023: "They Cloned Tyrone," "Story Ave," and "The Burial,” along with Foxxhill’s commitment to telling inclusive stories.
Renowned choreographer Fatima Robinson will be presented with AAFCA’s Salute to Excellence Award, recognizing her outstanding contributions to the art of choreography, including her work on "The Color Purple."

The late Michael Latt will receive the inaugural Freedom Award, established in his honor, recognizing his legacy as an exceptional marketing strategist, thought leader, and founder of Lead With Love. His passionate advocacy for amplifying underrepresented stories and using art to foster hope, understanding and healing among communities through the cinematic arts will be celebrated at the event with his family accepting the honor on his behalf.

Filmmaker Deon Taylor will be honored with the Horizon Award which spotlights and celebrates a talent on the rise. Already an established filmmaker, known for founding Hidden Empire Film Group and directing genre-bending thrillers like “Chain Letter” and “Traffik,” Taylor’s upcoming projects include “Free Agents” for Tristar and biopics on civil rights activist and congressman John Lewis and boxer Floyd Mayweather.
Finally, Delta Airlines will be honored with AAFCA’s Film Advocate Award in recognition of their commitment to diversity in entertainment offered aboard Delta flights and embracing emerging filmmakers with their programming.

"Our list this year includes titans and trailblazers whose work has transformed the cinematic arts," states AAFCA President and Co-Founder Gil Robertson. "Their work leaves us in awe of their incredible achievements and inspires us to move forward in all our endeavors with passion, creativity and determination. AAFCA looks forward to celebrating them."

Recipients of the AAFCA Special Achievement Awards are carefully selected by a committee and chosen based on their contributions throughout their careers. These honorees represent excellence both behind and in front of the camera, including executives, journalists, actors, crafts artists, and filmmakers.
Previous AAFCA Special Achievement Awards honorees include Ruth Carter, Jason Blum, Edward James Olmos, Pearlena Igbokwe, Channing Dungey, Sherry Lansing, John M. Chu, and Wesley Morris, among others.

ABOUT AAFCA
Established in 2003, AAFCA stands as the premiere body of Black film critics globally, actively reviewing films and television programs with a specific focus on content that explores the Black experience and narratives from the African Diaspora. The organization’s primary mission revolves around nurturing understanding, appreciation, and advancement of the contributions made by African-descendant talents to the realms of cinema and television, from the historical legends of the past to the innovative breakthroughs of future generations. AAFCA boasts a diverse and geographically widespread membership of journalists who cover various cinematic genres across multiple media platforms, including print, TV, radio broadcast, and online, collectively reaching a worldwide audience exceeding 150 million. Committed to numerous educational and philanthropic initiatives, AAFCA particularly supports endeavors that foster and celebrate diversity and inclusion within the industry.

For more information on AAFCA and its programs, please visit http://AAFCA.com.

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