Allied Media Conference

Followed by discussion with Mabel Williams

NEGROES WITH GUNS tells the dramatic story of the often-forgotten civil rights leader who urged African Americans to arm themselves against violent racists. For eight years, Williams and his family lived in exile, first in Cuba and then in China. In Havana, Williams began to broadcast a 50,000-watt radio program called "Radio Free Dixie." The radio show fused cutting-edge music with news of the black freedom movement and Williams’ editorials, which, among other things, urged blacks not to fight in Vietnam. According to the filmmakers, NEGROES WITH GUNS helps to “restore Rob and Mabel Williams to their rightful place as important civil rights figures who defied the white power structure without the protection of large numbers or the attention of television cameras.

Presenters: Mona Eldahry, Arab Women Active in the Arts and Media; Steve Pierce, Hudson Mohawk Indymedia Center; Nada Elia, INCITE! Women of Color Against Violence

What does the future of "free speech," censorship and political repression look like through an Arab/Muslim lens? While mainstream media demonizes Arabs and Muslims, independent media and art made by Arabs/Muslims is deemed terrorist propaganda. Even the expression of solidarity can be criminal. This panel will draw lessons from the experience of AWAAM (Arab Women Active in Arts and Media) whose "INTIFADA NYC" t-shirts became the basis for a racist smear campaign against The Khalil Gibran International Academy and its founding principal, Debbie Almontaser. We'll hear from the Hudson-Mohawk Indymedia center, who's willingness to host Iraqi artist Wafaa Bilal's "Virtual Jihada" exhibit caused the city to shut down their community space. We'll also hear the story of why the Ford Foundation revoked $100,000 from INCITE! Women of Color Against Violence moments before their Color of Violence III conference in 2005. From each of these stories we'll build our collective knowledge of how to prepare for and respond to a future of increased censorship and political repression in all targeted communities.

A screening of black./womyn.:conversations with lesbians of African Descent followed by a workshop on how to conduct interviews for film/video.

Presenter: Tiona Mcclodden (Director)

black./womyn.:conversations… focuses on the lives and views of lesbians of African descent, featuring candid interviews discussing coming out, sexuality and religion, love and relationships, marriage, visibility in media, discrimination and homophobia, activism, gender identity, balancing gender/race/sexuality and more. Interviewees include close to 50 out, Black lesbians including Poet Cheryl Clarke, Filmmaker Aishah Shahidah Simmons, Poet Staceyann Chin, and Filmmaker Michelle Parkerson. 97min.

Following the film a workshop will explore the art of the interview and the idea of transporting often silenced voices through film and video. We will explore these topics: (1)Ways one can make an interviewee feel comfortable. (2)Editing for a documentary filled with heavy dialogue. (3)Providing safe spaces for progressive dialogue around a film dealing with various points of view.

Presenters: Jordan Flaherty, Left Turn magazine; Clinton Young III and Stephen Lewis, 2-cent Entertainment

The New Orleans International Human Rights Film Festival presents a powerful selection of New Orleans grassroots media. From the high-quality films of 2-Cent Entertainment, to pieces by New Orleans high school students, to short films about post-Katrina organizing by established New Orleans filmmakers, this film program will present vital first-hand perspectives from New Orleans. Many of the films shown have not been seen outside of New Orleans.

Presenters: Silva Tingle, Sandra Husic, Precious Cantrell- Jones, Mayra Puma, Jazmine Coates, Cortina Winfrey and Ana Mercado of The Empowered Fe Fes

These two films were created by The Empowered Fe Fes, a group of girls from Chicago who have disabilities and come together to make a difference. "Doin It" is a daring and humorous investigation into the uncharted intersection between disability and sexuality. In the video, the Fe Fes look at everything from a feminist sex shop to the history of the eugenics movement to control the sexuality of people with disabilities, which persists today. In "Why They Gotta Do Me Like That" the Fe Fe's show us how we can work together to understand and stop school-based discrimination, particularly against people with disabilities. The screening will be followed by a discussion with the Fe Fes on how these videos can be used to transform our schools, communities, organizations and the world.

Presenters: Aurora Castellanos, Shahidah Lacy, Yianeth Saenz, Phred Swain-Sugarman, Taylor White and Scott Boswell of The Bay Area Video Collective

This screening / forum will give attendees the chance to view and discuss brand-new social justice shorts by youth from the Oakland Bay Area. Five teen filmmakers from The Factory will present and discuss their work covering a range of topics from the effects of NAFTA on immigration to post-traumatic stress amongst urban youth to reparations for African-Americans. The Factory is an Oakland-based digital filmmaking program of the Bay Area Video Coalition that engages teens to produce creative works bound for national exhibition. With an emphasis on creative and political expression, youth artists work collaboratively to produce professional quality work that aims to bring youth perspective, culture, and talent to a wide audience.

Q & A following the film with members of the Palestine Education Project

Slingshot Hip Hop braids together the stories of young Palestinians living in Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank as they discover Hip Hop and employ it as a tool to surmount divisions imposed by occupation and poverty. From internal checkpoints and Separation Walls to gender norms and generational differences, this is the story of young people crossing the borders that separate them. There will be a discussion with the director and producers following the film.