cinéSPEAK presents Our Right to Gaze 2024

is an annually curated touring anthology of short films by emerging Black filmmakers, presented by . 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

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**TICKETS**

$10-$15 suggested donation, no one turned away for lack of funds

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**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

Synopsis: 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.

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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.

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ABOUT THE VENUE:

Making Worlds Cooperative Bookstore & Social Center is a nonprofit cooperative bookstore and social center that promotes collective knowledge, skills, and visions of liberation from our communities.

Follow: @makingworldsbooks

Accessibility: Making Worlds is an ADA-accessible space on the ground floor. The event setup is flexible and can accommodate a variety of needs. The bathroom is also ADA accessible with transfer rails (note: the door is not automatic). This is not a scent-free space. Please contact us with any questions or requests for specific accommodations.

Parking/Transportation: Street parking is available but somewhat limited. Making Worlds is a short distance from the 34 Trolley 45th street stop and the MFL 46th street stop, and near several bus lines.

COVID Safety:

Masking is encouraged. If you feel unwell or have had a known COVID exposure in the last 5 days, please test, mask, and/or stay home.

Email us with any questions at [email protected].

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ABOUT CINÉSPEAK:

cinéSPEAK is a Philadelphia-based arthouse cinema and journal that cultivates experiences and opportunities for filmmakers and moviegoers, celebrating and strengthening local community and global movements for collective liberation.

Our multidisciplinary work directly supports emerging artists, filmmakers, and writers through screenings, salons, and cultural reporting—all of which center the stories from those historically excluded in the film and media industry. We bring independent films to new audiences, partnering with community organizations to create a more equitable and nourishing cinema ecosystem.

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