Con Fuerza, from the Diaspora: Rituals and Reclaiming Our Stories
About this Event
This is event is 5th Annual Local Filmmaker Showcase presented by (PMF), produced by .
How can rituals ground us in reclaiming our stories when we're far from our roots? Many of us have been displaced from our home countries because of political and/or climate instability, queerness, gentrification, and corporate greed. Yet, con fuerza (with strength), we find a way to rebuild new homes and carve new pathways in foreign lands.
Join us for a special community screening featuring films by nine Greater Philadelphia filmmakers. Together, their works explore the rituals, traditions, relationships, and shared experiences that help shape identity, belonging, and community from both diasporic and Philadelphia-rooted perspectives.
**EVENT FLOW**
DOORS @ 6:00PM — Come early to mix n' mingle and enjoy light refreshments by
FILMS @ 7:00PM—with Q&A with filmmakers to follow. The conversation will be moderated by Samíl Jimenez-Magdaleno, Program Officer at People's Media Fund.
—
**TICKETS**
GENERAL ADMISSION: FREE! *Registration is Requested* Seating is first come, first served.
**ABOUT THE PROGRAM**
About the Films (in order of appearance):
STAND UP FOR MADINAH
Director Zainab Sultan / 2024 / 25 min / English
Biden’s home state of Delaware. She advocates for her community as a politician and challenges perceptions of it in her free time as a budding stand-up comedian.
Wilson-Anton is also a vocal critic of U.S support for Israel’s war on Gaza. Members of her own party threaten to censure her over her outspoken pro-Palestinian stance, and she faces abuse and trolling online. Despite this, Wilson-Anton perseveres to introduce a ceasefire resolution in the Delaware House calling for a permanent end to Israel’s war on Gaza.
SONG FOR NIA
Dir. Eboni Zamani / 2025 / 11:09 / American English, AAVE
A Song for Nia is a digital dramedy series about a woman's return home to Philly after the death of a loved one. Nia returns for the first time in over 13 years after moving to LA to chase her dreams.
A Song for Nia follows her journey through self-acceptance, grief, love and accountability.
QUEER MEMOIRS: EPISODE 1 - SEXY & I KNOW IT
Directed by Taja Copeland & Darien Woodard / 2025 / 9:08 / English
Tension rises when Astrid's best friend, Willow, admits she does not have a crush on her.
BROKEN: A DOCU-SERIES ON BLACK MEN'S MENTAL HEALTH
Director: Derrick Hogue, Executive Producer and Creator: Jimmy Bonds / 2026 / 10:48 / English
"Broken: A Docu-Series on Black Men’s Mental Health" is an intimate exploration of the emotional, social, and cultural pressures affecting Black men and their mental well-being. Through honest conversations and personal reflections, this 10-minute peice challenges stigma while creating space for vulnerability, healing, and community-supported solutions.
ULRICK JEAN PIERRE: GUARDIAN OF HISTORY
Director Tatiana St. Phard Bacchus / Work in progress / 2:27 / English
Ulrick Jean-Pierre: Guardian of History introduces audiences to Haitian master painter Ulrick Jean-Pierre, whose nearly fifty-year quest to paint Haiti's overlooked history has become one of the most ambitious undertakings in contemporary art. Filmed in Haiti, New Orleans, Philadelphia, and Kansas, the documentary follows the artist as he creates monumental works that reclaim Haiti's place in the story of the Americas while offering an intimate portrait of resilience, memory, and the transformative power of art.
LÍNEAS IMAGINARIAS: PERSEGUIDOS (IMAGINARY LINES: CHASED)
Nadia Hironaka, lead director; Eric César Morales, co-director; Ileana Doble Hernandez, co-director; Matthew Suib, co-director; Erik Alfredo Martínez, animator for Perseguidos / 2026 / 8:20 / Spanish with English subtitles
The animated series Líneas Imaginarias challenges the construction of walls, the militarization of borders, the dehumanization of entire populations, and the divisions we place between people by connecting the journey of immigrants with that of the beloved and fantastical monarch butterfly. In this episode, Perseguidos (Chased) a young girl dreams of home after a frightening and exhausting journey across the US/Mexico border.
OUR CENTER, OUR HOME: THE UKRAINIANS OF PHILADELPHIA
Dir. Alexander / 2024 / 9 min / Languages Spoken: English & Ukrainian with English subtitles
The Ukrainian Educational and Cultural Center (UECC) in Philadelphia is a special place where Ukrainian traditions are kept alive. Families come together here to learn, celebrate, and pass on their heritage through generations. It's more than just a building—it's the heart of the Ukrainian community, connecting the past with the future.
MIWA
Directed by Lunise Cerin, Produced by Leonica Pierre Mainthus and Melodie Cerin, film still in post / Work in progress / Excerpt Run Time: 9:51 / Spoken Languages: Haitian Kreyol and English with English subtitles
Miwa is an observational documentary following the Haitian people’s values and their persistence across borders and across language
LOVE, LUSINE
Director Maria Vattimo / Work in Progress (2027) / 80 minutes / Armenian, English with English subtitles
Love, Lusine is a feature-length documentary following Armenian American jazz singer Lusine Yeghiazaryan over several pivotal years as she navigates her art, family, and identity against the backdrop of a changing Armenia. At the heart of the film is Lucy’s return to Armenia for an album tour amid growing societal instability. As the future of the country feels increasingly uncertain, Lucy reconnects with family, revisits the places of her childhood, and confronts parts of her story she had long kept at a distance.
—
**PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEO**
Photographs and/or video will be taken at this event. By attending this event, you consent to your image/likeness, voice, and/or name being used in photographs and/or film, and any reproductions or adaptations thereafter, by Independence Public Media Foundation to use in any and all print and digital media in perpetuity. If you do not wish to be photographed and/or filmed, reach out to Enni Aigbomian, Communications and Events Manager, at [email protected].
—
**ABOUT THE VENUE**
The Rotunda: The Rotunda, located at 4014 Walnut Street in Philadelphia, PA, is a community-gathering place that is fueled by the belief that art is a catalyst for social change and that the arts can lead to the formation of meaningful partnerships between the University of Pennsylvania and surrounding neighborhoods. Over 300 events are offered every year, including live music, film, spoken word, theater, art, dance, education, youth programs, arts incubation, and various experimental genres. As an alcohol-free, smoke-free venue, The Rotunda provides a critical social alternative for all ages. At its core, The Rotunda is a shared space fostering learning, enrichment, and community support while empowering the public to present, produce, and promote their work.
Accessibility: Learn more here: www.therotunda.org/about
For specific questions or accomodations, please reach out to [email protected]
Parking/Transportation:
- Our neighborhood is very walkable if you can do so; The streets are well lit and most sidewalks are smooth.
- The Rotunda is accessible via several SEPTA lines including bus routes 21, 42, and 40, the Market Frankford line (MFL) (40th and Market stop), and the 11, 13, 34, and 36 trolley lines (40th Street stop/trolley portal)
- We have three bike racks.
- There is metered and unmetered street parking on 40th, 41st, 42nd, Walnut, Locust, Spruce, and other nearby streets. Street parking is free on Sundays.
In addition, there is an 8-story parking garage at Acme on the northwest corner of 40th and Walnut. Hours: 5:30am-11pm. Daily rate: $18; evening & weekend rate: $15 (after 3:30pm, out by 11pm). Credit cards only. More info HERE
—
ABOUT PEOPLE'S MEDIA FUND:
Mission / Vision:
We're challenging assumptions about philanthropy. To pursue our mission and serve media-makers and digital equity champions in the way they need, we want to rethink philanthropy so it is accessible, transparent, and community-centered. Foundations have historically held the power in philanthropy. We’re working to shift power into the hands of the communities we serve.
Follow the Journey--> www.peoplesmediafund.org
—
ABOUT CINÉSPEAK:
Mission / Vision:
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.
Follow the Journey-->
www.cineSPEAK.org
@cineSPEAK (Instagram; Facebook)
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 0.00
