“Black Motherhood And Society” Film Series And Panel - March 27th – March 28th

March 22, 2010 - PRLog -- NEW YORK, March 12, 2010 – With a diverse selection of films and speakers, The African Diaspora Film Festival presents, starting in March, the ADFF Spring and Summer Film Series at Teachers College, Columbia University every last week-end of the month.

March is Women’s History Month. In that context, ADFF is presenting the “Black Motherhood and Society” film series on March 27 and 28, a selection of films about mothers in different contexts.  Mo’Nique won the best supporting actress Oscar for her role as Mary Jones in Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire. The controversy generated by her role reflects a divided perception of what a good mother should be.  ADFF has decided to explore this question further through films and discussions by asking what does it mean to be a “good mother”? The panel discussion “Black Motherhood and Society” will attempt to bring forward a reflection on the potentially controversial topic.

From surrogate mothers to mothers who encourage female circumcision, this series will present films from Mali, Canada, the USA, Ethiopia and Chad and will close with a panel discussion featuring educators, intellectuals and mothers who will discuss motherhood, society and cinema.

DETAILED PROGRAM

FARAW: MOTHER OF THE DUNES, by Abbdoulaye Ascofaré (Mali)
Zamiatou is the mother of two quarrelsome boys and a depressed teenage girl. She is also the wife of a man arrested for political reasons who returns from prison mentally and physically destroyed. She struggles hard to survive in a poor and desolate area. She is ready to face anything to keep the family alive except prostituting her beautiful daughter. Her determination will take her far from her family.  Saturday, March 27 @ 2:00pm


ADERA by Nega Tariku (Ethiopia)
The heart-wrenching story of Marlan, a young woman who is an Ethiopian immigrant in the city of Johannesburg, South Africa. She quickly discovers that Johannesburg is not the promised city of gold and struggles to provide for her children back home in Ethiopia. Through a series of twisted circumstances, she ends up as a surrogate mother for a wealthy Ethiopian couple, Tiru and Fre. Their fate is tied up with that of Biru, a shady middleman who is central to story's dramatic turns of love, deception and the human spirit to survive. Saturday, March 27 @ 4:00pm


LOSING ISAIAH by Stephen Gyllenhaal (USA)
An African-American baby, abandoned by his crack addicted mother is adopted by a white social worker and her husband. Several years later, the baby's mother finds out her son is not dead, as she thought before and goes to court to get him back.  Staring Halle Berry, Jessica Lange, Cuba Gooding Jr. and Latania Ridchardson. Saturday, March 27 @ 6:30pm


FAMILY MOTEL by Helene Klodawsky (Canada)
Raising teenaged daughters is not easy, especially for Ayan, a Somalian refugee living in Canada who also supports a husband and two sons left behind in Somalia. Because Ayan is unable to afford the soaring rents on her two service jobs, and the Canadian social services are unable to assist in placing her, she and her two daughters must move into a Family Motel. Ayan keeps her faith and dignity throughout these challenging times and, with great fortitude, strives to make the best of her difficult situation. Sunday, March 28 @ 2:00pm


FEMININE DILEMMA: WOMEN CIRCUMCISION by Zara Yacoub (Chad)
A critical analysis of the practice of female circumcision - also called female genital mutilation - in Chad. Includes interviews with religious leaders, women's group representatives, health workers, everyday people, and the girls themselves.
Shown with WHITE LIKE THE MOON by Marina Gonzalez (USA)
A Mexican-American girl struggles to keep her identity when her mother forces her to bleach her skin. White Like the Moon is a revealing film about a dilemma not very well known outside Latino communities; that of the myth of the light skin superiority in Indigenous and Indigenous descendant communities.  Sunday, March 28 @ 4:00pm.  


PANEL DISCUSSION
“BLACK MOTHERHOOD AND SOCIETY” Sunday, March 28 @ 5:00pm.  
Speakers will include Teachers College, Columbia University educator Dawn Arno; blogger for www.nycmomsblog.com Carolyn Edgar, and University of Cincinnati Professor Thabiti Asukile.


WHERE: Teachers College, Columbia University
525 West 120th Street - Room 263 Macy
Take train 1 to 116th street and walk uptown four blocks. Entrance between Broadway and Amsterdam. Picture ID requested to enter building.


TICKETS:
Weekend pass $20; Day pass $15; $6 per show; panel:$5
SECURE YOUR SEAT TODAY! CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS ONLINE

DVDs and VHS of films from Africa and the African Diaspora will be on sale at the venue. $20 per DVD/VHS; $35 for 2 DVD/VHS; $45 for three DVD/VHS and $15 for each additional DVD/VHS.

ABOUT THE AFRICAN DIASPORA FILM FESTIVAL
The African Diaspora Film Festival presents an eclectic mix of Urban, Classic, Independent and Foreign films that explore the richness and diversity of the life experience of people of color all over the world.  For more information about The African Diaspora Film Festival visit www.NYADFF.org.  To get screeners of the films in the “Black Motherhood and Society” Film Series, please e-mail Info at http://www.NYADFF.org.  or call (212) 864-1760.

# # #

Held in NYC, Chicago, DC and Jersey City, the African Diaspora Film Festival (ADFF) features programs around urban, classic, foreign & independent films that explore the richness and diversity of the life experience of people of color all over the world.