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As human beings we shape our own identities around our experiences, but also around information that we believe to be true about ourselves. But what about the things that we do not know or cannot know? Might these parts unknown also play a role in our active process of being and becoming? Lacey Schwartz’s 2014 documentary Little White Lie engages this side of self-identity. The deeply personal and explorative film brings viewers along for an unexpected journey of self-discovery and affirmation of personhood after the revelation of a well-hidden family secret shakes things up. put this doc on your watch list right now!!

Alicia Erian’s 2005 book To*****ad was adapted into a film which premiered at Toronto International Film Festival in 2008. Presented under the title Nothing is Private at the Canadian screening, the film, directed by Alan Ball, switched its moniker to To*****ad as an homage to Erian’s work and the experiences that inspired her to write the original text.

Prior to the film’s release, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) admonished distributor Warner Bros. blasé attitude toward allowing the ethnic slur to appear as a film heading. Ball expressed his belief that the title should remain as it had been given by Erien in order to detract power from the term and to further break down the walls of illusion that racism and bigotry all too often hide behind.

Reclaiming ugly words is a practice that some embrace, but also one that makes others uncomfortable. Did Ball make the right choice here?

This film is on our short list of all-time favorites. Don’t care what it says on Rotten Tomatoes, the film—its characters and their stories—are amazing and not to be overlooked! Rent online and watch it tonight!

It was clear from the outset that there was so much heart behind Pariah, a seminal work from Emmy Award-winning, Oscar-nominated writer/director Dee Rees. Pariah initially hit the festival circuit as a short film, screening and gaining applause from Toronto International Film Festival and Tribeca Film Festival amongst others. Rees spent two years subsequent workshopping the semi-autobiographical feature film at Sundance’s Screenwriters Lab. The feature premiered at Sundance in 2011. Years in the making, you gotta love the process!

Pariah’s story captures the essence of what it means to love ourselves and to embrace those that love us for who we really are, and shares with audiences the beauty, liberation and joy that can only be found when we allow ourselves to live out our truths.

The Fits, writer/director Anna Rose Holmer’s debut feature film, premiered at Venice Film Festival in 2015, then going on to screen at notable festivals such as Sundance and TriBeCa in 2016. The Fits took home an Independent Spirit ‘Someone to Watch Award’ amongst several other accolades. Drawing on magical realism, the narrative explores very real human desires around being, becoming, and belonging through the eyes and experiences of pr***en boxer-turned-dancer, Toni (portrayed by actress Royalty Hightower).

Mateo & Cliff by writer/director Ogechi Musa captures the realities of lived experience in Los Angeles in the narratives of two men whose lifestyles are at opposite spectrums of the city’s polarizing wealth disparity. Honing in on homelessness and mental health awareness, this short film is a much needed contribution to the ever-pressing conversations around these critical issues. premieres in Hollywood this weekend !!

Our rendition of the Juneteenth flag 👊🏾👊🏽👊🏿

Today’s celebration marks a milestone of particular significance. Saturday June 19, 2021 from now on will be the date of the first federally-recognized Juneteenth Holiday in the United States!!!

Hey Congress, thanks for finally catching up w/ history!

Now more than ever “diversity” and “inclusivity” are welcome and celebrated terms across all forms of media, yet mainstream film leaves much to be desired in that it hasn’t quite figured out where representation fits in for those who do not identify with binary gender.

Anahita Ghazvinizadeh’s They (2017) takes a bold step forward in its contribution to representation of non-binary and gender non-conforming people. The intimate and delicately-crafted narrative centers around the very real lived experience a young character, J, who is in the midst of exploring their gender identity.

#2017