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by The People’s Minister of Information JR The San Francisco Black Film Festival has been the best Black oriented event in the Bay Area this year. The plethora of worthy films that screened this year was phenomenal. The crowds were great; the whole Bay Area came out, young and old, and a diverse number of people of nationalities besides Black also supported the festival this year in great numbers.
San Francisco is the West Coast’s cultural capital, and the SF Black Film Festival is helping Frisco live up to that image, even though Black San Franciscans are being foreclosed on, evicted and moved out of the city with breakneck speed. The San Francisco Black Film Festival is about exploring the Black experience around the world, and expanding viewers’ thoughts and feelings about Black people past the brain-numbing racist stereotypes that are perpetuated on television, in the movies and in the music – but also in all media in the United States and virtually around the world. I am glad that I participated every day of the film festival, but the truth still stands that I did not get to see all of the movies in the festival that I wanted to see. I guess that is the mark of a successful film festival, to always leave the viewer wanting more.
I sat down with the co-director of the San Francisco Black Film Festival, Kali O’Ray, and talked about the happenings at this year’s triumphant San Francisco Black Film Festival. Check him out in his own words. M.O.I. JR: Which films did the best at the San Francisco Film Festival this year? Why did each of those films get the attention that they got in your opinion? Kali O’Ray: This year there was a plethora of films that did well. Whereas you usually have great films that you really want people to see, the films sold themselves this year. The trailers were very efficient and we all know that really helps sell a film and get people involved.
There were many filmmakers who were here to support their films, and that always make the filmgoers’ experience that much more enriching. We usually do so-so with online ticket sales and better at the door, but this year we saw an increase in online sales. I do not know if that speaks for the times or speaks to the fact that people wanted to make sure they didn’t miss the opportunity to see the films they were most interested in. The festival also screens films in blocks, which gives the end user a chance to see something that wasn’t even on their radar, and this really helps us to spread these great movies by offering something else to view with your first choice.
I think many of the films we had this year were very strong and had content that anyone could enjoy. With films like “America Is Still the Place,” “Njinga: Queen of Angola,” “Mac Dre: Legend of the Bay,” “Hagereseb,” “Driving While Black,” “Lee Scratch Perry’s Vision of Paradise” and three films directly from Cannes – “LadyLike,” “Zola” and “Bragg N. East” – these were some hard hitting films that really helped the festival succeed this year. And not to mention the great interviews and support from so many people who loved the subject matter. M.O.I. JR: What were the highlights of the San Francisco Film Festival this year? Kali O’Ray: There were many highlights to this year’s film festival, but I have to say the most significant one was the screening of “In an Ideal World.” I say this because the movie followed a group of inmates from Soledad who were at the beginning stages of cell integration in the prison.
The story itself was very heavy but three of the subjects have gotten out on parole and they were there for the screening. Since so many people are affected by the prison system, whether directly or indirectly, the turnout was significant and the Q&A had to last at least another hour after the movie ended. This was a very special moment, and you could feel the love and concern for the film in the air. It was a very special moment and screening for all involved. I also must mention that the opening film, “America Is Still the Place,” and closing night film, “Mac Dre: Legend of the Bay,” were very well attended films, from the Bay Area. Opening night was beautiful, with beautiful people and most of the cast from the movie. And for the closer, “Mac Dre: Legend of the Bay,” the whole Bay Area came out to see this film close the festival. I must say, Mac Dre still has a plethora of fans in the Bay who still care about him. And not to mention that Sway jumped in for the narration and his mother, Mac Wanda, was there to fill in the blanks about her son, Mac Dre.
M.O.I. JR: What were some of your personal favorite films from the festival? Kali O’Ray: My personal favorites were “Njinga: Queen of Angola,” “Hagereseb,” “Farming a Legacy,” “Circus Without Borders,” “Driving While Black,” “Dice,” “Spit” and “Ladylike” – not because they were necessarily the best films offered but I really enjoyed the content. As a matter of fact, I feel these films are well rounded and have a pulse on what it is to be Black in 2015. The stories will stand the test of time, and if you get a chance to see any of them I would recommend that you check these great films out. M.O.I. JR: What did you think about the success of the film, “America Is Still the Place,” on opening night and “Mac Dre: Legend of the Bay” on closing night?
Kali O’Ray: We were blessed to get these great films, and they really helped us get the word out regarding the festival. Both were really well put together and caught on like a firestorm. Both are Bay Area films, so we love to support those, and not to mention the quality of the two films. One was a feature and one was a documentary, and they were well received and supported by the media. Because of the support by the media, we were able to get the word out on these films and have a successful turnout for both of the films. The People’s Minister of Information JR Valrey is associate editor of the Bay View, author of “Block Reportin’” and “Unfinished Business: Block Reportin’ 2” and filmmaker of “Operation Small Axe” and “Block Reportin’ 101,” available, along with many more interviews, at www.blockreportradio.com. He can be reached at blockreportradio@gmail.com.
SFBFF Awards
AVE MONTAGUE AWARD
Winner Njinga: Queen of Angola
FEATURES
Winner America is Still the Place
Runner-up Knuckle Head
Honorable Mention My Name is David
Nominated Four-Way Stop
DOCUMENTARIES
Winner Lee Scratch Perry’s Vision of Paradise
Runner-up In An Ideal World
Honorable Mention Mac Dre: Legend of the Bay
Nominated Point of Pride
Nominated Farming A Legacy
FOREIGN
Winner Shortage of Children
Runner-up Save
Honorable Mention King of Guangzhou
Nominated Time Traveler
AFRICAN
Winner Njinga: Queen of Angola
Runner-up Zola
SHORT
Winner Hagereseb
Runner-up LadyLike
Honorable Mention Dice
Nominated Spit
Nominated Free Pass
Nominated Double Negative
STUDENT
Winner Stairways
Runner-up Standing8
Honorable Mention The Youth
Nominated The Mermaid
Nominated (re)Breathe
Nominated David’s Reverie
COMEDY
Winner Driving While Black (DWB)
LOCAL
Winner America is Still the Place
Runner-up In An Ideal World
Honorable Mention Moses
Nominated Point of Pride
Nominated 1440 And Counting
Nominated Rites
LGBT
Winner Out in the Night
Runner-up Alaska is a Drag
Honorable Mention Black is Blue
PEOPLE’S CHOICE
Winner Mac Dre: Legend of the Bay
Runner-up America is Still the Place
Honorable Mention In an Ideal World
Nominated Hagereseb
Nominated Point of Pride
Nominated Stairways
MUSIC VIDEO
Winner Black Lives Matter
FIRST TIME FILMMAKER
Winner Four-Way Stop
Runner-up King of Guangzhou
Honorable Mention Rites
Nominated LadyLike
Nominated Dice
Nominated The Mermaid
Nominated Spit
Nominated Charlotte
Nominated DayBlack
Nominated 1440 And Counting
Nominated Time Traveler
BEST CONCEPT
Winner DayBlack
Runner-up Spit
Honorable Mention Pull Your Pants Up
