Directors: Maritza In this documentary short, salon-owner and activist Pony Lee describes how his place of business and the cycles of transformation reflect his own transition. Pony tells us how he was led to his profession and how a business, staff and clientele found him. In a quick, day at the salon, we are introduced to a community of staff and clientele who found their way to one another other through the stories they share and the future they are working to create.
Directors: Nausheen Sofian Since the election, hate crimes against Muslims have reached their highest level since 9/11. The travel ban, initially blocked but now partially reinstated by order of the Supreme Court, has sent the message that Muslims are not welcome in the US. 'An Act of Worship' is about the push back against these developments.
Directors: Nardeep When a hate crime clouds the 4th of July, Mandeep, a Sikh-American, must grapple with his fears and anxieties as he attempts to celebrate the holiday with his wife and infant son. As tensions rise and compound through various microaggressions and racially charged encounters, Mandeep makes a tragic decision that changes his identity forever. Pagg explores what it is to be an ethnic-American in the current American climate.
Directors: Derrick Douglas, a young African-American boy living in Norfolk, VA in 1915, desires to go to the newly released film 'The Birth of a Nation'. He discovers that the only place showing the film is a 'white's only' cinema that refuses to let him inside. He also discovers protesters outside of the theatre, and a Chinese couple that don't quite fit into either side of the racial divide. Eventually he finds a way inside, but as he watches the film wonder dissipates into disillusionment as he is confronted with racism on the big screen. He finds new hope, however, in an open theatre presenting more uplifting material.
Directors: Robin Rose Singer, Ruya Koman A violent altercation between a police officer and an African-American man on a deserted country road has left one person dead. An interracial couple passing by must decide what to believe and what they are willing to do about it.
Directors: Lucas Guilkey When a young man mysteriously dies in a Bay Area jail, his mother begins a determined quest to find out what happened to him, but quickly runs into the opaque and powerful position of American sheriffs. This intimate, fast-paced documentary follows the first six months of Barbara Doss’ search to discover the details of her son’s mysterious death in Santa Rita jail. In the summer of 2018, 23-year-old Dujuan Armstrong was serving weekends for a burglary conviction, but one weekend he never came home. Thus began Barbara’s journey for truth and justice.
Directors: Sonam Larcin Having fled his country, David had to leave behind the man he loves. He remembers him, their life together, the society that forced them to lead a clandestine life. In order to obtain refugee status, he will now have to speak for the first time about his secret life he has always kept hidden to himself.
Directors: Suzanne Andrews Correa Green, an undocumented Turkish pedicab driver unwittingly draws police attention, endangering his brother, his community, and himself.
