This year’s Reel
Sisters film festival, "Jump at de Sun," which runs
from March 10 to 12 at Long Island University, pays tribute to
Harlem Renaissance writer Zora Neale Hurston. In honor of the
"Their Eyes Were Watching God" scribe (a portrait of
Hurston by artist Gilbert Fletcher is pictured at right), the
festival will celebrate her influence on film, literature and
art.
A free, pre-fest celebration, on March 7 at 6:30 pm at Borough
Hall, will welcome award-winning director Julie Dash, as well
as screen the work of Brooklyn filmmakers: Booker T. Mattison
("Gilded Six-Bits"), Olufunmilayo Gittens ("Lucky")
and Morenike Olabunmi ("Etu & Nago: The Yoruba Connection").
Dash will later be honored with Hurston’s niece, Lucy Anne Hurston,
on March 10 at 6:30 pm at the Reel Sisters gala.
Another festival highlight is "High Tea & Hattitude,"
a celebration of Hurston’s love affair with fine hats, on March
12 at 4 pm at LIU’s Kumble Theater. Before closing on Sunday,
the international series will have presented 40 films by women
of color.
The festival venues, the Kumble Theater and Spike Lee Screening
Room, are located on the Brooklyn campus of Long Island University,
Flatbush Avenue Extension at DeKalb Avenue in Downtown Brooklyn.
Borough Hall is located at 209 Joralemon St. at Court Street
in Downtown Brooklyn.
For information about the festival, weekend or single-day passes,
and a complete schedule of films and panels, visit the Web site
www.reelsisters.org
or call (212) 865-2982.
VIVA ZORA
