Langston Hughes African American Film Festival 2008

West Coast Premiere - This is the story of one of the most unusual clubs in the world: La SAPE. Its members, the Sapeurs, come from the Democratic Republic of Congo and have elevated fashion to the status of a religion. Despite extreme economic hardships the Sapeurs will only settle for the likes of Roberto Cavalli, Yohji Yamamoto, Versace, Issey Miyake and Burberry. Set to the soundtrack of Congo's extraordinary music, the film follows the cult's founder and spiritual father, Papa Wemba, the world-famous musician known as 'Le Roi De La Sape' (The King of la Sape). The film starts with Wemba's release on bail in July 2003 from French prison after being charged with smuggling illegal immigrants into Europe for profit. For several months, the filmmakers followed Wemba trying to piece his life back together. Threatened with legal fees and an upcoming trial, he recorded a new album and prepared for an extravagant concert in Paris. Meanwhile his followers, Congolese immigrants living in Paris and Brussels, were busy living the Sapeur lifestyle - constantly hustling for money, keeping up with Papa Wemba's fashion ideology, and pursuing a 'dedication' by Wemba, who is paid a lot of money by his fans in order to sing their names in his new album. Bragging and boasting, loud and proud, constantly advertising themselves and each other, they are stars on a stage they mentally construct in the absence of real ones

Seattle Premiere - A story-board artist/sci-fi junkie, Jay Brooks is the only Black guy in his indie-rock social scene. After a string of failed relationships, all with white women, Jay decides to begin “Operation Brown Sugar” by giving up White women cold-turkey and trying to find himself a Black girlfriend. Since he doesn’t fit the “brotha” stereotype Jay fails miserably with the “sistahs.” When Jay meets Catherine, a misunderstood “halfrican-Canadian” and newly published author, Jay challenges Catherine to face her fear of publicly reading her work and realizes his own fears of commitment have had more to do with his previous disastrous relationships than any racial incompatibilities. Filled with lots of laughs and clever insights, THE INEVITABLE UNDOING OF JAY BROOKS looks at what we’ll go through to find love and what we sometimes do to get out of it.

In this family drama, a young couple struggles against family prejudices regarding class, health, lineage, and moral standards. A beautiful, intelligent young woman’s father suffers from an illness which stigmatizes her entire family and endangers her chances for a happy marriage.

A fascinating documentary about the 900+ year old historic landmark of Lalibela, which consists of 11 rock-hewn Eastern Orthodox churches in Ethiopia. Some 900 years ago, King and Chief Priest Lalibela constructed these churches out of basalt rock high in the mountains of northwestern Ethiopia. The geometric precision of the construction amazes modern architects. The sewage system is still intact. The mural paintings and sculptures inside the buildings astonish visitors. Major events of the Bible are represented in the architecture. The film examines the mystery behind the design and architecture of the churches. How was it possible to create 11 churches from solid rock in only 23 years? Modern architects, church and art historians, engineers, and artists provide insight

Time is running out for Silas and Mike, two men in a bar having a conversation about life, death, and the indifference to t all. Silas, a handsome, charismatic psychopath, has just killed his wife and child and to share his psychotic experience with someone. Mike, a cynical, weary police detective is just the guy Silas was looking for. By the end of the conversation Silas feels an incredible urge and sense of freedom he never thought possible. Mike feels an incomparable angst and sense of mortal danger. The clock is ticking.

Husband and wife slaves anxiously await the birth of a child as they wonder whether the child is born of the rape of a slave master. Beautiful film created by Chicago's Barbara Allen director of the award winning "Paper Trail"

Seattle Premiere - Critically acclaimed director Charles Burnett’s latest film follows the legend of Samuel Nujoma (Carl Lumbly), Namibia’s first president and a prominent leader in the struggle for independence from apartheid South Africa. The film opens when Nujoma is 16 years old, the country is under constant oppression from South Africa, and the young man learns that he is the direct descendant of royalty. He sets out to live with an aunt, and befriends a religious man (Danny Glover) who has maintained a low profile after legal troubles stemming from a staged car accident. Eventually Nujoma, in the face of severe racism, forms the SWAPO political movement that, with the assistance of some foreign governments, eventually earns Namibia its independence. Later on, a boycott and massacre of protestors turn up the heat, forcing Nujoma into exile. This film is 160 minutes long (3 hours) and includes one intermission.

A joyful tribute to the beauty, diversity, and versatility of Afro hair in its natural state. Shot in Super 8 on the streets of Toronto, aka “the T-dot”.

A Bronx lesbian teenager juggles multiple identities to avoid rejection from friends and family but pressure from home, school, and within corrodes the line between her dual life with explosive consequences.