The Mother of Mamdani Film Festival : Community screenings to celebrate, invigorate and educate.

These are events that can take place in any and every community across the United States.

Start with MISSISSIPPI MARSALA (1991) directed by Mira Nair.  (Maybe this is the only film you show). There are three significant reasons. The film is an excellent tool to discuss immigration and race and work and love. If communities have a common piece of uplifting media to share and discuss with one another across communities we can collectively see our way to a better future for all. Most significantly, if Mira Nair had not gone to Uganda to do research for this film we would not have Zhoran Mamdani to lead us into the future

 Mamdani hugs his mother, Mira Nair, on election night.

From here, there are thousands of different directions to program other film works. There are many other Mira Nair works. This is great especially if you want to see more of her oeuvre. In branching out, consider a very early video of Lydia Dean Pilcher*, LOUDER THAN OUR WORDS (1981) about a women's affinity group conducting civil disobedience. Pilcher has produced most of Nair's films

At the time that MISSISSIPPI MARSALA was released, Julie Dash's DAUGHTERS OF THE DUST (1991) also came out. My own FROM THE INTERIOR, COLONIZED (1992) was shot in November 1991 at an international women's gathering of environmental activists. Jumping off from a plenary talk by Vandana Shiva, women from across the globe discuss and develop their Technology platform for the upcoming 1992 Earth Summit.

Do not forget shorts. They are really the best works for deep community discussion – BECAUSE they are SHORT. A fantastic collection on reproductive rights have been put together by the Abortion Clinic Film Collective. There is a raw, empowering community made film by a secretary called FEAR (1973, 6m, B&W) directed by Jean Shaw. While it essentially deals with a potential rape, given current authoritarian attempts to intimidate people the title is a metaphor for all kinds of domination. There are some fantastic youth made films. SHY GIRL and LAS MUJERES DENTRO DE MI/THE WOMAN INSIDE ME are among some of my favorites. But there are many. MANY!

Even some Hollywoodesque works carry significant messages, like ALL THE PRESIDENTS MEN and the once blacklisted film, SALT OF THE EARTH, a true classic.

Dramatic works along with documentaries should be considered equally

There are media makers in your community. Check in with them about locally made works and their ideas for media that speak to your community needs. They can assist with organizing speakers and discussion leaders.

I am a firm believer in the use of media for social change, today, called 'impact”. Do not just stop with my suggestions. Seek out your own.

* enjoy Pilcher's article “Terrorist Chic” in the WMM newsletter, Fall 1981, Vol 4, No 2 https://www.arieldougherty.com/archives-et-al