The Central District's Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center will kick off its third annual African American Film Festival this Saturday with the premiere of three locally made short films, a panel discussion with the filmmakers, and a reception.
The festival will showcase 40 films by and about black people for nine straight days, closing on April 30 with a spotlight on Brazilian film.
Langston Hughes' artistic director Jacqueline Moscou said the festival's selection committee chose films that gave a voice to African-American experiences that aren't often seen in the media.
"The arts can break down a stereotype of arbitrary violence. Other movies and media are showing stereotypes, but I want this festival to start a dialog, to be a breath of fresh air, and to show what our culture has to share," Moscou said.
The committee selected films based on their "quality, content, and positivity," Moscou said. "We're giving the audience something smart. We do have films with violence, but they have a context for it."
Audience members will have the opportunity to ask artists about their filmmaking processes in discussion sessions that will follow many of the screenings.
"The filmmakers will be present, which enriches the experience. Audiences have the chance to participate. These films aren't a way to escape, but a chance to get some sustenance through art," Moscou said.
The festival also aims to attract audience members that Moscou said might not take advantage of Seattle's art scene very frequently because they don't feel embraced by it.
"We want to build an African-American audience by being welcoming and engaging and creating a rapport. Many other buildings and institutions don't represent their culture," Moscou said.
All audience members, regardless of race, will have a chance to see the world through black filmmakers' eyes onscreen, and Moscou says that's good for building understanding between cultures.
"This festival also gives audience members of all colors an experience in African-American culture that's authentic. It's important to show films with an African-American perspective; we need a voice for our community," Moscou said.
Among the films chosen to provide that voice was a trio of shorts produced by members of the 3 Films, 3 Visions project.
The filmmakers conceived the project when they realized their tight production budgets would go further if they pooled their resources to bring their visions to the big screen, said Winfield Ezell, Jr., writer, director and producer of the 14-minute short "Mary Jane."
Ezell got together with two other writer-directors and a production team to shoot the three short films over a nine-day period in January. They shared money, actors, crewmembers and equipment, but each writer-director was responsible for creating his own artistic vision.
"It was truly community filmmaking, a joint effort all the way through. After nine days, each filmmaker walked away with something that represents him," Ezell said.
After principal photography, independent filmmakers often dawdle in post-production, taking months or even years to get their work edited and ready for the screen. But the 3 Films, 3 Visions team pushed each other to get their films in the can quickly, said Bryan Johnson, who will premiere his first project, the 14-minute short "Swipe," at Langston Hughes.
"We completed our films, taking them from script to screen, in seven months. That's an aggressive schedule," Johnson said.
The team hopes their project's emphasis on teamwork among independent filmmakers can serve as a model for other artists.
"We call 3 Films, 3 Visions a blueprint for community filmmaking; it's an example of how to get it done," Ezell said.
"People can see that this was made by a first-time filmmaker and that it's possible," Johnson agreed.
Johnson taught himself to edit film after studying broadcasting at Washington State University. He said he hopes to continue working with 3 Films, 3 Visions, but is also considering moving elsewhere to pursue a career in cinema because filmmaking in Seattle has lagged behind other cities in recent years.
"The Seattle scene is coming back up. There was a downslide as people took their projects to Vancouver and Los Angeles, but it could come back to be one of the top filmmaking cities in the country. The talent pool is younger, giving Seattle a chance to reach its potential," Johnson said.
Events like the Langston Hughes African American Film Festival help build community among filmmakers.
"Filmmakers can network with other local, national and international artists. There will be a filmmakers' roundtable with artists from Brazil, New York, Chicago and Los Angeles. That makes it a place where filmmakers can gain something," Moscou said.
"I am thankful for festivals like this that allow me to showcase my film and get critiques and feedback. I'll also get to meet other filmmakers and make connections," said Eddie Smith, whose 16-minute short "The Cleansing" will screen on April 29.
Ultimately, though, the purpose of the festival is to benefit film viewers.
"I'd like for Langston Hughes to be a bridge to that next tier of filmmaking success, and a point of entry for artists. But the mission of the festival is audience enjoyment and growth. We're not Sundance, where you can get a distribution deal-at least not yet," Moscou said.
Considering the festival's significant growth, it just may be on its way to becoming major. It received seven film submissions in its first year, 19 in its second, and more than 60 in this, its third. The abundance of films led the festival to triple in length compared to last year's three-day schedule.
"We take our clues from the audience," Moscou said.
So far, the audience has kept asking for more.
Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center is located at 104 17th Avenue South. For more information about the festival, visit www.langstonblackfilmfest.org or call 684-4710.
Columbia City writer Denise Miller may be contacted through editor@sdistrictjournal.com.
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