Film festival delivers culture
Danielle Capalbo
Issue date: 8/1/07 Section: The Inside
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Inside, a father and daughter are at odds. His robust West African accent commands her to her room. She appeals, with no trace of an accent. He wears a military costume; she wears a T-shirt and shorts that traveled in her luggage from America.
She finally walks out the door and mounts her bike. Down unpaved streets, she rides away. Joyous Afropop music plays behind her.
The short film, "Autumn's Turn," rolls to credits.
For director Faith Kakulu, 32, the autobiographical short is a nod at her past and a look toward the future. Next week, it will be among the films screened at the ninth annual Roxbury Film Festival.
The festival - an acclaimed showcase of films celebrating people of color - is the largest in New England, said the festival's founder, Candelaria Silva. The program has gained international recognition, Silva said, drawing contributions from England, Brazil, South Africa and the Pan African Film Festival of Cannes.
Silva, who works for Arts, Culture and Trade (ACT) Roxbury, was hired nine years ago to set in motion an idea she hatched: a series of art-related events in Roxbury.
"It was a perfect location that had a lot of cultural riches," Silva said.
A Northeastern alumna, Silva currently lives in Dorchester and remains at the helm of the festival that netted 62 films this year, including about 12 films made in its namesake neighborhood.
The festival, co-sponsored by ACT Roxbury and the Color of Film Collaborative, will run from August 1 to 5 at various locations, and include special guests, panels and acting workshops.
"Filmmakers and actors find a lot of opportunities to network," Silva said. "It's a very active and participatory experience."
The film festival grew from its one-day, 14-film event in 1999 to last year, when it spanned four days and five screening locations: the Museum of Fine Arts; Massachusetts College of Art; Wentworth Institute of Technology; the Roxbury Center for Arts at Hibernian Hall; and Northeastern, where it started.
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