Pluralities Nonfiction Film Conference
The Pluralities Nonfiction Film conference, hosted by the Documentary Fim Institute, San Francisco State University, took place on Nov. 6th and 7th. The theme was: Spaces, Places, Belonging, which was a great opportunity to present on my current documentary and research project in progress, including some new interview footage shot in the North Country. I was honored to present in the company of Laura Chipley (SUNY College, Old Westbury) and Samara Smith (SUNY College, Old Westbury) on a panel called Documenting Place: Collective Storytelling, Community Engagement and Documentary Practice. The keynote speakers, films and range of concerns touched upon throughout the two days were all inspiring. Thank you to Soumyaa Behrens for organizing such a thoughtful program.
More on the conference:
At our 2018 conference we hope to address themes such as spaces, places and belonging, not limited to, public space, space of the real, access to spaces (literal and figurative), relationship of race and gender to space, exhibition spaces, virtual spaces, funding spaces, accessibility, space of social platforms, boundaries and borders, conflict over borders, expanding boundaries, globalism versus nationalism, are some spaces only for some people, safe spaces, patrolled spaces, surveillance, should all spaces be diversified, should we have communities that only allow certain people access?
Jules Rosskam will present the day one keynote, Borders, Boundaries, and Bodies, or How I Got To Be Here: Jules Rosskam, screen his newest film, Paternal Rites and give workshops during the conference, while interactive and participatory media artist Sharon Daniel will present the day two keynote, The Evolution of “Public Secrets.” We are excited to also host artist, video maker and cinematographer Arthur Jafa in conversation with musician, producer and artist Greg Tate.
To close out the conference we will be screening the documentary, Survivors. Member from the Survivors team will be present for a Q&A following the film. “Through the eyes of Sierra Leonean filmmakers, Survivors presents a heart-connected portrait of their country during the Ebola outbreak, exposing the complexity of the epidemic and the socio-political turmoil that lies in its wake.”