2023 Film Festival
In-theater Program
Hayti Mission
The mission of Hayti Heritage Center is to preserve and advance the heritage and culture of historic Hayti in Durham, North Carolina and the African American experience through arts programs that benefit the broader community nationally and globally.
HAYTI FILMS consists of the HHFF and its year-round film programming, the Hayti Film Next Level series.
Hayti Heritage Film Festival (HHFF) premiered in 1995 as an anchor program of the Hayti Heritage Center and is unique due to its historically significant home and emphasis on Black, Southern films. Our use of the word “Southern” includes both the U.S. and global South.
This year our theme is We Carry Them With Us, which invokes the importance of the ancestors in the shaping and informing our creative process in the African Diaspora.
Welcome to the Hayti Heritage Film Festival 2023!
Creative Team
Lana Garland, Co-Festival Director & Curator
Tyra Dixon, Co-Festival Director
Audria Byrd, Festival Coordinator
Angel Dozier, BeConnected Marketing/PR
Marcus Kiser, Graphic Design
StacyNicole Robinson, Social Media Manager
Kimberly Knight, The Lux Public Relations Agency
Tarryn Henry, Webmaster
Quentin Talley, Program Director, Hayti Heritage Center
E.J. Thorne, Technical Director, Hayti Heritage Center
Jamie Caple, Special Design
Hayti Staff
Angela Lee, Executive Director
Melody Little, Executive Finance Officer
Carol Lloyd, Development Director
John Frazier, Facility Manager & Programming Assistant
Marc Lee, Site Coordinator
Sandra Lee, Administrative Support
The in-theater programming is listed below. Please click the timeframes to view the list of films.
Adisa Septuri & Ebony Gilbert
Alexandrine Benjamin
Alice Diop
Angela Harvey
Byron Hurt
Dr. Kristi V. Johnson
Dumas Haddad
Elegance Bratton
Fan Sissoko
Hans Augustav
João Queiroga
Jon Sesrie Goff
Jonathan Isaac Jackson
Julian Vargas
Junadry Leocaria
Katrina Brook Flores
Kristian Hill
Landon Terrell Bost
Leslie Tô
Marlon Riggs
Marquise Mays
Mbabazi Sharangabo Philbert Aimé
Meiko Taylor
Myron Ward
Ouida Washington
Patrice D. Bowman
Ramata-Toulaye SY
Rodrigo Sena
Rokhaya Marieme Balde
Sheila Nortley
Wilmarc Val
Angel Dozier
Aidil Ortiz
Atinuke Diver
Sam Hoggs
Dr. Rae Lundy
Quentin Talley
Rachel Raney
Stephanie Ford
Mirlesna Azor
Omisade Burney Scott
DeForrest Brown
HHFF & Hayti Staff
Family
Patricia Rieser
Friends
Peter Paiton
Family Reunion
Treat Harvey
Martha Brown
Black Wall St.
E’vonne Coleman
Ricky & Cherie Kelly
Barbara Lau
Lew Myers
Laura Schanberg
Shadowbox Studios/Movie Loft/Rumur
Toussaint Louverture
Jeanette Stokes
Hilary French
Blue Hibiscus | Handmade earring and beaded bags
House of Eloise | Knit / Crochet & wood art
Nashona | Clothing
Rofhiwa Book Cafe | Books
Himidi African Apparel | African Clothing
King’s Pepper | Jewelry & pepper products
African American Dollar Store | DVD’s + CD’s, Greek paraphernalia
Freedom Clay | Artwork & photography
Karen Smith Metal Artist | Jewelry
Shay Hendricks | Original artwork prints
SpiritHouse
Discover Durham
Molly Murphy, Working Films
International Documentary Association (IDA)
Documentary Producers Alliance (DPA)
Rachel Raney, Reel South
Dasan Ahanu (Festival video spoken word artist)
Denise Allen Photography
Roman Gabriel, Sweet Home Café
Shoe Crazy Wine
Harlem Brewing Company
Rofhiwa Book Café
DJ 360
Chef Ru, Artistic Eating
Volunteers
We could not do this work without the generous contribution of our volunteers. Thank you for believing in the mission. Thank you for your generous contribution.
NC…where you at!? The filmmakers in this program are native to North Carolina. The themes explored in this block include community histories, unapologetic love, and ancestral connections with nature.
The Communion of White Dresses
Director: Dr. Kristi V. Johnson
Documentary Short ~ Dance ~ Experimental
Filmmaker: Dr. Kristi V. Johnson
Dance ~ Experimental ~ Southern Narrative Short
Director: Landon Terrell Bost
Documentary Short ~ History
Director: Angela Harvey
Documentary Feature ~ LGBTQIA+ ~ Love
Ancestors. Ritual. Myth. The films in this block explore the central role of spirituality throughout the African Diaspora.
Filmmaker: Marquise Mays
Documentary Short ~ Ancestors
Director: Wilmarc Val
Documentary Short ~ Spirituality ~ Ancestors
Directors: Adisa Septuri & Ebony Gilbert
Documentary Short ~ Trauma
Director: Joao Queiroga
Documentary Short ~ Trauma ~ Ancestors
The publicity around Tenoch Huerta’s ethnicity was a big conversation during last year’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. This screening celebrates the Afro- & indigenous communities in Mexico.
Director: Jorge Pérez Solano
Narrative Feature
Join us for hors d’oeuvres and refreshing beverages before an amazing program that celebrates great filmmaking!
First, Spirit House of Durham will invite the ancestors to watch over the in-person portion of the festival. Then, we’ll screen THE INSPECTION followed by a Q+A with director, Elegance Bratton and producer, Chester Algernal Gordon.
Director: Elegance Bratton
Narrative Feature
Producing Towards Equity with the IDA and Documentary Producers Alliance
“Producing Toward Equity” (PTE) is an interactive workshop offering filmmakers resources to dismantle outdated producing practices and rebuild ones that are more fair and just. Developed by the Documentary Producers Alliance (DPA) in partnership with the International Documentary Association (IDA), PTE is focused on film financing and crediting through the lens of equity and inclusion, for independent documentary producers of all experience levels. The workshop is designed to provide producers with information that may otherwise be unavailable or difficult to find in formal educational programs and on-the-job training.
Training / Workshop
Post in Black: Planning Your Fiction Short While Creating a Career in Post
Post in Black started as a blog in 2011 and since has expanded into a web-series and podcast featuring some of the most sought-after talent within the post-production industry. The purpose of this workshop will be to increase awareness of post-production opportunities for African Americans, while shining a spotlight on the entire process as a whole. From Editor to Sound Mix to VFX to Coloring and Composing, these positions are both important and interdependent. We’ll discuss how to get into these professions, the various ways to increase self-learning, and how to seek mentorship in the industry outside of the major city centers like Los Angeles, New York or Atlanta.
About Post in Black
Since its inception, Post In Black, has provided a much-needed outlet and platform for post-production professionals in the African
American community. The goal is to connect these individuals with those who are unaware of all the work happening behind the scenes. As advice and experience is shared from subject matter experts that have succeeded in this field, it is the hope that the pursuit of a post-production career becomes more attainable.
David Hunter Jr.
David Hunter Jr. is an actor, writer, and producer with a desire to tell stories that impact, inspire, educate and entertain. He is a proud graduate of Hampton University and also studied acting at the Identity School of Acting. Since relocating to Los Angeles, he has voiced campaigns for Blavity, Google, and Samsung along with a variety of commercials, podcasts, and animated projects. He also served as the “Voice of God” for the theatre staff at the Dolby Theatre (formerly Kodak Theatre) for the Oscars for over 10 years. Over the last year, David has also worked hand in hand as a producer for Amy Aniobi (Insecure) and her company SuperSpecial helping to produce 2 short films which are currently in post-production.
Tatiana Johnson
Hailing from Durham, NC, Tatiana M. Johnson is an award-winning producer, writer, and creative consultant with more than a decade of experience. She holds a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism and Business Management from Hampton University and has worked directly with companies including Leslie Lewis Consulting (Grammy Nomination Production Consultant), WME Entertainment, Canady Foundation for the Arts, Blackspace: An Afrofuturism Digital Makerspace, National Geographic, and Duke University. She has maneuvered through various media industries but finds joy in partnering with creatives to bring their artistic visions to fruition. To date she has executive produced three web series, produced two short films, two talk shows, two live theater performances, one documentary and consulted on the publishing of five books. She operates a talent management/creative consulting company, 1st Lady Management, and serves as a co-Founder for Made for More Entertainment. The mantra she carries with her is “there are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it”.
Training / Workshop
How do we love one another? How are we caring for our people? This block centers films concerned with compassion, intimacy, intention, and love.
Director: Hans Augustave
Narrative Short ~ Mental Health
Director: Rodrigo Sena
Narrative Short ~ Ancestors
Director: Meiko Taylor
Narrative Short ~ Trauma ~ Mental Health
Director: Julian Vargas
Narrative Short ~ Love
Based in France, Sudu Connexion is a distribution company that features high-quality films from Africans in the diaspora about Africans around the world.
Filmmaker: Leslie TÔ
Narrative Short ~ Family
Director: Ramata-Toulaye SY
Narrative Short ~ Family
Director: Mbabazi Sharangabo Philbert Aimé
Narrative Short ~ Love
Director: Rokhaya Marieme Balde
Documentary Short ~ History
Director: Fan Sissoko
Narrative Short ~ Animation
From Anime / Comic book / Podcast to Broadcast
Karama Horne (@theblerdgurl”) is a culture journalist, podcaster, content creator, host and critic parked at the intersection of geekdom and diversity. Join her for a conversation about transforming your anime, comic book, or podcast into content for broadcast TV or streaming network.
A former commercial video editor she is the founder of theblerdgurl.com a site dedicated to Black nerd geekdom and pop culture. As a journalist, Karama has bylines at Rotten Tomatoes, NERDIST, Mashasble, SYFYWIRE and The Wrap. As a host has been featured as a guest host on red carpets, comic-con stages and is the co-host of Pop Paranormal , a horror podcast on Travel Channel. Karama has been featured in the NYTimes, USAToday, The Guardian and more and in 2022 her first novel, Black Panther “Protectors of Wakanda: A History and Training Manual for the Dora Milaje” was released. In 2023 Karama makes her debut as a comic book writer in the anthology one shot Marvel’s Voices: Wakanda Forever.
Training / Workshop
Join us for this special screening of one of the most riveting documentaries of this past year. In addition, we’ll have live and in-person the film’s director, the visionary Byron Hurt along with producer Natalie Bullock Brown. Also participating in the Q+A will be Pamela Champion, a mother featured in the film who tragically lost her son to hazing.
Director: Byron Hunt
Documentary Feature ~ Trauma ~History
DAWG Town Hall with Working Films
There’s a growing movement asking documentaries to do better – to honor and center the power and agency of the people featured in films, and move away from the form’s extractive origins. Join members of the Documentary Accountability Working Group – Natalie Bullock Brown, Hannah Hearn, and Molly Murphy – for a town hall conversation exploring values, ethics, and accountability that can be applied from the time a film is considered being made, through its release and impact campaign. This interactive conversation will offer a safe space to explore intentional practices, challenges, and a future in which everyone involved in a film can experience and look back on as a positive experience.
Training / Workshop
This block of films explores Narrative themes woven together around relationships, family, and fragility in navigating this terrain.
Director: Ouida Washington
Southern Documentary Feature ~ Experimental
Director: Myron Ward
Narrative Short ~ Family
Director: Alexandrine Benjamin
Narrative Short ~ Family ~ Love
An Afternoon Sun Shower in Spring
Director: Jonathan Isaac Jackson
Narrative Short ~ Family
Director: Sheila Nortley
Narrative Short ~ Trauma
Hayti staff chose this film when it was shortlisted as France’s entry to this year’s Academy Awards. While Alice Diop’s tour-de-force did not make the final round, we’re excited to share this with our film-loving community.
Director: Alice Diop
Narrative Feature
The films in this block explore the ways that we are in continuous rhythm and harmony with the ancestors.
Filmmaker: Dr. Kristi Vincent Johnson
Southern Narrative Short ~ Dance ~ Experimental
Director: Patrice D. Bowman
Southern Narrative Short ~ Dance ~ Experimental
Director: Junadry Leocaria
Dance ~ Experimental
The Communion of White Dresses
Director: Dr. Kristi V. Johnson
Documentary Short ~ Dance ~ Experimental
Director: Katrina Brook Flores
Narrative Short ~ Experimental ~ Afrofuturism ~ Love
Director: Dumas Haddad
Narrative Short ~ Experimental
Future Forward Techno with DeForrest Brown
Join us for a special presentation in the lobby of Hayti! DeForrest Brown, Jr., rhythmanalyst, media theorist, and curator, will present a one-hour soundscape of electronic music. Brown releases music under his own name as well as the moniker Speaker Music and is a representative of the Make Techno Black again campaign.
Free and open to the public.
Director Kristian Hill and Producer Jennifer Washington will be at Hayti for this special screening of God Said Give ‘Em Drum Machines. A Q+A with DeForrest Brown, Jr. follows.
God Said Give ‘Em Drum Machines
Director: Kristian R. Hill
Documentary Feature ~ Music ~History
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