A Great Way to End an Unforgettable Year

What an incredible afternoon Sunday, December 7, was! I had sold more than 100 tickets in advance to my first screening to help Ruth and Hoctavia, the two girls in the film, pay for college.

I was hoping I'd get another 30 or 40 people at the door, but never imagined the San Marco Theatre would be nearly sold out. (See pictures below)

When I stood before the audience to introduce the film, I was overcome by emotion. Looking out into the audience I saw many of the faces that have made my life here in Jacksonville so rich. Their presence, support, and interest in the film made this an especially memorable day.

I've shown this documentary at many film festivals in cities all over the U.S., but this screening was different. It was different because I was able to share something I'm very passionate about with people, with a community with which I feel a strong connection. One that in a short period of time I feel very much a part of.

It's been almost a year since I moved to Jacksonville from Washington, D.C. hoping to find a sense of community and a warm and friendly environment which, as a filmmaker, fuels my creativity. I found exactly what I was looking for.

Thank you Jacksonville for your support and generosity. You've helped Ruth and Hoctavia take their dream to the next level and made 2008 one of the best years ever.

December 7 Screening at the San Marco Theatre in Jackonville

November Screenings in London and Barcelona

Barcelona International Children's Television Festival, (Nov 10-15, www.oeti.org)
Thursday, November 13 at 4 p.m.
Caixa Forum, Centre Social i Cultural de l'Obra Social la Caixa
Av. Marques de Cornillas, 6-8
Barcelona

Black Filmmaker International Film Festival (Nov 7-17, www.bfmmedia.com).
Saturday, November 15 at 4 p.m.
Rich Mix, 35-47 Bethnal Green Road
London

Africa's Daughters wins Best Short Documentary Award in Nashville

Nashville may be known as "Music City" but it's also a great place to see independent films. Attending the International Black Film Festival of Nashville was an exciting and informative experience.

It was the kind of environment where the exchange of ideas was constant, with more established filmmakers making it a point to share their experiences and offer advice to those who've entered the industry fairly recently.

"Southern Style, Feels Like Home," the slogan the festival used this year, was right on the mark and carried over into the workshops.

The panels were a great opportunity to meet with people on the business side of the industry who, with great candor, shared their perspectives on how to balance the commercial viability of a film with the passion that drives us to create films.

Hearing about the challenges faced by filmmakers and actors in other parts of the world like Nollywood (Nigeria’s growing film industry) and meeting one its leading actors, Ramsey Noah, was also a unique experience.

And what an honor to find out that “Africa’s Daughters” which had won the Best Short Documentary award at the Eugene International Film Festival two weeks before, was selected by a jury as the Best Short Documentary winner at IBFF Nashville.

I know I’ll keep in touch with many of the filmmakers, film aficionados, and members of academia I met in Nashville and have a feeling I’ll be back in Music City very soon.

Natalie Halpern being interviewed at the International Black Film Festival of Nashville

Upcoming Screenings

Eugene International Film Festival
Friday, October 3, 7 p.m.
Regal Cinemas Valley River Stadium 15
500 Valley River Center
Eugene, Oregon
eugenefilmfest.org

International Black Film Festival of Nashville
Thursday, October 16, 8:05 p.m.
Tennessee State University - Avon Williams Campus
Avon Williams Auditorium
330 10th Avenue North
www.ibffnashville.com

Africa's Daughters Screens in Philly

Philadelphia Independent Film Festival, Friday, June 27, 5:30 p.m.
941 Theatre, 941 North Front Street
philadelphiaindependentfilmfestival.com

Portland Women's Film Festival

(l to r: Tara Johnson-Medinger, Natalie Halpern, Elle Martini, Corrinne Theodoru)

I arrived in Portland at 3:30 a.m. East Coast time and fortunately had a day to settle in before my screening on Sunday, May 18. This was my first time in this very socially and environmentally conscious city, a perfect setting for a festival dedicated to films highlighting important issues impacting women.

Despite the unusually hot, sunny weather the whole weekend (I was prepared for lots of rain), the wonderful selection of films, narrative and documentary, made staying in the red velvet seats of the historic Hollywood Theater an easy choice. The films covered so many compelling topics: the transition from childhood to adolescence ("Going on 13"), the difficult choices an epileptic mother must make to live a normal life ("Rachel: A Perfect Life"), and the unquenchable spirit of an 89-year old woman to affect change in our democracy ("Granny D Goes to Washington"). Meeting the talented women who made some of these films was as fulfilling as sharing "Africa's Daughters" with a new audience.

That said, no matter how many screenings you attend, that moment when you hear people laugh or watch them smile during certain scenes is indescribable. It's that aha! moment where you get to experience all over again the emotional connection you've made with a group of strangers who are now invested in and care about the story you've told.

What makes a festival like the Portland Women's Film Festival so special is the opportunity to share experiences with other filmmakers in an intimate setting. POW Fest Director Tara Johnson-Medinger went out of her way to foster an environment where we could learn from each other, root each other on, and potentially find opportunities for future collaboration. I leave Portland with an even greater love for the craft of filmmaking and the unique perspectives women bring to this inspiring art form.

Upcoming Screenings

Tallahassee Film Festival, Documentary Shorts #1 Against All Odds
Saturday, May 17, 2 p.m., All Saints Cinema
Saturday, May 17, 6:30 p.m., FAMU Lecture Hall
http://tallahasseefilmfestival.com

Portland Women's Film Festival, Sunday, May 18, 3 p.m.
The Hollywood Theater
http://powfest.bside.com/2008/films

Jacksonville Film Festival, Monday, May 19, 10 p.m.
Fuel in Five Points
http://jacksonville.bside.com/2008/films

Director's Statement

For girls like Hoctavia Sabiti and Ruth Aringo, both from Uganda, graduating from high school is something almost beyond reach,
nearly unimaginable.

And yet, as 17-year old Hoctavia expresses in the film, "When you educate a girl, you educate a whole nation."

The meaning behind these words was the motivation for
"Africa's Daughters."

It’s widely accepted that education is the cornerstone of progress for individuals and countries alike. But when girls in developing countries are educated, especially at the high school level, the benefits to society - social, economic, and political - are multiplied many times over.

Hoctavia and Ruth, two remarkable young women, represent the dreams of millions of girls in Uganda and across Africa who understand that the only way to break the cycle of poverty in which they've grown up is to complete high school and, hopefully, go on
to college.

Capturing their stories of hope and determination, and seeing how they're rising above cultural beliefs and traditions to realize their full potential has been an amazing experience.

Their courage and their spirit have moved me.

I hope that their stories reach across borders and move others to learn more about the impact of girls’ education, while inspiring young people to stay in school and pursue even the most impossible dream.

Watch a Preview of the Film