2022 Wrapped: cinéSPEAK Highlights

BY SOPHIA ABRAHAM-RAVESON

As the year comes to a close, the cinéSPEAK team and community have reflected on all we’ve done in the last 12 months. We held screenings all over West Philly: in the Rotunda, at Bartram’s Garden, Pentridge Station, and Clark Park. We premiered new films and brought back old classics. We partnered with awesome local organizations like the Kingsessing Library, Batikh Batikh, We Are the Seeds, The Video Consortium and the Philly Palestine Coalition. We welcomed our new Editor-in-Chief, Kristal Sotomayor, onto our staff, along with three new cinéSPEAK Philly Beat Fellows – Gabe Castro, Arta Barzanji, and Andre Cherry. And of course, along the way, we made new friends, started new collaborations, and kept building our growing community. We asked cinéSPEAK community members to share their favorite moments with us in 2022 – their words capture the magic we all made together this year.

Starting us off, cinéSPEAK Assistant Director of Programs, Vernon Jordan III, has trouble picking just one memory, saying, “Clark Park this year; our stay at Bartram’s Garden (especially Neptune Frost); our first and second encounters of the Leader Theatre on 49th and Lancaster Ave; and our “Halloweekend” (Teine Sā/OURIKA! and Ganja and Hess) in particular.” 

Also remembering “Halloweekend,” Mariah Geez, who DJed the Halloween Pop-Up at Pentridge Station, says, “My favorite memory was being able to celebrate my favorite holiday with my little sister and the cinéSPEAK family.”

Mariah Geez’ little sister posing for the cam! Image Credit: Mariah Geez

Another special cinéSPEAK DJ, L’Oréal McCollum, shares, “It was such a thrill to be asked to DJ the opening party for the Clark Park film series. Having moved away from West Philly in 2020 (where I had lived for a decade), it felt like such a beautiful homecoming to be in the company of such lovely cinéSPEAK patrons, as well as many of my family and friends. What an honor to get to share some of the music I love with so many folks and spark some sonic joy!”

One of our collaborators from PhillyCAM, Gretjen Clausing, says that a “highlight was hosting cinéSPEAK and Independence Public Media Foundation in the small park next to PhillyCAM. It was a magical October evening to see and discuss an amazing program of short media works showcasing films about the individual and collective search for identity, justice, and healing.”

Photo of the audience watching one of the shorts from the program “Stories of Resilience, Community and Power” at the IPMF screening. Image Credit: Gretjen Clausing

Speaking of magical partnerships, Stephanye Watts of BeReelBlack Cinema Club says, 

“[When I] transitioned to my hometown of Philadelphia, I felt out of sorts and had no clue who was into film here in the city outside of BlackStar. Enter cinéSPEAK! After our initial conversation, it just felt right to partner with this dope org. I was first asked to be part of a Q&A for the screening of Mississippi Masala and met so many people that have since become the core of our Philly chapter. The folks I met the first night came back again and again in the months to follow! cinéSPEAK offered community when I didn’t have one and has allowed me to continue the work I strive to do which is bring Black millennials and Gen Zers to screenings of films from across the African Diaspora. I’m forever grateful!”

One cinéSPEAK team member, Sarabella Rocha, shares that “the Memoria screening stands out as favorite moment–crowds coming from all over to get a chance to see this film. The location of the screening at Bartram’s Garden connected so well with the film’s screen narrative. A full moon rose above the trees spotlighting over the lawn as credits rolled in where [there was] the chance to share thoughts on the mystery, trauma, humor, Bogota rain and captured tales of the film with the cinéSPEAK community.”

Clausing also mentioned that she “loved watching Memoria at Bartram’s Garden when the sounds of the Colombian jungle were combined with the live crickets and cicadas with bats flying in front of the screen.” This is one of the beautiful things about holding our screenings at different West Philly locations: the sounds, sights, and smells of each place shape the film and help make it feel like our own.

Kat Kushin, Gabe Castro, Xenia Matthews and Vernon Jordan III standing together. Image Credit: cinéSPEAK

Eunice Levis, a filmmaker who screened with cinéSPEAK this year, shares, 

“In 2021 I was in pre-production for my short film InVade. We had an ambitious goal, to shoot and keep almost 70 local crew/creatives and vendors employed at the height of COVID. I reached out to cineSPEAK’s (Executive Director/Founder) Sarah Mueller for help identifying resources [in Philadelphia] that would be helpful during this confusing time. Sarah came through; we successfully and proudly shot InVade 100% in the greater Philadelphia region. In 2022, I had the honor of being included in the first annual “Best In Fest” and screened along fellow filmmakers who also debuted their films in local festivals. The most memorable part of the screening was after the Q&A when an audience member approached me and said he’d watched my film at the Philadelphia Film Festival and again at cineSPEAK “Best in Fest” and found an even deeper connection the second time around. I couldn’t help but think what a gift it is that cinéSPEAK created the platform for us to engage with the community.”

Finally, filmmaker Amelia Carter shares, “In November 2022, I was able to screen my film through cinéSPEAK’s “Best of Fests” event at the Rotunda. I really appreciated the opportunity to screen at this venue to the loving and supportive community fostered by cinéSPEAK.”

It’s impossible to sum up the countless special moments and connections of this year: the spontaneity of a post-screening chat in the moonlight; the feeling of witnessing an audience really appreciate and celebrate your film; the sense of community that is particularly Philly, particularly cinéSPEAK. But if there’s anyone who could capture that, it’s our team members, our partners, our supporters: it’s you.

Keep sharing your end of year reflections by tagging @cinéSPEAK and using #cinéSPEAK on social media!

CLICK HERE: to make a year-end tax deductible gift—of any size!—to help sustain & build a bright future for indie film in Philadelphia


Sophia Abraham-Raveson is the Managing Editor for the cinéSPEAK Journal. She has previously worked for several Philadelphia-based film festivals, including BlackStar and Tri-Co Film Festival.

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