Reel Sisters of the Diaspora facts for kids
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| Location | Brooklyn, New York |
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| Established | 1997 |
| Website | http://reelsisters.com |
The Reel Sisters of the Diaspora Film Festival & Lecture Series is an exciting yearly film festival. It was started in 1997 by African Voices magazine and Long Island University in Brooklyn, New York. This festival is special because it helps women of color filmmakers show their movies and grow their careers. In 2018, it became the first film festival focused on women of color to be a part of the Academy Awards qualifying list for short films. This means films shown here can be considered for an Oscar!
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Discovering Reel Sisters
The Reel Sisters of the Diaspora Film Festival began in 1997. It was founded by Carolyn A. Butts, who publishes African Voices magazine, and Long Island University, Brooklyn Campus. This festival was the first in Brooklyn to focus on movies made by women of color. This includes women of African, Caribbean, Latina, and Asian backgrounds.
Carolyn Butts got the idea in 1996. She had made a short film and found it very hard to get support for it. She wanted to turn her short film into a longer movie. "It was so hard to get support for me as an African American woman," she said. So, she decided to create a place where women of color filmmakers could connect. They could help each other get their movies made. It's not just about money, but also about having a strong support system.
Festival Growth and Impact
Each year, the festival shows more than 50 films. Since it started, it has shown over 5,200 films by women from many different backgrounds. These include women of African, Caribbean, Latino, Asian, Indian, and Native American descent. About 2,271 people attend the festival every year. They come from all over the United States and other countries.
The festival has grown a lot. It started as a two-day event. Now, it's a month-long celebration! It includes talks and workshops on many topics. The festival also hosts special events throughout the year.
Film Selection and Special Honors
Reel Sisters is a competition festival. An independent group of judges chooses the films. Films made by gender non-conforming filmmakers are also accepted. However, these films must focus on women's stories.
The festival gives out special awards. In 2013, Shola Lynch received the Trailblazer Award. She directed Free Angela & All Political Prisoners. Issa Rae, who created the web series Awkward Black Girl, got the first Reel Sisters Innovation Pioneer Award. This award recognized her amazing work in web series. The festival also helps new women filmmakers with scholarships and other resources.
Sometimes, the festival has a special theme. For example, in 2018, the 21st festival focused on self-care, wellness, and healing.
Supporting Organizations and Archives
Many groups help support Reel Sisters. These include the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York State Council on the Arts, and the Brooklyn Council on the Arts.
In 2021, Spelman College received the historical records of African Voices Communications, Inc. This is the group that runs Reel Sisters. The college will make the festival's history available online. This way, future generations can learn about it.
Festival Awards
The Reel Sisters festival accepts films from any type or style. This includes animation and web series. Awards are given in many different groups:
- Jury awards
- Best Director
- Best Documentary
- Best Screenplay
- Best Experimental Film
- Best Animation
- Best Feature Film
- Best Narrative Short Film
- Best Web Series
- Reel Sisters Spirit Award
- Reel Sisters special awards
- Hattie McDaniel Award: This award honors women who are pioneers in theater, film, and media.
- Trailblazer Award: This award celebrates people in the film and TV industry. It recognizes their great achievements and how they help other women of color succeed.
See also
- List of women's film festivals
