Screenings

Salty Dog Blues, NY Screening

SAVE THE DATE: THURSDAY, MAY 16th, 4:00PM – 6:00PM"Salty Dog Blues", the latest film by Al Santana and Denise Belén Santiago, looks at a group of men and women of color who served in the U.S. Merchant Marine from 1937-1989. It examines their relationship to the National Maritime Union in the midst of a transition and a dispute over health benefits.

WORKERS UNITE FILM FESTIVAL CELEBRATES 1ST GLOBAL LABOR FILM & VIDEO FESTIVAL

http://www.workersunitefilmfestival.org/schedule/

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Life After Death: An analysis of the persona that was/is Fela Anikulapo Kuti

Life After Death Greetings:

Thursday, June 10th. Be there or be marked absent.

Life After Death: An Analysis of the Persona that Was/Is Fela Anikulapo Kuti.

Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute (CCCADI) 408 W 58th Street between 9th and 10th Avenues New York NY 10019 Tel:  212-307-7420 ext 3008

Curated by Shantrelle P. Lewis & featuring the work of The Santana Group: Marilyn Nance, Al Santana, Ali Santana & Rafia Santana. Opening Reception: June 10, 2010 6-9pm

On View: June 11 - August 6, 2010 This exhibition pays tribute to one of the African Diaspora's most influential living ancestors as well as critiques the complexity of his persona. Life after Death is a visual homage to a musical genius and one of contemporary history's most powerful protest artists including never before seen photography by Marilyn Nance of Fela at the Africa Shrine, Lagos Nigeria with individuals such as Haki Madhubuti.

Just as the music of Fela Anikulapo Kuti transcends the generations through his powerful statements and the work of his children, the works of artists Marilyn Nance and Al Santana transcend the generations through collaborations with their artist offspring.  The Santana Group is a creative, collaborative, interdisciplinary, intergenerational organization of the Brooklyn art family of Marilyn Nance, Al Santana, Ali Santana, and Rafia Santana.  Ali and Rafia Santana mined their parents' deep archives of moving images, photographs, memorabilia and cultural software to produce Fela's legacy in 4-D. 

Hope to see you there. It's gonna be fun!

Al

YOU ARE INVITED TO ATTEND WOMEN OF COLOR PRODUCTIONS INC. HUMAN RIGHTS FILM SERIES

Salty Dog Blues

Greetings: Our documentary film about U.S. Merchant Marines of color has been retitled "Salty Dog Blues".

On Saturday, April 18th. at 10:00am -  12:00, in ROOM W626, co-producer Denise Belén Santiago and I will screen a 16 minute excerpt of our documentary film "Salty Dog Blues" at the annual Left Forum. Along with the screening will be a panel discussion with retired merchant marines of color, labor activists and independent filmmakers. This year's venue is Pace University in New York City, just across from City Hall. More information will be provided in the coming days. Please log in and stay tuned.

Yours,

Al

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Another Screening of "One People"

Greetings. Just heard that "One People" will screen in Harlem on October 10th. at 6:30pm. The venue is the Maysles Film Studio, 127th. Street and Lenox Avenue. This screening is part of the St. Clair Bourne Tribute Film Festival, which runs from October 8th thru October 13th. This event, sponsored by The 350th. Harlem Anniversary Celebrations and The Black Documentary Collective, will feature many excellent films and panel discussions. For more information visit www.harlemthennowandforever.org. I hope to see you there. Al

Reel Sisters of the Diaspora Film Festival

Greetings. I'm am pleased to announce that our short experimental narrative film "One People" is an official selection of the 2008 Reel Sisters of the Diaspora Film Festival. The festival is scheduled to take place on September 26-28, 2008 in Brooklyn N.Y. at Long Island University, Brooklyn Campus. "One People" will screen on Saturday, September 27th. at 7:30PM. Please see link below for details. http://www.reelsisters.org/schedule08.html

Al

Love Me Through It

Love Me Through It is a narrative short produced by Emmanuel Baptist Church in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn, New York and directed by first time director Robert Holley. The film, shot in mini dv 24p by yours truly, with the assistance of gaffer Haffe Acosta, is an emotional story, about a young women who, after being diagnosed with the AIDS virus, comes to grips with her family, friends, and her church in dealing with the stigma associated with HIV and AIDS. The 40 min. film is having its premiere on Friday, June 27th. at Emmanuel Baptist Church 279 Lafayette Avenue 36 St. James Place at 6:30pm.

All are welcome.

Contact the church for more information at: (718) 622- 1107/3343 (fax)

 

Al Santana Films At BAM

Films At BAM

Please join me on Monday, October 1, 2007, 7:00 PM at the Brooklyn Academy of Music for a retrospective of my work. We’ll be screening excerpts from two long-form films: Voices of The Gods, (1985) and Durban 400, (2003), as well as three short films:

In The Spirit of Peace (2002)

Military Option (2005)

One People (2007)

Voices of The Gods is a documentary about two ancient West African Religions (Yoruba and Akan) that are practiced in the United States today.

Durban 400 produced by The Drammeh Institute and Al Santana Productions, is a documentary that focuses on Reparations for the Trans Atlantic Slave Trade. The film follows a group of grass-roots activist to Durban, South Africa for the 2001 U.N. World Conference Against Racism, Xenophia and Related Intolerances where they address the issue of the Trans Atlantic Slave Trade and Colonialism as Crimes Against Humanity.

In The Spirit of Peace was produced as part of Third World Newsreel’s Call For Media Action, following the 9/11 attacks. It chronicles a peace march that took place in Brooklyn on September 23, 2001, where members of Brooklyn’s Yoruba and Akan communities made a definitive call for peace in direct contradiction to the message coming from the government and corporate media outlets.

Military Option is collaboration of filmmaker, Rico Speight and Third World Newsreel’s Call For Change initiative. This film looks at military recruiting practices in communities of color.

One People, a collaboration of producer/playwright Laura L. Fowler and Al Santana, takes place against the backdrop of a gentrified Harlem community. The story centers on two sisters who have opposite views about social responsibility and the role of artists. Aliyah, a self-styled revolutionary filmmaker, is producing a documentary about the 1960's black power movement. Her sister, Valerie, is a poet whose work centers on themes of sensuality and love. They challenge each other on the purity of art and the need for art to inspire social change. Together, they discover a politicized Lorraine Hansberry.

Please visit my website to view clips of the films and other cool stuff. www.alsantana.com

Best regards and hope to see you on Monday at BAM. General admission is $11. and we'll also have DVD's of Voices of The Gods, Durban 400 and One People on sale.

Al

Process Is Everything