DAY OF BLACK DOCS OPENING NIGHT EVENT 5.17.24 - "New Voices, New Faces"

Welcome to the **DAY OF BLACK DOCS OPENING NIGHT EVENT** on May 17, 2024 at Film Independent! Get ready to experience "New Voices, New Faces" in the world of documentary filmmaking.

Join us on Friday, May 17, 2024 at 7:00 PM for an evening filled with powerful stories, film clips, innovative perspectives, and exciting new talent. Don't miss this opportunity to be inspired and entertained by the next generation of documentary filmmakers. Reception following the discussion. See you there!

· Tickets $20

· Bring A Friend, Get A Discount For 2 Tickets $35

· Tickets purchased online only. No walk-ins.

· Tickets must be purchased by Friday, May 17, 2024 at 5pm.

Film Independent, 5670 Wilshire Blvd., #9

Los Angles, CA 90036.

Free validated parking in the building.

"NEW VOICES, NEW FACES" PANELISTS:

Moses Bwayo - Bobi Wine: The People's President

Ugandan opposition leader, activist and musical star Bobi Wine uses his music to fight the regime led by Yoweri Museveni, who's led the country for 35 years, and runs in the 2021 presidential election.

Krystal Tingle - Over the Wall

Over the Wall is an immersive film following Brehanna Daniels, the first Black woman pit crew member and tire changer in NASCAR, as she works her way back from injury to participate in the Daytona 500, the biggest race in the sport.

Elizabeth Gray Bayne - Chocolate Milk: The Documentary

Is an exploration of the racial divide in breastfeeding. Told through the narratives of three African American women: a new mother, a homebirth midwife and a WIC lactation educator.

Majiye Uchibeke - I Am More Dangerous Dead

The story of a man largely unknown in the west, but who is a household name and hero to Nigerians. Ken Saro Wiwa was a prolific writer and activist who led the ethnic minority of the Ogoni to protest the devastating effects of oil exploitation on their land.

DAY OF BLACK DOCS OPENING EVENT sponsored by FILM INDEPENDENT and THE CONCORDIA FELLOWSHIP.

Kai Bowe, Moderator

From writing to directing to showrunning and producing, in terms of work in film and television, Kai Bowe has pretty much done it all. A woman who chose to work early on in the burgeoning unscripted genre, her resume includes entertaining projects like Starting Over, America’s Next Top Model, Project Runway, and The Great Soul Food Cook-Off. She has also been instrumental in bringing educational and historically important documentaries and docu-series to the screen. She was co-EP and showrunner for Resist, a series that helped thwart LA County’s plan to fund two new jails, EP for the Emmy-nominated We Have to Talk about Cosby, Fight the Power, and Ferguson Rises, and co-EP for Emmy-winning Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath.

Majiye Uchibeke is a Los Angeles-based filmmaker hailing from Nigeria. Born and raised in a

culturally rich environment, Uchibeke developed a deep appreciation for storytelling from an

early age. Fascinated by the power of film as a medium for social change and cultural

exploration, he embarked on a journey to pursue his passion for filmmaking.

Uchibeke's pursuit of his artistic aspirations led him to the prestigious University of Southern

California (USC) Film School, where he honed his skills and expanded his creative horizons.

Immersed in an environment that fostered innovation and collaboration, Uchibeke thrived,

pushing the boundaries of his craft and embracing diverse storytelling techniques.

His education at USC Film School provided Uchibeke with a solid foundation in the technical

aspects of filmmaking. He gained proficiency in various aspects of the filmmaking process,

including directing, cinematography, editing, and sound design. Uchibeke's background as a

Nigerian filmmaker brings a unique perspective to his work. He draws inspiration from the

vibrant cultures, rich traditions, and pressing social issues of his homeland. With a deep

understanding of the complexities and nuances of Nigerian society, Uchibeke aims to shed light

on underrepresented narratives and challenge prevailing stereotypes through his films.

Driven by a desire to make a positive impact through his work, Uchibeke is committed to

creating thought-provoking and emotionally resonant stories that engage audiences on a

profound level. His films explore themes of identity, social justice, and cultural heritage, aiming

to foster empathy, inspire dialogue, and effect change.

Moses Bwayo is an Oscar, BAFTA, and DGA-nominated Ugandan filmmaker based in

Los Angeles. He is known for shooting and co-directing the award-winning feature

documentary “Bobi Wine: The People’s President” (2023), during the production of

which he was arrested, imprisoned, and shot in the face at close range. The film

eventually premiered at the 2022 Venice Film Festival to a 10-minute standing ovation,

and National Geographic acquired it at the 2022 Telluride Film Festival, where it made

its US premiere. The film became a festival favorite, winning and being screened at

several festivals. It won the Audience Award for Best Documentary at the 2022

Hamptons Film Festival, Best Documentary Feature at the 2023 International

Documentary Association Awards, and the Cinema Eye Audience Choice Award at the

Cinema Eye Honors 2023, and it was nominated for the Best Documentary Award at the

96 th Academy Awards in 2024. Born in the village of Bududa on the slopes of Mount

Elgon in eastern Uganda, Moses was introduced to filmmaking by peeking through

cracks in the walls of local kibandas, bootleg movie theaters housed in wooden shacks.

Rapt in the exciting camerawork and storytelling of Japanese and Hollywood martial

arts films, Moses immediately fell in love with cinema.

Krystal Tingle is a Jamaican-American filmmaker living between Los Angeles and Miami. Tingle’s films reflect the rich complexities of Black women and explore the miracles that lie within the mundanity of life. Tingle’s short documentary, Over The Wall, premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival. It won the Audience Award for Best Documentary Short at BlackStar Film Festival.She is the Series Field Producer for the Emmy-nominated, The 1619 Project (HULU), the Director/Producer for Soledad O’Brian’s Disrupt & Dismantle on BET, and the Supervising Producer for The Queen Collective for Flavor Unit Entertainment and Tribeca Studios. Tingle is developing her feature documentary Oh Happy Day!, which has received early support from California Humanities, Women in Film and Video, and Docs in Progress. Her production company, Doctor Bird Studios, specializes in documentary films and non-fiction content with a passion for stories that center on the Caribbean diaspora. Her non-profit, Chapel Cinema, works to provide ancillary care and support for independent Black women filmmakers on-set, in the field, and at home.

Elizabeth Gray Bayne is an award-winning filmmaker and the founder of graybayne film/media, a production company focused on health and social issue-based content. A recipient of generous grants from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Glassbreaker Films, and the Center for Cultural Innovation, her projects cover a range of issues from racial health inequity, sexual and reproductive health to environmental and climate justice. She has produced documentary and PSA content in collaboration with MIT Media Lab, USC Viterbi, the LA County Department of Public Health, and the National Medical Association. Her documentary and narrative projects have aired on ABC, the Smithsonian Channel and Magic Johnson's Aspire TV Network.

Elizabeth's short documentary "Continuing A Legacy" about Black junior rodeo competitor London Gladney won Best Documentary Short Award at the 2021 BronzeLens and Reel Sisters of the Diaspora Film Festivals. Her feature documentary "Chocolate Milk" about gaps in birth and breastfeeding outcomes for African American families won Honorable Mention for the Gordon Parks Black Excellence Award at the Tallgrass Film Festival in 2023 and was nominated for Best First Feature Documentary at the Pan African Film Festival in 2024. Elizabeth is currently in development on a number of projects, including two narrative features and a documentary on climate justice. Her horro feature "FORTRESS" was a semi-finalist for the Women in Film/ The Blacklist Writing Lab and the Project Greenlight Clive Barker's Reel Fear Pitch Contest.

DAY OF BLACK DOCS OPENING NIGHT EVENT SPONSOR