New documentary portays the journey of 1st AA women Filmakers


Inside the Digital Moving Image Salon takes us on the journey of one of the first African American women filmmakers and animators of our time, Ayoka Chenzira, as she creates an outlet for a new generation of young women to recognize the importance of documenting their story using new media technologies.

The DMIS program is the first of its kind and is located at the prestigious Spelman College, a historically Black College for women. Pioneer Ayoka Chenzira continues to push the envelope with her current work now being one of the first to combine the touch screen technology with storytelling. Throughout the film testimonials are shared from students, industry professionals and profound actor/activist Ruby Dee.

Ayoka Chenzira, artist/educator, is an award-winning, internationally acclaimed film and video artist, and is one of the first African Americans to teach film production in higher education. A pioneer in Black independent cinema, Chenzira is one of the first African American women to write, produce and direct a 35mm feature film, Alma’s Rainbow, one of Billboard Magazine’s top forty home video rentals. She is also noted as the first African American woman animator.

Chenzira has worked and lectured extensively on film throughout the United States, South America, and Europe; traversing the African continent collecting oral narratives from women, as well as training emerging filmmakers

The film will be presented at Anthology Film Archives Presents The NewFilmmmakers NY Series Tuesday April 20th beginning at 6pm. Presented as part of The Digital Film Academy’s Film School Screening Series, the evening will feature students films both short and feature length.


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