B.U.S.H. Magazine

NO! The Rape Documentary

Join us at SFWAR's screening of NO! the rape documentary an AfroLez production followed by a discussion with NO! filmmaker Aishah Shahidah Simmons. Winner of both a juried award and an audience choice award at the 2006 San Diego Women Film Festival, this ground-breaking feature length documentary explores the international reality of rape and other forms of sexual assault through the first person testimonies, scholarship, spirituality, and activism of African-Americans.

May 17th*First Congregational Church
2501 Harrison Street (at Broadway), Oakland  CA 6:00 – 8:30 pm
$5-15 sliding scale donation, no one turned away for lack of funds
*We are prioritizing the attendance of Women of African Descent at this screening.

Saturday, May 19th
The Women's Building
3543 18th Street  , San Francisco, CA Audre Lorde Room

5:00 - 7:30 pm
$5-15 sliding scale donation, no one turned away for lack of funds
For more information on SFWAR, please visit http://www.sfwar.org/  For more information on NO!, please visit
  www.NOtheRapeDocumentary.org   www.myspace.com/afrolez
"I have seen a lot of documentaries about sexual violence in my 15 years as a film programmer, and 'NO!' is by far the most well made, riveting,
and poignant… The strength of 'NO!' in reaching its viewers is
significant, it's scope and ability to compel are astounding- all women can relate to this film."
KJ Mohr, Film & Media Arts Programmer, National Museum of Women in the Arts

"If the Black community in the Americas and in the world would heal itself, it must complete the work [NO!] begins."
Alice Walker, Pulitzer Prize Winning Author, The Color Purple
"This DVD helps raise awareness about sexual assault and violence.
Especially useful for counselors working with high-school and college students facing similar pressures and situations." 


>>AfroLez Productions, LLC
>>PO Box 58085
>>Philadelphia, PA 19102-8085
>>215.701.6150

Pagbabalik

                          “Pagbabalik” (Return)

A Multidisciplinary Theatre Production

Written by Aimee Suzara • Directed by Alex Torres

FILIPINO-AMERICAN PRODUCTION SHEDS LIGHT ON IMMIGRANT SEARCH FOR IDENTITY

Berkeley

,

CA

.  On June 14, two days after Philippine “

Independence

” Day, “Pagbabalik” (“Return” in Tagalog, a Filipino language) premieres at the historic La Pena Cultural Center, examining ideas of home, history and identity from a Filipino-American perspective.  Written by poet Aimee Suzara, the multidisciplinary production seamlessly blends spoken-word theatre with choreography drawn from indigenous and modern dance, to the score of Filipino and contemporary music.

“Pagbabalik” follows central character Diwata (played by Suzara), a young Filipina-American exploring her origins in the

Philippines

. Aided by a simple tape recorder, Diwata journeys into a history charged with magic and painful memories of war and conquest. 

Suzara draws from her own experience of returning to the

Philippines

. "In researching my own story as the daughter of Filipino immigrants to

America

, I found myself creating Diwata and the other characters in the play.” says Suzara.  “Diwata” literally translates to “spirit.”  Adds Suzara, “I think that anyone familiar with the immigrant experience can relate to Diwata - to her sense of displacement from physical and emotional origins and her hunger for belonging to a geography, to a culture, to an identity.  We all strive to fit in to a place, to a people."

“Pagbabalik” features the talents of key members of the Filipino-American and Bay Area arts community. The distinctive cast of choreographers, dancers, and actors includes Frances Sedayao of the Purple Moon Dance Project and Alvin Ailey Dance School; Lisa Juachon of the Alleluia Panis Dance Theatre; Jose “Flipchild” Saenz, of the film “Flipside;” actress “Tita” Rose Almario; and Aimee Espiritu, member of the collective Kreatibo.  Alex Torres of Bindlestiff Studios directs and Ellen Sebastian Chang of Theatre Bay Area provides directorial support.

Movement and dialogue are punctuated by a lushly textured, live score of traditional Philippine kulintang (bossed gong ensemble) and innovative folk-rock.  The music was developed by a trio of Bay Area talents: Ronald Quesada, ethnomusicologist and member of the Palabuniyang Kulintang Ensemble, on kulintang and guitar; musician Juan Calaf on drums and percussion, and Jennifer Soriano (formerly of Diskarte Namin), on vocals and bass.

Begun as a 1-woman-show in 2005 and then developed into a Work-in-Progress shown at La Peña Cultural Center in October 2006, “Pagbabalik” was an acclaimed presence at the 2006 CounterPULSE STREAM/fest: Emerging Performance Festival and Kearny Street Workshop’s APAture 2006.  With fiscal sponsorship from La Peña Cultural Center, the production has received grants from the Zellerbach Family Foundation to support the Work-in-Progress.

The interwoven themes of homeland, genealogy, and migration speak with urgency to both younger and older generations.  As one audience member expressed, "This show is what Fil-Ams need to begin to dialogue about our experiences as visitors in our homeland and the similarities other immigrants in the

U.S.

share."

The production highlights Philippine Independence Day, on June 12.  Although Spanish colonial rule is comparatively well-known, the complex relationship between the

US

and the

Philippines

is absent from most history textbooks.  On June 12, 1898, Filipinos revolutionary forces declared sovereignty and independence from four centuries of Spanish colonial rule.  Yet this declaration was unrecognized by the

United States

and by

Spain

, who ceded the

Philippines

under the Treaty of Paris.  The years were followed by the bloody Philippine American war, in which over 500,000 Filipinos were killed.  “Looking into the complex history of the

US

colonial presence in the

Philippines

can be a window into current issues on immigration,” says Suzara.

“In the context of what’s going on for us socially and politically right now in our communities, with the issues around the right to return, issues around immigration, and people finding home, this piece has vital importance,” says Alli Chagi-Starr, an arts activist who works with the Ella Baker Center. “I think it is critical that people learn about this history in the

Philippines

and hear this one woman’s story.”

States Jennifer Soriano: “There are artists who people remember as speaking to a generation. And I think that’s what Aimee’s becoming. She represents a generation of young people searching for their roots.”

Pagbabalik is made possible with support from the Zellerbach Family Foundation.  Special thanks to sponsors Nursha Project, Trinity Wolf Network, Bindlestiff Studio, La Peña Cultural Center, and Epic Arts.

                              

Work-in-Progress with Post-Show Discussion:

May 24, 25 & 26, 8pm

Bindlestiff Studio,

505 Natoma Street

San Francisco

www.bindlestiffstudio.org • (415) 255-0440

World Premiere of Full Production:

June 14, Preview Night, 7:30pm

June 15 & 16, 8pm

La Peña Cultural Center,

3105 Shattuck Avenue

,

Berkeley

Advance tickets available at www.lapena.org and (510) 849-2568 x20

QWOC Film Festival

3RD ANNUAL QUEER WOMEN OF COLOR FILM FESTIVAL
Presented by Queer Women of Color Media Arts Project
(QWOCMAP)

June 8 to 10, 2007
Brava Theater, SF

32 brand new films burst on screen in 4 film programs
that paint the vivid, provocative, and kaleidoscopic
stories of queer women of color.  From the luminous
romance between two queer Asian women to the
dynamic portraits of immigrant Latina lesbians to the
vibrant humor of Black lesbians translating slang,
these films infuse our lives with hilarity and hope.

Friday, June 8
7pm:  LOVING IN THE WAR YEARS

Saturday, June 9   *Festival Focus*
3pm:  FEATURED PANEL
4:30pm:  COCKTAIL FUNDRAISER
7pm:  REELS OF RESISTANCE - Queer Black Women’s Films

Sunday, June 10
3pm:  COMPASSIONATE OUTBURSTS – Documentary Showcase
7pm:  INFINITE BEAUTY: STORIES OF LOVE

4 Film Screenings: FREE
Featured Panel: $15
Cocktail Fundraiser: $35

VENUE
Brava Theater
2781 24th Street, San Francisco

For more information:
www.QWOCMAP.org
events@qwocmap.org
415-752-0868

********

Friday, June 8
7pm:  LOVING IN THE WAR YEARS  (FREE)

These striking shorts by queer women of color blend
the contrasting hues of immigration, motherhood and
courage into a portrait of love as a political act.
Curated by Mónica Enríquez and Roiya Zara Said.
Followed by Q&A Panel with Filmmakers.

MANIFESTING OUR DESTINY (Claudia Gomez-Arteaga, 2006)
BORDERLESS (Min Sook Lee, 2006)
BIENVENIDA (Yaya Raiz, 2007)
GRRRLY GIRL (Lori Rillera, 2002)
SEVENTY TIMES SEVEN (Charlotte Young Bowens, 2007)
A LETTER TO YOU (Kawana Bullock, 2004)
ACHEIVEMENTS OF EXILE (Sara Zia Ebrahimi, 2005)
ESCRITO (Monica Enriquez, 2007)
LADY OF MOTION (Claudia A. Mercado, 2002)
Program: 104 minutes

********

** FESTIVAL FOCUS **

Saturday, June 9
3pm:  FEATURED PANEL  ($15)

"Representations of Queer Black Women in the Media"
Moderated by Jewelle Gomez and T. Kebo Drew

PANELISTS
Cheryl Dunye – Watermelon Woman, Stranger Inside
Shari Frilot – Sundance Film Festival Programmer
Tina Mabry – Brooklyn’s Bridge to Jordan

Saturday, June 9
4:30pm:  COCKTAIL FUNDRAISER with Guest Panelists  ($35)

Saturday, June 9
7pm:  REELS OF RESISTANCE - Queer Black Women’s Films  (FREE)

Sometimes humorous and tender, always courageous,
these evocative films paint the vibrant and kaleidoscopic
experiences of queer Black women and infuse our lives
with a spectrum of hilarity, hope and meaning.
Followed by Q&A Panel with Filmmakers.

All works created through Queer Women of Color Media
Arts Project (QWOCMAP), founded by Executive Director
& award-winning filmmaker Madeleine Lim.

ERZULIE'S TEARS (Mary Ann Brooks, 2007)
CHILD OF GOD (Kisha Montgomery, 2006)
NEED TO TALK (Jackie Loville, 2006)
ACTS OF LOVE (Crystal John, 2007)
60 YEARS OF THE SAME (Jolie Harris, 2007)
PRACTICE MAKES... (Brenda Williams, 2006)
WALLOW (Sarah Beth Harris, 2006)
THE SAINT (Erin Wood, 2007)
FLOWER FOKES (Belinda Sullivan, 2007)
SLANG IT LIKE YOU MEAN IT (Letesa Bruce, 2007)
Program: 80 minutes

********

Sunday, June 10
3pm:  COMPASSIONATE OUTBURSTS – Documentary Showcase  (FREE)

From the dappled canvas of the military’s influence on
fashion to the sepia-tinted nostalgia of Midwestern
cornfields to the bold impact of the death penalty,
these thought-provoking films are a rallying call for
social change!  Followed by Q&A Panel with Filmmakers.

All works created through Queer Women of Color Media
Arts Project (QWOCMAP), founded by Executive Director
& award-winning filmmaker Madeleine Lim.

BOON KHUN (Virada Chatikul, 2006)
LOCAL GROWN CORN (Mel Chen, 2007)
ONE MORE DAY (Cecilla Madrigal, 2006)
PRAY TING AI FLY (Vanessa Huang, 2007)
PUBLIC OUTBURSTS (Alyssa Contreras, 2006)
BODY IMAGE (Gabrielle Sims, 2007)
FASHION RESISTANCE TO MILITARISM (Kimberly Alvarenga, 2006)
AGAINST OUR BETTER NATURE (Kenya Briggs, 2006)
THAT'S WHY I HATE FEMALES (Vassilisa Johri, 2007)
Program:  100 minutes

********

Sunday, June 10
7pm:  INFINITE BEAUTY: STORIES OF LOVE  (FREE)

From the luminous romance between two queer Asian
women to the twinkle of a grandmother performing
burlesque to the bright reflections of queer families,
these films will move you with their infinite beauty!
Followed by Q&A Panel with Filmmakers.

All works created through Queer Women of Color Media
Arts Project (QWOCMAP), founded by Executive Director
& award-winning filmmaker Madeleine Lim.

TO TRANSGRESS (Maya Santos, 2006)
INFINITE BREATH (Christine Liang, 2006)
ELEVEN (Arwyn Moore, 2006)
PASALIG / FAITH (Maiana Minahal, 2007)
LETTING GO OF AN ATTACHMENT (Joy Lam, 2006)
WHO IS HE? (Liliana Hueso, 2006)
LETTER OF INTENT (Cherisma Feril, 2007)
ADIOS BABA (Adriana Gordon, 2006)
FATHER'S DAY (Marianne Jensen, 2006)
IT TAKES A VILLAGE… (Kiki Zerrudo, 2007)
LAS MAÑANITAS (Celestina Pearl, 2007)
Program:  92 minutes

********

COMMUNITY PARTNERS  (partial list)
Asian Pacific Islander Queer Women & Transgender Coalition (APIQWTC)
Bay Area Black in the Life
Chicana Latina Foundation
Community United Against Violence (CUAV)
Latino Forum
NIA Collective
San Francisco Women Against Rape (SFWAR)
Sistahs Steppin' in Pride
Women of Color Resource Center (WCRC)

FUNDED BY
Astraea Foundation
Horizons Foundation
California Arts Council
San Francisco Arts Commission
The Women's Foundation of California

Queer Women of Color Conference

In Berkeley

"At the Crossroads of Age, Race, and Sexuality: From Our History to
the Present Into Our Potential" 2nd Annual UC Berkeley Queer People of
Color Summit
Saturday, May 5, 2007

Registration will begin at 9:00 a.m. at the Martin Luther King, Jr.
Student Union, which is located on campus at the intersection of
Bancroft Avenue and Telegraph Avenue. The summit will begin at 10:00
a.m. Lunch and a continental breakfast will be provided. We will end
at approximately 5:30 p.m.

9:00 AM - Registration and Continental Breakfast
MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. STUDENT UNION BUILDING
10:00 AM - Opening Session
HELLER LOUNGE
10:30 AM - Breakout Session I
11:00 AM - General Session
12:00 PM - Lunch and Entertainment
1:30 PM - Breakout Session II
2:45 PM - Workshop Sessions
4:00 PM - Closing Session and Entertainment

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
"Queer People of Color in the U.S.- Our Emergence from the MArgins of
the Race, Gender, and Sexuality 'Fault Lines' of the Social Movements
of the 1960's and 1970's" presented by Trinity A. Ordona, Ph.D
"At the Intersections of Race, Age, and Power in the New Millennium:
The Anti-Proposition 21 Youth Movement in the San Francisco, Bay Area"
presented by Xamuel, UC Berkeley

WORKSHOPS
"Listen, Learn, and Contribute: Social Identity in K-12 Education"
presented by Jillian Ross, Ally Action.
"Housing and Harm Reduction for Homeless Queer Youth Populations"
presented by Toby Eastman, Larkin Street Youth Services
"Hate Speech and Your Health" presented by Jaedon and Tonilyn Sideco,
Lavender Youth Recreation and Information Center
"Issues of Identity and Instability" presented by John Suk J.
Hwang-Judge, UC Berkeley
"QWOC Issues: Open Forum" presented by Angelica Gutierrez-Cruz and
Karol Sanchez, UC Berkeley
"Health Issues for Sexual Minorities" presented by Anthony Perez, UC Berkeley

For driving directions, please consult:
http://www.berkeley.edu/visitors/traveling.html. A campus map is
located here: http://www.berkeley.edu/map/. And the Facebook event is
located here: http://berkeley.facebook.com/event.php?eid=2255540613&ref=nf.

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns please feel free to
contact us at ucbqpoc@gmail.com with your name, phone number, and
specific question, and someone will be in touch with you as soon as
possible.

If you would like to pre-register, please send us your 1. NAME, 2.
PHONE NUMBER, 3. E-MAIL ADDRESS, 4. AFFILIATION (SCHOOL, ORGANIZATION,
ETC.), and 5. NUMBER OF ATTENDEES to ucbqpoc@gmail.com. We will accept
walk-in registration the day of.

Thank you and we hope to see you there!

-UC Berkeley QPOC Planning Committee
ucbqpoc@gmail.com