Here's our five favorite films from this year's Black Web Fest
The event featured some of the culture's very BEST
The second annual Black Web Fest kicked off on April 13th, attracting an impressive number of creatives, Digital Influencers, and media to NYC. The event featured panels on topics ranging from the rise of podcasts to influencer marketing and brand development. Running simultaneously to these amazing speakers, were some of the best in Short Films, Web Series and Short Documentaries from Black Creators. The films tackled societal issues often ignored and silenced, as each selection was special in its own right. In no particular order, the following picks were our personal favorites.SPOILER ALERTS!
BLKMGC
The short film can be considered a musical, as its lead actor Duran Butler often broke out in full out song, which perfectly encapsulated the vibe of the story. What starts as a fight over the protagonist's son turned into a cautionary tale of blackness in America. The film takes a tragic turn, and the collective gasp in the theater was proof of just how engaged the audience was.
Where Branches Break
Director Sev DeMy did a great job of towing the line between a truly dark situation with brief moments of humor and wit. The film depicts a chance encounter of a young pastor and his estranged father, who recently did 27 years in prison. What's most impressive about it is its visual brilliance, and DeMy's choice of quirky shots and sequences. Where Branches Break is a must see.
Privilege Unhinged
One Scribe Media produced a gem with an extremely relatable theme: Privilege and unfairness in the workplace. Natalie Jacobs does a masterful job of depicting an employee of a magazine who was recently promoted and dealing with her newfound responsibility. She immediately is faced with the harsh reality of privilege and her lack thereof. The film does a good job of dealing with serious issues in a lightheartedly and humorous fashion.
Hoop Dreamin
Hoop Dreamin was a feel good short film that left everyone in the theater smiling and applauding. Nick Brooks' film followed Travion Brooks through an urban neighborhood where his passion for hoops is deprived by the older kids on the court. He decides to take things into his own hands, becoming determined to purchase a basketball hoop. What happens next though, is what truly makes the film remarkable. The story was definitely a refreshing addition to Black Web Fest.
Hyphen-nation
Director Samah Ali utilized interviews of several women to illustrate the reality of misplacement and identity that takes place after relocating to places like America and Canada. The film is separated in chapters which each show a different side of the experience that these women face. Dealing with isolation and having to switch up or silence a part of them, is something that these women deal with on a daily basis. The film weaves in poetry throughout and truly presents a beautiful depiction of these women in such a vulnerable, yet formidable state.