XXXVIII. 2023 Black International Cinema Berlin - "Footprints in the Sand?" ExhibitionBerlin 2023

A COMPLEXION CHANGE

Transnational & Intercultural Diplomacy
An International Media Project (UNESCO)

“Only when lions have historians will hunters cease being heroes.” - African Proverb

“Onward and Upward, Despite All, Forever!”

38. Black International Cinema Berlin 2023 returns to Rathaus Schöneberg (city hall), Berlin, Germany, and via TV and livestream on ALEX – Open Channel Berlin.

Fountainhead® Tanz Théâtre, under the direction of founder and producer, Prof. Donald Muldrow Griffith, presents the 38. Black International Cinema Berlin 2023 / “Footprints in the Sand?” ExhibitionBerlin 2023 in association with THE COLLEGIUM - Forum & Television Program Berlin, Cultural Zephyr e.V., CrossKultur 2023 and in cooperation with ALEX - Open Channel Berlin.

Under the motto “Onward and Upward, Despite All, Forever!”, Fountainhead® Tanz Théâtre presents the 38th Black International Cinema Berlin from December 1st to 3rd and screens over three days in the Marlene Dietrich Cinema Hall of the Schöneberg Town Hall numerous creative visions and perspectives from international filmmakers and shares them with a local, national and global audience. The focus is on film and artistic contributions from people from the African diaspora and diverse cultural, ethnic, religious and socio-economic backgrounds. In addition to the in-person event, you may watch the films from 23rd to 27th November and from 7th to 11th December on the Berlin channel ALEX - Open Channel Berlin via TV and livestream. The festival's exhibition "Footprints in the Sand?" ExhibitionBerlin will be on display from November 27th to December 31st in the gallery on the 1st floor of Schöneberg Town Hall in Berlin.

Black International Cinema Berlin looks back on a long history. In 1986, Fountainhead® Tanz Théâtre produced the first European Black Cultural Festival, a 3-week historical event in what was then West Berlin that showcased the contributions of Black people to world culture through film, theater, dance, music, workshops and seminars and paid homage to the legendary tap dancer Carnell Lyons. This was the birth of the Black International Cinema Berlin.
This development-promoting event took place at times which were politically, socially, educationally, economically and artistically formative for the organizers and others. Fountainhead® Tanz Théâtre and Black International Cinema Berlin have continued their international, intercultural diplomatic events since the birth of this creative and inspiring event. The annual focus is on film presentations in association with seminars, dance, music, art exhibitions and publications.

Information and Program:
https://black-international-cinema.com/BIC23/
E-Mail: bicdance@aol.com

Onward and Upward, Despite All, Forever!

As time passes, we always Hope, Dream that the bad things in life, have taught us lessons and therefore these "germs" will never happen again!
Onward and Upward, Despite All, Forever!

But then, the bad germs re-appear in countries, people, societies where we did not expect trouble?
How did this and that Happen?

So slowly we learn the necessity of regular, constant study, thinking, Education, analysis, dialogue, Hope and Prayer, to maintain and correct our and other persons "slips", falls and troubles and is an ongoing, all the time necessity for developing and maintaining Peace and Progress!
Onward and Upward, Despite All, Forever!

Recognition, Maturity, Desire for Peace and Happy Societies make us realize, there is not Healthy Historical Maintenance, without constant Love, Care and Always Lifting, through Careful Education, Attention and Support!
Relationships, Families, Societies, Countries are all, Needing of these ingredients.

Onward and Upward, Despite All, Forever, is decidedly, and hopefully the only way to arrive at and continue the Best for Ourselves and the World.
Perhaps this approach is our answer and call, to Peace, Progress, Happiness, Forgiveness and forever gone "Germs"!

Onward and Upward, Despite All, Forever!

Prof. Donald Muldrow Griffith, November 2023

Mottos:
"I may not make it if I try, but I damn sure won't if I don't..." - Oscar Brown Jr.
"Mankind will either find a way or make one." - C.P. Snow
"Whatever you do..., be cool!" - Joseph Louis Turner
"Yes, I can...!" - Sammy Davis Jr.
"Yes, We can...!" - Barack Hussein Obama
"Yes, we can and Yes, we better…!" - Barack Hussein Obama und Donald Muldrow Griffith

Black International Cinema Berlin

Black International Cinema Berlin is a yearly interdisciplinary, intercultural film/video festival produced and directed by Fountainhead® Tanz Théâtre / THE COLLEGIUM - Forum & Television Program Berlin in association with Cultural Zephyr e.V. and, screens cinema from Africa, the African Diaspora and films from varied intercultural backgrounds or perspectives.
Black International Cinema Berlin originated from the historical Black Cultural Festival, which was produced and directed by Fountainhead® Tanz Théâtre from March 3-23, 1986 for the first time in Europe. The contributors were mostly Black artists, filmmakers and intellectuals from Africa and the African Diaspora presenting a spectrum of Black art, Black cinema, Black thinking and life, and through seminars discussing their various political, social and cultural experiences. The festival offered a musical homage based upon the life experience of one of the great tap dancers, Carnell Lyons.
The venues were the Theatermanufaktur am Halleschen Ufer from March 3-16, music – dance – theatre; Hochschule der Künste Berlin on March 11, symposium; Kino Arsenal from March 17-23, film.
Organization and Artistic Direction: Prof. Donald Muldrow Griffith (USA/Berlin), Prof. Gayle McKinney Griffith (USA/Berlin), Donald Muldrow McKinney Griffith II (USA/Berlin), Dr. Ntongela Masilela (South Africa); in cooperation with: Prof. Dr. Abdul Alkalimat (USA), Uazuvara Ewald Katjivena (Namibia), Getinet Belay (Ethiopia), Joliba Africa Center; Organization: Erika Gregor (Arsenal Cinema, Germany); Organization Assistance: Annette Koschmieder (Germany).

Since then, Fountainhead® Tanz Théâtre produces and directs the Black International Cinema Berlin each year in Berlin and additionally, in other European and US-American cities.
The festival focuses on presenting works of an artistic, cultural or political nature coinciding with the general educational, social, artistic and economic interest of people from Africa, the African Diaspora and people with an interest in participating in intercultural communication and the resultant interfacing and sharing of educational, social, artistic and economic resources.

Furthermore, Black International Cinema Berlin is open to ALL filmmakers and contributes to better understanding and increasing cooperation between people from various cultural, ethnic, national and religious backgrounds, in order to reduce prejudices and support a peaceful and respectful living together in our multi-faceted society.

Founder/Producer/Director/Publisher/Curator/Author/Moderator/Choreographer:
Prof. Donald Muldrow Griffith/Fountainhead® Tanz Théâtre
in association with
THE COLLEGIUM - Forum & Television Program Berlin
“Footprints in the Sand?” ExhibitionBerlin
Cultural Zephyr e.V.