Co-presented with Zip Code Memory Project, A-DOC, and Beyond Declarations
This event marks the third anniversary of the COVID-19 lockdown in NYC, two months before the federal lifting of the Coronavirus public health emergency on May 11, 2023. We will look back, look forward and ask a few urgent questions: What have we learned? What did we do well? What will we carry with us and do better? Must we wait for the next pandemic or will we finally address the underlying, life and death public health crisis that’s plagued our city for generations?
This curated program of short films and micro-documentaries are by independent filmmakers, emerging and veteran, who worked alone, together and in deep collaboration with a local, city-wide and national media maker organization that truly helped them get through the pandemic. Followed by a moderated Q&A with select filmmakers and an interactive discussion with the audience.
COVID DIARIES
Dir. by Marcial Pilataxi, Aracelie Colón, Camille Dianand, Shane Fleming, Arlet Guallpa, Rosemary Colón-Martinez, 39 min
In March 2020, New York City was placed on an unprecedented lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic and a catastrophic rise in cases. Spotlighting the struggles confronting their families during this time, five young filmmakers step behind and in front of the camera in this raw, revealing film that captures the sacrifices people make to protect and provide for their loved ones.
PEOPLE UNITE
Dir. by Ash Goh Hua, 2021, 3 min
In the face of AAPI violence, an intergenerational coalition of Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian, People of Color organizers come together to organize a march across historic Washington Heights and Harlem, as a continuation of the historic and radical Black and Asian solidarity tradition.
THE ESSENTIAL WORKER
Dir. by Prerana Thakurdesai, 2021, 3 min
A significant part of America has a singular gaze for a thawb-wearing, beard-keeping Muslim cleric like Imam Ahmed Ali. I hope, through this film, we’re able to experience the Imam’s humanity and recognize what makes him, and marginalized communities, an essential motif of the American fabric.
REOPENING
Dir. by David Huang, 2021, 2 min
Two married undocumented Chinese immigrants come to terms with the closing and re-opening of their restaurant during COVID-19.
TOGETHER, NOT ALONE
Dir. by Gabriella Canal and Judith Helfand, 20 min
A group of strangers from across three New York City neighborhoods – different ages, races, socio-economic backgrounds, work and life experience – come together after months of COVID-19 isolation to explore, map, paint, shape, recall and bear witness to each others' Zip code-determined struggles and imagine justice and repair.