Celebrate with us in the new year with our virtual showcase of the 2020 achievements of women + non-binary filmmakers of color in Chicago! 

WHEN: Thursday, January 14, 2021 | 6-7PM 

WHAT:

• 8 Mezcla members' introducing their clips from their film projects (documentary + narrative)
• Slideshow of accomplishments of members and Mezcla's 2020 Impact
• Announcement of 5 selected grantees of the Banner/Mezcla Microgrant Initiative! 

WHO:

• Film clips from the following Mezcla filmmakers: 
  • Ashley Battle - I Don't Like Oranges
    • Saki Nosaki Pays Homage to Nostalgic Black Culture In Latest Music Video, I DON'T LIKE ORANGES
  • Shuling Yong - Queer Parents Doc
  • Ashley O' Shay -  Unapologetic
    • After two police killings, Black millennial organizers challenge a Chicago administration complicit in state violence against its Black residents. Told through the lens of Janaé and Bella, two fierce abolitionist leaders, Unapologetic is a deep look into the Movement for Black Lives, from the police murder of Rekia Boyd to the election of mayor Lori Lightfoot.
  • Jenny Jiayan Shi - Finding Yingying
    • Yingying Zhang, a 26-year-old Chinese student, comes to the U.S. to study. In her detailed and beautiful diaries, the aspiring young scientist and teacher is full of optimism, hoping to also be married and a mother someday. Within weeks of her arrival, Yingying disappears from the campus. Through exclusive access to Yingying’s family and boyfriend, Finding Yingying closely follows their journey as they search to unravel the mystery of her disappearance and seek justice for their daughter while navigating a strange, foreign country. But most of all, Finding Yingying is the story of who Yingying was: a talented young woman loved by her family and friends.
      
  • Melissa DuPrey - 50 Blind Dates
    • Chicago actor and comic, Melissa DuPrey, seeks to challenge social isolation by creating “50 Blind Dates”, an online dating show where the goal is to find the person she would like to go on her first post-quarantine date with “when this is all over."
      
  • Porchia Lipsey - Concrete
    • What if the things we dreamed were concrete? What if everything was reversed?
      What would you do? How would you feel?
      
  • Imani Davis  - By a Thread
    • By a Thread follows a young non-binary puppeteer in the city of Chicago. Their car is impounded following a terrible audition and they are forced to figure out their way home. As dusk begins to encroach, the main subject travels, over encumbered, and accompanied by their only friend, a life size puppet named Bernie. Events in the world around them pepper their lonely journey and are then reflected through a heightened visual representation of their thoughts. 
      

MC: DANIELE GAITHER

Widely recognized for her work on the Emmy-winning, late night sketch comedy series MADtv, Daniele grew up doing theater in Minneapolis. She earned her SAG card shooting a commercial at Paisley Park. Years later she would be called on stage to dance with Prince during two concert tours, bringing the Minneapolis connection full circle. After graduating from Northwestern University she moved to Los Angeles where she continued acting study at Howard Fine Studios and EDGE Performing Arts Center. She went on to star in three broadcast network television series while improvising as a member of The Groundlings Theatre. Other notable roles include Super President Kickbutt on Kids’ Choice Award winner “The Thundermans” (NICK), “Battle Kitty” (Netflix), “The Great North” (FOX), “Mad About You” (Spectrum), “A Black Lady Sketch Show” (HBO), Key & Peele” (Comedy Central), “2 Broke Girl$” (CBS), “BoJack Horseman” (Netflix) “American Dad” (FOX) and “Family Guy.”She lives in California and does improv with The Black Version Show in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, Toronto and at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC.

WHY: As we continue to grow as a nonprofit organization, we are seeking to raise $5000 that will go towards 2021 programming, as well as hiring part-time leaders to fully support the efforts of Mezcla becoming a sustainable hub for our community for decades to come. Please consider supporting our vital work to elevate Chicago femme filmmakers of color! All contributions are 100% tax deductible.

ABOUT MEZCLA MEDIA COLLECTIVE: 

Mezcla Media Collective exists to ensure that women and non-binary filmmakers of color realize their full potential as storytellers and agents of change. By creating a founding hub in Chicago, we provide femme-identifying filmmakers of color with resources to enhance their craft. This includes creating access to a network, workshops, and a local community without having to depend on established industry hubs. 

Mezcla also seeks to level the playing field, ensuring that members not only participate in their city’s bustling media production scene, but are at the forefront of amplifying marginalized voices through their work.

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