SYNOPSIS

Stand Down Soldier, directed by Jeryl Prescott, is a compelling narrative that delves into the complex realities faced by African American women in the military. The film follows the journey of Sergeant Stacy Armstrong as she returns home from multiple deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan, battling the invisible wounds of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The film adeptly portrays the struggles of reintegrating into society, family life, and finding a sense of normalcy after the life-altering experiences of war and adds another layer to Sergeant Armstrong’s challenges by addressing the unique trauma associated with being a woman in the military. It explores the difficulties she faces in a predominantly male environment, including gender-based discrimination and the additional mental health stresses that arise from such experiences.

Stand Down Soldier not only highlights the personal battles of Sergeant Armstrong but also sheds light on broader themes such as the mental health issues faced by women veterans, the lack of adequate support systems, and the specific experiences of African American soldiers. It is a poignant reflection on the sacrifices and unseen scars of war, emphasizing the need for greater understanding and support for veterans' mental health.

As Sergeant Armstrong struggles with the transition back to civilian life, the film portrays her battle against not only the trauma of combat but also the internal conflicts stemming from her experiences as a female soldier. These experiences include navigating a system that often lacks sufficient support for the specific needs of women veterans.

This film is particularly relevant for discussions in Africana and Women Studies for its exploration of intersecting themes of race, gender, and military service. It provides a unique perspective on the African American military experience, particularly focusing on the often-overlooked narratives of women veterans. This film is a poignant reminder of the need for greater awareness and support for all veterans, especially those facing compounded challenges due to their gender and race.

Writer, director, producer, and lead actress in Stand Down Soldier, Jeryl Prescott - an actress best known for her portrayal of Jacqui in The Walking Dead - started writing the award-winning script for Stand Down Soldier after conversations with female family members and friends from her home state of SC who served in Afghanistan and Iraq.

 “It was both revelatory and refreshing to see that a film about a soldier’s return home from active duty in Iraq is focused on a woman.”  ~ Highbrow Magazine
Read Full Review HERE

“Stand Down Soldier is a poignant film about an African-American female soldier back to civilian life after serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. This film took me by surprise, and I really enjoyed it.” ~ Film Monthly.

Read Full Review HERE

SYNOPSIS

Cell 512 that takes a critical look at the prison and legal systems in Burkina Faso, the issue of corruption and the status of women in society.

Honorine, a married woman from a modest background with two young children and a loving husband is involved in a car accident that causes the death of a 17-year-old boy. The young man was the son of a rich and vindictive business man who makes every effort to ensure Honorine gets the worst treatment possible when she is sent to prison.

Through the life experiences of Honorine in prison, the film shows the harsh laws and vices of prison life: sexual harassment, physical and emotional violence, promiscuity and obligation to suffer without complaint or murmur. All these evils are the fruit of the imagination of officials and prison guards, and of prisoners themselves as they seek to meet their needs and their libido. Justice, only recourse of the weak, is mired in a system of corruption, influence peddling, where the reason of the strongest and the richest prevails.

Cell 512 received the prestigious Catholic Church-sponsored SIGNIS award during FESPACO 2015. SIGNIS, as an international association, promotes media for a culture of peace. The SIGNIS prize is always awarded to a film that promotes gospel, human or Christian values. Cell 512 received the award for “addressing matters that promote the integrity of family values in the face of severe challenges, presenting the relationship between men and women as complementary, and for its attention for the poor.”

SYNOPSIS

A reflection of the difficult social conditions of women in many societies in different parts of the world, SEXY MONEY explores frontally with much sensitivity and compassion the broken hopes and hard choices of poor Nigerian women as they struggle to reintegrate Nigerian society with dignity after being expelled from Europe where they were looking for a better life.

SEXY MONEY presents a subtle indictment of the social reality of poor women in contemporary Nigeria. In recent years, a growing number of Nigerian women, among other West African women, have settled in the suburbs of major cities in the Netherlands and other parts of Europe. The women go there in order to escape poverty. But for most of them, the European adventure is a disappointment that ends when they fly back to their native countries empty-handed.

The film listens to these women talk about their European adventure and follows the development of two women in particular who, after returning to Nigeria, try to build a new life. There are countless obstacles. The film exposes the challenges these women face while celebrating their resilience.

Music, as a source of pleasure and beauty plays an important role in the lives of these women and also in the film, with songs especially composed for it by Nneka, one of Nigeria’s best.

SYNOPSIS

Critically acclaimed Rosa Chumbe is a rare film from Peru where the multiculturalism and multiracialism of Peruvian society is present everywhere.

Rosa is an indigenous mature police officer with both a gambling and a drinking problem. She lives with her daughter Sheila, who has a little baby. One day, after a big fight between them, Sheila steals her mother's savings and storms out of the house leaving her baby behind. Rosa is forced to spend some time with her grandson. Something changes inside her heart of stone. However, everything takes a wrong turn one night. Only a miracle can save her.

SYNOPSIS

Mama Africa: Miriam Makeba focuses on the life and influence of the South African singer and civil rights activist, Miriam Makeba. The film's segment concerning her time in the USA is particularly significant, as it showcases her impact on the Civil Rights Movement and her artistic collaborations in the country.

During her time in the United States, Makeba's music and activism became deeply intertwined with the African-American experience. Her marriage to Stokely Carmichael, a prominent figure in the Black Panther Party, marked a crucial period where her artistry and advocacy for African rights gained prominence, but also led to controversy and eventual exile from the USA. The documentary explores how Makeba used her voice not only to enchant American audiences with her music but also to raise awareness about the struggles against apartheid in South Africa, making her a vital cultural and political link between Africa and the African-American community.

SYNOPSIS

Susana Baca is not only a champion in the performance and preservation of Afro-Peruvian heritage, but also an elegant singer whose shimmering voice sings of love, loss and life. Susana and her husband Ricardo Pereira have founded the Instituto Negrocontinuo “Black Continuum” in Lima, a spirited facility for the exploration, expression, and creation of Black Peruvian culture. While Baca has dedicated herself to researching and performing virtually all forms of Afro-Peruvian folklore, it is the lando that has become her trademark. This slow to mid-tempo, highly evocative mix of Spanish, Indigenous and African rhythms has become what the son is to Cuba, or the samba to Brazil--the lando is the sound of Black Peru.

SYNOPSIS

Zamiatou is the mother of two quarrelsome boys and a depressed teenage girl. She is also the wife of a man arrested for political reasons who returns from prison mentally and physically destroyed. She struggles hard to survive in a poor and desolate area. She is ready to face anything to keep the family alive except prostituting her beautiful daughter. Her determination will take her far from her family…