Documentary Media MFA Showcase 2024
Cinema in Relation: Yearnings for the Beyond
Program 2: Places of Memory = Reconstruction

Cinema in Relation: Yearnings for the Beyond is the 2024 thesis showcase of Northwestern University’s Documentary Media program. For two nights, 7 emerging filmmakers from all over the world will share experiences that serve as a vessel through the complex terrain of cultural identity, shared history and belonging. Embrace the universal quest for connection in a world that feels fragmented and distant by experiencing two unique screenings at The Block Cinema.

Program 2: Places of Memory = Reconstruction, premiering on Thursday June 6, presents a collection of four films that explore themes of indigeneity, belonging, ancestral roots, and the transformative impact of environmental change. Offering a nuanced perspective on the daily experiences of individuals and community, these films from Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, and the Dominican Republic, serve as reminders of the enduring connections between people and their environments, imbued with memory, highlighting the importance of remembering cultural consciousness and reclaiming lost histories amidst the complexities of modern life. Places of Memory = Reconstruction navigates the depths of the cinematic landscape, where time meets reality, and the yearning for the beyond becomes a universal quest for experiencing and belonging. This program will feature films by Johnaé Strong, Joshua Coverdale, Jeny Amaya, and Dalissa Montes de Oca.

About the films in Program Two:

Black Things Today (2024, 12 min) by Johnaé Strong

Zaria, Zenaida, and Zaire (affectionately known as the “Z Squad”) are children of a village of African-centered schools on the South Side of Chicago. As they navigate high school, each girl must determine how to bring “the village” with them in their own unique way.

Los Hoyos (2024, 18 min) by Jeny Amaya

A liminal landscape in greater Los Angeles is activated by myths, memories, and hauntings of the land.

Nothing Out the Island: Bridges (2024, 16 min) by Dalissa Montes de Oca Mosquea

Fragmented memories and visions find a home in light and shadows, bridging the gap between the past, the present and the loss of a mother.

Weaving the Pieces Together: A story about Beyonce Armstrong (2024, 18 min) by Joshua Coverdale

The film is about Brooklyn-based artist Beyonce Armstrong’s first-hand encounter with gentrification in her community, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. Brooklyn is considered a deep landmark for her family lineage and in shaping her identity. Ironically, through her artistry, she is preserving the culture she knew Bed-stuy to be.

Following the screening, filmmaker Edgar Jorge Baralt will join the MFA filmmakers for a conversation and Q&A with the audience.

For more information on Program 1: Metamorphoses of Memory, premiering on Wednesday June 5 at The Block: https://bit.ly/cinemarelation-1

FREE & OPEN TO ALL

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Tags: Block Museum, Cinema in Relation: Yearnings for the Beyond – Program 2, Dalissa Montes de Oca, Jeny Amaya, Johnaé Strong, Joshua Coverdale, MFA Thesis, Northwestern University, Yearnings for the Beyond – Program 2