Hip Hop Cinema
HIP HOP SHORTS

@ Historical Society of Washington D.C.
801 K Street NW Mount Vernon Sq., 8th and K Streets 20001

1PM-5PM | Free

In Honor of Hip Hop Appreciation Month, Hip Hop Cinema Café will celebrate with a day-long showcase of over 12 Hip Hop Short Films from around the corner and across the globe.

For a complete list of films log onto hiphopcinemacafe.com
(Ages 18 to Adults) No RSVP required.

featuring:

Can She Be Saved?

Author/activist/producer Yasmin Shiraz exposes the recent phenomenon of girl fights in America-the prevalence of video images featuring girls physically attacking each other. Painting a dark picture of what happens to juveniles who engage in violent activity, Can She Be Saved? provides historical, cultural and personal references to understand why teen girls are fighting and if anything can be done to make them stop. Revealing the cultural attitudes of girl fighting, Shiraz includes pop culture references, crime and violence statistics as well as news stories that hype the images of girls battling. Shiraz then interviews middle school girls from Syracuse, NY who have been labeled “aggressive” by their teachers, principals and/or guidance counselors. These girls were known to fight and get into disagreements with their classmates. In her interviews of teen girls and professionals who work with youth, Shiraz uncovers the shocking reasons behind the girls’ attitudes and actions. Though the girl’s reasons for fighting contrast with the professional subject’s opinions, the girl’s testimonies make a case for compassion instead of condemnation.

Other Films include:

I AM SEAN BELL Black boys speak A Short Form Documentary from Wildseed Films Directed by Stacey Muhammad, Edited by: Stacey Muhammad & R.H. Bless

I AM SEAN BELL, Black boys speak is a short form documentary, produced by Wildseed Films, directed by Stacey Muhammad. On November 25, 2006, undercover NYPD officers fired at least 50 rounds of bullets into a car carrying three UNARMED men of African American and Latino decent; killing one, SEAN BELL and seriously wounding two others. Bell age 23 was scheduled to be married on that fateful day. Three of the five detectives involved in the shooting went to trial on charges ranging from manslaughter to reckless endangerment. All were found not guilty. The incident has sparked fierce criticism of the NYPD as the city faces yet another murder of an unarmed African American man at the hands of those expected to protect and serve. “I AM SEAN BELL, black boys speak” is a short form documentary from Wildseed Films that highlights the voices of young black boys between the ages of 11 and 13 years old growing up in New York City. They speak openly and honestly about their reaction to the Sean Bell tragedy as well as their fears and hopes as they approach manhood in a city where the lives of young black men are often cut short, to often, and too soon. I AM SEAN BELL, black boys speak made it’s film festival premier at the PATOIS New Orleans International Human Rights film festival. Since that time the film has been screened at festivals and events nationwide.

HIPHOP Aesthetics: The 5 Senses, Part 1-SIGHT Directed by Danielle Eliska Lyle

To Generation X, the essential 5 elements of survival are air, water, fire, earth and HIPHOP… HIPHOP is more than Dirty Dozens on playgrounds, cardboard on sidewalks, b-boxing contests and tagged freeway overpasses—it is liberation through expression and sound. HIPHOP Aesthetics: The 5 Senses is a documentary series on the elements of HIPHOP in Detroit. We get up close and personal with two of Detroit’s finest—SINTEX, the Graffiti guru and Fel’le, the Airbrush don. They stimulate our visual, bringing us to a climax while we feast on eye candy in Part I— SIGHT.

Hip Hop Love Story A Short Fiction Film Directed by Omar Akbar, Edited by: Omar Akbar

Hip Hop Love Story is one man’s testimony to the power of Love and a new beginning. This movie depicts the journey from heartache to rebirth from the perspective of an Emcee. An abstract tale of pain and joy told in 6 parts through the narration of the Emcees lyrics.

Up in the Attic Directed by Kamal Imani

In the early days of Hip Hop, some teenage young men in the New Jersey suburbs of New York City became very popular. There hangout was in the Attic of one of the leaders of the posse who were known as the Gods AKA the Brothers. The brothers had good looks, magnetic personalities, knowledge of self and the rebelliousness that many teenagers had. They were also well versed in the elements of hip hop. This gave them an aura which attracted many fly girls who wanted to get with them and many fly guys as well as nerds who wanted to get down with the cipher. Many bonds became stronger and many lessons were learned “Up in the Attic”. Up in the Attic is a coming of age story with a realistic mix of drama and comedy. The lead character is actor Jamian Blackmon who plays Jamal and his posse Daquan and Asiatic (Real Brothers), Lakem (The Loud One), Lorenzo (The Instigator), Bookworm and I-Self. Narration by Steven A. Robinson who plays King Hannibal Saladine Allah Special guest appearances by Hip Hop Old School legends and Pioneers Crash Crews Reggie Reg and Yoda, Zulu Kings, DJ Cool Clyde, DJ Cisco, Chill Rob Gee (I Got the Power), Hip Hop Radio Personality Champagne, Ericka M. Williams and more. The soundtrack includes the likes of MC Shan, Chill Rob G, Lakim Shabazz Champagne, Maximus Parthas, Kyss Major, Koffee, DJ Revie Rev & LLC (The Break Out Brothers-Cuzzone Crew), Kamal Supreme, JP & much more!

Additional Short Films

Snowflake

The Revenge of the Robots 
ft. Mr. Lif El-P & RJD2

Hoodlyfe

Rest in Beats

Elevator Music- Tewodross Melchishu

Diamond District Mini Documentary-DJ Roddy Rod

Next: Downtown 2010-Omar Akbar

Another Randon Joint- Kev Brown

Hollywood-Phil Ade

No Love-J-Scrilla, K-Beta, XO, Oddisee, RAtheMC, Wordsmith, Judah and Teleflon

…………………….

“The monthly Hip-Hop Cinema Café is a great way to enjoy hip-hop and film at the same time in D.C., but if you want to participate fully in these screenings, you should first familiarize yourself with a few canonical movies. Sure, you can show up, watch, and bounce, but often the best part of this event is the talk afterward, which typically includes a roundtable of D.C.-based arts luminaries.”

- Washington CityPaper Best Of D.C. ‘09

The Washington Post on HHCC:
“Film Series Spotlights D.C. Style Of Hip-Hop”

The Washington CityPaper on HHCC:
“Best of D.C. 2009-Staff Pick: Best Way to Enjoy the Intersection of Film and Hip-Hop