"Doing Business in Africa for Commerce and Healing"
 

Sankofa... Connecting the Dots...
 

 

Flimmaker Damon Jamal

"Sankofa...Connecting the Dots"-Damon Jamal (director/photographer)-40 minutes- is a documentary based on a historic California Trade Mission to Durban, South Africa, during the inaugural Essence Magazine & City of Durban's "Essence Durban Festival" in November 2016. Jamal, an LA based filmmaker, recognized by the San Francisco 7 Day Film Festival as "Best Directors" whose work has included a plethora of music videos.
 

"Sankofa...Connecting the Dots" lives up its name and affirms the San Francisco Black Film Festival brand to grow to create its workforce development program to give youth and transitional adults marketable skills. Following the screening of the film at SPUR, an organization dedicated to "Ideas and Action For a Better City," there will be a panel discussion "Doing Business in Africa for Commerce and Healing." Panelist to date will include Damon Jamal, San Franciscan Roland Washington, producer of the film and sponsor of the California Trade Mission to Durban, South Africa, and Florida A&M Professor Brian Sims, Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology, who has led several student and faculty trips to Africa. Dr. Sims

	Dr. Brian Carey Sims Florida A&M Associate Professor of Psychology

has served as educational consultant with community-based organizations in Chicago, Atlanta, and San Francisco.He is a tenured Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at Florida A&M University, where his research focuses on the implications of media for individuals, families, and communities of African descent. He has published and presented his work around the world, including England, Bermuda, Spain, Senegal and Malawi and has authored several articles, edited book chapters, seminars and interactive workshops. Dr. Sims is a strong advocate for international education and has led study abroad programs for undergraduates to West Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Haiti. His forthcoming book, College Thug Syndrome, offers an explosive African-centered cultural analysis of higher education in the United States.
 

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DO NOT FORGET TO SUPPORT THE SUPPORTERS OF SFBFF
 

To date, the festival is made possible in part by the following sponsors: California Arts Council; San Francisco Arts Commission; Comcast; PG&E; Comerica Bank; Film Bread; Rainbow Grocery; DeYoung Museum; SPUR; African American Arts and Culture Center; Marines' Memorial Association; P. Harrell Wines; Fillmore Jazz Festival; Westin St. Francis Hotel; The San Francisco Chapter of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women; Dolby Laboratories; National Coalition of Black Veteran Organizations; Cesar Chavez American Legion Post 505; The San Francisco Veterans Film Festival; Maison Noire Américaine; The San Francisco Bay View Newspaper; Block Report Radio; KPOO Radio; LaHitz Media; The Village Project; Shelly Tatum Presents; Ink Tip; San Francisco Juneteenth; Jackson Street Productions; and Wright Enterprises. 

The San Francisco Black Film Festival believes film can lead to a better understanding of and communication between, peoples of diverse cultures, races, and lifestyles, while simultaneously serving as a vehicle to initiate dialogue on the important issues of our times.