"Through the character of Joe, my film examines how African Americans feel marginalized in a once predominantly Black city like Charleston and how white supremacy is becoming more pervasive and insidious in America," said Mora-Kpai.
Having taught film production at the University of Pittsburgh for several years, Mora-Kpai is now an assistant professor specializing in fiction and documentary production at Ithaca College in Upstate New York. He is an award-winning filmmaker whose work has been screened worldwide at multiple film festivals. He is also a recipient of the prestigious Dutch Prince Claus Award for his dedication to promoting social change in the Global South. Many of his films narrate post-colonial societies, African migrations and diasporas.
"Garbage," a short film about misconceptions our society perpetuates and their negative consequences, will also be shown in December. The story is told from the perspective of a Black male and a white woman living in the same city, but metaphorically in two separate worlds. From their characters' actions, the story interrogates stereotypes and biases we place on others who are different from us.
The film is directed by Jose Muniain and written by Brian Broome, both with roots in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Muniain has spent much of his life working in film and media production, specializing in documentaries designed to be used as social tools. Broome is a K. Leroy Irvis Fellow and instructor in the Writing Program at the University of Pittsburgh.
"America Street" and "Garbage" both grapple with racial injustice and the struggle to build and maintain a strong community in the face of racial inequality, gentrification, police brutality and class conflict. These films help facilitate an interracial discussion of the various issues raised in the two narratives.
Registration for "America Street" starts Nov. 25. Tickets are $12 for online viewing. The first 100 people to register with a promo code will be able to watch for free. The code will be available on the CMU IFF website in the coming days. A live discussion with the film's director, Idrissou Mora-Kpai, will follow the film on Dec. 3 at 5 p.m. EST via Zoom and moderated by Waverly Duck, an urban sociologist and associate professor of sociology at the University of Pittsburgh. The discussion is free but requires registration. The event is organized in conjunction with Row House and sponsored by Cause, Humanities Scholars Program and the Center for Diversity and Inclusion at CMU.
About CMU IFF
The Carnegie Mellon International "Faces" Film Festival was created in 2006 and is a project of the Humanities Center at CMU. The festival prides itself on being the only international film festival organized and run by university students from across Pittsburgh. Films showcased focus on current and global social issues that create meaningful dialogue throughout the broader Pittsburgh community.