Photo courtesy Scribe Video Center

This month, Scribe Video Center is bringing back its Street Movies! program, with free outdoor film screenings and live performances taking place across Philadelphia neighborhoods. The program features independent films from around the world that spark discussions of issues relevant to the community. Each screening is hosted by a community organization and is followed by a moderated discussion. Two screenings will be held in West Philly this weekend, both at 7:45 p.m. – at Clark Park on Friday and at Malcolm X Park on Saturday. Details are below (for more info, visit scribe.org/news/streetmovies).

• Friday, Aug 7, 7:45 p.m.

The Bowl @ Clark Park (45th Street and Kingsessing Avenue)
Host: Jubilee School
Event Emcee: 900AM WURD’s Stephanie Renée
Opening live performance: the Jubilites of Jubilee School

The program includes the following film screenings:

Tengo Talento: Jennyselt Galata of Yoruba Andabo & Sailen (Afro Cuban Folklore)
dir. Eli Jacobs-Fantauzzi

Jennyselt is a dancer of Afro Cuban Folklore, with great prestige within Cuba and internationally and currently dances with the group Yoruba Andabo. She seeks her successor to keep the legacy of Afro-Cuban culture, dance and religion alive. Who will she choose to keep the legacy alive? (Cuba, 2014, 10:21 min, Spanish w/English Subtitles) 

XST
dir. Morgan Maassen
A portrait of Shawn Theodore, a street photographer in Philadelphia, whose vibrant and powerful photos are garnering national and international acclaim. (USA, 2015, 6 min)

The World Is As Big Or As Small As You Make It
dirs. Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady; story idea by Sannii Crespina-Flores
In North Philadelphia local youth gather at a rec center to participate in an innovative program where they forge friendships with their peers across the world. (USA, 2014, 11:49 min) This film was made with support from Sundance Institute and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Ione Nash – Her Life, Her Art
by Arthur Hall Afro-American Dance Ensemble Alumni & Scribe Video Center’s Community Visions Program
A pioneer in the Dance Arts, Ione Nash has made a significant contribution to African dance in Philadelphia and the US through her belief that passionate expression of feeling is at the heart of great dance. In the late 50s, she joined the ensemble of Ghanaian dancer Saka Acquaye, who founded an African dance troupe in Philadelphia… Turning 90 in 2014, Nash shares her unique experiences as a dancer, choreography and teacher, with insights on the history of African American dance in Philadelphia. (USA, 2014, 21 min)

• Saturday, August 8, 7:45 p.m.

Malcolm X Park (52nd & Pine Streets)
Hosts: Friends of Malcolm X Park & WPEB 88.1FM West Philadelphia Community Radio Station
Opening live performance: Poet & Recording Artist Ursula Rucker
Event Emcee: Las Gallas Artist Collective’s Julia Lopez

The program includes the following film screenings:

Dodoba dir. Yon Hui
In the village of Dodoba, a toad must face trial over the murder of a frog. (Japan/USA, 2015, 6 min, Japanese w/English subtitles)

The Box dir. Michael Schiller
Every year, thousands of teens are placed in solitary confinement cells in juvenile halls, jails and prisons nationwide. This animation tells the story of Ismael “Izzy” Nazario and the time he spent in solitary confinement in New York City’s Rikers Island jail. (USA, 2015, 5:25 min)

Talk It Out dir. Derek Thompson
Gifted artist Alonzo, a middle aged black man, must deal with his self-sabotaging ways, as he attempts to live his dream through a job society says he was not qualified for. With very limited education, lack of confidence and low self-esteem, Alonzo fights a vicious battle with himself in a war of words as he quietly “talks it out”. (2014, 20:14 min)

Stolen Dreams II: Breaking the Cycle of youth Violence Trauma & Imprisonment
by YASP Youth Art & Self- Empowerment Project with Scribe’s Community Visions Project
Stolen Dreams II is an inspiring film that reaches out to the community to help get the word out about stopping violence and finding ways to address violence other than throwing our young people in jail. (USA, 2014, 26:42 min)