Join us for a screening of a local filmmaker’s project curated by Brooke "B" Sonenreich, of ATLFilmParty (AFP).
Filmmakers: Ebony Blanding and Amber Bournett-McClain
Films:
TELEPHONE: Colorfully spotlighting the importance of having boundaries and purging gas- lighting exes, using campy moods to tell the story of what happens to lovers, homies, and friends when common sense isn't common. Originally premiered on Revolt Media’s 2020 Short & Fresh Digital Slate.
LEVITATE, LEVITATE, LEVITATE:LEVITATE LEVITATE LEVITATE emerged from a reflection on the pervasive and traumatic exposure to the Black Death shared widely across social media platforms. Our imagination needed an escape from the relentless stream of imagery depicting the deaths of Black individuals circulating on social media. A dream came to Ebony - Black kids shimmering in gold, floating over the perils of the world. Exploring the West End of Atlanta as a sci-fi landscape, we dared to LEVITATE
Talkback with Filmmakers Moderated by: Alexa Rachelle Jennings, a Georgia native, holds a Bachelor of Arts in English with a concentration in Creative Writing from Georgia State University. With over fifteen years of acting experience, Alexa has brought her talent to the screen in projects such as Our Kind of People (Fox), Bigger (BET), and Netflix’s Stamped from the Beginning, where she embraces a wide range of compelling roles. Her work extends to national commercials for renowned brands like Kroger, Sherwin-Williams, and Hero Cosmetics. A passionate artist at heart, Alexa thrives on creativity and seizes every opportunity to express herself.
HOJ BIO: The House of June (HOJ) is an independent art film house dedicated to producing original cinematography and narratives for both film and web. We view moving pictures and stories as a means of ascension to celebrate the Black life. We believe that creating complex, beautifully simplistic characters of color in film is a powerful act of artistic activism.
Curated by Brooke “B” Sonenreich, founder of ATLFilmParty, a local film competition and gathering event whose intention is to cultivate joy and appreciation for ATLien filmmakers.
Brooke "B" Sonenreich currently serves as the Events and Education Director at Moonshine Post-Production, a premier full-service post-production company in Atlanta, specializing in film, television, and advertising.
Before joining Moonshine Post-Production, Brooke held roles as the Community Relations Manager and Marketing Manager at the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival, the largest film festival in Georgia and the largest Jewish film festival in the country.
Prior to her time at AJFF, Brooke served as the Editor-in-Chief of Oz Magazine, an Atlanta-based film industry publication, where she had the privilege of interviewing influential actors, directors, producers, and more. During her tenure at Oz Magazine, Brooke identified a significant need for more showcasing opportunities and community building at the local level within Atlanta's film industry. To address this gap, she founded ATLFilmParty, a free film competition designed to support and promote Atlanta-raised and based filmmakers.
Brooke holds a Master's degree in Communication from Georgia State University, specializing in film theory and media studies, and a Bachelor's degree in Creative Writing and Film Studies from Florida State University. She moved to Atlanta to work as an instructor at Georgia State University, teaching Motion Picture History and Film Aesthetics courses at the undergraduate level while earning her Master's degree in Moving Image Studies.
Beyond her professional roles, Brooke's dedication to fostering local talent and enhancing the film community in Atlanta through ATLFilmParty highlights her commitment to the growth and vibrancy of the city's film industry.
Ebony Blanding is a writer/director from Atlanta, Georgia, whose work seeks to tell stories about Black girls and women coming of age on their own terms. She draws from her southern roots to create original interpretations of gothic tales, Black folklore, and afro-futurism within grounded and supernatural settings.
Blanding has helmed branded content for Rolling Stone, documentaries for major artists, and multiple award-winning short films, including Levitate Levitate Levitate, streamed at Atlanta International Airport. Her commissioned period piece, Georgia Voting Rights, is playing in the state capitol.
Co-founder of the art film house, House of June, Blanding, has presented films at educational institutions, including Spelman College, Emory University, and John H. Hopkins University. Her work has screened at Atlanta Film Society, Capetown International Film Festival, and SXSW, among others.
Accepted into the 2021 Blackmagic Collective Future Directors of Studio Features Fellowship and Atlanta Film Society’s 2017-2019 Filmmaker-In-Residence Program, Ebony’s work colorfully explores the nuances of Black womanhood and spirituality through a fantastical lens.
Amber Bournett-McClain
is an award-winning cinematographer & director based in Atlanta. While studying fine art & film and video at Georgia State University, Bournett co-founded the independent production company House of June. She then served as a videographer under an indie music label. Bournett gained training as a camera prep technician at Commander Lighting and Grip before joining the union as a camera assistant.
As an independent filmmaker, Bournett has served as cinematographer and co-director to several award-winning short narratives. In addition to national festival screenings, several of her narratives have screened internationally. Her ATL Airport Shorts triptych, LEVITATE, LEVITATE, LEVITATE, was selected for Cannes Shorts through the THEA program. Amber has contributed additional photography for feature films, documentaries, and series, including BET: Tales, HBO: United Skates of America Documentary, and independent feature His, Hers, and the Truth. Bournett was also a 2019 participant in the AFI Female Cinematographer Intensive.
Event offsite at Emory University’s Michael C. Carlos Museum
Register
Event Offsite at Emory University’s Michael C. Carlos Museum
Join us at Emory University’s Michael C. Carlos Museum for a conversation between renowned Guyanese-British artist Hew Locke, whose work explores empire and power, and Guyanese-American curator Grace Aneiza Ali. The landmark exhibition, Donald Locke: Nexus, curated by Ali and on view here at Atlanta Contemporary, honors the life and legacy of Guyanese-born artist Donald Locke (1930–2010), one of Atlanta’s most influential artists. It focuses on how the concept of “nexus” permeates his artistic and intellectual journey and his engagement with themes of migration, cultural hybridity, and the histories of colonialism.
