Race and the Church Meet at the Cross In BHERC Faith-Based Film Fest Screening Of “If My People”

The BHERC Faith-based & Inspirational Film Festival extends thru October 3, with this feature film centering on racial transformation and reconciliation from the church’s perspective.

Los Angeles, CA – The Black Hollywood Education and Resource Center (BHERC) is proud to present a special screening of “If My People,” a selection from the 2nd Annual BHERC Faith-Based & Inspirational Film Festival (FBIFF): Amplified. The screening is FREE to the public (registration required) screens online at www.bherc.TV Sunday, September 26, 4:00 PM PST.

The Black church has long been the anchor and central source of support in the community. During segregation, they were fighting for voting rights, providing for the poor, and more. The church has always been the primary source of hope and inspiration. Because of the times, congregations were predominantly Black. According to Pew research, even today, at least 61% of African Americans attend mostly Black congregations with all of the advances. However, that is beginning to change with the coming generations.

BHERC selected to spotlight the feature “If My People” Mark David Kennerly, Director because this film deals effectively with racial reconciliation from the Black Church’s perspective and racial transformation. Additionally, it looks at the issue of race from both the Black and White perspectives. “Given the troubling and persistent ugliness and sheer magnitude of racial unrest in America today, we felt this film provided an opportunity for discussion. Perhaps even the discovery of some solutions,” stated John Forbes, BHERC Executive Director, and Festival Director. The event features a post discussion with the director and actors Anthony Shaw-Vaughan, Roderick Garr, and Mikayla Leybovich.

The outstanding 2021 film selections include:

Aitxitxe (Grandpa), Markel Goikoetxea Markaida – Spanish Language; All For Honnor, Brigid Turner; Bobby, Cortez Mack, Daniel Merrick; Dance! Andrea “Andy” Mangano; Daring To Be Different, Marvin J Lowe; Dead Talks, Chuck Anakwenze; Dinner Table, Cortez Mack; Farewell Motivational, Jeremy Lee, Amyna Price, Kiana Sheryl; Fire Extinguisher (Extinctor), Rodrigo Sopeña, Joana Solnado – Spanish Language; God Chaserz, Brinson Wright and Will Thomas; Grace, Leslie Lanier; Heavenly Paradigm, Elea Njume; Inherited, Sekou Browne; Kitchens of Freedom, Amber SIlva, Sara Tracogna; Muslimah’s Guide to Marriage, Aminah Bakeer and Abdul-Jabbaar; One Binge, Daniel Henrich; Otis’ Dream, Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III, Jason and Blue; Our Fire, Travae Davis; Paul – The Final Footsteps in Rome, Jermaine Coles; Roots of the Race Amity Movement, William Smith; Seasoned, Aretha Tatum; Skin Like Mine (Animated), Tiffany Burgess and Stanley Aughtry; Someone Worthy, Corbin Marshall and Jonathan Thomas; Splitting Image, David A. Walker; The Gift (El Regalo), Sebastian Lazo – Spanish Language; The Littlest Angel, Romulo Mena; The Nativity of Christ, Bruce Neibaur; The Penitent Thief, Lucas Miles; The Truth About Santa Claus, Tanya Huston; Tomati, Esther Kemi Gbadamosi; Twincerely Documentary, Dawn McGee; Wade in the Water, Caio Levy Rodrigues; Wildflowers, Noah Michael and Vincent-Blatter.

About the Festival

BHERC founded the FBIFF in 2019. Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Festival had to be postponed until this year. The objective of the FBIFF is to build an audience for and promote and encourage the awareness, appreciation, and understanding of faith-based and inspirational films. Keeping with our theme, BHERC seeks to AMPLIFY the films and filmmakers of the Christian and Inspirational genre. Our mandate is to exhibit the most amazing faith-based and inspirational content we can find from every part of the world. “There is an important audience out there waiting to support faith-based and inspirational films. BHERC wants to connect that audience with those films and filmmakers,” said Sandra Evers-Manly, BHERC president and founder. Films are selected based on quality and originality, promoting a “Faith-based inspirational or family” narrative supporting the Black perspective. The Festival also encourages partnerships between secular and sacred professionals and institutions to develop cinematic tools for better living for the community. There are 34 films from across the globe culled from 1000 entries.

About our Partners

What makes the BHERC FBIFF unique is the partnership with sacred and faith-based partners that share a common interest in promoting films to uplift the communities they serve. “We have the opportunity to encourage filmmakers who create and tell stories about faith and family, and that helps us do our work!” states Rev. William D. Smart, President, SCLC-SC, Los Angeles and Co-Pastor Christ Liberation Ministries. Los Angeles. “This year will be a compelling occasion with the extended dates and the growing need for hope and inspiration of every form.” Other partners include Rev. John Cager, Ward AME, Pastor Walter Contreras, National Latino Evangelical Coalitional, Rev. James K. McKnight, Church of Christian Fellowship, Los Angeles, Rev Jonathan Moseley, National Action Network, Western Region, Rev. Kelvin Sauls, Community Health Councils/Former Senior Pastor, Holman United Methodist Church, Najuma Smith Pollard, Word of Encouragement Community Church, Rev. Thembekela Smart, Co-Pastor, Christ Liberation Ministries, Los Angeles and Rev. W. K. Tulloss, President, Baptist Ministers Conference, Rev. James Thomas, Living Word, LA, Pastor Patricia Strong-Fargas, Mt Salem/New Wave Church, LA., and Elder Joe Paul, Jr., City of Refuge.

About BHERC

Founded in 1996 by Sandra Evers-Manly, BHERC is a nonprofit, public benefit organization designed to advocate, educate, research, develop, and preserve African Americans’ history, images, and future in film and television. BHERC programs include film festivals, mentoring, book signings, script readings, film and animation contests, scholarships, and other programs and special events. BHERC pays a unique distinction to the contributions of African American men and women both in front and behind the scenes in the entertainment industry.

The Festival IS EXTENDED thru Sunday, October 3, 2021. Admission to the Festival is 15.00 and includes all events. Purchase passes, check for updates, and detailed program information online at www.bherc.org. Or call 310-284-3170.

Excerpt:
BHERC selected to spotlight the feature “If My People” Mark David Kennerly, Director because this film deals effectively with racial reconciliation from the Black Church’s perspective and racial transformation. Additionally, it looks at the issue of race from both the Black and White perspectives. “Given the troubling and persistent ugliness and sheer magnitude of racial unrest in America today, we felt this film provided an opportunity for discussion. Perhaps even the discovery of some solutions,” stated john Forbes, BHERC Executive Director, and Festival Director. The event features a post discussion with the director and actors Anthony Shaw-Vaughan, Roderick Garr, and Mikayla Leybovich.

Photo Caption:
“Given the troubling and persistent ugliness and sheer magnitude of racial unrest in America today, we felt this film provided an opportunity for discussion. Perhaps even the discovery of some solutions,” stated John Forbes, BHERC Executive Director, and Festival Director.

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Los Angeles CA, Black Hollywood Education and Resource Center (BHERC), “If My People”, 2nd Annual BHERC Faith-Based & Inspirational Film Festival (FBIFF), Amplified, Black church, anchor, central source of support, segregation, voting rights, providing for the poor, primary source of hope, inspiration, congregations, predominantly Black,  Pew research, African Americans, mostly Black congregations, BHERC, Mark David Kennerly, racial reconciliation, Black Church’s perspective, racial transformation, issue of race, Black and White perspectives, racial unrest in America, John Forbes, Anthony Shaw-Vaughan, Roderick Garr, Mikayla Leybovich

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