Award-Winning Documentary about Charles Curtis Blackwell: the African-American blind poet, painter, playwright and teacher who guides us on an intimate journey of his past and present. From Blackwell's challenging upbringing in both California and Mississippi, to his current creative life including discussions on loss, love, pain, and redemption -- all through the prism of his artistic endeavors.
Over the course of the movie, Charles discusses his involvement in school bus riots in Sacramento, the Civil Rights Movement, and Blackwell's transformative experience of losing his eyesight, beginning at the age of 20. Throughout these struggles, it was always Charles' artistic endeavors that fortified his resilience and allowed him to connect with his communities.
World Premiere: San Francisco Black Film Festival (2019) followed by screenings at the Over-the-Rhine International Film Festival, Silicon Valley African Film Festival, 68th Columbus International Film & Animation Festival, 15th Poppy Jasper Film Festival, Superfest International Disability Film Festival (winner of the Disability Justice Award), and International Premiere in Greece at the Documentary Festival of Ierapetra.
Co-produced/edited by Aaron Gwynn. Co-produced/directed/co-cinematography by Jeff M. Giordano.
Director Bio:
Jeff M. Giordano has been directing documentaries for over 16 years. His deep interest in psychology, anthropology, and culture led to film school at the University of North Carolina: School of the Arts - School of Filmmaking. Jeff then became the first Director Major at the University to focus on documentaries. Giordano's thesis film: The Sheriff (a short documentary from 2007) won two awards: Director's Choice at the Black Maria Film Festival and Special Jury Award at the Provincetown International Film Festival. Since 2004, Giordano has interviewed over 150 people for various documentary projects.
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Over the course of the movie, Charles discusses his involvement in school bus riots in Sacramento, the Civil Rights Movement, and Blackwell's transformative experience of losing his eyesight, beginning at the age of 20. Throughout these struggles, it was always Charles' artistic endeavors that fortified his resilience and allowed him to connect with his communities.
World Premiere: San Francisco Black Film Festival (2019) followed by screenings at the Over-the-Rhine International Film Festival, Silicon Valley African Film Festival, 68th Columbus International Film & Animation Festival, 15th Poppy Jasper Film Festival, Superfest International Disability Film Festival (winner of the Disability Justice Award), and International Premiere in Greece at the Documentary Festival of Ierapetra.
Co-produced/edited by Aaron Gwynn. Co-produced/directed/co-cinematography by Jeff M. Giordano.
Director Bio:
Jeff M. Giordano has been directing documentaries for over 16 years. His deep interest in psychology, anthropology, and culture led to film school at the University of North Carolina: School of the Arts - School of Filmmaking. Jeff then became the first Director Major at the University to focus on documentaries. Giordano's thesis film: The Sheriff (a short documentary from 2007) won two awards: Director's Choice at the Black Maria Film Festival and Special Jury Award at the Provincetown International Film Festival. Since 2004, Giordano has interviewed over 150 people for various documentary projects.
Award-Winning Documentary about Charles Curtis Blackwell: the African-American blind poet, painter, playwright and teacher who guides us on an intimate journey of his past and present. From Blackwell's challenging upbringing in both California and Mississippi, to his current creative life including discussions on loss, love, pain, and redemption -- all through the prism of his artistic endeavors.
Over the course of the movie, Charles discusses his involvement in school bus riots in Sacramento, the Civil Rights Movement, and Blackwell's transformative experience of losing his eyesight, beginning at the age of 20. Throughout these struggles, it was always Charles' artistic endeavors that fortified his resilience and allowed him to connect with his communities.
World Premiere: San Francisco Black Film Festival (2019) followed by screenings at the Over-the-Rhine International Film Festival, Silicon Valley African Film Festival, 68th Columbus International Film & Animation Festival, 15th Poppy Jasper Film Festival, Superfest International Disability Film Festival (winner of the Disability Justice Award), and International Premiere in Greece at the Documentary Festival of Ierapetra.
Co-produced/edited by Aaron Gwynn. Co-produced/directed/co-cinematography by Jeff M. Giordano.
Director Bio:
Jeff M. Giordano has been directing documentaries for over 16 years. His deep interest in psychology, anthropology, and culture led to film school at the University of North Carolina: School of the Arts - School of Filmmaking. Jeff then became the first Director Major at the University to focus on documentaries. Giordano's thesis film: The Sheriff (a short documentary from 2007) won two awards: Director's Choice at the Black Maria Film Festival and Special Jury Award at the Provincetown International Film Festival. Since 2004, Giordano has interviewed over 150 people for various documentary projects.
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Over the course of the movie, Charles discusses his involvement in school bus riots in Sacramento, the Civil Rights Movement, and Blackwell's transformative experience of losing his eyesight, beginning at the age of 20. Throughout these struggles, it was always Charles' artistic endeavors that fortified his resilience and allowed him to connect with his communities.
World Premiere: San Francisco Black Film Festival (2019) followed by screenings at the Over-the-Rhine International Film Festival, Silicon Valley African Film Festival, 68th Columbus International Film & Animation Festival, 15th Poppy Jasper Film Festival, Superfest International Disability Film Festival (winner of the Disability Justice Award), and International Premiere in Greece at the Documentary Festival of Ierapetra.
Co-produced/edited by Aaron Gwynn. Co-produced/directed/co-cinematography by Jeff M. Giordano.
Director Bio:
Jeff M. Giordano has been directing documentaries for over 16 years. His deep interest in psychology, anthropology, and culture led to film school at the University of North Carolina: School of the Arts - School of Filmmaking. Jeff then became the first Director Major at the University to focus on documentaries. Giordano's thesis film: The Sheriff (a short documentary from 2007) won two awards: Director's Choice at the Black Maria Film Festival and Special Jury Award at the Provincetown International Film Festival. Since 2004, Giordano has interviewed over 150 people for various documentary projects.
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Date/Times:
2 Waverly Place, San Francisco, CA 94108
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