By Teri Kinne
Los Angeles, CA (The Hollywood Times) 8/14/24 – I was sent to cover a sneak peek of emerging voices in independent film—a niche I’m passionate about. I relish the chance to pry some of the spotlight away from the usual stars and shine it on new points of view.
I arrived early in Beverly Hills and walked to Wilshire headed west. I was surprised to see a plush red carpet covering the width of the gritty sidewalk beneath the Lumiere Cinema marquee. Along it, an impenetrable wall of photographers, all wearing black, prevented me from finding a view. Something felt off—here were actors in gowns, slick talent mangers, and at the fringe, autograph hounds. Publicists flashed name cards, ensuring we journalists spelled their clients’ IDs correctly. This wasn’t the indie short film premiere I’d expected. I admit, I was dazzled by the glamor, but I was seeking a new experience just as much as Hollywood is.
I was just about to shoulder my way into the line of paparazzi when I heard my name called behind me.
That’s when I met my media contact, Tymothie-James Bergendahl, Director of Partnerships and Philanthropy at the Anthology Film Institute. They were dashing in black turtleneck, harem pants and man-pearls. They lead me away from indie action thriller I’d stumbled onto and welcomed to the other side of the theater. “Our red carpet should start soon,” they assured me. I glanced down at my feet—no red carpet here, I realized Tymothie used “red carpet” as a verb. I waited as talent, supporters, and guests arrived for this screening. It was impossible not to appreciate the diversity across this gathering crowd —an actor in a hijab, a producer wearing African wax print, child actors. a guest in a sari, and families in black tie wear, couples in jeans. I knew I was in the right place, surrounded by artists and fans who truly represent our city. Genuine, fresh voices.
And that night, they spoke. I sat with a lively audience, watching a sampling of five short films produced by participants of The Anthology, a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to discovering and developing independent artists, shows, and audiences. Through its programs, The Anthology Institute discovers, supports, and inspires media artists from the U.S. and around the world.
The Anthology Institute Founder and festival producer, Richard Allen explained during the panel that he created the group online in 2020 to give his colleagues and media creators a forum outside of quarantine. Creativity sparked, and the audience grew. The result? The Anthology Film Festival, an in-person event where audiences can experience these new voices firsthand.
The preview night opened with Brownies, a short film directed by Aisha Ford, for which she was awarded the Haig Manoogian Production Award and the Roger King Finishing Award in 2023. At the panel after the screening Aisha told us she hopes the film sparks conversation, how some viewers might interpret the film’s message as negative. I appreciated its controversial nature. The responsibility for the source of conflict in the film was multilayered, shared and complicated.
Lina Khatib, director of Posies, was The Anthology Institute’s first grantee recipient. A Palestinian Muslim woman, Khatib chose to make a film about her personal experience in retail with large brands that market themselves as sustainable but engage in greenwashing—making unsubstantiated claims about their environmental benefits. Plus, it’s a sci-fi horror film!
The Burden, directed by Tish Arana, creatively explores how a citizenship board on a new planet founded by Black people must decide how to handle non-Black folks who want access to everything but the heavy ancestral and current burden of being black. The special effects were particularly entertaining!
Room for Dessert, directed by Pamela Davis-Noland, portrays what seems like a regular night at a diner except that outside the doors of this peaceful eatery, the community rages against the acquittal of a white police officer. The tension escalates when a well-to-do Black customer walks in at his breaking point, demanding a piece of cake—and justice.
One in the Chamber, directed by Jay Goldenberg, stood out for its impressive production quality and provocative unanswered questions. It shows that a reporter’s motives for interviewing a screenwriter go beyond the interview itself—she harbors a dark secret from their shared past that, if revealed, could destroy them both.
This was just a sampling of films expressing important ideas and social concerns in an artistic way. More will be revealed at the festival which includes these films and others, filmmaker panels and sponsor displays. It runs September 24th-29th, hosted live at AMC The Grove. Tickets are available here.
There are still a few sponsorship opportunities to support The Anthology Film Festival and be exposed to audiences and visitors of The Grove’s, one of the highest-grossing shopping and entertainment centers in the country. Contact Tymothie-James Bergendahl [email protected]
I left the screening having had an insight into deep experiences beyond my own. I’m looking forward to more of this at the full festival. I don’t even care if there is a red carpet.
@anthologyinstitute
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