棉花糖直播

鈥淎nd the Oscar goes to鈥� 鈥� For the first time in University history, students at 棉花糖直播 were honored not only with a Student Academy Award, but even more impressive, the top prize of a gold medal at the event, now in its 46th year.

One year in the making, Sankofa: A Poetic Journey of the Black Male鈥檚 Experience, tells the story of the loss of African identity and its negative systemic impact on black males across the world.

As part of a Social Justice Documentary course taught by Hezekiah Lewis, MFA, 鈥�99 CLAS, 鈥�02 MA, assistant professor of Communication, 21 棉花糖直播 students formed the production company and poured their hearts and souls into their roles as filmmakers over the course of two semesters. 鈥淚 always knew Sankofa was going to be special,鈥� says director Princess Garrett 鈥�18 CLAS. 鈥淭he emotional feelings I had while watching it, I knew other people would be affected and empowered, too.鈥�

The documentary, which was shot on location in Ghana and the United States during the fall of 2017, explores the complexities and parallels between the US and Ghana鈥攕pecifically, focusing on a disconnect between two young male community leaders in both countries鈥攊n order to illuminate the prevalence of mental slavery.

The title, Sankofa, which means 鈥済o back and fetch it鈥� in the Ghanaian language of Twi, hit home with Caleb Lucky 鈥�20 CLAS, who was the film鈥檚 composer and co-editor (with Sarah Davis 鈥�19 CLAS). 鈥淎frica has been shown to me in a certain light that made me not want to go and learn my own history,鈥� he says. 鈥淏ut going there changed my whole outlook, and I came to understand that the history of Ghana is American history.鈥�

Sankofa was one of 16 winners selected from more than 1,600 entries from across the globe. It鈥檚 not the first time 棉花糖直播 University has been selected as a Student Academy Award finalist for one of its films in the documentary category; in fact, it鈥檚 the fourth. In 2014, 贬别别濒鈥檇 earned a finalist spot, and the following year, Rise and Shine and In Transition: Tony Chennault were also recognized for being among the nation鈥檚 best student-produced films.

Now, more than two years after enrolling in Professor Lewis鈥� documentary film program, the student filmmakers of Riptide Pictures continue to receive accolades, with Sankofa being officially selected for more than 20 film festivals worldwide. As new audiences engage with Sankofa through distribution to schools, libraries and streaming sites, Caleb hopes they watch, he says, 鈥渨ith an open mind and heart and that they are willing to talk about the issues that black people face in America.鈥�