The St. Augustine Jewish Historical Society screened the feature film The Last Marranos on Tuesday, December 8 at 7 p.m. in the Gamache-Koger Theater on the first floor of the Ringhaver Student Center on the Flagler College Campus. The 64 minute long French film is in Portuguese with English subtitles. The movie screening portrayed the struggle for survival during the Spanish Inquisition was open to the public at no charge, the film was provided by the National Center for Jewish Film associated with Brandeis University. All were welcomed and a Q & A about the film followed. After the Q & A, First Coast.TV got a chance to speak with Rabbi Shapiro about the film.
Category: Film
As the City of St. Augustine celebrates it’s 450th Anniversary the Gullah Geechee Group hosted the 1st Mende Culture and Film Festival. This festival is to honor those unique Africans known as Gullah Geechee who settled on the shores of St Augustine in 1565 and to highlight those Gullah Geechee many of whom self emancipated to St. Augustine 150 years before the Civil War settled communities such as Fort Mose (1738) and Lincolnville and Armstrong (1866), after the Civil War. These 3 communities are in St. Johns County, Florida. The festival is being held in October to coincide with Governor Scott’s Gubernatorial Gullah Geechee Proclamation, which the Governor issues every October and has for the last 4 years highlighting the rich history and culture of these unique Africans known as Gullah Geechee who settled many Maroons communities and established some of the first militias protecting La Florida.
The festival had the Gechee Gullah Ring Shouters perform, basket weaving and other arts. Many films related to the Mende topic were showed to a packed audience. The festival continues in Miami & Ft Lauderdale. FL in January 2016.
For more info go to www.mendefilmfest.org
“The Good Lie” got a screening at the First United Methodist Church on 118 King St., St. Augustine, FL, this last Saturday, August 29th. The event was sponsored by The Golden Way: Films that Make a Difference, an arm of the St. Augustine Film Society. The mission of The Golden Way is to show films that discuss social themes with the hope of giving attendees a better understanding and appreciation of the differences that make up the human family.
The organization was pleased and honored to have Peter Ter at the screening, one of the “Lost Boys” of Sudan, as the special guest. Ter’s remarkable story was told in the book “The Journey of the Lost Boys” by Joan Hecht.
The Lost Boy’s experience, is seen in the film, and is a story of determination and courage. Just small children when they fled the invasion of their villages after witnessing the slaughter of family members and friends, they started a trek across the continent where thousands died.
Later, many were sponsored by a church based organization and brought to the U.S. to resettle. Ter was one of those boys. He was resettled in Jacksonville.
Determined to educate himself, Ter received his GED, an associates degree from Florida State College of Jacksonville, a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Florida, and later two master’s degrees from Brandeis University. One in sustainable international development and the other in coexistence and conflict resolution.
Determined to pay it back, he served in the Peace Corps for two tours of duty in the Republic of Azerbaijan and the People’s Republic of China.
He will return to a new assignment September 2015 in the Republic of Georgia. Ter credits part of his success to the many people who have adopted him along his journey.
Jorge Rivera of First Coast.TV had an opportunity to sit down with 2 producers Sherry Suttles, Executive Producer and Derek Boyd Hankerson, local minority Producer to discuss the the upcoming and first every Gullah Geechee (Mende) Film and Culture Festival.
The location cities for the film and culture festival is as follows: Miami, St. Augustine, and Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. The dates are October 23, 29, 30, 31, and November 1, 2015. Free admission and/or donations welcomed.
With films of all genres, by veterans and independent producers, to include films from Sherry Suttles and Derek Hankerson with live performances, storytelling, and demonstrations of ancient arts and crafts such as basketmaking, blacksmithing, quilting, and ring shouting, coupled with traditional health remedy lessons and African dance and drumming.
For more information, please contact Sherry A. Suttles, Executive Producer, 954-668-1518; 2047; Ken Knight, GGG – Miami 305-305-2699; Derek Hankerson, Producer904-377-3465.
Joseph Marx sits down with First Coast.TV and explains the origins and goals of the St Augustine Film Society. Mr. Marx goes through some of the films played by the St Augustine Film Society and some of the films, and film topics coming in the future.
The Corazon Cinema threw a wonderful party to celebrate 60th anniversary of the filming of this film at Marineland. First Coast.TV was there to film the fun of it all.
Revenge of the Creature (1955) is the sequel to the Creature from the Black Lagoon. This time he’s captured by scientists and transported to an aquarium in south Florida. Of course, he’s attracted to the lovely female scientist and manages to escape and kidnap her, heading to Jacksonville.While the scientists, police and others try to stop him.
kakwag@yahoo.com
tmcginnis@georgiaaquarium.org.
First coast.TV sat with business owner Karla Wagner and had a chat about her Corazon Cinema & Cafe in St Augustine.
http://www.corazoncinemaandcafe.com/
The Corazon Cinema & Cafe in St Augustine, FL, organized a lovely gala night for the Oscars, Sunday Feb. 22. They brought out the red carpet, photo shoots, champagne and more. The event was sold out and FirstCoast.TV was there to cover this wonderful celebration of the Oscars. The attendees had a feeling that they were part of the big party in Hollywwod.
Those attending were wondering if they should reserve their seat for next year, since this is the first time, and it was absolutely delightful.
The young film makers at Flagler College were able to be part of the St Augustine’s Film Festival 2015 this last weekend. They showed short films that were creative, and some were avant-garde in their core.
By the applause of the audience they loved the films and their subjects, and believe it or not, they were ready for more.
Hopefully these young people will probably be some of America’s future film makers, always remember a film can save a life or the world.
Sunday January 25th was the last day of the St Augustine Film Festival. the last day featured the film by Daniel Baldwin “The Wisdom to Know the Difference”. Baldwin wrote, produced, directed and co-stared in the film, he said that it was a difficult task, but a movie close to his heart.
The audience was touched and moved by the characters in the film, and the journey of the story it told.
The film festival was a success and a wonderful event to be part of as an organizer/volunteer or as a film goer. Hopefully this event will be a permanent part of our city.