NOW AVAILABLE FOR BOOKINGS

 
 

OUR RIGHT TO GAZE is a touring film anthology, featuring original narrative short films by emerging Black artists.

The theme for this year's second edition of OUR RIGHT TO GAZE is HEART OF THE MATTER. From the spark of an old flame to the embrace of intergenerational bonds to the heartbreak of systemic injustice, love can take many shapes and emotional valences. This collection is a tribute to Black love of all kinds, be it romantic, platonic, familial, or communal.

BOOKING INFORMATION

This program is available for screenings during Fall 2023.
For all booking inquiries, email henry@fullspectrumfeatures.com.

UPCOMING SCREENINGS

the films

Content Advisory: This program contains flashing/strobe lighting, themes of racism, pregnancy/childbirth, death, mild gore, sexual violence and violence. This program also features mentions of slavery and histories of colonization.

 
 
Film still of 'The Funnel'. Two black women, dressed in 1930s-like garb, stand and speak in a tight hallway adorned with vintage wallpaper and numbers on the door.

THE FUNNEL

Written & Directed by Charlene A. Carruthers (17:15 / Chicago, USA)

Trina, a young Black poet living on the South Side of Chicago, navigates an escalating housing crisis with her mother. After falling into an intimate recollection of her family history, she awakes in a world with people, sounds, and possibilities she's never known.

Film still of "RESPEK". An mirrored illustration in white linework on a black background. Two identical Black girls, staring expressionless at the camera.

RESPEK

Directed by Kamari Bright (03:00 / Seattle, USA)

An animated dissection of the detriments of respectability politics from an African-American perspective.

Film still of "Robyn Hood". A black woman sits across a marble counter, mouth agape as she holds a wine glass and looks at a man across from her.

robyn hood

Directed by Moon Ferguson/Shayla Racquel (17:00 / South Florida, USA)

A fresh, modern take on the succubus folklore merged with an inside joke in Black culture, Robyn Hood is a fun and frightful horror-comedy detailing the saga of a sensual and alluring Robyn, a dame who finds comfort in stealing men's hoodies for something more sinister.

Film still of "MATERNITY". A young black woman sits on a hospital bed in cold room with blue balloons. She looks exhausted as she rubs her temples and stares at the ceiling.

MATERNITY

Directed by Maria Warith-Wade (14:41 / Richmond, USA)

When a second-time mother gets an unexpected complication post-partum, she must fight to save her life in the fractured American Healthcare System.

Film still of "Ro & the Stardust". A young black girl and her grandmother sit in a junkyard, surrounded by orange lighting equipment and hunks of metal. In the sky, two planets are seen close in proximity to the Earth.

ro & the stardust

Directed by Eunice Levis (15:56 / Philly, USA)

A free spirited teen and her terminally ill grandmother build a rocket ship they plan to launch into outer space.

Film still of "This Doesn't Last Forever". Set in a backyard in the evening-time, a young black woman in a dress holds a glass and speaks to a crowd.

this doesn’t last forever

Written & Directed by Gabriella Wiltz (20:04 / Chicago/LA, USA)

Upon reluctantly moving back into her childhood home with her parents, Aziza struggles to the love and connection being home has to offer.

 
 
Headshot of Curtis Caesar John, a young Black man with locks tied back and glasses. He is wearing a black t-shirt.

Statement from the Curator: Curtis Caesar John, The Luminal Theater

Heart of the Matter, our theme for this second edition of OUR RIGHT TO GAZE, speaks to the impetus behind this series, but equally reflects how poignantly our filmmakers depict the complexities of inevitable but necessary change - all from multifaceted, Black points of view. With both modern and prescient sensibilities, our lineup reflects the physical, emotional, cultural, and intergenerational struggles of Black life, but also the joys and triumphs within. I hope you will all be moved by and enjoy the distinct stories that these emerging filmmakers have shared with us, and the world.

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