Film Screenings
As an always expanding artist, Taína Asili’s music career has launched her into the realm of filmmaking in the role of a celebrated director and producer. Her music videos “No Es Mi Presidente,” and “Freedom,” inspired by social justice movements, have been lauded by the likes of Rolling Stone and Billboard. Her most recent music video “We Are Rising” made in collaboration with One Billion Rising is being celebrated around the world receiving half a million views in its first week. In addition, she has most recently directed and produced a music video documentary series to accompany her newest album Resiliencia. The first two shorts in the series, “Plant the Seed” and “Resiliencia” have won awards and have been screened at numerous film festivals across the country.
Taína Asili is available to host screenings and discussions for her films. Below are descriptions of each film along with suggested discussion topics.
Resiliencia (31 Minutes)
Description: The film follows the journey of NY-born Puerto Rican social justice musician Taína Asili as she travels across the island to have intimate conversations with four women artists and activists about their experiences during and after the hurricanes. The film documents the natural and unnatural devastation to the island and its people, while lifting up the resilience, creativity, and strength of the Puerto Rican nation and the human spirit.
Topics: Hurricane Maria, Climate Change, Puerto Rico, Colonialism
Awards: Winner; Best Documentary; International Puerto Rican Heritage Film Festival (NYC) / Official Selection; Global Peace Film Festival (Orlando, FL), Workers Unite Film Festival (NYC)
Plant the Seed (11 Minutes)
Description: Plant the Seed is a music video documentary by Taína Asili about black farmer and educator Leah Penniman and her journey to become the co-founder of Soul Fire Farm, a national leader in the food justice movement. The video is a part of Asili’s new music video documentary web series about women and resilience, which she is producing in conjunction with her new album Resiliencia.
Topics: Food Justice, Racism, Following Dreams, Black Land Ownership / Black Farming
Awards: Winner; Best Documentary Short; Urban Mediamakers Festival (Atlanta, GA) / LOLA Award Semi-Finalist; Philadelphia Latino Film Festival (Philadelphia, PA) / Semi-Finalist; Official Latino Film Festival (NYC) / Official Selection; Blackstar Film Festival (Philadelphia, PA), Reel Sisters of the Diaspora Film Fest (NYC), Global Peace Film Festival (Orlando, FL), International Puerto Rican Heritage Film Festival (NYC), Workers Unite Film Festival (NYC)
We Are Rising (5 Minutes)
Description: The song “We Are Rising” was released in collaboration with One Billion Rising, the global activist campaign to end rape and sexual violence against all women, founded by playwright/activist Eve Ensler (The Vagina Monologues). The song is the centerpiece of OBR’s 2020 campaign, promoting creative resistance, and solidarity to rise against the tides of violence against all women, climate crisis, racism and corporate greed.
Topics: Violence Against Women, Gender Based Violence, Solidarity, Mobilization
Freedom (4 Minutes)
Description: The song “Freedom” calls for an end to mass incarceration, and is described by some as “a new Black Lives Matter anthem.” The video strongly represents true-to-life community activists, led by lead actress Amani Olugbala, an artist and activist from Albany, NY, and featuring other members of Capital Area Against Mass Incarceration and Black Lives Matter Upstate NY. Through the weaving of dual narratives, audiences are invited to witness the connections between slavery and the modern day prison industrial complex.
Topics: Mass Incarceration, Slavery, Prison Industrial Complex
No Es Mi Presidente (4 Minutes)
Description: “No Es Mi Presidente” (Not My Presidente) is a bilingual music video anthem for resistance in the age of Trump. Inspired by Asili’s experience performing at The Women’s March on Washington, the video celebrates our long history of social change, as well as the diverse people and tactics on the frontlines of our movements for justice.
Topics: Resistance Movements, Art Activism
Awards: Winner; Best Music Video; Urban Mediamakers Festival (Atlanta, GA) / Official Selection; Official Latino Film Festival (NYC) / International Puerto Rican Heritage Film Festival (NYC), Workers Unite Film Festival (NYC), Palante Film Festival (Holyoke, MA)