Pittsburgh Cultural TrustGo to the home page

This event is part of the Black Bottom Film Festival. Purchase a Festival Pass for access to free vouchers to this screening. 

Schedule

“African in America,” Directed Njaimeh Njie
“A Day in the Life of a Hashtag,” Directed Njaimeh Njie
“Ghetto Steps,” Directed by Emmai Alaquiva
“Dream,” Directed by Nijla Mu’min
Followed by Q& A with Film Makers

Film Descriptions

AFRICAN IN AMERICA, Directed Njaimeh Njie

“African in America” director Njaimeh Njie is a Pittsburgh based Multimedia Producer. Working across photo, video, writing, and curating, her work is rooted in social justice and cultural enrichment. Njaimeh is the Founder/Lead Producer of Eleven Stanley Productions—a multimedia production company dedicated to elevating the narratives of people of color, youth, women, and other traditionally marginalized voices in Pittsburgh and beyond. Her work has earned coverage from outlets such as Blavity, the Huffington Post, and the Ace Hotel blog. Beyond her creative work Njaimeh is an experienced educator, having taught students and trained teachers in K-12 settings.

A Pittsburgh native, Njaimeh earned a B.A. in Film and Media Studies from Washington University in St. Louis, and an M.Ed in Secondary Education from the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A HASHTAG, Directed Njaimeh Njie

GHETTO STEPS, Directed by Emmai Alaquiva

Ghetto Steps director Emmai Alaquiva, an Emmy Award-winning film director, composer and mentor is known for his impact across mix-media art platforms. Once homeless and one who occupied the unforgiving streets of Pittsburgh Pa., Alaquiva shifted the trajectory of his life's path to become one of the most multifarious trailblazers in the arena of creative arts. Most recently, he added curator to his name with the birth of his first notable interactive photography exhibit; OpticVoices.

Today, Alaquiva is the proud CEO of Ya Momz House, Inc., an award-winning multimedia company, director for CBS Sports Network’s Daytime Emmy-nominated TV Show “Game Changers,” as well as founder of the award-winning arts education program; Hip-Hop On L.O.C.K.

Alaquiva’s work has been seen on CBS, NBC, PBS. He’s also worked for Oprah Winfrey, Wiz Khalifa, Martha Stewart, The Roots, Rachel Ray, and the late Dr. Maya Angelou . This five-time Telly Award-winner has been recognized as Pittsburgh Magazine’s “40 under 40”, The New Pittsburgh Courier’s “FAB 40”, WHIRL Magazines “50 Finest” along with a proclamation from City of Pittsburgh Mayor, William Peduto. Alaquiva was recently awarded as a 2016 national BMe Community Leader and recognized by President Barack Obama.

DREAM, Directed by Nijla Mu’min

“Dream” director Nijla Mu'min is a screenwriter and filmmaker whose artistic background spans poetry, photography, short fiction, dance, and film criticism. Hailing from the East Bay Area, she tells stories about black girls and women who find themselves between worlds and identities. Her short films have screened at festivals and venues across the country, including the Pan African Film Festival, Outfest, and BAMcinématek . She has written for Shadow & Act/Indiewire, East Bay Express, The Los Angeles Times, and Vice. She is the recipient of the 2012 Princess Grace Foundation- Cary Grant Award for her short film, Deluge. In 2014, she was one of 10 writers selected for the Sundance Institute’s Screenwriters Intensive. She was the winner of the Grand Jury Prize for Best Screenplay at the 2014 Urbanworld Film Festival, for her script Noor. She is currently developing her first feature film, Jinn. In 2016, she raised over $25,000 through Kickstarter for the project, and was selected for Film Independent’s Fast Track program and Panavision's New Filmmaker Program. She is managed by Jennie Frisbie at Magnet Management. She is a 2013 dual-degree graduate of CalArts MFA Film Directing and Writing Programs