The 2023 BlackStar Film Festival, happening August 2–6, will showcase the visual and storytelling traditions of global communities of color. This week-long celebration of Black, Brown and Indigenous filmmakers has a lineup of 93 films from 31 countries. This year’s films explore themes of climate justice, queer stories, and narratives of migration and displacement.
Expressway Cinema Rentals is proud to sponsor the BlackStar Film Festival and the 2023 Philadelphia Filmmaker Lab. A year-long fellowship for Black, Brown, and Indigenous filmmakers in Philadelphia, designed to uplift emerging and mid-career artists. We worked alongside our friends at All Ages Productions and Seven Knots Film & Media to support the films of the three filmmakers that are premiering at this year’s festival: Simone Holland, Zardosht Afshari, and David Gaines.
All That’s Left
Director: Simone Holland
Struggling to differentiate reality from imagination, Mercedes unravels as those she holds dear seamlessly pass in and out of the maze of her mind. Swimming or drowning; is she truly in control?
Expressway provided full camera, grip and lighting packages for this film. Part of the production shot at Bud’s Studio—with some scenes of the film captured with our Bolt Jr+ motion control robot arm via Mocolab. The crew shot on our ARRI Alexa Mini LF with our Tribe7 Blackwing7 lens set (20.7mm / 47mm / 77mm / 107mm / 137mm) and had additional support from our grip van package with auxiliary grip & electric gear.
Get Tickets to the Premiere: Saturday, August 5 @ 8pm // Suzanne Roberts Theatre
Crew:
Writer & Director: Simone Holland
DP: Simone Holland
Producer: Stephanie Malson / AD: Amber Leasure / Supervising Producers: James Doolittle (All Ages Productions) & Lorna Miller (Seven Knots Film & Media) / Coordinating Producer: Yasmine Carruthers / Production Manager: Belinda Fitzpatrick / Camera Op: Tyler Nelson / 1st AC: Gabriella Megni / 2nd AC/DIT: Nazir Alston/ Steadicam Ops: Michael Thackray, Mad Bishop / Gaffer: Ja’Rel Ivory / Key Grip: Tom Paolo / Grip: Hai Nguyen / G&E Drivers: Ralph Ravix, David Hansler / Sound Mixer: Max Morgan / Production Design: Kimberly Redman / Art Assistant: Jacqueline Riccio / Production Design Assistant: Andrea Parmelee / Props: Alyssa Stump / Art PA: Katie Harkins / Costume Design: Ayumi Perry / Wardrobe Assistant: Ashley Simone / Makeup Artist: Mary Arlynda Williams / Hair Stylist: Bianca McFadden / Script Supervisor: Ashley Gibson / Unit Production Manager: Tristan Santana / Set Photographer: Naomieh Jovin / BTS Photographer: Mochi Robinson / Key Production Assistant: Kaya Proctor / Production Assistant: Erika Ramirez / BlackStar Lab Shadows: DaSaint, Niara Sapp, Jasmine Alston, Yasi Durant
An Endoscopy
Director: Zardosht Afshari
A film student accompanies an Iraqi patient for his endoscopy, with the agreement that he will be her subject in a documentary.
An Endoscopy utilized our Angenieux EZ-2 and additional camera support—such as the DJI Ronin 2 Gimbal—to shoot this film. Our van package with auxiliary grip & electric gear–including our Chapman Leonard Super PeeWee III+ Dolly—supported the crew on set.
Get Tickets to the Premiere: Saturday, August 5 @ 8pm // Suzanne Roberts Theatre
Crew:
Writer & Director: Zardosht Afshari
DP: Drew Sarraco
Producer: Aaron Brokenbough / Supervising Producers: James Doolittle (All Ages Productions), Lorna Miller (Seven Knots Film & Media) / 1st AC: Charley Parker / 2nd AC: Katie Harrkins / DIT/Loader: Kerri Sage / Best Boy Grip: Tim Jordan / Key Grip: Kevin Gallagher / Gaffer: Shane Moore / Best Boy Gaffer: Zac Van Heel / Art Direction: Point Blank Style / Hair & Makeup Artist: Terell Carr / 1st AD: Jane Camissa / 2nd AD: Sergio Galeano / BTS Photography: Marcus Maddox, Mochi Robinson / PAs: Morya Cheung, Raphael Hall, Erika Ramirez-Lorenzo, Black Water, Kayla Person
The Freedom to Fall Apart
Director: David Gaines
A college dropout accepts an invitation to join an elite secret society but quickly discovers their mission is less charitable than expected.
Expressway provided a full camera package & additional camera support to assist the crew on this film. The crew shot on our ARRI Alexa 35, with our Cooke Anamorphic Special Flare Lens set (25mm / 32mm / 40mm / 50mm / 75mm / 100mm).
Get Tickets to the Premiere: Saturday, August 5 @ 2:30pm // Suzanne Roberts Theatre
Crew:
Director & Writer: David Gaines
DP: Bradley Credit
Producer: Elizah Turner / Supervising Producers: James Doolittle (All Ages Productions) / AC: Charley Parker / BTS Photography: Mochi Robinson
BlackStar Film Festival Ticket Info
Tickets and passes for the BlackStar Film Festival are on sale and are available for in-person or virtual screening.
Written By: Melissa Anderson – Communications Manager
Melissa babysits Expressway's wide stock of expendables & social media platforms. You'll find her pondering life's greatest mysteries with her dog, Rudy, asking questions like: "Who's the best boy?" and "What did you just grab?"