Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival’s kicked off Friday night with documentary film Descendant, from Netflix and Barack and Michelle Obama’s Higher Ground Productions, and the former President and First Lady were the opening night’s surprise guests.
Directed by Margaret Brown, Descendant, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, follows members of Africatown, a small community in Alabama, as they share their personal stories and community history as descendants of the Clotilda, the last known slave ship to illegally transport human beings as cargo from Africa to America.
When the film was initially introduced by festival founders Stephanie and Floyd Rance, they brought out the director, who introduced Oscar winner Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson. He spoke briefly before inviting his “friends” on stage. Those friends happened to be the Obamas who have a home in Martha’s Vineyard.
Michelle Obama first spoke about the importance of tapping into our heritage.
Directed by Margaret Brown, Descendant, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, follows members of Africatown, a small community in Alabama, as they share their personal stories and community history as descendants of the Clotilda, the last known slave ship to illegally transport human beings as cargo from Africa to America.
When the film was initially introduced by festival founders Stephanie and Floyd Rance, they brought out the director, who introduced Oscar winner Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson. He spoke briefly before inviting his “friends” on stage. Those friends happened to be the Obamas who have a home in Martha’s Vineyard.
Michelle Obama first spoke about the importance of tapping into our heritage.
- 8/6/2022
- by Valerie Complex
- Deadline Film + TV
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