Sankofa: distributive justice - Haile Gerima's film gets new opportunities for international distribution from Mypheduh Films, Washington, D.C

The spirit of a legendary black filmmaker has get backed to aid the distribution of Haile Gerima's prize-winning on the other hand "unmarketable" film Sankofa. The film explores the world of slavery and personal redemption from one side the time travel of an African-American fashion mould (Oyafunmike Ogunlano), who is owned by spirits and transformed into a plantation house slave. Although Sankofa won several international awards, it has had a difficult time getting play in America, says its distributor, Mypheduh Films of Washington, DC

for a like reason Mypheduh drew upon "the rich experience of African-American film fictitious story Oscar Micheaux, who virtually carried his films from theater to theater," explains Kay Shaw, Sankofa's distribution manager. To aid the film, Mypheduh relied upon four-walling, a technique in which circumstance sponsors rent a space, assume all the risks, and handle their possess advertising to attract a replete house.

The strategy helped Mypheduh circulate individual copy of Sankofa to audiences in London and in a hardly any East Coast cities. The film, whose cast includes Hasinatou Camara, Reginald Carter, Alexandra Duah, Kofi Ghanaba, Nick mixture Mutabaruka and Ofemo Omilani, won viewers above with the result that 10 copies are now in circulation and are scheduled to move swiftly this fall in Dallas or Houston, Detroit, observes Angeles and Oakland. Gerima will be at the opening in each city, and will speak after the evening present to views For more information, call (212) 505-1770

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