The British Film Institute (BFI) is set to premiere two landmark features of American cinema, Jessie Maple’s Will and Zeinabu irene Davis’s Compensation, in the UK. These films, produced by Black American woman and independent filmmaker Jessie Maple, and Black American woman filmmaker Zeinabu irene Davis respectively, mark the first feature-length independent films produced by a Black American woman. Both titles will screen in newly minted 4K form as part of an intriguing repertory season at the BFI titled Black Debutantes: A Collection of Early Works by black women Directors, curated by independent writer, critic, and programmer Rógan Graham.
Curating a Season of hidden gems
Rógan Graham’s inspiration for the Black Debutantes season came from a broad frustration with the absence of Black women directors with filmographies robust enough to support a month-long solo programme. Graham explains how a year-long period of research expanded her programme’s scope and shifted her curatorial goals. She wanted to celebrate the achievements of these pioneering women and provide audiences with the opportunity to experience the inspiration behind many contemporary works. In an interview with us, Graham says, “I wanted it to feel way more like a celebration… And in many cases, it was about allowing audiences to experience the inspiration behind a lot of contemporary work, like when Barry Jenkins talks about being inspired by Collins’s Losing Ground. You can actually come and see it here.”
A Celebration of Women’s Perspectives
The Black Debutantes season will include rare UK screenings of titles like Cauleen Smith’s Drylongso (1998), Kathleen Collins’s Losing Ground (1982), and Naked Acts by Bridgett M. Davis (1996). The season will be a celebration of women’s perspectives on the world, showcasing the incredible impact of these filmmakers despite their relatively limited output. Many of Graham’s featured directors, including Cauleen Smith and Bridgett M. Davis, have only made one traditional feature-length movie throughout their careers.
A Year-Long Research Process
Graham’s research process for the season took over a year to complete. She wanted to explore the challenges faced by these women in the film industry, including the lack of access to resources, funding, and support. Graham states, “I was looking at what was happening in America with films being restored, seeing my friends at a screening of Naked Acts, for example, and thinking, why can’t I watch it here? And then doing more research and seeing that Bridgett M. Davis only made that one feature. Or seeing something like Drylongso by Cauleen Smith, who continues to be an artist and filmmaker in her own right, but in terms of traditional features, hasn’t made another one.”
A Focus on Discovery and Release
Graham notes that the BFI was instrumental in making the Black Debutantes season a reality. She states, “The BFI is programming a Tom Cruise season in May, so if Black Debutantes isn’t wildly popular, they’re able to offset their costs. If you go to any other venue that cannot secure Tom Cruise and cannot pull in that kind of revenue, then they can’t take that kind of risk, and Black Debutantes probably doesn’t happen.”
Panel Discussion: Exhibiting black cinema
As part of the season, Graham will host a symposium titled Exhibiting Black Cinema, focused on the current challenges in archiving, restoring, and exhibiting Black cinema. Panelists will include Criterion’s Ashley Clark, Carmen Thompson of We Are Parable, and Isra Al Kassi of TAPE Collective. Graham hopes to draw a through line from restoration and discovery to distribution and release, highlighting the importance of supporting Black filmmakers.
A Season of Hidden Gems
The Black Debutantes season will run from 1-31 May at BFI Southbank, with select titles available on BFI Player from 5 May. Graham hopes that audiences will discover these hidden gems of Black women in film and experience the impact of these pioneering filmmakers.
Interview with Rógan Graham
In an interview with Deadline, Graham spoke about her curatorial process, the challenges she faced, and the importance of preserving Black cinema.
“I wanted it to feel way more like a celebration… You can actually come and see it here.”
- Will by Jessie Maple
- Compensation by Zeinabu irene Davis
- Drylongso by Cauleen Smith
- Losing Ground by Kathleen Collins
- Naked Acts by Bridgett M. Davis
| Speaker | Title |
|---|---|
| Criterion’s Ashley Clark | Restoring Black Cinema |
| Carmen Thompson of We Are Parable | The Challenges of Releasing Black Films |
| Isra Al Kassi of TAPE Collective | The Importance of Community and Support |
Graham notes that the Black Debutantes season is a culmination of her research and passion for Black women in film. She states, “I wanted to put a season together that made you look at these great filmmakers who were allowed to fade away. There are lots of reasons why they didn’t make more work, and the industry ills are a big one, but as I researched more, it felt diminishing to say, ‘Look at these poor women who only got to do this.’ The focus quickly turned to look at the incredible impact these filmmakers had by only doing this one thing in the film space.”
Graham hopes that the Black Debutantes season will not only celebrate the achievements of these pioneering women but also highlight the importance of preserving Black cinema. She states, “I hope that audiences will discover these hidden gems of Black women in film and experience the impact of these filmmakers. I also hope that the BFI will use this season as an opportunity to showcase the importance of supporting Black filmmakers and archiving their work.”
The Black Debutantes season at the BFI is a testament to the power of curatorial vision and the importance of preserving Black cinema.