"Family" Film Festivals '09

Well, "Family" begins its official run of film festivals across the world. It is always so exciting and rewarding for me as a filmmaker to visit cities and sit with people as they take in the project. The Q&A's are the truest barometer of your film's success--not the critics. It is during the festival that you get the critical feedback directly and indirectly. Directly by the reaction of the audience and later there actual statements. Also--the secret is to sit in the back and see what people honestly do. I've had the pleasure of seeing people witness "Family" reluctantly leave to go to the restroom and actual semi-sprint back into the theater, as if not to miss anything. I've seen people return time and time again to view the film in its entirety. I see that as the film's success; the answer to how people enjoy it.

All is not perfect in festival land; not every audience will love, like, or tolerate your work, but at least the work is in the world for one to have an opinion on. To me doing the work is the greatest achievement. Also, creating an event for the people to come together to enjoy or trigger debate is an accomplishment in itself. However, the downside is some potentially callous critical reviews that I believe are far more severe on works on women in general and works about black women specifically; these works are easy target because they don't always have advocates and must struggle with lesser production than their male counterparts--less funds available for work that is not seen as commercially viable. I definitely feel that the tide is changing, but until then, let's cross our fingers and hope that those with a critical voice can see what the film meant to be; see how radical and hopeful it is for women, particularly those gay-identified. Regardless, "Family" comes into the world, and she's ready!