African-American filmmaker Roger Ross Williams goes on a journey to understand why the notoriously liberal Dutch feel compelled to dress in blackface during the annual holiday tradition of Sinterklaas. How can a country that boasts of a multi-cultural society and liberal attitude be so oblivious of its own colonial past?
Watch the documentary #Blackface by @RogerRossWill on the CNN website now!
Win ticket for a special screening and Stop Blackface t-shirts
Exclusive directors cut screenings
The documentary premieres Monday, Nov. 30, on CNN Digital. The University of Amsterdam and New Urban Collective organized en exclusive pre-screening of the extended version followed by a Q&A with Roger Williams, Jennifer Tosch (Black Heritage Tours, student Public History), Nina Jansen (research assistant “Our Colonial Hangover”, Bsc. Media & Culture) and Jessica de Abreu (European Network for People of African Descent & StopBlackface.com). The event was moderated by the fabolous Clarice Gargard.
December 1st – Screening and Q&A Roger Ross Williams in Rotterdam
On December 1st the extended director’s cut will be screened in Rotterdam:
Date: December 1st 1 december 2015
Location: Anti-Discrimination organization Radar – (entrance opposite of the Tattooshop)
Adress: Grote Kerkplein 5, Rotterdam
Time: 7 PM to 10 PM
Tickets: 4,- p.p.
Reservations via blackfacedocu@gmail.com
Stay updated via the Facebook event.
In the Netherlands ‘Zwarte Piet’ or ‘Black Peter’still plays a big role during the annual holiday of Sinterklaas. The population of post-colonial Curaçao is ethnically diverse, yet predominantly of African descent, with a small white elite. On Thursday December 3rd LAB111 presents two documentaries that show how these countries deal with their colonial past and what influence skin colour currently has on daily life.
After the screening there will be a panel discussion in the café of LAB111 with Oscar winning director Roger Ross Williams and two prominent figures from the discussion about ‘Zwarte Piet’.
SOMBRA DI KOLÓ (The Shadow of Colour)
In five neighborhoods, each distinct in their racial and class make-up, a total of thirty Curaçaoans of all ages and all walks of life share what “race” and “skin color” mean to them today. What do people in this post-colonial society think about color today? How is color connected to class? Does skin color still matter?
BLACKFACE
African-American filmmaker Roger Ross Williams goes on a journey to understand why the notoriously liberal Dutch feel compelled to dress in blackface during the annual holiday tradition of Sinterklaas. How can a country that boasts of a multi-cultural society and liberal attitude be so oblivious of its own colonial past?
PROGRAM
18:00 Food (optional)
18:45 Sombra di Koló (72 min)
20:00 Intermission (15 min)
20:15 Blackface (20 min)
20:35 Discussion (In the café of LAB111)
Thursday December 3rd, 6pm
LAB111, Arie Biemondstraat 111
Tickets € 8,- (Free with Cineville)