Intercultural Understanding and Diplomacy: A Plea for Respect and Appreciation

39th Black International Cinema Berlin 2024 / "Footprints in the Sand?" ExhibitionBerlin 2024 in association with THE COLLEGIUM - Forum & Television Program Berlin, Cultural Zephyr e.V., CrossKultur 2024 and in cooperation with ALEX - Offener Kanal Berlin.

In a world increasingly characterized by tensions and misunderstandings, the 39th Black International Cinema Berlin sets a strong example for understanding, empathy and cooperation. Under the motto "Understanding and Appreciation" and under the direction of Prof. Donald Muldrow Griffith, Fountainhead® Tanz Théâtre presents the works of international filmmakers from November 22nd to 24th, 2024. In the Marlene Dietrich cinema hall of Rathaus Schöneberg Berlin (city hall), the power of film as a medium of diplomacy and intercultural exchange will be celebrated.

The focus is films and artistic contributions regarding people from the African diaspora and diverse backgrounds. By portraying various perspectives and realities of life, the films subdue stereotypes, promote empathy and strengthen intercultural dialogue. They provide a platform of unheard voices, unseen faces and create space for creative expressions from various parts of the world. The festival's objectives are to build bridges and stimulate dialogue between different communities.

The program includes a variety of film screenings as well as the accompanying exhibition "Footprints in the Sand?" ExhibitionBerlin, which is on display until December 31st 2024 in the gallery of Rathaus Schöneberg Berlin (city hall).

Black International Cinema Berlin looks back on a lengthy history. In 1986, Fountainhead® Tanz Théâtre produced the first European Black Cultural Festival, a 3-week historical event in what was then West Berlin, that showcased the contributions of Black people to world culture through film, theater, dance, music, documents, workshops, seminars and was dedicated to the legendary tap dancer Carnell Lyons. This was the birth of Black International Cinema Berlin.
This development-promoting event took place at times which were politically, socially, educationally, economically and artistically formative for the organizers and others. Fountainhead® Tanz Théâtre and Black International Cinema Berlin have continued their international, intercultural diplomatic events since the birth of this creative and inspiring event. The annual focus is on film presentations in association with seminars, dance, music, art exhibitions and publications.

For more information and program please visit our website at https://black-international-cinema.com/BIC24/ or email us at bicdance@aol.com.

Mottos:
"I may not make it if I try, but I damn sure won't if I don't..." - Oscar Brown Jr.
"Mankind will either find a way or make one." - C.P. Snow
"Whatever you do..., be cool!" - Joseph Louis Turner
"Yes, I can...!" - Sammy Davis Jr.
"Yes, We can...!" - Barack Hussein Obama
"Yes, we can and Yes, we better…!" - Barack Hussein Obama and Donald Muldrow Griffith

Prof. Donald Muldrow Griffith
Founder/Producer/Director/Curator, Fountainhead® Tanz Théâtre/Cultural Zephyr e.V., November 2024

Fountainhead Tanz Théâtre/Cultural Zephyr e.V.
Tempelhofer Damm 52 EG
12101 Berlin
Marion Kramer
Public Relations
Tel: 017638085459

Fountainhead® Tanz Théâtre
Black International Cinema Berlin
The Collegium - Forum & Television Program Berlin
"Footprints in the Sand?" ExhibitionBerlin
in association with
Cultural Zephyr e.V.

...are an international, intercultural community of persons engaged in achieving increasing understanding and cooperation between individuals and groups in support of democratic procedures and the elimination of violence, religious, ethnic and gender persecution, youth exploitation, homophobia and racial hatred through the process of art, education, culture and dialogue.

Fountainhead® Tanz Théâtre was founded 1980 in Berlin/Germany by Donald Muldrow Griffith and Gayle McKinney together with Lynnda Curry, Ricky Powell and Detlef Bäcker, four American artists and a German colleague, who met in Berlin during 1979 at Theater des Westens and decided to undertake intercultural, interdisciplinary and international productions in dance, theatre, television, workshops, film/video festivals, artistic exhibitions and publications.

As co-founder and director, Donald Muldrow Griffith developed an idea for the artistic, educational and socially critical undertakings of Fountainhead® Tanz Théâtre. In search for a name and philosophy for the group, he read an article in the International Herald Tribune regarding the Pompidou Museum, where the director referred to France as returning to "a source of creativity", a "fountainhead of art" after the dispersal of many art works by the National Socialists during World War II. The return of the works of art and new artistry afterwards, was a source of national honor. The museum was to restore France as an origin of fresh national artistic direction. This approach coincided with Donald Muldrow Griffith´s ideas and directions. After discussions with his colleagues regarding his suggested title, the name Fountainhead was decided upon.

Fountainhead® Tanz Théâtre is a production, performing, distribution and educational unit. The organization engages people from various national, cultural, ethnic, socio-economic, gender and sexual identities as well as religious backgrounds, and works in a variety of artistic and cultural disciplines, with the goal of creating, experiencing and communicating intercultural exchange within its projects and to the world community.

Upon founding in 1980, Berlin/Germany, Fountainhead® Tanz Théâtre has presented a variety of international, intercultural and interdisciplinary productions in the areas of dance, theatre, film festivals, television programming, film distribution, publications, seminars, exhibitions, workshops and musical presentations.

One of the productions is the annually presented Black International Cinema Berlin, which was founded by Fountainhead® Tanz Théâtre in 1986 in Berlin/Germany and since then, has been produced on a regular basis in Berlin/Germany and other European and US-American cities.
The festival screens cinema from Africa, the African Diaspora and films from varied international and intercultural backgrounds or perspectives.

Black International Cinema Berlin originated from the historical Black Cultural Festival, which was produced and directed by Fountainhead® Tanz Théâtre in 1986 for the first time in Europe, a 3-week event in Berlin, which presented the contributions of Black people to world culture through film, theater, dance, music, workshops and seminars, and was an homage to the legendary tap dancer, Carnell Lyons.

Additionally, Fountainhead® Tanz Théâtre produces and directs, upon founding in 1995, the weekly intercultural television magazine program THE COLLEGIUM - Forum & Television Program Berlin, televised Mondays from 1-2 am, Thursdays from 9-10 am and Saturdays from 2-3 am and 9-10 am at Alex - Offener Kanal Berlin (Alex - Open Channel Berlin), and furthermore presented in Magdeburg, Wolfsburg, Dessau and Portland, Oregon/USA, as well as shared with interested persons and institutions in Europe, the USA, Africa and Asia.

Moreover, Fountainhead® Tanz Théâtre, under the curation of Prof. Donald Muldrow Griffith, produces and directs the photographic exhibition and visual documentation "Footprints in the Sand?" ExhibitionBerlin, which presents a portrait of the activities of various people during their historical contributions to Berlin, elsewhere and hence, the presentation seeks to prevent these undertakings from becoming "Footprints in the Sand?".

In 1990 Fountainhead® Tanz Théâtre established Cultural Zephyr e.V. as a not for profit organization, which administers the cultural and artistic undertakings of Fountainhead® Tanz Théâtre.

Mottos:
"I may not make it if I try, but I damn sure won't if I don't..." - Oscar Brown Jr.
"Mankind will either find a way or make one." - C.P. Snow
"Whatever you do..., be cool!" - Joseph Louis Turner
"Yes, I can...!" - Sammy Davis Jr.
"Yes, We can...!" - Barack Hussein Obama
"Yes, we can and Yes, we better…!" - Barack Hussein Obama und Donald Muldrow Griffith

This release was published on openPR.