Mende Film Festival

The Gullah Geechee Group will present The Mende Film Festival to honor the journey of St. Augustine's first black settlers and their descendants through film, educational demonstrations, and discussion. The free film festival, called "Mende" after the people of Sierra Leone who settled in northeastern Florida and the Carolinas hundreds of years ago, will take place on Thursday, October 29, 2015 at the Corazon Cinema and Café in St. Augustine.

In addition to the featured films that will be shown for the festival (see below for times), there will be educational activities throughout the day that highlight St. Augustine's rich multicultural history, including demonstrations of Ring Shouting, basket making, quilting, and blacksmithing. Guests can purchase food and drink from the Corazon Cinema Cafè, and there will be Gullah street vendors on hand as well. At 4 p.m., there will be an open discussion focusing on the tragic 2015 Emanuel AME massacre, with its ties to the Geechee community, and the broader issues of domestic terrorism and hate crimes.

From 6 to 9 p.m., the festival will continue with discussions, presentations and videos, including James Bullock's portrayal of Juan Garriado, Amy Olatunj's video called "Straight to the Point," and Jesse Gantt's discussion on preserving Gullah Geechee land.

Admission: The Mende Film Festival is free and open to the public.

When? Thursday, October 29, 2015, from 10 a.m. to  9 p.m.

Where? The Corazon Cinema Café is located at 36 Granada St. in downtown St. Augustine.