Insurgent Sisters: Women of the L.A. Rebellion and Beyond—Recoveries of Spirit

In this series, we celebrate films of the “Insurgent Sisters” of the L.A. Rebellion film movement that emerged at UCLA Film School and the work they have made and inspired since, showcasing films by Black women and non-binary artists that perform a recovery of Blackness in Los Angeles, interrogating and transgressing the conventions of cinema along the way.

Recoveries of Spirit, the first of two shorts programs in the series, features work from Julie Dash, Sophia Nahli Allison, Zeinabu Irene Davis, dana washington-queen, Melvonna Ballenger, Rikkí Wright, Jacqueline Frazier, Garrett Bradley, and Alile Sharon Larkin. 

Stick around after the screening for lively storytelling with the filmmakers and be sure to come out to our Aspect Ratio Workshop: Film Practice in Focus on September 15th at Earvin Magic Johnson Park Community Center. Following the insurgent tradition of the L.A. Rebellion, join in on a day of workshops and in-depth discussion about filmmaking techniques, ethics, music and storytelling. Featuring filmmakers from the Insurgent Sisters series and beyond.

Recoveries of Spirit 
Total Runtime: 105 min
With Post Screening Conversation with: Alile Sharon Larkin, Jacqueline Frazier, Zeinabu Irene Davis, and Sophia Nahli Allison

Julie Dash - The Diary of an African Nun (1977) 

Sophia Nahli Allison - Portrait of My Mother (2016)

Zeinabu Irene Davis - Cycles (1989)

dana washington-queen - Resume at the Point of Interruption (Segment 3) (2022)

Melvonna Ballenger - Rain (Nyesha) (1978)

Rikkí Wright - And Still, There is Work to be Done. (2022)

Jacqueline Frazier - Hidden Memories (1977)

Garrett Bradley - Safe (Excerpt) (2022)

Alile Sharon Larkin - Your Children Come Back to You (1979)