Yvonne
Welbon can genuinely be called one of the true pioneers and forces in
independent black cinema. For nearly 25 years starting with her first film, "Monique",
she has gone on to direct 8 films and produce dozens of others  which not only have been screened in over 100
film festivals around the world,  but
also on PBS and cable channels such as Starz/Encore, TV-ONE, IFC, Bravo, BET, and
the Sundance Channel .

With films like"The New Black"," Living With Pride: Ruth Ellis @ 100" and "Stray Dogs", to name a few, Ms.
Welbon, is documented her concerns about the vexing issues that society has and still struggles
to deal such as racism, sexuality, LGBT issues, ethnic identity and multiculturalism.

Currently an
associate professor and formerly department chair in the Journalism and Media
Studies department at the HBCU, Bennett College for Women, in Greensboro, NC
she was also a visiting scholar at Duke University in 2013-14. The Chicago
native’s great project is  "Sisters
in Cinema", her groundbreaking 2003 documentary and still-in-development
archive which details the history of African American women directors and
media-makers.

Now starting
on Friday May 8 starting at 6:30PM as the first of three evening events, which
will continue this month into June, The Black Cinema House in Chicago will
have Ms. Welbon in person to screen films which she has directed and produced,
as well as to discuss her career and answer questions from the audience about
building a sustainable career as an independent media-maker.

The first
screening in this series will be her 1995 documentary “Remembering Wei Yi-fang,
Remembering Myself…” about her experiences when she lived in Taiwan for
six years  which as she says “(transformed my) understanding of what it means to be an African American.”

As with all events
at the Black Cinema House located at 7200 S. Kimbark is program is free but you
must RSVP for tickets HERE

Here’s a short introduction to Yvonne Welbon: