Very honored to hear that YELLOW won the BEST AMERICAN SHORT FILM at the Cape Verdean American Film Festival. I had no idea it was a competition. I was just happy to share my work in a festival that connected me with my #CaboVerde roots. My great grandfather MANUEL DuRACE TAVARES MENDES (AKA “Gampy), did not speak English when he came to this country. He was born in PRAIA, the capitol of Cape Verde. He and his cousin ISADORE DaCRUZ whom everyone, everywhere called GODFATHER, stowed away on a schooner to come to America. When he met my Great Grandmother FRANCIS SULLIVAN from PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND, on a beach, she ran from him because she didn’t understand his language lol. Soon they were married and had my grandmother LILLIAN and my great aunt SABINA. My great grandfather named all of my grandmother’s children and when I was born, I carried the first name of my eldest aunt and Godmother who was also DOMINGA…None of them are with us now, but it’s a great privilege to be a filmmaker in this country and to know that there is a festival that my grand parents and elders in my family would be proud of, that speaks their language, that knows our history. Thank you Lucy Coutinho! This was a very pleasant surprise! This is YELLOW’S second award, but definitely one I am most proud of. #moretocome #8YearsStrong Will Castillo Tina Senior Sabrina Rose Alisha CrutchfieldDonavan DontcallmeDonny Lambert Russell Taylor youtube/watch?v=4P-Swb2d_0w&feature=youtu.be
Posted on: Thu, 29 May 2014 15:58:09 +0000