ADIFF is proud to serve as host to a fundraiser for William Greaves’ upcoming 90-minute film exploring the cultural life in Harlem: Once Upon a Time in Harlem.  The program will include screenings of three short works about Harlem, the Renaissance and African American culture, themes that the filmmaker has been exploring for over 40 years.

-          Memories of the Harlem Renaissance a rare public screening of an unfinished work using footage shot by William Greaves and his crew in 1970 at a party held at the elegant townhouse of Duke Ellington.  There legendary figures of the Harlem Renaissance share memories of a time 40 years earlier when they were part of that extraordinary cultural phenomenon;

-          An excerpt from Once Upon A Time In Harlem.  This version, which is currently in production, incorporates some of the same footage but intercuts it with video footage of Harlem today.  It looks back to the roots of African American culture and its future in the multicultural, “post racial” America of the 21^st century; and

-          From These Roots (1971) this completed film, the first documentary about the Harlem Renaissance ever made, is constructed entirely from photographs, music and poetry of the period, a novel approach to filmmaking at that time, earning it over 22 international film festival awards. 

-          A discussion and Q&A with special guests will follow the screenings.

The program will open with a catered reception hosted by ADIFF and William Greaves’ friends and family. Proceeds from the evening will be donated to William Greaves Productions to support the completion of Once Upon a Time in Harlem. To date, the production has received support from the Ford Foundation, the Independent Television Service, the National Black Programming Consortium and the New York State Council on the Arts.

For tickets, go to rsvp.adiff@gmail.com (Suggested donation $40)

William Greaves
Considered the dean of African American filmmakers, William Greaves is one of the most respected independents in film and television, producing, directing and editing films for over four decades.  His documentary films on the African American experience include such classics as From These Roots; Ida B. Wells: A Passion For Justice, and Ralph Bunche: An American Odyssey.  He was writer and director of the two acclaimed Symbiopsychotaxiplasm feature films (1967 and 2005), and was executive producer of the successful Richard Pryor film, Bustin’ Loose.  His documentaries have won over 70 international festival awards.  Greaves has been the recipient of many honors and awards, including an Emmy for his work as executive producer of the pioneering public television series, Black Journal.  He is a member of the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame, received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association of Independent Film and Videomakers, and was honored with a Career Achievement Award from the International Documentary Association.  He is a long-time member of the Actors Studio, where he often substituted for Lee Strasberg as moderator of acting sessions. For more information, visit www.williamgreaves.com.