BEFF WORKSHOPS
Low-Budget High-Impact Documentary with Fred Kudjo Kuwornu
Date: Saturday, January 25, 2025
Time: 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Location: University of Minnesota Campus
Learn how to bring your documentary vision to life on a budget while achieving high impact and visibility. This hands-on workshop focuses on the fundamentals of documentary filmmaking, from conceptualizing your story to crafting a compelling narrative with limited resources. Get practical tips on maximizing your reach, making creative choices that resonate, and ensuring your work stands out in a crowded media landscape. Led by Fred Kudjo Kuwornu, an award-winning independent filmmaker whose work has been exhibited at major festivals, this workshop is perfect for aspiring filmmakers ready to turn their ideas into powerful films.
To apply, please email [email protected] with your name and a brief bio, including a short explanation of your interest in this workshop.
This workshop is made possible by the generous support of the Liberal Arts Engagement Hub at the University of Minnesota.
Fred Kudjo Kuwornu is a multi-hyphenate socially engaged artist, filmmaker and scholar whose work is deeply influenced by his background as a person of African descent. Born and raised in Italy, Kuwornu is based in New York. The founder of the independent production company DoTheRightFilms, Fred is best known for Inside Buffalo (2010), 18 IUS SOLI (2011), and Blaxploitalian: 100 Years of Blackness in Italian Cinema (2016)—award-winning documentaries that address issues related to race, identity, and diversity in Italy and Europe. Fred’s latest documentary, We Were Here: The Untold History of Black Africans in Renaissance Europe, was showcased at the 60th Venice Biennale of Art and is set to have its U.S. premiere at the Black Europe Film Festival of Minneapolis/Saint Paul.
Stories in Focus: Art, Identity, and Memory with Salad Hilowle
Date: Wednesday, January 29th, 2025
Time: 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM
Location: Open Book
Join acclaimed Somali-Swedish artist Salad Hilowle for an immersive, hands-on workshop delving into identity, memory, and visibility through creative expression. This session invites participants to explore their own narratives, engage in thought-provoking discussions, and transform personal and communal stories into impactful art. Drawing inspiration from Hilowle’s work, the workshop provides tools and techniques to express heritage and culture through various artistic mediums. Open to artists of all levels and disciplines, this is an opportunity to celebrate and amplify Somali voices through creativity. Capacity is limited to 25 participants, with a priority for youth participants.
>> To apply, please fill out this form
This workshop is presented in collaboration with The Qalanjo Project and made possible by the generous support of the Liberal Arts Engagement Hub at the University of Minnesota.
Salad Hilowle is a Mogadishu-born, Stockholm-based artist whose work explores historical narratives and examines the profound impact of the African diaspora on history and contemporary culture. Driven by meticulous research, he brings marginalized or forgotten stories to light through diverse materials and media, including film, installation, sculpture, photography, sound, and performance. Using a wide array of artistic means, especially video, photography and installations, Salad questions the precarious border between acceptance and rejection. At the same time he is exploring how his background can be reintroduced into cultural narratives as part of a struggle to proclaim identities, which have been present for a long time but have been erased or concealed.
Documentary Storytelling across Borders with Anna Gaberscik
Date: Friday, January 31st, 2025
Time: 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM [by invite only]
This workshop is an enriching opportunity for invited local filmmakers to engage in a deep exploration of nonfiction storytelling and documentary filmmaking across geographies. Co-hosted by the Video Consortium and presented by guest acclaimed filmmaker Anna Gaberscik (Edelweiss), the session will offer both a thought-provoking conversation and practical feedback on participants’ works in progress.
Participants will gain insight into the art of crafting authentic, impactful stories that transcend cultural and geographical boundaries. The workshop aims to foster meaningful connections between local filmmakers and international professionals, providing a platform to discuss the nuances of global storytelling, ethical considerations in documentary work, and innovative techniques to engage audiences. By integrating a hands-on component, the session also ensures that attendees leave with practical tips and actionable feedback to enhance their projects. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn from a filmmaker whose work exemplifies the power of storytelling to bridge divides and illuminate diverse human experiences.
This workshop is presented in collaboration with the Video Consortium and made possible by the generous support of the Center for Austrian Studies at the University of Minnesota.
Anna Gaberscik, born in Brooklyn, New York City, is an anti-racism trainer and activist, performer, writer and director based in Austria. Her writing, as well as her other work, focuses on anti-racism and challenging patriarchal, heteronormative, and white narratives and discourses. Anna is the founder of Through Our Eyes, an interdisciplinary project that explores anti-racism, intersectionality, and empowerment in various creative forms. Developing and curating performances, films, and even awareness training with an anti-racist focus, Through Our Eyes addresses difficult issues through a critical yet creative lens. Anna’s documentary debut, Edelweiss: A Critical Love Letter to Austria, is garnering worldwide acclaim and will have its U.S. premiere at the Black Europe Film Festival of Minneapolis/Saint Paul.