Black Europe Film Festival

The Gravity

Friday, January 31 • 7:30pm • Tickets: $10 General (+ $2 online service fee), $8 Members (no fee), $5 Students (door)

After the screening, director Cédric Ido will lead a discussion on the political potential of genre fiction.

ABOUT THE FILM

Minnesota Premiere. As planets align in a configuration that impacts Earth’s gravity, Christophe, a drug dealer, returns home to the housing projects after serving time in prison. He finds the neighborhood unrecognizable, ruled by a ruthless youth gang. To escape, Christophe must confront this new generation and secure freedom for himself and his brother.

Shooting in his hometown of Seine-Saint-Denis, French-Burkinabe actor and writer-director Cédric Ido puts a sci-fi twist on this gritty, up-to-the-minute crime saga as the planetary configuration wreaks unexpected mental havoc on the towers’ residents. Equally evoking Walter Hill’s The Warriors, Mathieu Kassovitz’s La Haine, and Ladj Ly’s Les Misérables, Ido brilliantly uses genre to comment on race, class, and the struggles of the recently incarcerated to reintegrate into society.

ABOUT THE DIRECTOR

Cédric Ido is a French-Burkinabe filmmaker, actor, and writer whose work spans film, television, and theater. Born in Seine-Saint-Denis, Ido is acclaimed for blending genres to address social issues, such as systemic racism and police violence. His credits include films like Chateau and The Gravity and the critically acclaimed mini-series Oussekine.

ABOUT - BLACK EUROPE FILM FESTIVAL

The Black Europe Film Festival of Minneapolis/St. Paul is a groundbreaking celebration of Afro-European cinema, debuting in the Twin Cities from January 30 to February 2, 2025. Rooted in community collaboration and anti-racist organizing, BEFF MSP brings you a dynamic lineup of documentaries, fiction films, and shorts by Europe’s most acclaimed Afro-descendant filmmakers. This festival offers a space for artists to showcase their work and foster connections across the global Black diaspora and the international film community. At its core, BEFF MSP recognizes the intertwined legacies of racism, colonialism, and displacement while celebrating the vibrancy, creativity, and resilience of Black filmmakers. These artists challenge stereotypes, redefine narratives, and envision worlds beyond the limits imposed by whiteness, amplifying an authentic vision of Black Europe and Black Europeans. The festival experience is enriched by masterclasses, filmmaker encounters, workshops, lectures, and artist residencies, creating opportunities for learning, connection, and joy. Join us to celebrate the power of storytelling and the boundless creativity of Afro-European cinema while engaging diverse audiences, communities, and youth.