Fist Up Film Festival presents 3 days of films that inspire discussion, foster understanding, and build visual connections between global and local struggles. This pop-upsfocus is on Immigration.
Schedule:
- Day 1: April 17 | 6–9PM
Feature: "Si Pudiera Quedarme / If I Could Stay"
A powerful story of two undocumented Latinx mothers seeking sanctuary in churches to protect their families from deportation. - Day 2: April 18 | 6–9PM
Short Film Series: Immigration + Culture
A curated selection of short films exploring identity, migration, and cultural memory.- The Game God(S): A powerful film narrated by Oakland poet laureate Ayodele Nzinga that delves into how Black communities navigate survival through underground economies forged by centuries of systemic racism and exclusion.
- Boat People: An animated documentary that uses the striking metaphor of childhood memories—where a mother rescued ants from sugar water and later received the favor back—to trace one family’s daring escape across the turbulent waters of history.
- Anansi the Spider: A vibrant tale in which a small spider with big ambitions challenges the jungle’s mightiest, capturing the elusive Snake to ultimately earn the title “King of the Jungle” and keeper of its stories.
- The People Could Fly: A reflective documentary that illuminates the history of Black gathering spaces in Louisville—from segregated roller rinks to cultural safe havens—capturing decades of joy, resistance, and community.
- We are Taíno: A compelling journey following a Taino woman from the U.S. Virgin Islands as she reclaims her indigenous heritage and aspires to become the first female Kasike (chief) of her tribe.
- Day 3: April 19 | 3–6PM
Feature: "Nos Tenemos / We Still Here"
A coming-of-age story following the youth of Comerío, Puerto Rico, as they organize and lead in the aftermath of Hurricane María.
Join us for three days of films, post-screening dialogue, and workshops!
