The Women’s International Film & Arts Festival, (WIFF) now in its 3rd day is excited to announce the attendance of, Rose Mapendo, the subject of the feature documentary Pushing the Elephant, that will be screened on Saturday, April 2nd, 7 pm at Hollywood Central Performing Arts Center. Pushing the Elephant chronicles the life of Rose Mapendo who lost her family and home in the 1990’s to the violence that engulfed the Democratic Republic of Congo. She emerged advocating forgiveness and reconciliation.
In a country where ethnic violence has created seemingly irreparable rifts among Tutsis, Hutus and other
Congolese, this remarkable woman is a vital voice in her beleaguered nation’s search for peace. Now, Rose is confronted with teaching one of her most recalcitrant students how to forgive. Rose Mapendo was acknowledged by actress and human rights advocate Susan Sarandon as a “CNN Hero”.
The line-up for Saturday, April 2nd includes workshops by the JoMarie Payton from the 1990’s sitcom “Family Matters” (open only to kids ages 9-12) supported by BankAtlantic; Screen Actors Guild, Gregory Allen Howard the writer of “Remember the Titans” starring Denzel Washington and “Ali” starring Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith.
Film updates: The screening for No Woman, No cry has been cancelled and will be replaced by Capsula, after a sold out screening on March 31st 2011 at the AMC Theaters. Day four(4) (Saturday) of the festival will end with 3 after parties: Link-Up WIFF Wrap Party, 10:00 pm at Dockers Bar and Grill, 6330 Miramar Parkway, Miramar, FL 33023; Club Aizia, 3660 S Ocean Dr, Hollywood, FL 33019 and Trio on the Bay, 1601 79th Street Causeway, North Bay Village, FL 33141.
The Women’s International Film and Arts Festival will close on Sunday, April 3rd with an awards event and reception at the Hollywood Central Performing Arts Center to “a Queens of Sound” a documentary by Sandra Krampelhuber from Austria. This film explores the long neglected female side of Reggae and Dancehall music in Jamaica. Tickets are $20 if purchased online and $30 at the door.
The remaining 2011 screenings will be held at Hollywood Central Performing Arts Center 1770 Monroe St. Hollywood, FL 33020 and AMC Aventura 19501 Biscayne Blvd., Miami, FL 33180. Full Festival screening schedules and programming can be found online at www.womensfilmfest.com. Tickets range from $5-$15 per day. Tickets can be purchased online at www.womensfilmfest.com .
This year’s festival is sponsored in part by BankAtlantic, American Private Label, WLITE FM, TeleAmerica, AmeriGas Jamaicans.com, WLRN, AMC Theaters, Comcast, Miami International University of Art and Design, Screen Actors Guild, Trio on the Bay, South Florida Times, The New Times, Miami Dade County of Cultural Affairs and Cravings Magazine. The Green Family Foundation, The Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward office of Film & Entertainment at the Convention of Visitors Bureau assisted in the Women’s International Film and Arts Festival’s transition from Miami to Broward County.
For interview requests with Rose Mapendo, JoMarie payton, Gregory Allen Howard or Women’s International Film and Arts Festival Founder Yvonne McCormack Lyons, please contact us at 305.549.3676 or e-mail info@icypr.com