S. Epatha Merkerson’s documentary of the antebellum South takes home top honors

By Anthony King | Downtown News

The powerful documentary “The Contradictions of Fair Hope” was the big winner at this year’s San Diego Black Film Festival, which took place Jan. 26 – 29 at the Reading Gaslamp Cinemas. The film, directed by S. Epatha Merkerson and Rockell C. Metcalf, won Best Film, Best Director, Best Documentary and the Filmmaker’s Choice Award.

“Congratulations to all the winners and a special thanks to all the filmmakers who participated in the 2012 San Diego Black Film Festival,” said Festival Director Karen Willis. Downtown’s Black Film Festival is one of the largest black film festivals in the country with over 100 African-American and African Diaspora films screened each year.

Merkerson is best known for her role as Lieutenant Anita Van Buren on NBC’s “Law and Order,” and received an Emmy, Golden Globe, Screen Actor’s Guild, Gracie Allen and Image Award for her performance in the HBO movie “Lackawanna Blues.” “The Contradictions of Fair Hope” is her first feature film project.

Narrated by Whoopi Goldberg, the documentary examines a time in United States history that is not well known, when, in July 1865, over four million slaves had been freed and were forced to cope with the realities of the newfound freedom. The film focuses on The Fair Hope Benevolent Society in Uniontown, Ala., one of many “benevolent societies” that were created at the time to respond to the hunger, illness and fear of these communities.

Other winners at this year’s festival include “The Custom Mary” for Best Religious Film and Best Cutting Edge Film as well as the South African entry, “Glitterboys and Ganglands,” for Best LGBT film. The documentary follows a group of female impersonators competing in the Miss Gay Western Cape contest and addresses issues of poverty, HIV, gangs and attitudes toward sexuality.

“Glitterboys” director Lauren Beukes, who could not attend this year’s Festival, said, “While [“Glitterboys and Ganglands”] might be of special interest to the LGBT community, I think it’s totally accessible and universal for general audiences, too. I’m interested in telling compelling stories about fascinating real lives.”

Beukes said being selected for the Festival was an honor, and was thankful for San Diego for hosting an international film as part of the selections. “Getting international recognition for what you do is amazing,” she said, “not just for the filmmakers, but for the girls who competed in the pageant, too.”

The complete list of winners follows:

Best Film: “The Contradictions of Fair Hope”
Best Drama: “Lesson Before Love”
Best Director: S. Epatha Merkerson and Rockell C. Metcalf for “The Contradictions of Fair Hope”
Best Diaspora: “Ties That Bind”
Best Religious Film: “The Custom Mary”
Best Documentary: “The Contradictions of Fair Hope”
Best LGBT: “Glitterboys and Ganglands”
Best Short: “Brotherly Love”
Best Comedy: “Camp Kickitoo”
Best Actor: Choice Skinner for “Brotherly Love”
Best Cutting Edge Film: “The Custom Mary”
Filmmaker’s Choice Award: “The Contradictions of Fair Hope”
Best Music Video: “Whip my Mane”