Docs In Progress Film Screening of ESSAKANE UNVEILED

A documentary work-in-progress about Mali's Festival au Desert, considered the most remote music festival in the world, will be screened on Thursday, June 7 at the Takoma Park Community Center from 7:30-9:30 pm.  This is a free program which is open to the public.  This screening is organized by the Silver Spring-based film nonprofit, Docs In Progress and is presented as part of the city's We Are Takoma series.  This program is supported by funding from the Arts & Humanities Council of Montgomery County and the Maryland Humanities Council.

Docs In Progress screenings provide an opportunity for local and visiting documentary filmmakers to screen their unfinished films to an audience and get valuable feedback. After screening the film, a facilitator from Docs In Progress will moderate a feedback session with the audience. This honest and constructive feedback is aimed at helping the filmmakers get to the next stage of completing and distributing the film.

ABOUT THE FILM

Essakane Unveiled is produced by local filmmakers Kiley Kraskouskas, Leola Calzolai-Stewart, and Andrea Pappito.  From the bustling streets of Bamako to the desolate dunes of the Sahara, Essakane Unveiled takes us to the most remote music festival in the world, Festival au Desert. Founded to foster cultural exchange and economic development, the music festival has grown into a world-class event which has drawn many western musicians (from Bono to Jimmy Buffet to Robert Plant) to jam with Malian, Tuareg, and West African musicians.  As the fate of the festival hangs in the balance amidst a violent standoff between rebel Tuaregs and the Malian government, this film looks at the power of music for international understanding.

ADMISSION

This is a free event which is open to the general public.  No tickets or RSVP are required.  Seating is on a first come, first served basis.

ABOUT DOCS IN PROGRESS

Docs In Progress is a Silver Spring-based non-profit arts organization dedicated to empowering independent documentary filmmakers to make better films by giving them the tools to foster and improve their storytelling skills in all stages of the filmmaking process. Docs In Progress also works to engage the general public around documentary film through screenings, salons, and other public programs. Its signature work-in-progress screening series has been presented at various venues in the Washington DC Metro area since 2004.