LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending ActNow Foundation and BAMcinematek
upon the occasion of hosting their inaugural Black History Month Film
Festival

WHEREAS, With February being Black History Month, it is a time to
reflect on the struggles and victories of African-Americans throughout
our country's history and to recognize their numerous valuable contrib-
utions to society; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend
ActNow Foundation and BAMcinematek upon the occasion of hosting their
inaugural Black History Month Film Festival, to be held on February 4-9,
2011, at BAM Rose Cinemas; and
WHEREAS, ActNow Foundation is a non-profit theatre & film organiza-
tion, based in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, which focuses its productions on
the full range of African-American & Latino experiences in New York
City, throughout the United States and around the globe; and
WHEREAS, BAMcinematek, located in the Fort Greene neighborhood is
Brooklyn's only daily, year-round repertory film program, and presents
new and rarely seen contemporary films, classics from cinema history,
work by local artists and festivals of films from around the world,
often with special appearances by directors, actors and other guests;
this organization is part of the greater Brooklyn Academy of Music arts
community, America's oldest continuously operating performing arts
center founded in 1861; and
WHEREAS, These organizations are presenting a new film festival that
directly reflects the wide spectrum of views and themes within the Afri-
can diaspora communities in Brooklyn and beyond; the New Voices in Black
Cinema Festival is a multi-genre showcase of quality movies geared
towards getting general and new audiences to appreciate Black independ-
ent film; and
WHEREAS, This particular program is an extension of ActNow's ongoing
New Voices in Black Cinema screening series at BAMcinematek, which in
the summer of 2010 premiered Idris Elba & Thomas Ikimi's festival hit
"Legacy", and in 2009, showed the stirring documentary on soul music
legend Bill Withers, Still Bill; this continues ActNow's mission of
giving independent filmmakers the opportunity to present their stories
to audiences on a grand scale; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to honor those
enduring organizations which devote their purposeful energies to improv-
ing the quality and dignity of life of those they serve, to preserving
their heritage, and to fostering pride among them; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend ActNow Foundation and BAMcinematek upon the occasion of hosting
their inaugural Black History Month Film Festival; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the ActNow Foundation and BAMcinematek.