The 23rd Annual

Film Festival

I did not know what a big deal she was, until after her untimely demise. I entered the City University of New York as an architectural major but shortly after,  my mother’s Thyroid condition and attending a lecture by Kathleen Collins, consequently,  I was now a film major.

Kathleen Collins was the first African American woman to produce a feature length film. Although  a prolific playwright, Collins “Losing Ground”, was trailblazing the way for female filmmakers. Written and directed by Collins, the semiautobiographical drama, won First prize  at the Figueroa International Film Festival in Portugal. In 2020, the film was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant”.

I entered the City University as an architectural major and soon lost focus after my mom was diagnosed with Graves disease. All it took was one lecture from Kathleen and I was hooked into her cinematic world. It would all end too soon, as Kathleen would die from Breast cancer in my junior year, My mother would die of the same malady twenty years later. I never thought Kathleen was ill, always smiling and eating a healthy mix of nuts and raisins. I looked forward to our afternoon screenings of our class projects. She seemed to love my work and her hearty laughter was all the approval I needed. When she died, I took some solace in the fact that I brought some joy to her in her final days.

Although I did not have the privilege of her guidance during my senior project, I cherish the time I spent with her devouring her cinematic knowledge and giving me a love of the cinematic Arts. It is my honor to induct Kathleen Collins into the Harlem Film Institute, hall of fame.

1. “Amelia”

The first film, “Amelia”, was Kathleen’s favorite.  “Amelia” was the result of a class project,  on editing in the camera. The film was shot on 8mm film and the key word was edit in the camera, no cutting after shooting. Shot in chronological order, from beginning to end.

2. Daly

“Daly” was my attempt at making a vampire piece. Daly Germain and Adrian Cord were two actors that I could always count on so I have to give a big shout out  to both of them for the love.

3. Animation

This Animation piece was produced with the help pf my 5 year old nephew, Brandon. This film was also an homage to  my high school Animation teacher, Ms. Nickford.

4. “Alva”.

Always wanted to be a fashion photographer. My friend Alva was the perfect person to practice on. A big shout out to Alva Sam, who became a wonderful Nurse.

5. Art
Art was my first love so I had to make a film about it. 

6. Love Triangle

This film of a love Triangle gone wrong, was made with some of my favorite actors.

7. Human Nature

“Human Nature” was made after I finished high school. with- the help of my brothers and sisters. This film helped to plant the cinematic seed in me.

HFI Hall of Fame Inductees

1999- Oscar Micheaux (1885-1951)

2000- Melvin Van  Peebles

2001-Gordon Parks (1912-2006)

2002 -Noble Johnson (1881-1978 )

2003-Spencer Williams (1893-1969)

2004-Ivan Dixon (1931-2009)

2005-Sidney Poitier

2006-Clarence Muse (1889-1979)

2006-Charles Burnett

2007-Kathleen Collins (1942-1988)

2007-William Greaves (1926-2014)

2008-Michael Schultz

2009-Maya Angelou (1928-2014)

2010-Spike Lee

2011-Julie Dash

2012-Robert Townsend

2013-Reggie Hudlin

2014-Steve McQueen

2015-F Gary Gray

2016-Barry Jenkins

2017-Albert Hughes

2018-Warrington Hudlin

2019-John Singleton (1968-2019)

2020-Ava DuVernay

2021-Chadwick Boseman (1977-2020)

2022-Kathleen Collins (1942-1986)

mele2b@yahoo.com

Hi I’m Melvin Best, founder and director of the Harlem Film Institute. I am an educator, avid film lover and all around nice guy.

harlemfilminstitute.com