Reel to Real: Fluid Forms (Short Film & Conversation)

Join multi-disciplinary artist Chyna Cassell in conversation with artists Herrana Addisu and Mahlet Traore after a screening of their respective short films: The River and Black Sheep: Brown Eyes.

The River pays homage to culture and the lived experiences of women through the lens of Ethiopia, drawing inspiration from Herrana’s childhood home, Kebena. The film not only celebrates the art of beauty, but also examines the systemic barriers women face—particularly in relation to forced marriage, access to education, and water scarcity.

Black Sheep: Brown Eyes ጥቁር በግ : ቡናማ አይኖች, is an experimental fashion film and music video. The surrealist dreamscape is a love story about radical self acceptance that leads to collective transcendence. Centered on DONY’s braided collection, the film weaves together textiles and sounds from Ethiopia, Oromiyaa, and Mali to honor tradition, land, and Trans/queer ancestry and futurism.