We Still Here / Nos Tenemos
Time: April 14, 2023, 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Location: La Casita Cultural Center, 109 Otisco Streeet, Syracuse
Eli Jacobs-Fantauzzi
Kahlil Jacobs-Fantauzzi
All are welcome to a screening of We Still Here / Nos Tenemos.
The Fantauzzis' film introduces the youth of the small town of Comerío, Puerto Rico, navigating the aftermath of Hurricane María, a disaster that in 2017 brought an unprecedented level of devastation to an island already in an economic and political crisis. In the lush mountains in the center of Puerto Rico, 24-year-old Mariangelie Ortíz leads a group of young residents who never thought they would become the leaders of their community, nonetheless find themselves traveling to Washington D.C. to protest in the halls of Congress. This is a coming-of-age story where young people find their power to begin creating a sustainable future for themselves and their community.
In contrast to most documentary filmmaking methods that use a“fly on the wall” technique separating the filmmaker from the story being told, Participatory Action Filmmaking is an immersive and justice-oriented approach that emphasizes community-driven collaboration, equity, respect, and transparency. The strategy has transformative results and is a core value of this filmmaking team’s artistic aesthetic.
The filmmakers present an afternoon workshop at La Casita on April 15.
About the filmmakers:
Eli Jacobs-Fantauzzi is an award-winning filmmaker, founder of FistUp.TV, a media platform uplifting and telling stories from underrepresented communities across the world. His work has circulated through National Broadcast: Free Speech TV, Teaching Channel, and PBS. Online he has created content for Remezcla, okayafrica, TIDAL, and VIBE. Eli is the co-founder of Defend Puerto Rico, a multimedia project designed to document and celebrate Puerto Rican creativity,
resilience, and resistance. His dedication to his craft is deeply connected to his commitment to social justice and the belief in the transformative power of film.
Kahlil Jacobs-Fantauzzi is a producer at Clenched Fist Productions- a media company dedicated to documenting the use of music and culture as a tool for social justice. He has teamed up with his brother Eli Jacobs-Fantauzzi on three award-winning documentary films: We StillHere / Nos Tenemos being the most recent. Kahlil completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from UC Berkeley and a Master’s Degree in Education and Technology from the University of San Francisco.