Genre
Synopsis
Aunt Cynthia, a music history buff, helps her niece Lauren learn about the music genres that were born and formed by African American history and culture. They cover a wide breadth, all the way from the times of slavery, to
Negro Spirituals, Blues, Ragtime, Jazz, the Harlem Renaissance, Gospel, the Civil Rights movement, Soul and R&B, and Hip Hop. Cynthia works to inspire Lauren’s curiosity about these periods of history by continuously making it relevant to the music and uses the layers of a quilt to explain how music of the past connects to the contemporary music that Lauren is most familiar with. By the end of the film, Lauren feels more empowered by the generational connections of music and culture she has learned.
Bio
JULYA JARA is a filmmaker based in Austin, Texas. She directed, edited, and produced “The Quilt: A Living History of African American Music.” The film received Best Documentary Feature awards at Queens Underground International Film Festival, Atlanta Children’s Film Festival (ACFF), San Diego International Kids Film Festival (SDIKFF) and Urban Mediamakers Film festival (UMFF); Audience Choice Award at San Antonio Black International Film Festival (SABIFF); Documentary Feature Film - 2nd Prize (Children’s Jury Awards) at FACET’s 40th Chicago International Children’s Film Festival (CICFF).
Screening History
Queens Underground International Film Festival 2023
Chicago International Children's Film Festival 2023
International Black Film Festival 2023
Greater Cleveland Urban Film Festival 2023
Saint Louis International Film Festival 2023
Awards History
Atlanta Children’s Film Festival 2023 - Best Documentary Feature
San Antonio Black Film Festival 2023 - Audience Choice Award
Chicago International Children’s Film Festival 2023 - 2nd Prize Documentary Feature Film
Flickers' Rhode Island International Film Festival 2023 - Semifinalist
Credits
Singer - Michael Sumuel
Singer - Veronica Williams
Pianist - Arlington Jones