Black Women in Comedy Festival Welcomes New Filmmaker, Jayhela Jones
Jayheyla Jones recently ventured into film and writing within the last year. She was able to create a sketch that won her a spot at the second annual Black Women in Comedy Festival.
- (1888PressRelease) September 09, 2020 - The Black Women in Comedy Festival is a new conference started by Marian Yesufu to help empower black women. Without a proper place to celebrate black femmes in comedy, Yesufu has experienced first hand the isolation and discrimination.
She decided to create a space of solidarity and community by hosting a comedy festival specifically for black women. This event was met with great support and reception. Briley then decided to repeat this every year in February. However, due to COVID-19 the festival was postponed to February 24-28 2021. However a virtual program will take place October 16-18th and will feature 40 different groups, artists, and filmmakers from across the US.
“Healing is in order in the times we are living in. Bring All that you are to the table unapologetically. We are not monolithic.”, explains Yesufu.
The theme of this year’s festival is “ unapologetic”, encouraging these women to take up space and share their narritives. This is also the first year the festival will be residing in Los Angeles. Moreover, as the celebration of art and comedy continues, this year will be cosplay themed, meaning those invited can dress up anyone from media or art.
This festival will be awarded in best screenplay, best actor, best director, and lastly, best film. Jahyela Jones, one the directors and actresses invited to the festival, is enjoying the process of this virtual event. This comedy sketch, being her first ever film project, Jones, has been able to gain a new sense of community within the film and comedy industries. The BWICF took a chance on her as a newcomer and celebrated her new project.
“I am truly so happy to be a part of this world alongside so many wonderful women!”, Jones explains, “This is my first time doing anything like this and it has honestly been such a validating experience”
The creation of festivals like these give individuals like Jones the space to shine, grow, and build relationships with other creatives. The BWICF is growing in size and popularity and it’s no surprise that each of the short films and sketches show extreme promise.
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