The Fist Up TV Film Festival Represents Resistance

On the latest episode of Hard Knock Radio, host Davey D engaged with brothers Khalil and Eli Jacobs-Fantauzzi, discussing the upcoming 15th Annual Fist Up TV Film Festival in the Bay Area. They highlighted the festival’s reputation for innovation and its community-centric approach. Eli shared his filmmaking journey, which began with a Pentax K1000 camera and evolved into a passionate commitment to independent storytelling. The conversation emphasized the significance of the do-it-yourself ethos in the Bay Area and the impact of technology on modern filmmaking.

Eli elaborated on the importance of building strong communities in the music industry, drawing parallels to the independent hip-hop scene. He expressed pride in the global reach of genres like Afrobeats and shared experiences connecting with hip-hop communities in Cuba and Ghana. This led to a discussion about participatory action filmmaking, where storytelling is done with communities rather than about them. Eli stressed the necessity of media literacy and involving community members in the filmmaking process to ensure authentic representation.

The hosts also tackled the theme of resilience, particularly in the context of media coverage of areas like Puerto Rico and Oakland. They criticized the tendency of mainstream media to focus on devastation while overlooking community strength and solutions. Eli underscored the value of sharing positive stories through platforms like the Solar Cinema Project and Hard Knock Radio. As they looked forward to the film festival, they discussed its mission to present transformative narratives, vet films carefully, and avoid corporate influence, all while fostering connections among filmmakers and the local audience.