Q&A and performance following the screening of Dreamstates at BAM during the 26th New York African Film Festival. Director Anisia Uzeyman provides insight into the creation and evolution of the film which was shot entirely on iPhones. Conversation moderated by Stephanye Watts, founder of the Be Reel Black Cinema Club and followed by a performance by Saul Williams and CX KiDTRONiK.

Featured photo courtesy of Cheryl Duncan

Uzeyman, Anisia

Anisia Uzeyman, actress, playwright and director was born in Rwanda. She studied drama at the Superior School of Theater in France. Anisia has written and directed four plays and recently starred in the award winning film, Tey / Aujourd’hui, by Alain Gomis and the feature, Ayiti Mon Amour, by Guetty Felin. Her directorial debut Dreamstates was shot entirely on iPhones and starred Saul Williams, William Nadylam and Beau Sia. The film premiered at the LAFF in 2016. She also directed music videos for Sons Of An Illustrious Father’s Opposite Of Love, Saul Williams' The Noise Came From Here and Mehdi Cayenne’s Rivière. Her first book, a poetic treatment of her original screenplay Saolomea, Saolomea was published by Not a Cult
in Fall 2021. Learn More

Williams, Saul

Saul Williams is an American poet, musician, and actor. He made his acting debut in Marc Levin’s Slam, which he co-wrote. The film won Sundance's Grand Jury Prize and the Cannes Camera D'Or in 1998. Saul was a series regular on Girlfriends and has appeared in films including: K-Pax, Lackawanna Blues, New York, I Love You, Akilla’s Escape (TIFF 2020) and Aujourd'hui / Tey (Alain Gomis) which won 2013's L'Etalon D'Or at FESPACO. Saul was the first African-American to win Best Actor at the festival. Tey was also awarded The Prize of the City at Venice. In 2014, Saul made his Broadway debut as the lead in Holler If Ya Hear Me, based on the lyrics of Tupac Shakur. Saul has published five books of poetry which have been translated into several languages. As a musician, Saul has released six albums and toured and collaborated with artists including: Kanye West, Nas, Janelle Monae, Nine Inch Nails, Rage Against The Machine, The Roots, Mos Def, Allen Ginsburg, Amiri Baraka, Gil Scott-Heron, TV On The Radio, Blackalicious, and Erykah Badu. Learn More