“QUILOMBO COUNTRY” BENEFIT SHOWING AT TRIBES GALLERY, Friday, JULY 29 –

“QUILOMBO COUNTRY” BENEFIT SHOWING AT TRIBES GALLERY, Friday, JULY 29 – Only Scheduled Screening “Quilombo Country,” the award-winning film about Brazilian villages founded by escaped and rebel slaves, will be shown as a benefit for A Gathering of the Tribes on Friday, July 29th at 8pm at the Tribes Gallery space at 285 East 3rd Street (Ave C) in New York City, followed by a Q&A with the director, Leonard Abrams. Admission: $10.00. Runtime: 73 mins.

“Quilombo Country,” a documentary film shot in digital video, provides a portrait of rural communities in Brazil that were either founded by runaway slaves or begun from abandoned plantations. This type of community is known as a quilombo, from an Angolan word that means “encampment.” As many as 2,000 quilombos exist today. Contrary to Brazil’s national mythology, Brazil was a brutal and deadly place for slaves. But they didn’t submit willingly. Thousands escaped, while others led political and militant movements that forced white farmers to leave. Largely unknown to the outside world, today these communities struggle to preserve a rich heritage born of resistance to oppression. The film ranges from the Northeastern sugar-growing regions to the heart of the Amazon rainforest, raising issues of political identity, land rights, and racial and socioeconomic discrimination. Included are examples of the material culture that allow the quilombolas to survive in relative isolation, including hunting, fishing, construction and agriculture; as well as rare footage of syncretic Umbanda and Pajelança ceremonies; Tambor de Crioula, Carimbó and Boi Bumba drum and dance celebrations; and Festivals of the Mast. “Quilombo Country” is narrated by Chuck D, the legendary poet, media commentator and leader of the iconic hip hop band Public Enemy.

“Persuasive, complex, and timely.” – Southern Quarterly

"An up-close-and-personal look at the state of these villages today, featuring surprisingly articulate accounts from residents lacking in formal education..." – The New York Times

“Outstanding footage of festivals and ceremonies.”– In These Times “Winner, Best Documentary, 2007” – Black International

Cinema Berlin http://www.quilombofilm.com