National Black Arts Film Festival & Pan African Film Festival, Atlanta - July 2007

Emails received:

Ella Dyer - 27 July 2007

“We smell "best foreign film" award!!!

Sweetie, I can't begin to tell you how amazing Rag Tag is. Okay, hot guys helped (hot guys, hot for each other didn't).

Love, tolerance, understanding, acceptance, ability to throw scriptures around, wow...this film has it all. And the humor, I just love it!

I have so much to tell you about the experience last night. A mother was never more proud. We even held a question and answer session with some of the audience members after the showing, extraordinary.

Some of the words used to describe Rag Tag included "bold", "brilliantly touching" and "necessary".

The night unfolded like this: Aunt Jeffri welcomed the audience (25+ folks) and spoke of spending time with you in France last month. I'll let her share her comments. Then, she turned the floor over to me where I beamed with pride....

"Hi, I'm Ella Dyer, Adaora's 'American Mom'. It's a pleasure and a privilege to be at the festival and to introduce Rag Tag, a film by Adaora Nwandu. The film, like the festival, needs no introduction so I'll keep this brief.

It's only fitting that Adaora's film be part of a festival which promotes tolerance for Adaora is not only talented and beautiful but also very tolerant. Lord knows she's tolerated my singing in church for years now (audience laughed).

Rag Tag will speak of her many talents like her incredible sense of humor for nothing turns heads like her call me 'Momma' in public (audience laughed).Now, enjoy Rag Tag".

Once the film was over a woman was leaving and very vocal about the gay undertones..."upset and offended", I believe were her words. The woman left shortly thereafter. Louida, the consummate film festival professional, asked those of us remaining if we would like to have a discussion about the film.

It was fabulous!

Louida asked if the festival should continue to show films with sexual, gay undertones. Needless to say, this was an open-minded, tolerant group.

Yes! was the immediate and continuous response. The boldness of the film is what the festival is about. The "scences" were done tastefully, and, there was so much more to the story, important messages of love, acceptance, everyone loved it.

A comment about the sound was made as well as perhaps the need more subtitles, as the accents were sometimes difficult for we "southerners" to understand. Just minor tech tweaking.

Folks loved your film! They wanted to know about you, were you "on point" regarding the sub-plots. And, they were amazed that you're so young, that this is your first film and thrilled to know that we do attend church together. I've never been more proud :)

Love,Momma”

W Sharpe Director of New Media, Public Broadcasting Atlanta – 30th July 2007

“I recently saw the film Rag Tag during the National Black Arts Festival in Atlanta. I thought it was a bold, daring, provocative film. I was surprised at the reaction of some of the viewers of the film and their objection to the subject matter.

I think that the Arts Festival is exactly the place to exhibit such works. It is a place for artists to exhibit their craft and enlighten to public through their art. Please do not censor future content. I have learned many things through the films presented at the Arts Festival and it would be a shame if the narrow minded views of a few stifled lifelong learning.

The film has been a topic of discussion among the friends I brought with me to screen the film and those who were not in attendance. I'd like to know if the film is in release on DVD or will be screened at any other festivals around the country.”