The District of Columbia Office of Cable Television, Film, Music, and Entertainment (OCTFME) is pleased to recognize Kwame Edwards as the July 2019 Filmmaker of the Month.
Kwame Edwards is a self-described aesthetic engineer - more specifically he is an ethnographic filmmaker, sociology professor, international education advocate, music enthusiast, and global Diaspora cultural connoisseur from Washington, DC. His film work specializes in the experiences of the African Diaspora, in order to showcase overlooked narratives.
Kwame’s sociological perspective is grounded in structural functionalism, symbolic interactionism and conflict theory. Currently, he teaches Race and Ethnic Relations at the University of Maryland Baltimore County and sociology at American University. Kwame received a Bachelor of Science in Sociology with a minor in History from Bowie State University as well as a Master of Arts in Applied Sociology from the University of Maryland.
In April of 2019, the initial screening of his feature length documentary “68” took place at Busboys & Poets in Anacostia. This film was selected for the monthly produced Focus In! Film series: "Cinema for a Conscious Community” which screens films focused on social justice, peace, art, music, and/or community value. “68” is an exploration of the physical barriers that manifest as symbols of oppression for Black people in Washington, DC. This ethnographic film highlights the perspectives from DC community activists, artists, educators, civil servants, business owners, and even some who refer to themselves as "gentrifiers.”
“Being honored as the Filmmaker of the Month means a lot to me. It symbolizes a combination of hard work not only for myself but for all the people who work with me,” stated Kwame. “This is for the shoulders I stand on; people who have contributed to my critical eye, my parents for all the sacrifices and fights that we’ve had and even my peers who don’t necessarily understand why I don’t get a “normal” job and instead follow my passions but they still support me. So my name gets to be on the plaque but it’s for everyone who has put in and poured into the cup that is Kwame Edwards right now.”
His latest ethnographic series are "Black In China 黑人在中国," which chronicles the experiences of 88 Black westerners living in the People's Republic of China; and "Black in Doha [السود في الدوحة قطر]," which chronicles the experiences of 13 Black westerners living in the city of Doha, Qatar.
KMATiKC Media LLC, founded by Kwame, is a media company that specializes in telling the stories of the African Diaspora. Marcus Long is a partner, who also serves as the Technical Czar for all projects.
To learn more about KMATiKC, please visit https://www.KMATiKC.com.
Kwame's Social Media:
personal Instagram: @kmatikc
business Instagram: @kmatikcmedia
personal Twitter: @KMATiKC
business Facebook: facebook.com/kmatikcmedia
business LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kmatikc/
Kwame's Trailers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fc8gPRSQkJo&feature=youtu.be
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRVlB4F3U30
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KWAME EDWARDS DC RADIO INTERVIEW
Want to learn more about Kwame Edwards and his work? Click HERE to listen to his DC Radio interview.
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OCTFME launched the “Filmmaker of the Month” initiative as a vehicle for highlighting the talents and creative contributions of filmmakers that make the District of Columbia their home. The “Filmmaker of the Month” initiative is part of OCTFME’s mission to elevate the national and international profile of the District’s talented filmmakers.
***If you know of a filmmaker that would make a great future “Filmmaker of the Month,” you can send OCTFME your recommendations using this nomination form.
About OCTFME
The Office of Cable Television, Film, Music and Entertainment (OCTFME) produces and broadcasts programming for the District of Columbia’s public, educational, and government access (PEG) cable television channels and digital radio station; regulates the District of Columbia’s cable television service providers; provides customer service for cable subscribers; and supports a sustainable film, music, and entertainment creative economy and labor market in the District of Columbia.
OCTFME operates and manages the District’s government television access channels: the District Council Channel (DCC), the District of Columbia Network (DCN), and the District Knowledge Network (DKN). OCTFME’s award-winning content provides resourceful information on government activity, education, current events, history, music, arts and entertainment. OCTFME manages and programs DC Radio 96.3 HD4 digital radio station, the District of Columbia’s first government radio station in partnership with Howard University’s WHUR.
OCTFME provides production support services that advance film, television, video, entertainment, interactive, multimedia, and digital media content creators. These services include: permitting; location scouting; production support; job placement assistance; workforce development; and the DC Film, Television and Entertainment Rebate Fund.
OCTFME supports the creative economy through the Mayor Muriel Bowser Presents: 202Creates initiative, administering programs supporting the growth and sustainability of the creative industries in all 8 Wards of the District.
For more information, contact the Office of Cable Television, Film, Music, and Entertainment at (202) 671-0066, visit us online at: entertainment.dc.gov, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
