(Info from press release)First time filmmaker, renowned spoken word poet, multi-gifted actress and Bay Area activist Venus Jones is celebrating her regional premiere of an award winning animated short created to decrease the number of exploited young people in California and beyond
"Lil' Red is Riding the Wrong Way in the Hood!" is a revisionist take on a classic fairy tale, and it will be screening on the morning of October 14th at the Regal Cinema downtown at the 19th Annual LA Femme International Film Festival, October 19-22, 2023.
About the Film
Lil' Red's bike is stolen in an urban jungle by Big Deal, a wolf in sheep's clothing, sparking a battle of wits, and a hard lesson about trust and betrayal. Venus Jones wrote, directed, produced, and narrated the independent film after earning an artistic grant from the Center for Cultural Innovation. The dangers of illegal labor, trafficking, and public safety are difficult subject matters, and this film allows educators and parents to have the conversation at a critical age.
Meet the Team
Head Animator, Mutai Emmanuel, of Nairobi, Kenya is also a graphic designer, 3D animator and the founder of Mutts Creative. Other credited animators on this project include Stanley Munyiri and Ian Ngaruiya Mburu. The Music Supervisor is Malcolm Lee and Tim Abbot serves as the Sound Engineer.
The film has been an official selection at the following festivals:
- Portugal Indie Film Festival 2023 (Best Animated Short)
- Silicon Valley African Film Festival (SVAFF) 2023
- California International Shorts Festival 2023
- Vancouver International Movie Awards 2023 (quarter finalist)
- Black Bottom Film Festival 2023
- San Francisco Arthouse Short Festival 2023
Join the Conversation
We might be celebrating 50 years of Hip-Hop, but this is not just an entertaining and inspiring animated film set to a Hip-Hop beat," explains Jones. "It's a conversation starter for all ages and it allows us to reflect on who to trust, when, and how to stay safe in an increasingly complex and unpredictable world."
Screening Details
"LIL' RED IS RIDING THE WRONG WAY IN THE HOOD!" will kick off the morning on Sun, Oct 22nd, 10:00 AM in Auditorium 14 at the Regal Cinemas, 1000 W Olympic Blvd in Downtown Los Angeles. Tickets can be purchased by visiting the LA Femme International Film Festival website at lafemme.org and you can learn more at lilredmovie.com.
