Credit: @rootedfilm on Facebook
Seedlight Pictures announced that its first full length documentary, Rooted, will premiere at the New Orleans Film Festival in October. Co-directed by award-winning filmmakers Bridget Besaw and Par Parekh, Rooted is an inspiring and eye-opening exploration of one woman’s journey to dismantle systemic barriers and cultivate change within her community.
Rooted follows Germaine Jenkins, an urban farmer, activist, and mother, who is challenging entrenched power structures in North Charleston. Her mission: to liberate her mutual aid venture, Fresh Future Farm (FFF), and disrupt food apartheid that has long plagued her community. The film traces the evolution of the farm from a radical idea into a beacon of hope, powered by a dynamic team of mostly young, gifted, and Black leaders. As Jenkins navigates the complex landscape of activism and survival, she emerges as a powerful force for change, learning the strategies necessary to sustain herself and grow future leaders.
“Black women eat obstacles for breakfast,” says Jenkins, capturing the resilience and determination at the heart of the film.
The documentary has garnered an endorsement from the National Black Food & Justice Alliance, whose leadership participated in a private screening. The film’s powerful narrative resonates strongly with the challenges many of their members face when securing land.
The film not only tells a compelling urban agriculture story but also amplifies a social impact campaign aimed at:
1. Supporting Black women, femme and radical farmers and food entrepreneurs across the U.S.
2. Funding wellness within these communities.
3. Providing training and equipment for Black farmers and food entrepreneurs to tell their own stories.
For more information, visit RootedStories.com.
