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Masks + Mirrors

Completed in 2022, this 15 min. experimental film and community cinepoetry project takes viewers on a visual journey of the interpersonal experiences of several poets from the IE and beyond.

  • L Akinyi
    Director
  • Ona Adhiambo
    Writer
  • Arie Jordan
    Writer
  • Marie Montano
    Writer
  • Yoojin Oh
    Writer
  • " La Toro"
    Writer
  • Beth Benson
    Writer
  • "Lotus Poet"
    Writer
  • Ismael Gonzalez
    Writer
  • Susan Rukeyser
    Writer
  • L Akinyi
    Producer
  • Arts Connection Network - San Bernardino County Arts Council
    Producer
  • L Akinyi
    Editors
  • Ona Adhiambo
    Key Cast
    "Narrator- "Of Masks and Mirrors""
  • Ismael Gonzalez
    Key Cast
    "Narrator- "Veil Annealed""
  • "La Toro"
    Key Cast
    "Narrator- "Masks & Mirrors""
  • Beth Benson
    Key Cast
    "Narrator- "The Box of Broken Mirrors""
  • Aries Jordan
    Key Cast
    "Narrator- "Black Girls Don't Cry in Public""
  • L Akinyi
    Key Cast
    "Narrator- "Mirrors", "Masked", "Beauty Stuff""
  • Jina Imani
    Key Cast
    "Masked Shadow 1- "Black Girls Don't Cry in Public""
  • L Akinyi
    Key Cast
    "Masked Shadow 2- "Black Girls Don't Cry in Public""
  • "Paulo"
    Key Cast
    "Computer-Generated Voice- Phone Interlude"
  • Unnamed
    Key Cast
    "Computer-Generated Narrator- "When the Party is Over""
  • "Dream One"- The Jehovas
    Closing Music
  • IE Art Cart
    Props
  • Project Type:
    Experimental, Other
  • Runtime:
    15 minutes 28 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    September 6, 2023
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Iphone 11
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Artist Residency Presentation (Estudio Aire)
    San Bernardino, CA
    United States
    September 6, 2023
  • Desert Split Open Mic (Furstwurld Gallery)
    Joshua Tree, CA
    United States
    November 15, 2023
  • Screening & Open Mic (Pain Sugar Gallery)
    Riverside, CA
    United States
  • Screening & Poetry Workshop (IE Loves Yoga)
Distribution Information
  • YouTube
    Distributor
    Country: United States
    Rights: Internet
Director Biography - L Akinyi

L Akinyi (she/they) is a Kenyan immigrant and emerging interdisciplinary artist currently living and working in the Inland Empire, CA; while crossing borders and illusions of separation through their long distance/virtual collaborations.

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Director Statement

“Masks + Mirrors” is an long-term interdisciplinary project exploring how we consciously or unconsciously try to conform to certain behavioral standards & societal expectations by hiding or changing parts of ourselves. As a first-time filmmaker, L is interested in using cinema to playfully explore performative behaviors motivated by desires for acceptance and belonging.