Disrupting the Gaze/Gays: New Horizons in Queer of Color Filmmaking

Disrupting the Gaze/Gays: New Horizons in Queer of Color Filmmaking

Featuring: Directors Andrew Ahn and Dawn Jones Redstone

Tuesday, November 15^th | 2 Sessions @ 11am and 12:15pm

In Person at Cal State Long Beach – DESN (Design) Room 112

11AM: A Conversation with Andrew Ahn, director of Spa Night (2016) and Fire Island (2022)

12:15 PM: Screening & California Premiere of Mother of Color (2022) 

Followed by Q&A with Director Dawn Jones Redstone

Sponsored by Chicana/o and Latina/o Studies, Asian & Asian American Studies, Department of Sociology, and the Office of Multicultural Affairs. Special thanks to CLA Scholarly Intersections and OMA for the funding support.​

Andrew Ahn (he/him) is a Korean-American director from Los Angeles who has cemented himself as one of the most promising talents in US independent cinema. His first feature, Driveways premiered at the 2019 Berlin International Film Festival and was nominated for two Independent Spirit Awards. His feature Spa Night premiered at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival and went on to win the John Cassavetes Independent Spirit Award. His newest film, Fire Island, premiered on Hulu in 2022 to tremendous popular acclaim, and was written by and features star Asian American comedian Joel Kim Booster.

Dawn Jones Redstone (she/her) is an award-winning queer, Latinx writer/director whose films have screened around the globe. Her work often features women of color and explores themes of resistance, feminism and the internal machinations that help us transform into the people we want to become. She believes in using her hiring decisions to lift people up and help create an inclusive filmmaking community; all of her sets, made up mostly of women of color, have reflected that since 2015. 

Redstone’s newest film, Mother of Color, her first feature film and an eerie social drama that has already sold out screenings. The film centers the story of Noelia, played by newcomer Ana del Rocío; she is a whip-smart community organizer and single mother of two who constantly has to make hard choices between her kids and her career. When she’s offered the chance to interview for a position that could change everything, she begins receiving mysterious messages from her ancestors. Noelia senses that something bigger is at play as she works through a series of obstacles to get to the interview and follow her dreams. The film will be screened in its entirety, and this will be the California premier!

CSULB’s CLA is fortunate to have these two bright stars of queer of color filmmaking and to show this new film, and welcome students, staff, community, and faculty to talk with these directors in what will be an open, dynamic, and inspiring conversation. Don’t miss out – bring a friend, bring a mask, and bring your ideas and questions for these rising star filmmakers!