My Soul Touched the Waters (2023) with panel discussion
Director: Krystopher Scott Run Time: 120 min.
Join us for a documentary featuring Ohio artists in Cuba
Hosted by Columbus City Councilmember Lourdes Barroso de Padilla with panelists Krystopher Scott (Director), Sierra Leone (Writer, Poet & Governors Award Winner), Brenden Spivey (Visual Artist), and Darsy Amaya (Visual Artist).
6:00pm: Reception in The Festival Lounge
6:30pm: Screening and panel discussion
About the film:
The new documentary, My Soul Touched the Waters (2023), is a visually stunning and thought-provoking film that captures the transformative impact of a cultural exchange trip taken by a group of Ohio residents and artists to Cuba. Through breathtaking footage and intimate interviews, the film explores the profound ways in which the trip enriched the lives of travelers and deepened their understanding of Cuban culture.
From vibrant street art to sultry salsa dancing, My Soul Touched the Waters (2023) showcases the many facets of Cuba’s rich artistic and cultural heritage, as well as the challenges facing the country today. Through the eyes of the Ohio travelers, we witness the warmth and hospitality of the Cuban people, as well as the complexities of daily life under a socialist regime.
Ultimately, My Soul Touched the Waters (2023) is a celebration of the power of cultural exchange to bridge divides and foster understanding between people from vastly different backgrounds. Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or a curious armchair explorer, this documentary is a must-see for anyone interested in the transformative potential of cross-cultural interactions.
Lourdes Barroso de Padilla, Columbus City Council
With an extensive background in youth development and leadership, she has served with City Year for more than 20 years at all levels of the organization, as a Commissioner with the Ohio Latino Affairs Commission, and as a founding member of the Create Columbus Commission. Among other roles, she currently serves as Vice Chair of MORPC’s Regional Policy Roundtable and is a Greater Columbus Arts Council board member.
About the panel:
Krystopher Scott, Director
A visionary Creative Director who empowers underrepresented communities and elevates minority voices. With over a decade of experience in entrepreneurship, filmmaking, and investing, he has developed a deep understanding of the power of storytelling to drive positive social change. In 2011, he founded Atelier 411 Studios dedicated to celebrating and preserving the richness of black culture.
Sierra Leone, Writer, Poet & Governors Award Winner
The President and Artistic Director of OFP Theatre and Production Company. For more than a decade, Ohio has benefited from her vision of creative urban arts as a powerful artistic medium to bring communities together across racial, cultural, ideological, and economic divides. Her recent recognitions include being named a 2020 Kennedy Center Artist Fellowship Finalist Nominee.
Brenden Spivey, Visual Artist
An innovative project manager as well as an abstract artist committed to using his art to promote greater understanding and empathy among people of all backgrounds. His works have been exhibited in many prestigious venues, galleries, and is also part of various private and corporate collections, including in The Hilton Columbus Downtown collection of original, local art.
Darsy Amaya, Visual Artist
An entrepreneur, jewelry designer, known for her metal & gemstones designs showcased during Fashion Week Finale Runway Show 2019. Darsy is a Certified Health Care Interpreter and Core Staff member of The Department of Language Services at Nationwide Children’s Hospital since 2004. She is also a Reiki Master and a Polarity Practitioner with 15 years of experience in Holistic practices.
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