Ep 29. Beyond the Red Carpets: Working as Film Curators with Lucy J. Mukerjee & Shakira Refos
On today's episode, we dive deep into the world and profession of film curation with two guests, Lucy J. Mukerjee and Shakira Refos. These two trailblazers have curated for film festivals around the world, and they’re also leading advocates for greater representation and diversity among film curators. Join us as we delve into the highs and lows of a film curator's life, and learn valuable advice for anyone considering a career in this field.
Key highlights of this episode:
- Life as a film curator and programmer [00:02:22]
- The importance of advocacy and impact in film programming [00:05:32]
- Different paths and entry points into the world of film curation [00:06:54]
- What support do film curators and programmers need? [00:13:10]
- Challenges and milestones for programmers and curators [00:17:49]
- Managing energy and boundaries in the film festival industry [00:24:48]
- Finding your values and impactful opportunities [00:37:57]
- Career advice from both guests [00:48:30]
About the guests:
Shakira is an educator from The Netherlands who joined the California Film Institute’s Education Department by way of the Sarasota Film Festival, Sundance Institute and is additionally programming documentaries for 2023 Tribeca Festival. With a deep passion for storytelling Shakira attributes her drive for community, justice and common sense from the cultures of her Mother and Father hailing from Suriname and Trinidad respectively. Her career has been dedicated to empowering young independent thinkers through the exploration of art history and creative expression—prioritizing equitable praxis through engagements with film as well as demystifying the path for BIPOC students to becoming film fest administrators and curators.
Connect with Shakira on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shakira-refos-7449b35b/
Lucy J. Mukerjee is a queer British-Indian community builder and programming disruptor. With two decades of experience producing and programming films around the world, Lucy is a trusted voice on the film festival circuit, and a vocal advocate for transparency and accountability across the film industry ecosystem. Lucy is passionate about connecting filmmakers with opportunities, elevating underestimated artists and making space for untold stories. She is the Co-Founder of the Programmers Of Colour Collective, a global group of BIPOC film curators advocating for programming inclusion on-screen, on-stage and on-staff at film festivals around the world.
Connect with Lucy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucymukerjee
This episode is also available on Youtube. Watch it here:
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The Everyday Talent Podcast is produced by Betty Xie and Benice Detoon.
