"The Burial of Kojo" Film Screening + Q&A

Initiatives of Change USA is part of a global network that prepares local leaders, supports community-driven interventions, and creates spaces for inclusive dialogue that can lead to long-term change. We are committed to hosting events that encourage conversation, intentional thinking, and beautiful connections

Initiatives of Change USA

Witness the Richmond premiere of the award-winning film, The Burial of Kojo, followed by a Q&A with Ghanaian filmmaker, Blitz Bazawule.

VCU Institute for Contemporary Art

Multidisciplinary artist, Samuel "Blitz" Bazawule aka<a href="https://blitzambassador.bandcamp.com" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer"> Blitz the Ambassador</a>, is the headliner for Richmond's <a href="https://us.iofc.org/news/blitz-the-ambassador-headlines-richmonds-national-day-of-racial-healing-2020" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">National Day of Racial Healing</a> events on January 20-21, 2020 sponsored by Initiatives of Change USA. On January 20th, we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day with Blitz the Ambassasor, an accomplished musician and filmmaker who will screen two films - Diasporadical Trilogia (10 mins, 2016) and The Burial of Kojo (80 mins, 2018) - followed by a Q&A. In the last two weeks alone, Bazawule has become the first Ghanaian up for a Golden Globe nomination for The Burial of Kojo (the 2020 Award for Best Foreign Language Film). The film was released in March 2019 through Ava Duvernay’s <a href="http://www.arraynow.com/the-burial-of-kojo" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">ARRAY</a> label on Netflix and has received sweeping acclaim. The film explores family relationships in Ghana through the lens of magical realism: a young girl's search for her father opens up the dynamics of her father's troubled relationship with his brother. The Washington Post describes The Burial of Kojo as “a visionary fable drenched with vibrancy and lyricism”; while The Los Angeles Times calls it “wonderfully atmospheric and culturally enriching…truly qualifies as a spellbinding experience”; and The New York Times states that the film is "a near-virtuoso work, a feast of emotion, nuance and beauty, and a startling feature directing debut.” Don't miss this incredible opportunity to see the film live and to meet the writer/director Blitz Bazawule in person! For more information about this event, visit our <a href="https://us.iofc.org/news/blitz-the-ambassador-headlines-richmonds-national-day-of-racial-healing-2020" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">website</a>.A special thanks to our partners for this event, the Institute of Contemporary Art-VCU and Afrikana Independent Film Festival.