Ayoka Chenzira

Ayoka Chenzira is a prolific film and video artist whose works span features, animation,, documentary, performance art and experimental productions. As a screenwriter, producer, director, she has worked on special film commissions in Austria, England and Brazil and lectured extensively about film throughout the United States, Europe and Africa.

She is the founder and CEO of Red Carnelian Films, a Brooklyn, New York based production and distribution company dedicated to bringing thought-provoking and entertaining stories about Black life and culture to the screen through its Black Indie Classics Collection, affectionately known as BLIC. In addition, the company distributes the New Directions Series a collection of award-winning films by emerging African writers and directors available for the first time in the U.S.

Chenzira has received numerous awards including those for outstanding contributions to the field of Black independent cinema, and has earned popular and critical acclaim for her films from international audiences. Some of her works have been translated into French and Japanese. Author Spencer Moon notes in his book, Reel Black Talk: A Source of 50 American Filmmakers (Greenwood Press - 1997), " ...Chenzira's work represents a commitment to a unique and original perspective... a very real alternative to corporate culture's mass produced images of Black life and culture..." and actress/activist Ruby Dee says of Chenzira, "...an important filmmaker whose works are inspire and challenge...her works are visually beautiful, inspirational and entertaining.

Chenzira is considered to be the first African-American woman animator and she is one of the first African-American women to write, produce and direct a 35mm feature film, Alma's Rainbow, listed in Billboard Magazine as one of the top home video rentals (May 1998). Her film Hair Piece: a film for nappyheaded people was voted one of the top fifty films to assist educators with discussions of race.

In addition to her work as an artist, Chenzira is the Chiar of the Department of Media & Communication Arts at The City College of New York where she oversees programs in advertising/public relations, journalism, and film & video. She is also the co-creator of the college's M.F.A. in Media Arts Production, the first graduate program of its kind at a public institution that houses state-of-the-art production and post-production equipment.

Ayoka Chenzira was trained in dance, painting, still photography, music, film and video. She received degrees from New York University (B.F.A. Film Production) and Columbia University/Teacher's College (M.A. Education). She now works primarily in film, video and digital photography which allow her to incorporate her varied interests and skills. She is a member of the Writer's Guild of America and New York Women in Film & Television (8/99)

Hair Piece
A film by Ayoka Chenzira, 1985, 10 min., Color
An animated satire on the question of self image for African American women living in a society where beautiful hair is viewed as hair that blows in t...

Secret Sounds Screaming
A film by Ayoka Chenzira, 1986, 30 min., Color
This sharp, creatively produced tape uses a tapestry of voices to examine the sexual abuse of young people. Children and teenagers, parents, social wo...

Syvilla
A film by Ayoka Chenzira, 1979, 15 min.
A portrait of Syvilla Fort focusing on the beauty of her choreography, the virtuosity of her dancing, and her role as teacher of a generation of Afric...