FOR VENIDA, FOR KALIEF

Kalief Browder’s tale comes into full focus when his life and his mother’s, Venida Brodnax Browder, are tragically upended following years of malintent from the justice system. This is not a retelling of Kalief's case. Instead, Venida’s poems anchor a temporal odyssey as they are weaved through archival discovery and contemporary political movements to honor the Browders’ legacy within their community and beyond. The piece reveals how an individual’s life — and afterlife — can transcend boundaries to ignite social and cultural change once thought unattainable.

Thoughtfully pulled together by Sisa Bueno in her feature directorial debut, the tapestry on hand depicts a deep-rooted relationship between Kalief, Venida and their communities. The brilliant balance between honoring their legacies through artistic medium and a rich archive interlaced with further documentation gives us the tools to unpack the stark reality of the injustices which befell Kalief and Venida — and to prepare for the fight ahead.—Casey Baron

Cast & Credits

Directed by - Sisa Bueno Producer - Sisa Bueno, David Felix Sutcliffe, Paola Gadala-Maria, Jasmine Mans Screenwriter- Venida Brodnax Browder Narrator- Jasmine Mans Cinematographer- Sisa Bueno Editor- Kristan Sprague, Daniel Chavez Ontiveros Associate Producer- Courtney Symone Staton, Noura Ahmed Archival Producer -Mattie Akers

For Inquiries - sisa@abnomadmedia.com

This documentary film was made possible with the support of: ITVS, Ford Foundation, Sundance Institute, International Documentary Association (IDA), Film Independent, Firelight Media, City of New York Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME), New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA), Bay Area Video Coalition (BAVC), The Gotham, Jerome Foundation, Hot Docs, Points North Institute, Sunny Side of the Doc, DOK Leipzig.