A Jet Black Future
From the Archives
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Short Films, 27-Mar-2026
After decades of collecting dust, a restored visual manifesto captures a revolutionary’s jazz-smacked, Afro-apocalyptic address to a burning world. Joel Watson’s “A Jet Black Future” is a frenetic piece of docu-fiction spawning an impassioned poet on a bright day in Brooklyn. An opening card throttles us into the future, 2050, and we learn of the recently discovered footage of ‘NAPC’ revolutionary Umar Olufunke. He stands atop an aluminum coated roof, preaching in sun goggles and a star-studded du-rag. We bounce between the sermon and a birds-eye-view of the street. The oracle strolls from corner to corner, suspect of stalkers and by-standers. A neighbor shouts at him to shut up and get down, but he refuses, upholding the torch of his endangered artistry. The man, his energy, and authenticity cannot be denied. Joel Watson, actor and director, brings the messianic figure to life. -JM. Director: Joel Watson. Cast: Joel Watson, LEONNE. Cinematographer: Neil Shukla. Editor: Neil Shukla. Producers: Joel Watson, Olivia Von Hesse, Neil Shukla. Colorist: Neil Shukla. Sound Engineer: Daniel Tishelman. Original Score: Lucas Ebeling. Location Sound: Hudson McNeese.
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