Black Joy, Resilience and Pleasure is the Ultimate Form of Resistance in Short Film

With production company Lief, director Elisha Smith-Leverock joins FILM NOIR, a five part film series from around the globe that premiered at Paris Fashion Week.

IN THE BLK in partnership with Equator Productions present FILM NOIR as a showcase of five films by five directors, featuring 50+ collections of black designers. Smith-Leverock and Lief joined directors Ademola Faloma, Anthony Prince Leslie, Numa Perrier and Sean Frank for this global launch.

In their support of IN THE BLK, The Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode, the official operators of Paris Fashion Week (PFW) who bring together fashion brands that foster creation and international development, will launch FILM NOIR on the PFW online platform.

The Live Stream during Paris Digital Fashion Week, starts at 12pm CEST October 6th, during an hour long showcase, and can be found on the PDFW Events page.

Elisha’s short fashion film Rejoice Resist sees her create a piece that celebrates and shows black joy, black resilience and black pleasure as the ultimate form of resistance.

The script is inspired by current viral videos which members of the black community have been sharing to up-lift each other in these emotionally fraught times. Smith-Lerock explains: “Rejoice Resist is a film that celebrates and shows Black Joy and Black pleasure as the ultimate form of resistance. It highlights the importance of allowing yourself to feel joy especially in the face of adversity.”

The film, surreal and lighthearted, shows a journey within to find the place where joy lives. It features a woman (portrayed by Bafta Elevate member Rhoda Ofori Attah) and her accomplices (Shaniqua Okwok - Steve McQueen, Lovers Rock - and Zakiya Wellington) leading her inner younger self (Shanice Weekes-Brown) on a quest to discover the importance of joy.

“The idea for the film was conceived while being isolated at home, with an onslaught of bad news and worse news ever present in my social media feed. I looked to how we comfort each other, what we share and how we connect. Rejoice Resist is also a commentary on current meme culture which members of the Black community have been sharing to up-lift each other in these emotionally fraught times. This content is far more than frivolous distraction - it is a survival tool.”

Elisha comments: "IN THE BLK collective (ITB), a 501(c) founded by Victor Glemaud, exists to unify and build solidarity and economic independence for Black individuals in the global fashion industry—focusing on three pillars: Political, Economic and Innovation."

Elisha continues: “The mission of IN THE BLK is to uplift and support and I am proud to have been able to be a part of this endeavour with my film and very grateful to the ITB designers who have entrusted me to uplift their art in this way.”

A Roundtable conversation with all 5 filmmakers can be found on Paris Digital Fashion Week Magazine along with a conversation between the lead costume designers, Ade Samuel and Memsor Makarame.