Oryza: Healing Ground - Short Film
Oryza: Healing Ground - Short Film
Uncover the journeys, histories, and legacies behind Oryza in a documentary that brings personal and historical narratives of resilience to the screen.
Oryza is more than a film—it’s a cinematic exploration of resilience, identity, and the legacy of the African diaspora. Following the lives of individuals past and present, from Paanza, a resilient woman in colonial Suriname who carried rice seeds in her hair to nourish her community, to Carolyn, a fourth-generation Black American farmer, the documentary weaves together powerful stories of survival against systemic adversity.
Through the lenses of these diverse lives, the film delves into universal themes of displacement, environmental stewardship, and generational knowledge. Shot in evocative landscapes and historical sites, Oryza underscores the importance of land, memory, and cultural preservation across continents and centuries.
With a fusion of archival footage, contemporary interviews, and a rich audio tapestry, the documentary offers a rare glimpse into the global impacts of migration and cultural survival. Join us on a journey through history that’s both eye-opening and deeply resonant, inviting viewers to reflect on the enduring strength of the human spirit.
Exhibited at:
Gallery
Partners
Credits
Directed by
Tamara Shogaolu
Produced by
Tamara Shogaolu
C. Fitz
Senior Producer
Riyad Alnwii
Assistant Producer
Lucas Castelo
Production Coordinator
Joseph Sousa
Development Producer
Collyn Stephens
AI Developer
Daria Yudina
AI Artists
Tamara Shogaolu
Lucas Castelo
AI Artist Assistant
Maria Semenova
Set Designer
Chika Shimizu
Cinematographer
Collyn Stephens
Tamara Shogaolu
Editor
Samantha Kahrar
Researcher
Juliana Torres
Thomas Dresscher
Sound Designer
Josh Allen
Production Assistant
Ada Stecca
Animation
Daria Yudina
3D Animation Intern
Nathan Santos
Production Intern
Maria Semenova
Fabrication
The Set Company
Accountant Supervisors
Andreea Lova
Almira Arayata
Production Accountant
Agnes De Boer
Executive Producer for Black Public Media
Lisa Osborne
Producer for Black Public Media
Aja Quinn Evans
Voice Over
Elinor T Vanderburg
Special Thanks
Alexis and Son
Kimbal
Tre Wilson
LaGrand Elliott
Percy Mabry
Alonzo Miller
Carolyn Jones
Brother Andre
Julian Brown
Earnest Parks
Akua Page
Bobby WIlson
Jas Wade
Natalie Baszile
Savi Horne
Gustavo León
Johan van Langen
Alex Enzlin
Caspar Sonnen
Raul Balai
Our families
This Project was made possible with support from the Sundance Institute | Stars Collective
Imagination Award.
This program is a presentation of Black Public Media.
Oryza is financially supported by the International Heritage Cooperation Program of the National Archives of the Netherlands.
© Ado Ato Pictures, 2024