#SFIFF57 Interview: DEAR WHITE PEOPLE's Justin Simien

#SFIFF57 Interview: DEAR WHITE PEOPLE’s Justin Simien

23 May, 2014

Dig In Magazine’s Cindy Maram interviews DEAR WHITE PEOPLE writer/director Justin Simien on the red carpet at the 57th San Francisco International Film Festival. Justin Simien reveals future plans for the film, which was picked up by Lionsgate, Roadside and will open nationwide in Fall 2014. It was a pleasure interviewing Simien for the second time following the world premiere of DWP at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival [Read our DWP Sundance Interview and review]. And watch the SFIFF57 red carpet video interview!

SFIFF57 DEAR WHITE PEOPLE: Justin Simien Q&A | Photo credit: Cindy Maram

SFIFF57 DEAR WHITE PEOPLE: Justin Simien Q&A
Photo credit: Cindy Maram

Dig In Magazine: So, I met you at Sundance.

Justin Simien: That’s right!

DIM: We had our little interview session there…and I was just wondering, where else have you brought the movie since?

Justin: So, after Sundance we played New Directors/New Films [at] Lincoln Center in New York, which was amazing. And we were the surprise closing night film at the Atlanta Film Festival, which was awesome! And now we’re here in San Francisco at the San Francisco International Film Festival.

DIM: That’s amazing! Well, it’s great to see you!

Justin: You too!

DIM: Thank you! And so as you’ve been traveling around the country, how have audiences responded to DEAR WHITE PEOPLE?

Justin: It’s always been incredibly enthusiastic. And it’s really fun, because audiences are always very different. The New York audience was really mixed and really young and really hip. And the Atlanta audience was a mostly black crowd–also very young and vibrant. It’s cool, man, no complaints so far with their reaction. I’m very happy.

 

SFIFF57 DEAR WHITE PEOPLE: Justin Simien and Effie Brown on the red carpet | Photo credit: Cindy Maram

SFIFF57 DEAR WHITE PEOPLE: Justin Simien and Effie Brown
Photo credit: Cindy Maram

DIM: What are your future plans for DEAR WHITE PEOPLE?

Justin: Well, the movie comes out this fall.

DIM: Big release?

Justin: Yeah, Lionsgate, Roadside is putting out the film. And we’re just going to keep doing this festival thing–seeing how people respond to it. And hopefully it has a warm welcome in the fall!

DIM: That’s awesome! Well, congratulations! Thanks so much! Good seeing you again!

Justin: Thank you! You too!

About the author

Cindy Maram

Cindy Maram is a Dancer, Public Speaker and our Founder & Editor-in-Chief of the entertainment, fashion and arts publication, Dig IN Magazine. She is an accredited film critic for Cannes Film Festival in the South of France, Venice International Film Festival in Venice, Italy, Sundance Film Festival, Tribeca Film Festival, Mill Valley Film Festival, SFFilm Festival and CAAMFest, as well as a runway fashion photographer and editor for London Fashion Week and New York Fashion Week. She also serves as a professional sports photographer and writer. She is a prolific art critic providing media coverage for Art Basel Miami Beach and surrounding Miami Art Week fairs. As a creator, Cindy is a writer, vlogger, podcaster, social media strategist and manager possessing a Bachelor's Degree from UC Davis and Master's Degree completing graduate work in Mass Communications + Popular Culture Studies with an emphasis in Film/Marketing/Writing from Cal State Fullerton. Further, she is producer of independent feature length and short films, and is committed to supporting the visibility of underrepresented groups in the media and film industry.

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