Press Release

For Immediate Release	Contact:	Caryl Lucas
July 19, 2006		609-292-4302
		Chantelle Pires
		609-292-4302

TRENTON, NJ – Secretary of State Nina Mitchell Wells will welcome Jeppe Ronde Jensen, director of the Swenkas, to the 32nd Newark Black Film Festival Series on Thursday, July 20 th at the New Jersey State Museum in Trenton.

This week’s adult film, “The Swenkas,” is a documentary that examines the lifestyle of working Zulu men in post-Apartheid South Africa. Every Saturday night they dress to impress a weekly fashion judge, and during the week they follow a strict life of money saving, cleanliness, and respect. The New York Times called the film an “intriguing documentary” and “a study of contrasts” between the extreme poverty of their daily life and the splendor of their Saturday evenings. The film is written and directed by Jeppe Ronde Jensen with writing credits also to Kim Leona.

The evening will be hosted by Sharon Burton Turner, a board member of the New Jersey Council on the Arts, and Sam Frisby, Director of Recreation for the City of Trenton. After the film, Jensen will discuss the making of his documentary and will be available for a question and answer session. Tickets are available starting at 5 p.m. at the museum on the day of the show on a first-come, first serve basis.

As part of the Newark Black Film Festival series, free children’s films will also be presented at 1 p.m. on Thursdays at the New Jersey State Museum.

The children’s event will be held as follows:

All films are free and open to the public. Seating for all screenings is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Group seating is limited to two groups of 25 for each screening. To reserve group seating in Trenton, call 609-292-6464. Group seating will be held only until 6:40 p.m. A full schedule of films and their screening times can be found at www.newjerseystatemuseum.org

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