“I Shall Not Be Removed” is back

Last week the director of UC Berkeley’s documentary program, where I taught editing for 18 years, asked me for a streaming link to my first post-graduate feature. I had to admit I didn’t have one.  I Shall Not Be Removed: The Life of Marlon Riggs premiered on PBS in 1996, shortly after this Black, gay filmmaker died of AIDS at 37.

Recently acquired by the Criterion Collection for their prestigious DVD collection, this biography of my beloved mentor hasn’t been available to stream lately. So big thanks this week to my distributor California Newsreel for providing this $2.99 rental link!

Stylistically, Marlon’s prolific and groundbreaking work included “a bold mix of documentary, performance, poetry, and music … an electrifying call for liberation.” Check out his moving work to broaden your own stylistic palette and knowledge of documentary history.