Proud to Be Cape Verdean Film at Historic Park

The “Proud to Be Cape Verdean” film event, which had been scheduled to be held at New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park on Friday evening, February 8, has been postponed due to the impending blizzard.  The event will be rescheduled for the near future.

Proud to be Cape Verdean (PTBCV): A Look at Cape Verdeans in the Golden State, a documentary about the Cape Verdean community in California, will screen on Friday, February 8 at 6:15 p.m. at the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park theater, 33 William Street, downtown New Bedford, MA. The event is free and open to the public. PTBCV captures the essence of the Cape Verdean culture in California through an insightful look at individuals and organizations and their desire to maintain their cultural identity. The music of the Mendes Brothers, John and Ramiro, is featured. Actor/producer Michael Beach lends his voice talents as narrator.

The writer/producer/director of the film, Mike Costa, has been a professional writer for over 15 years and is a member of the Writer’s Guild of America. His many credits include: Roseanne, The Steve Harvey Show, In the House and The Gregory Hines Show. His interest and experience in documentary film making resulted in collaborative works with other Cape Verdean film makers.

This one-hour documentary offers oral histories in conjunction with interviews, photographs and re-enactments that accurately depict the transition of small family gatherings where Cape Verdeans shared their love of their cuisine and music grew, inspired and eventually shaped the formation of non-profit Cape Verdean organizations dedicated to sustaining the legacy of their racially and linguistically rich culture while maintaining a strong connection to their East Coast ties and their home country of Cape Verde. Experts such as Gina Sanchez-Gibau, PhD, Associate Dean of Student Affairs at Indiana University/IUPUI, James Lopes, noted Cape Verdean Genealogist and Cape Verdean Ambassador to the United States, Fatima Veiga are featured.

―The story of the Cape Verdean Diaspora is just as much a part of our own local history as the Golden State’s – we’re all connected,‖ said national park Superintendent Jen Nersesian. ―We’re proud to host this screening and welcome the community into this exploration of Cape Verdean identity and culture.

This has been a collaborative effort of the entire California Cape Verdean community. The film will screen in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Atlanta, Ohio, California and throughout the Cape Verdean Diaspora. The documentary features Portuguese and French subtitles.