Is nah nuttin big

The guy looked at me as though I was one of the homosexual predators the pastors had warned him about. There was a mix of bravado and fear in his face. I probably had the curiosity of wanting to know what he was doing across the road from Sidewalk Cafe, on his cell phone. He told me he was just waiting on friends. I said, why not come in?.. he said no no, he can see the film from across the road (a little more small than the picture shows).. I say no , you cannot hear it, come in. And he did, and he stayed.. sat alone with many of the other people who came for the first time that last night of the 2010 SASOD Film Festival
He did not sign the cloth at the end though..

The excitement generated by the IRO/ERC condemnation of the SASOD Film Festival had the effect of scaring some people away while it also brought out support in different forms. The Spectrum Celebration saw singing, poetry reading and expressions of hope and resistance. One irony was that a man who works with the US Government was told by his boss that since SASOD is a "political organisation", he could not participate in the Spectrum activities.. the US Government of course supports directly and indirectly other political organisations and organisations which claim to be non-political

This film festival.. every night someone came for the first time, even the last night.  Some people sit outside. This controversy this year.. resulted in us having a conversation with an old trade unionist/political activist turned diplomat.. who sat through the signing and so on,, to tell us he was appalled at the conflict of interest and the libel of the IRO/ERC , but to encourage us to rise above that. He suggested we continue our work, scale it up, get a Vision of what we want for Guyana generally and articulate that since we were doing good already. It was a great conversation.. which would not have happened if the ERC/IRO had not condemned the film festival.


This is what the film festival is about.. creating a safe space, encouraging discussion and dialogue. Some come to watch the film, some come to gaff, and one or two to argue. Some people are scared that Guyanese are capable of  reaching out beyond narrow mindedness and finding ways to break their own prejudices. They want to punish Sidewalk Cafe for creating that space. On 3 June 2007, Sidewalk had issued this statement in STabroek News


" Sidewalk Cafe has always recognized and respected the right of each
individual to their own opinions. In addition we have stood firmly
against all types of discrimination by one group against another-
African, Indian, gay, straight, brown eyes, blue eyes.where does it
begin where does it end.

As an organization we do not promote any particular preference or
persuasion. We merely support the principle that no one should be
discriminated against because of race, colour, creed, political or
sexual orientation. This we do within the boundaries of the law. I
believe it was Christ who said, what you do to the least amongst us,
that you do unto me.""



The closing night of this film festival, a man came to be with his friend. He said she also came for the first time on the last night. She had heard of the festival, but work prevented her. She came alone.. but she had texted him to say she is fine, that  "Is nah nuttin big.."