Eli Jacobs Fantauzzi
Tell us about you and your work
I am the product of a draft-dodging musician and an expatriate light show artist. My parents chose these less conventional routes because they believed in creating a better world. I believe the best way to create a more loving, just, and compassionate society is through storytelling. That is why I became a filmmaker. I travel the world looking to be inspired, moved, and pushed to become my best self. The stories I find, or sometimes find me, manifest themselves through film, as well as in my personal artistic expressions.
Right now, I am finishing up my film WE STILL HERE / AQUÍ ESTAMOS a story of resilience and recovery for the young people in Comerío who are creating a Just Recovery for themselves and their community. My last film Bakosó: Afrobeats of Cuba will have a national broadcast in 2021. I am the director and founder of FistUpTv, an international media platform. I co-founded Defend Puerto Rico and have been running the Fist Up Film Festival for over a decade now. There is more, but you should just hit my website.
What inspires you?
People who refuse to be silenced, ignored, and cut off from the larger society. My dedication to visual art is deeply connected to my commitment to social justice. The field of documentary filmmaking has created a name for itself by telling devastating stories of pain and tragedy that often leave the viewer broken-hearted, overwhelmed, and sad. I am inspired by, and invested in, making room for uplifting stories that show ingenuity and strength in the face of adversity. I am drawn to films, music, and culture that leave people feeling empowered and believing they can become change agents in their personal lives, their communities, and the world.
What does community mean to you?
To me, the community is my life-line. My siblings and I were raised by a single mother whose community helped raise us. This community is my family. The homies that I have traveled the world and rocked with for decades are another part of that family. My artistic and revolutionary community have nurtured and inspired my journey and are also my family. Today, my community has grown and spread across the world.
Favorite film
Part of the teachings of Mama Lila (my mom) was to take us to the movie theater any time Spike Lee dropped a new movie. I think Do The Right Thing has had the biggest impact on my work. I also love the film La Haine by Mathieu Kassovitz who says he was inspired by Do The Right Thing.
Favorite song
Right now it's LIBERTAD by @rakadun of Los Rakas. It starts off with Fred Hampton who was the deputy chairman of the national Black Panther Party and was murdered by the police in his Chicago apartment in his bed. The clip of his speech says "You can jail a revolutionary, but not the revolution."
Favorite place
Borikén. Sunset. I am a Pisces and love the ocean. As part of my healing practices and just overall balance, I have made it a ritual to go to the beach every day.