Black-owned creative studio Equator Productions (founded by Brooklyn-born filmmaker Anthony Prince Leslie) has partnered with newly-formed nonprofit In The Blk to release five films that showcase global Black designers and creatives. The series was executively produced by Ashley Cimone with lead costume design by Ade Samuel and Memsor Kamarake. Filmed across Lagos, London, Los Angeles and New York, these films speak to the solidarity found within Black communities.

Rejoice Resist is a film directed by Elisha Smith-Leverock and produced by Lief, that celebrates and shows Black joy, Black resilience and Black pleasure as the ultimate form of resistance.

“The idea for the film was conceived while being isolated at home, with an onslaught of bad news and worse news ever-present in my social media feed," says Smith-Leverock, whose film lead declines from participating in the fun surounding her—preferring to wallow in misery. 

"I looked to how we comfort each other, what we share and how we connect. Rejoice Resist is also a commentary on meme culture which members of the Black community have been sharing to uplift themselves in these emotionally fraught times."

The film, surreal and lighthearted, also features a charismatic, female, comedic lead—a tour guide of sorts—instructing our protagonist on ways to experience Black joy.

"This content is far more than a frivolous distraction—it is a survival tool," says the director. "The mission of In The Blk is to uplift and support and I am proud to have been able to be a part of this endeavour with my film and very grateful to the ITB designers who have entrusted me to showcase their art in this way.”

Identity by Ademola Falomo
Rebel Seed by Sean Frank
We Do by Numa Perrier
Àṣẹ by Anthony Prince Leslie