Inheritance
United States, 15 mins, Digital
In-person & Online
Ruth, a 37-year-old has taken care of her ailing mother for years, to the detriment of her personal and professional life. Now that her mother is on the verge of dying, Ruth suddenly finds herself inside her mother’s subconscious and through some key memories, learns to let go, and realizes that it’s not too late for her to start over.
Director: Hallel Mujingila Diakalenga
Writer: Hallel Mujingila Diakalenga
Producer: Katherine Luo
Director of Photography: Andrew Kirschenbaum
Editor: Hallel Mujingila Diakalenga
Composer: Bradley Belmonddo
Cast: Adwoa Duncan-Williams, Yvonne Paretzky, Bilal Walker, Izzy Miller, Aiden Sierra, Stephen Mulamata
Contact: Hallel Mujingila Diakalenga, hm2803@columbia.edu
Program G
Sunday, May 12th at 5:00 PM
About the Writer/Director
Hallel Mujingila Diakalenga was born in Lubumbashi, a city in the Democratic Republic of Congo. She came to the U.S. at age 8 and grew up in Boston, MA. She has wanted to be a filmmaker since she started watching Disney Channel and imagining herself as part of the cast. Film and television provided a world to escape to and friends to adventure with. In 2019, she graduated from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts in the film program. Later in that same year, she began her graduate program for a Master’s degree at Columbia University’s School of the Arts.
Hallel is working towards a goal of one day working as a staff writer on TV, as well as having screenwriting and directing as main job descriptors. Being a part of the filmmaking process gives her purpose as she loves collaborating with peers and seeing them do what they’re passionate about.
She strives to tell stories that speak to both African and American sensibilities. She hopes that her films can have the same effect on others by inspiring them and bringing them the solace that she received in moments of boredom and loneliness.