TIES THAT BIND... freedom takes courage / 24 Min.
This short film is inspired by the true story of Sandra Daniels, who used abuse to motivate her success. Daniels started her journey to freedom at sixteen when she was forced to live in her car. The film looks at how child abuse plagues the adult, threatening their happiness until they are willing to cut "The Ties That Bind." Starring Marla Gibbs as Delores the abusive mother and Karen Malina White, as the daughter, this is a short film is about courage.

"Ties" has touched the hearts of audiences across the country, starting at home in Los Angeles, where it won the prestigious Jury Award at the Pan African Film Festival in 2006. The film has gone on to win the ìBest Shortî Award in Dallas, Texas at the Juneteenth Film Festival and the 2007 HBO Short Competition at Marthaís Vineyard African American Film Festival. Ties That Bind has also screened in Boston at the Roxbury Film Festival, at the Black Hollywood Festival and will screen this September at the Temecula Intl. Film Fest.
The film boasts an outstanding cast including Starletta Du Pois (Waiting To Exhale, The Notebook), Lee Garlington (Akilah and the Bee, West Wing), Tico Wells, (Five Heartbeats, ER ) and Gayle Samuels, ( Dream Girls, Ainít Mis Behaviní). We are also proud to introduce new talents, Ayana Nitaki, Caríyn Simms and Miluana Jemai.