Detroit � The Detroit Women of Color International Film Festival is returning next month for its sophomore run at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History,  The festival showcases the culturally diverse voices of women through creative motion picture works. DWC celebrates women from African American, Continental African, Caribbean, Latino, Native American, Arab and Asian communities.  The featured films are exciting, innovative works by and about women of color.

 DWC presents exceptional films and videos on subjects ranging from racial identity, sexuality, science fiction, relationships, politics and history to empowerment, healing, Hip Hop, cultural traditions, spirituality and love.

 Here’s a sneak preview into some of this year’s featured films:

 Malik Booth’s “The Best Kept Secret” is a powerful short film that focuses on a topic that touches a secret that many women dread.

 The film “Water” by Deepah Mehta was so controversial that the sets were burned and the filmmaker was forced to go to another country to complete the film.  “Water” is a profoundly moving and compelling, vibrant story of India’s “widow houses,” where women of all ages are taken to live separate from society following the deaths of their husbands.

The delicious film “Caramel” is a romantic comedy centered on the lives of five Lebanese women.

 The DWC goes global with the powerful documentary “The Shape of Water,” informative stories of powerful, visionary women with new cultures and a passion for change confront the destructive development of the Third World.

Canadian filmmaker Claudia Molina films “Dancing Waters” in Venezuela. “Dancing Waters” is the beautiful story of a daughter watching her mother transcend death into the goddess Yemoja.

“The Souls of Black Girls” is a provocative documentary by Daphne Valerius with social commentary by Chuck D, Regina King, Jada Pinkett Smith, Gwen Ifill and Michaela Angela Davis. These powerful individuals confront the burning topic of women of color self-image disorder as a result of media images.

Six African-Native Americans from various regions of the U.S. reflect on the personal and complex issues of Native and African heritage, ethnic identity and racism within communities of color in the film “American Red and Black” by Alicia Woods.

Rolando’s “Eyes of the Rainbow” deals with the life of Assata Shakur, the Black Panther and Black Liberation Army leader who escaped from prison and was given political asylum in Cuba, where she has lived for close to 15 years.

“Gabrielle” by Stephanie Jones is a brilliant, simple short film that explores the premise of a soul brought to life. Gabrielle is faced with the choice of incarnation or death after seeing a brief retrospective of her life.

“Sweet Without Sugar,” written and directed by Detroit native Dara Frazier tells the story of Yolanda Wells (Michelle Joan Papillion), who isn’t exactly where she wants to be in life. Her job at one of the top casting agencies in New York City is only a means to pays the bills. Her college sweetheart, Mark has become distant. The highlight of her life is baking desserts with her grandmother (Johnnie Mae, “Law & Order: SVU”) on the weekends.

Everything changes when Yolanda finds out that she has diabetes, the same disease that caused her father’s early death. She must learn to let go of bad habits and relationships to embrace a new life.

This film was directed by Erik Kilpatrick (“White Shadow,” “New Jack City,” “Cornbread Earl & Me.”) It was written and produced by Dara Frazier, winner of the Best African American Filmmaker Award at the Brooklyn Film Festival for her short film “la Revolution.” This film is supported by the American Diabetes Association.

Sponsors of Detroit Women of Color include the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History; CVS; WDET 101.9 FM; Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority (Tau Alpha Kappa); Cinema Caf�; The Michigan Citizen; and Affluent Mag.

 The festival is being held Friday, July 11, 2008 (6:00 pm to 10:00 pm) and Saturday, July 12, 2008 (12:00 pm to 10:00 pm).  Tickets are $15 for one day, $25 for both days. The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History is located at 315 East Warren Ave., Detroit Michigan, 48201. For more information please contact Oya Amakisi at 313.544.8493 or amakisi@gmail.com. The website is www.dwcfilmfest.com.