About this Event
Join CM Brown & Cinemama at Oakland City Hall on Monday, November 9, 2026, as we celebrate the 30th anniversary of Cheryl Dunye’s groundbreaking feature film, The Watermelon Woman (1996)!
The evening will begin with a short ceremony during which At-Large Councilmember Rowena Brown will honor Dunye for her contributions to film and culture. The program will continue with a screening of The Watermelon Woman and Dunye’s short film Greetings from Africa, followed by a Q&A with Dunye and a reception featuring light refreshments.
Event Details
- Date: Monday, November 9, 2026
- Doors Open: 5:30 PM
- Screenings Begin: 6:00 PM
- Location: Oakland City Hall, 3rd Floor
Space is limited, so reserve your spot today! Seating is first come, first served. We encourage attendees to arrive early.
Getting to the Event
Please enter City Hall on 14th Street. All visitors must pass through a security checkpoint before proceeding to the third floor. Elevators are available. Please allow sufficient time to complete security screening and find your seat before the program begins.
About Cheryl Dunye
Cheryl Dunye is a Liberian-American filmmaker, director, and producer based in Oakland whose work explores Black queer identity, history, and cultural memory. A pioneering voice in the 1990s queer new wave, Dunye is known for blending fiction and reality through self-reflexive storytelling, including appearing as herself in her films. She describes this distinctive approach as “Dunyementary.”
Her groundbreaking feature The Watermelon Woman (1996) received the Teddy Award at the Berlin International Film Festival. Throughout her career, Dunye has created numerous independent films and directed episodes of acclaimed television series, including Queen Sugar, Dear White People, Bridgerton, Lovecraft Country, and The Hunting Wives.
Through her production company, Jingletown Films, Dunye develops projects that center underrepresented voices and stories. She is currently developing a feature-length version of her award-winning 2014 short film *Black Is Blue*.
About Councilmember Rowena Brown
As Oakland’s At-Large City Councilmember, Rowena Brown represents residents across the entire city and is a champion of arts and culture. She is proud to celebrate the 30th anniversary of The Watermelon Woman and honor Cheryl Dunye’s extraordinary contributions to film, culture, and LGBTQ+ representation. This special event is presented in collaboration with Cinemama.
About Cinemama
Cinemama is an Oakland-based nonprofit cultural hub dedicated to developing, producing, and exhibiting films while supporting film professionals. Grounded in the belief that filmmakers are essential to our culture, Cinemama fosters connection, builds community, and advances the pro-filmmaker movement throughout the Bay Area. Its events create an inclusive space for people to share their ideas and express themselves creatively.
Event venue & nearby stays
Oakland City Hall, 1 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, Oakland, United States
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.