Harlem Ballin'

"KINGDOME" is a documentary that chronicles the remarkable journey of the legendary basketball tournament in Harlem known as the Kingdome. For 37 years, this tournament has been a symbol of community, resilience, and the transformative power of basketball. Through the eyes of its founder, Terry "Huncho" Cooper, and the diverse cast of players, fans, and organizers, the film explores the profound impact of the Kingdome on the lives of those involved, and the Harlem community at large. From its humble beginnings to becoming one of the most revered street basketball tournaments in New York City, the documentary captures the highs and lows, triumphs and challenges, and the unbreakable spirit that has defined the Kingdome. With a captivating blend of archival footage, intimate interviews, and immersive storytelling, "Kingdome" celebrates the shared passion for the game, the bonds formed on the court, and the legacy that continues to inspire generations. Through the lens of basketball, the film illuminates the power of unity, the resilience of a community, and the enduring impact of a tournament that goes far beyond the confines of the court.

Shawn Antoine II is a filmmaker hailing from Harlem, NY, with an innate passion for storytelling. As a child, he began editing videos of his youth football games, demonstrating his early talent for the craft. After playing football and studying public relations at the University of Rhode Island, Shawn produced and directed his first short documentary, The Movement, which affirmed his calling in filmmaking. He is committed to creating content that informs and inspires audiences, and has since directed and produced several short films. His film Showtime received notable acclaim and was selected for 58 film festivals, including a Best New Director award from the Hip Hop Film Festival.

Shawn's career extends beyond the film industry. In 2020, he was appointed Director of Admissions at Cardinal Hayes High School, his alma mater, making him one of the youngest directors of admissions in the country. Currently, he works as the assistant to the Executive Producer of the highly anticipated HBO series The Penguin.

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The documentary focuses on a Youth Citywide Basketball Tournament held by the New York City Housing Authority for its residents. The protagonists in this film are youth and teen athletes from New York City Housing, also known as 'the projects' all over NYC. The main videographers for the film are Black and Latin teens/young adults from these same developments, who are also graduates from our media program, Abstrak Vision. This means that people from underserved communities benefited from being in front and behind the lens.

The subjects in the documentary were exposed to an opportunity to do something positive through sports, thanks to the New York City Housing Authority's Citywide Basketball Tournament. These young people were able to experience joy doing something that they love, even coming from spaces where they often may not feel safe. However, there are also a lot of negative stereotypes addressed in the film about coming from these areas, which participants stated gave them a sense of pride as they were able to voice their own experiences instead of the continuation of false narratives.

The intention of the film was to show the positive sides of environments that are normally given a bad reputation in order to continue eliminating crime, achieve growth as a community, and provide additional programs that will impact residents in a positive way. This film was so successful that the very nature of it being created allowed the Basketball Tournament to be funded again for 2024 when, before last year, it had a 15-year hiatus due to lack of financial support. The previous absence of the program possibly lead to the fatality of a young thriving star in the Bronx, as addressed in the Film by one of his coaches and a young athlete who admired him.

Aminah Salaam, a visionary creator hailing from the vibrant streets of New York City, embodies the essence of cultural diversity and empowerment. As an Afro-Latina with deep-rooted Muslim heritage, Aminah has carved her path in the realm of media, using her platform to inspire and uplift people of color. With a passion for storytelling and a keen eye for social change, Aminah founded Abstrak Vision, a production company dedicated to amplifying marginalized voices and fostering aspirational capital within communities. Through Abstrak Vision, Aminah not only produces compelling award-winning films but also spearheads youth media education initiatives across New York City, empowering Black and Brown youth to harness the power of media as a tool for self-expression, wellness, societal transformation and economic freedom.

Tay Fisher’s basketball and life journey is one of determination, inspiration, teamwork, and down right talent - developing into one of the greats in 4-point shooting history during his 10 years on the world-famous Harlem Globetrotters. As "Firefly" he enthralled fans around the world with his "Curly" Neal-inspired one-of-kind dribbling style and infectiously positive attitude. Today, Tay shares the challenges and guidance of his never-give-up story on and off the court, by mentoring kids and holding basketball camps in his hometown.

Chris Nostrand owns/operates Nostrand Productions LLC, is an award-winning independent filmmaker, and holds part-time faculty positions at both Marist College and SUNY Orange's film production departments. He earned a Master of Fine Arts in Integrated Media Arts from Hunter College and previously earned undergraduate degrees from SUNY New Paltz and SUNY Ulster.

His films have earned over sixty official selections at venues such as DOC NYC, Woodstock Film Festival, GI Film Festival and NewFilmmakers New York. His twenty award wins include a CINE Golden Eagle, x5 Tellys, x3 Communicators, Director’s Choice at Black Maria Film Festival, Best Documentary/Best Cinematography at CUNY Film Festival and Best Historical Documentary at the International Doc Challenge.

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Children must be accompanied by an adult. Content is geared toward adults, but people of all ages are welcome. Guests can arrive at any time between 2:30 and 3 pm (since this is a film screening we appreciate your timely arrival).

Photography: On occasion, we capture photographs or video for promotional and archival purposes. When registering for the event at The Forum, you give Columbia University in the City of New York the right to use you and your child's image for said purposes. We will never use your names, age or other identifying factors.

Questions? Email us at [email protected]

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

605 W 125th St, 605 West 125th Street, New York, United States