Judith Escalona papers, 1968-2024
Collection context
- Extent:
- 15 Linear Feet (10 RSCs, two flat boxes, one telescoping tube box, and one long tube box; Mapcase folder)
- Language:
- English, Spanish; Castilian
- Scope and content:
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Scripts, correspondence, print collateral from galleries, museums, community and academic spaces for Puerto Rican cultural events. Printed materials and books specific to Judith's filmmaking and by friends.
- Biographical / historical:
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The Judith Escalona papers document the life and work of U.S. Puerto Rican-Filipina filmmaker, curator, film critic, and archivist Judith Escalona.
In 1998, Escalona founded Puerto Rico and the American Dream or PRdream.com, an award-winning website that explored the history, culture, and politics of Puerto Rico and its diaspora. Among other projects, PRdream curated Nuyorican Cinema, an online exhibition of films accompanied by critical writing, and hosted a Forum discussion board. PRdream also led to the establishment of MediaNoche, an art gallery which showcased both local and international artists working in new media, and the PRdream Oral History project. Additionally, she has written for publications including the Daily News, NY Latino, and QBR/Quarterly Black Review.
As a director, she has created several films, including the surreal short short "The Krutch" (2005), which centers on a Puerto Rican psychoanalyst facing an identity problem, and the drama "BX3M" (2016) which tells the story of three high school seniors in the Bronx experiencing love and loss. For her work, Judith Escalona received two Best Film awards for "BX3M" from The Pocono Mountains International Film Festival and The Shawna Shea Film Festival. At the International Filmmakers, Festival in Berlin in 2017, "BX3M" actors Monica Delgado and Mario Eusebio won the Best Supporting Actress and Actor awards, respectively. The film also garnered accolades for Best Cinematography for Tadeusz Ciesielski and Best Supporting Actress for Monica Delgado at the International Filmmakers Festival in Milan in 2016. Escalona also worked as a segment producer for CUNY-TV. For her contributions, she received three Communicator Awards and won First Prize in the Best Video category of the Ippies Awards in 2011. In 2010, New York State Senator Bill Perkins recognized her efforts in the arts. Escalona also received an Appreciation Award from the Centro de Estudios Puertorriqueños at Hunter College and was designated a Distinguished Latina by El Diario/La Prensa. Furthermore, Escalona has taught film production at the City College of New York.
Access and use
- Restrictions:
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Material is unprocessed. Please contact rbml@columbia.edu for more information.
- Terms of access:
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Single reproductions may be made for research purposes. It is the responsibility of the user to secure permission for publication or use from the appropriate copyright holder.
- Location of this collection:
- Before you visit:
- Researchers interested in viewing materials in the RBML reading room must book an appointment at least 7 days in advance. To make the most of your visit, be sure to request your desired materials before booking your appointment, as researchers are limited to 5 items per day.
- Contact:
- rbml@library.columbia.edu