While I Yet Live

How five acclaimed African American quilters played a pivotal role in the Civil Rights movement.

woman standing in front of quilt
Series
Independent Lens
Premiere Date
February 11, 2019
Length
14 minutes
filmmaker Maris Curran
Director/Producer

Maris Curran

Maris Curran holds an MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, participated in the Whitney Independent Study Program and was a Fulbright Fellow in Mexico. Her films have shown at Berlinale, TIFF, MoMA and NY Times Op-Docs. Her debut narrative feature, FIVE NIGHTS IN MAINE, starring David Oyelowo, Dianne Weist and Rosie Perez, premiered at TIFF… Show more and was released theatrically in 2016. Maris recently completed, WHILE I YET LIVE, a short documentary about five quilters and freedom fighters from Gee's Bend, Alabama. Show less

Producer

Jon Coplon

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The Film

In the rural community of Gee's Bend, Alabama, we meet five acclaimed African American quilters who played a pivotal role during the Civil Rights Movement. The quilters talk about love, religion and the fight for civil rights as they continue the tradition that originally brought them together.

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