The God Given Talent: The Creative Life of Charles Curtis Blackwell

Directed/co-produced by Jeff M. Giordano.

“A story of survival, memories and poetry, with fine art interspersed, social justice in motion, ends powerfully with poem and music.”

Lead Programmer Over-the-Rhine International Film Festival

Superfest International Disability Film Festival: winner of the Disability Justice Award.

A 70-minute documentary about Charles Curtis Blackwell: the African-American blind poet, painter, playwright and teacher who guides us on an intimate journey of his past and present. From Blackwell’s challenging upbringing in both California and Mississippi, to his current creative life including discussions on loss, love, pain, and redemption—all through the prism of his artistic endeavors.

The God Given Talent: The Creative Life of Charles Curtis Blackwell (2019) from Jeff M Giordano on Vimeo.

Over the course of the movie, Charles discusses his involvement in school bus riots in Sacramento, the Civil Rights Movement, and Blackwell’s transformative experience of losing his eyesight, beginning at the age of 20. Throughout these struggles, it was always Charles’ artistic endeavors that fortified his resilience and allowed him to connect with his communities.

World Premiere: San Francisco Black Film Festival (2019) followed by screenings at the Over-the-Rhine International Film Festival, Silicon Valley African Film Festival, 68th Columbus International Film & Animation Festival, 15th Poppy Jasper Film Festival, Superfest International Disability Film Festival (winner of the Disability Justice Award), and International Premiere in Greece at the Documentary Festival of Ierapetra.