What was intended as one of the best ‘welcome home’ stories at this week’s Outfest LGBTQ Film Festival in Miami has suddenly turned into a celebration of life for one of the stars of the award-winning Kokomo City. This trail-blazing documentary is the debut of Miami local D. Smith who directed, produced, and edited it and had been excited at screening it on their home terrority.
Their journey on how the film came to be made starts when out of pure frustration after D Smith suddenly got blackballed from the music industry when they started to transition. They went from being in great demand producing songs for Lil Wayne,Keri Hilson, Billy Porter and André 3000. to being unemployed, broke, and homeless. In fact, Smith was still homeless when she began working on the project, with a camera being purchased by a host where she was once staying, and a laptop by a producer.
After being ousted for being transgender, Smith had the idea for a documentary film revolving around sex work, after wondering what would happen if she had to turn to it to sustain herself, and those who had no other options. So Kokomo City explores the lives of four transgender sex workers in New York and Georgia who were found by simply searching the internet.
One of the ‘stars’ of the film was 35-year-old Koko Da Doll who was tragically murdered last week in Atlanta becoming the latest victim of violence against Black transgender women. In a statement, Smith said “I created ‘Kokomo City’ because I wanted to show the fun, humanized, natural side of Black trans women. I wanted to create images that didn’t show the trauma or the statistics of murder of transgender lives. I wanted to create something fresh’
So for the Screening planned for Tuesday 22nd April at OUTshine, the Festival has made a statement saying. “We want to elevate our black trans brothers and sister by providing them a platform to speak and pay tribute to one of their talented stars. As such OUTshine has partnered up with 4 amazing organizations to do just that, So before the screening of “KOKOMO CITY’ McKenzie Project, Trans Social, Decrim305, and Thou Art Woman will be joining us in a candlelight vigil. To increase access to the film OUTshine will be giving 50% off every ticket in honor of the late Koko. The film director D. Smith will also be in attendance and we would love nothing more than for as many people as possible to experience the gift of life Koko shared with us through this film.”
That they chose to make this a Celebration of Lufe for Koko is the perfect way for all of us in attendance, and at home, to mark our respects. Smith’s film with 100% positive reviews of Rottion Timaato, has been purchased by Magnolia, so after it does the Film Festival circuit it will get theatrical distribution: you can follow them on https://www.facebook.com/MagnoliaPictures to discover when it plays near you. This is one YOU SHOULD NOT MISS ….. and please also support all the organizations who working so diligently to make the world a safer place for all our brothers and sisters.
