Neyat Yohannes

Sundance 2019: dynamics + highlights on the ground

This year’s Sundance Film Festival brought a flurry of films about loss—of self, of family members, and of tired mindsets—to snowy Park City. But it was an event marked by gains, too. New additions to the festival included eight indigenous and native filmmakers, a hearty roster of directors of color, and a brand new Press Inclusion Initiative, making Robert Redford’s decision to step back as the face of Sundance feel appropriate and timely. ...

James Fugate On 30 Years of Eso Won Books

For nearly 30 years, the Leimert Park bookstore has showcased books by Black authors — the rare, the beloved, and the new. Co-owner James Fugate reflects on his evolution as a bookseller and how Eso Won came to be the city's unofficial literary headquarters for Black writing....

Gyro Italiano

The pizza at Michael’s Pizzeria is questionable. The crust is inconsistent—sometimes you get a Chicago style, other times it’s of the crunchy cracker variety. They have a dozen toppings to choose from, but really, plain cheese is the safe bet. After all, you wouldn’t want to pay more than $10.00 for cardboard. ...

In Conversation with Animator Rachel Headlam

We decide to meet at a bustling juice shop. The kind that mentions nature in its mission and manages to incorporate hemp milk and turmeric into all of its menu items. “I’m wearing a white pinstriped shirt, a red Supreme headband, and sporting an afro puff today,” texts 18 year-old character animator, Rachel Headlam. ...

Neyat Yohannes

Film Critic & Arts Writer

Neyat Yohannes is an arts and culture writer, whose work has appeared in KQED Arts, the East Bay Express, Cleo Film Journal, Chicago Review of Books, Playboy, and Okayafrica, among other publications. She thinks intersectionality is more than just a buzzword and regularly considers its relevance in her writing.