Causes: Arts & Culture, Arts, Culture & Humanities, Cultural & Ethnic Awareness, Education

Mission: The Vision Our vision is to become the premiere national resource and network for women artists. The Mission SEPIA's work is to build a community that presents and supports the diverse voice and vision of women. SEPIA is dedicated to increasing the awareness, visibility, and participation of women of color in the arts and entertainment industries. Through its programs, SEPIA provides professional and educational opportunities, innovative arts programs, fiscal assistance and advocacy on behalf of women. SEPIA -The Vision On January 19, 1996, SEPIA was incorporated in the District of Columbia, and on July 17,1996, received its 501(c) 3 status. In that same year, actress and then-Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, Jane Alexander, selected SEPIA as the recipient of her $25,000 Frontrunner Award from the Sara Lee Corporation.

Programs: About the REEL Shades Film Festival REEL Shades is SEPIA's annual program. This three-day showcase of diverse feature-length and short films by women of color filmmakers includes two educational forums/workshops with filmmakers and representatives from the film/video industries. Since 1996, through its annual film festival, SEPIA has proudly presented more than 75 films by women of color. REEL Shades has been the premiere vehicle for many emerging filmmakers and a valuable forum for many acclaimed directors, filmmakers, writers and producers whose voices and stellar works are often missing from the dialogue in the film industry. REEL Shades is truly a celebration of women film artists! REEL Shades participants include renown and emerging filmmakers from a variety of ethnic backgrounds: African-American, Native-American, Asian-American, Latin-American, Caribbean-American and other cultures that represent the vast diaspora of people of color. REEL Shades Participants 01'Euzhan Palcy, acclaimed filmmaker and director, The Killing Yard ; A Dry White Season 00'Lily Mariye, actress ("ER" and "Murphy") and filmmaker, The Shangri-La Café Michelle Parkerson, filmmaker, Litany for Survival: The Audre Lorde Story Evelina Fernandez, filmmaker Luminiarias 99'Diane Houston, academy award nominee director, Tuesday Morning Ride, lead writer, "City of Angels" Sheryl Lee Ralph, multi-talented actress, "Moesha" and director, Secrets Valerie Red-Horse, actress and filmmaker, Naturally Native 96-97' BarbaraO, multi-talented actress, Daughters of the Dust Cheryl Dunye, filmmaker, Watermelon Woman; Stranger Inside Nandi Bowe, filmmaker, Statistically Speaking Charlie Jordan, filmmaker, One Red Rose