The Maysles Documentary Center is hosting a screening of Contessa Gayles' film, THE DEBUTANTES. The film premiered at the 2024 Tribeca Film Festival and captures the journey of the first Black debutantes in Canton, Ohio in ten years as they navigate a traditional right of passage. Following the screening, there will be an exclusive post-screening discussion with director Contessa Gayles, offering insights into her film and filmmaking process. Gayles' work has been supported by prestigious organizations such as Impact Partners and the Sundance Institute, highlighting her significant contributions to documentary filmmaking.

Black Self-Fashioning: The Debutantes with Contessa Gayles (Director)

A coming-of-age portrait, THE DEBUTANTES follows the first group of Black debutantes in Canton, Ohio in a decade as they revive a traditional right of passage, while charting their own path forward. The film was directed by Contessa Gayles.