Please join SPEEDWELL Contemporary at the Portland Museum of Art for an exclusive film screening of the animated film adaptation of ‘Mary and Molly’ a 20 minute animated film based on the 2016 play of the same title by noted Penobscot Nation Tribal Elder, activist, author, Donna Loring.

Please register with via the PMA’s website to reserve your tickets

Following the screening, Donna Loring will moderate a panel conversation centering around the film itself, native issues of sovereignty, and child welfare; in addition to the panelist's perspectives and reactions to the film's themes, and characters, an audience Q&A will follow.

Panelists for post-film discussion:

Donna Loring, film director and moderator

Maulian (Dana) Bryant, Tribal Ambassador for the Penobscot Nation and President of the Board of Directors for the Wabanaki Alliance

Robin Talbot, Associate Director, Stonecoast MFA in Creative Writing

Shannon Sockalexis, artist and illustrator of Mary and Molly

Ann Pollard Ranco, artist and illustrator of Mary and Molly

The film follows Mary, a young African-American woman living in Bangor, Maine. She finds a letter from her mother that tells of her Penobscot Indian heritage and the decision that her parents made many years ago to bring her up with only the knowledge of her African-American heritage. After opening the letter on her 21st Birthday, Mary goes to the Bangor Public Library and learns of Molly Molasses, her Penobscot Ancestor, and connects with her Penobscot ancestry for the first time. The film tackles Black and Brown issues of race, heritage, and the choosing of identity.

The film, directed by David Camlin and Donna Loring with casting and dialog direction by Margo Lukens, features the creative work of indigenous creators and collaborators. Original artwork was created by Penobscot visual artists Shannon Sockalexis and Ann Pollard-Ranco, and music by Mali Obomsawin (Odanak Abenaki) scores the film.

This project was made possible with support of grants from the Maine Community Foundation, the OAK Foundation, the Glickman Lauder Foundation and Maine Humanities Council.