On July 6, 2016, 32-year-old Philando Castile was tragically killed by a member of law enforcement in Minnesota.
Now, in honor of his memory, Even/Odd Films has created a film reflecting on his legacy. Filmed ten days after his death, Happy Birthday Philando Castile features conversations with some of Castile’s closest family and friends on what would have been his 33rd birthday.
The film is directed by Mohammad Gorjestani and is produced by Malcolm Pullinger, with Andrew Coles and Ephraim Walker serving as executive producers. It is the second installment of a proposed series called “The Happy Birthday Project,” a “succession of short, intimate portraits of police violence victims’ close family and friends on their first would-be birthday after their deaths,” according to a release about the film.
Happy Birthday Oscar Grant premiered last year at the annual community celebration event hosted by Grant’s mother, Reverend Wanda Johnson.
“‘The Happy Birthday Project’ goes beyond mainstream media coverage to provide an exclusive, intimate look at the impact, loss, and grief of these events,” the release states. “It takes viewers along on an emotional journey as loved ones remember, celebrate, and try to come to terms with the tragedies that have captured the attention of the nation and world.”
Philando Castile would’ve turned 33 just two weeks after he was killed by police.
