With that in mind, I'm sending the tribute I did for Sergio on my latest Podcast episode. I also feel my strength in communicating is verbal instead of written. But a man who was willing to help wherever he could, who believed in a strong film community and mischievous laughter and treating even the greenest critic as a peer. Not merely a man whose influence as a historian, critic, and writer stretched across the cinematic landscape. I DMed him on Facebook and he gave me Duke's personal email. I was so worried I'd have to drop it until I remembered that there was one person who I knew who for sure could help me: Sergio. I had a general email, but it was mostly radio silence. I was working on a profile of Bill Duke for Indiewire but couldn't get in touch with his people.
The last time I spoke with him was a few weeks ago. As though to say: Who cares about the West Side? Later, when I asked him why he didn't mention the West Side (where I'm from) during his intro, he gave the biggest eye roll. He was in his element and having the time of his life. Every time I bumped into him at the fest, he had the biggest grin. You can see a joke flash across his face, only for him to put it in his back pocket (a bruising quip for another time). Then he asked who was from the South Side: silence. He also asked the audience who was from Chicago. I couldn't help but look on in wide-eyed amazement (he so often led by example).Įarlier this year, at the TCM Film Festival, Sergio gave the introduction to two Sidney Poitier films: "Lilies of the Field" and "The Slender Thread." His introduction to the latter was marvelous and witty. During our first stint, while having lunch at Chaz's home, he regaled me with stories about the early days of Shadow and Act and Black Harvest.
I have many memories of Sergio: For the last couple of years, we were both guest editors for this site's Black Writers Week. He could cut through the bullshit while still managing to put a smile on your face. He also possessed an unbelievable knowledge of all things film, not just Black cinema. As co-founder of Shadow and Act and the Black Harvest Film Festival, he gave an innumerable number of Black creatives their first platform (so many people owe their place in this industry to him). He didn't just champion filmmaking he lived it. Sergio hailed from the South Side of Chicago. So many people below me here express what I somehow struggle to say, and I'm grateful for that, so I will only note that the two words I think of first when I think of Sergio are "brilliant" and "kind." May we all be lucky enough to be considered a model of those traits when we go. It's one of those momentous losses in our community after which nothing is the same. He's always been not just present but foundational and influential. There's something that just feels so wrong about him not being around anymore that words can't express. I've struggled greatly with what to say about Sergio, more than I can ever remember after facing a loss. He will be so dearly missed, and our condolences go out to his friends and family. We wanted to open a platform to his colleagues and friends to help express their loss and what Sergio meant to them. Sergio Mims, the co-founder of the Black Harvest Film Festival, a contributor to this site, and a long-standing member of the Chicago Film Critics Association, passed away this week at the age of 67.
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