MEANWHILE is a docu-poem in six verses about artists breathing through 
chaos. In dynamic collaboration, Jacqueline 
Woodson (text), Meshell Ndegeocello (soundscape), Erika Dilday (support), M. Trevino (structure), and Catherine Gund (direction), combine artists’ expressions with historical and observational footage to unveil a rare cinematic mediation about identity, race, racism and resistance as they 
shape our shared breath. Centering breath as a symbol of resilience, MEANWHILE captures raw, unfinished moments— dancers in rehearsal, artists midway through their work—focusing on the act of creation. Rooted in the 
upheavals of 2020, the film uses breath as its through-line to symbolize collective survival. It invites viewers to witness the process of liberation and be present in the “meanwhile”—a moment of 
creation, struggle, and hope that transcends fixed identities. Director Catherine Gund (Angola Do You Hear Us? Voices From a Plantation Prison) joins us for a conversation on breathing through the chaos, 
navigating the complexities of race, racism and creative resistance, how the idea of a six-part cinematic poem brought MEANWHILE to life, and why this docu-essay can be seen as a reminder of our collective strength and flexibility.
For more go to: abramorama.com/film/meanwhile
For more about the filmmaker go to: aubinpictures.com
About the filmmaker – Founder and Director of Aubin Pictures, Catherine Gund is an Emmy-nominated and Academy-shortlisted producer, director, writer, and activist. Her media work focuses on strategic and sustainable social transformation, arts and culture, HIV/AIDS and racial, reproductive and environmental justice. Her films have screened around the world in festivals, theaters, museums, and schools; on PBS, HBO, Paramount+, the Discovery Channel, Sundance Channel, Free Speech TV, Netflix, and Amazon Prime. She won the 2023 Gracie Award for Documentary Producer. Her films include: Paint Me a Road Out of Here, Meanwhile, Angola Do You Hear Us? Voices From a Plantation Prison, Primera, Aggie, Chavela, and Born to Fly. She has served on several arts, media, and justice nonprofit boards and has been a creative advisor on numerous documentary films. She is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. An alumnus of Brown University and the Whitney Independent Study Program, she has four children and lives in NYC. For more go to: aubinpictures.com
SOCIAL MEDIA
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“A provocation and a request to consider what flourishing looks like in this chaotic moment — for Black Americans, and for anyone who finds themselves drowning, struggling to breathe.” – Alissa Wilkinson, New York Times
“An unconventional, lyrical and thought-provoking documentary.” – Avi Offer, NYC Movie Guru
“This “docu-poem” essay film is an essential experience right now, never mind that it’s meant to reflect the upheavals of 2020. It applies to the upheavals of 2025 just as well.” – Christopher Campbell, Nonfics (Substack)
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