"Thought-provoking, bold, and vulnerable, you can’t help but cherish its early ambition as a necessary act of historical preservation." - Robert Daniels, RogerEbert.com
"An incredibly informative documentary and it shows the power of what an image can do for a young person who rarely sees themselves reflected in the art and tech that they love." - Jamie Broadnax, Black Girl Nerds
In the late ’80s, three white, male software developers created a computer game called Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing. The face of the program, “Mavis Beacon,” was a smiling, confident Black woman featured prominently on the packaging and in advertising. But Mavis Beacon didn’t exist—her name is derived from Mavis Staples, and the beaming woman was a Haitian model named Renée L'Espérance. A figment of imagination, Mavis was nevertheless one of the most influential Black women in technology and education, teaching more than six million American students how to type. In this revelatory documentary—part investigation into tech lore, part tribute to Black representation—Jazmin Jones and her co-investigator Oliva McKayla Ross embark on a journey to reimagine the legacy of the mythic Mavis. Film Center exclusive.
Awards & Nominations
Winner - Golden Gate Award, San Francisco International Film Festival
Nominee - NEXT Innovator Award, Sundance Film Festival
The Film Center is ADA accessible. This presentation will be projected without open captions. The theater is hearing-loop equipped. For accessibility requests, please email filmcenter@saic.edu