Ann was my roommate in high school for 3 years.   We went to a boarding school called Groton, and our freshman year we were assigned to the same room, but we chose each other in our sophomore and junior years too.  We were square, but Ann bridged all cliques.  Everyone liked and respected her.  She was funny (I am tall so when we walked to school she would take exaggerated strides next to me to let me know my long legs were walking too fast) and talented (she was excellent in the school plays- I recall she was so good in  Our Town and Midsummer Night's Dream).  She got into every college to which she applied, and Harvard was lucky to have her.    She came to my wedding in California in 2000 and I saw her a couple times after that because her mother lived in LA too.  Her email list with information on job opportunities in the documentary world showed her giving personality and sense of teamwork.  Ann was a wonderful person and I am honoured to have known her.

To Anne's family and all who loved her - I am so very sad to hear this news.  I want to say this news of a loss - but her friendship and presence was a gift.  So, I want to give gratitude for the gift of knowing Anne - her smile, her grace, her brilliant intelligence and creativity.  I remember her smile - the best!

I am grateful for the gift of her friendship in high school.  Sending wishes for love, and peace.  My most sincere condolences -

Hey Ann!

Remember how we met? We had both been hired to work on documentaries for HBO.  You were working on G STRING DIVAS AND I was working on ALI-FRAZIER I: ONE NATION DIVISIBLE.  It was 1998/1999.  When   your documentary wrapped there was an afternoon screening and you and I stood outside the theater guiding and greeting people.  Old men with canes and walkers started streaming in.  We’d never seen so many old men in one place!  It looked like the residents of a nursing home had been let out and bussed to the screening.  At one point we retreated to a corner stifling a laugh, saying “this is why knowing your audience is so important.” That was the first of many screening we attended together. 

Over the years our friendship grew. 

I’m having a really hard time saying goodbye, Ann! I love you so!!

It broke my heart to hear of Ann's passing. We met at a documentary filmmaker's retreat many years ago, and she made such an impression on me for her insights, kindness and generosity.  At that retreat, she offered to sit down with several of us who were early in our careers to pull back the curtain on the mysteries of documentary budgeting — what a revelation! Ever since then, each time I sit down to do a project budget, I apply what I learned from Ann and I think of her with gratitude. 

May Ann's memory be a blessing to all who knew and loved her.

Journey well, dear Ann. I met her for the first time at IFP Week in 2019. Her warm spirit, gentle guidance, and formative advice has left a lasting impression on me.  I feel lucky to have known her. Sharing my condolences to all who loved her.

My sincere condolences to all who were lucky to call Ann friend or family. She was a fierce intellect and a free spirit on the dance floor. I was lucky to meet her in person through the Flaherty film community. I am grateful for her contributions to documentary, social justice, and for her smile that she showed folks when she cared. And, she cared deeply. Rest in power dear Ann. Thank you for your work and the time together.

I knew Ann as a spirited, generous professional, who gave so much to others to make them feel comfortable and cared for, all to help colleagues and friends meet the challenges of work and life with greater ease. I was privileged to work with Ann on “Africans In America” and later on “Fisk Jubilee Singers.” She loved this business. She loved people, loved connecting, loved collaborating, loved sharing humor and ideas. As endlessly nurturing  as she could be, I remember hoping she was taking as much special energy to care for herself. In the later years of her career and mine, our paths didn’t cross much. That special smile, that special laughter left too soon. She urged those she connected with to nourish their best selves. She was invested in seeing them  succeed, in seeing them triumph.

Dear Ann,

You are brilliant, hilarious, generous and so so charming. You accomplished so much in your time with us, and your contributions will continue to educate and inspire the world for decades to come. You made your mark, Sis. I am sorry we never got to execute on that plan to work together, but I trust there is a bigger plan. And a bigger journey ahead for you.

Much love,
Malkia

I met Ann when she was with Roja and I was working at PBS in Cambridge. She was warm, funny, super smart and very generous in spirit. I later did research for Africans in America and got to know her awesome skills in the documentary film arena. We came to New York around the same time and I got to see her work with Through a Lens Darkly. What a gem. I will treasure her warm smile, dedication to rich storytelling and her delight in life. My condolences to her family and to her many dear friends.

Gatherings of indie filmmakers will never be the same without Ann. I will miss Ann's smile and voice. I will miss receiving her film resource emails--full of bolds, italics and colors! I will miss her brilliant mind and her gentle concern and care for her friends. Ann was a bright light and the world is a little more dim without her in it. Travel well, my sistah. You are a blessing.

Dear Ann,
You are a gem.
I’ll always remember your warm smile. 
You encouraged and were generous. May you rest in peace and power. 
Warmly,
Lisa Cortés

What a wonderful person we lost.  She carried her vision of a healthy future shared by all  humanity throughout her significant career.  I felt it  as a deep pleasure to work with her on "Africans in America" so many years ago now.  Smart, resourceful, witty, fun, curious, dedicated, genuine and grounded, she was a treasure and a star.

JoAnn Wypijewski at Kopkind has written this tribute: https://kopkind.org/

We will miss you, dear Ann.

Ann and Katja at the Sundance Film Festival in 2019

Ann was super smart, generous and kind. I always felt it - the warmth of a special human being. Genuine. Real. She just had that light around her. It made you happy to see her anywhere, anytime.
I got to know first Ann through Thomas Allen Harris' film, Through a Lens Darkly when ITVS funded the project, and then through Women Make Movies where I often invited her to do workshops and webinars. I always learned something from her workshops. 
She got you thinking in a new kind of way.
Sending much love to Ann's family and friends. It is a deep, deep loss to you and to us who knew her less yet loved her light and goodness. May her memory be a blessing to us all.

2002  - Gordon Park's 90th birthday "Great Day in Harlem" shoot.

2014 Park City Utah  -Thomas Allen Harris and Ann. Sundance filmmakers's reception.

2002 - Rhinebeck, New York. Omega Institute Location still for Ann's   "Prana Principle" Project.

It is hard to imagine a world without Ann Bennett. We worked together and also went to conferences together, shared many friends and saw a lot of movies. She generously gave a great deal of her time to so many, including me. Ann was a great producer, and a  warm and wonderful person who will be so missed.  I am missing you already Ann!

Dear Mark and Family —- 
From Meredith  - Part 2 
In terms of the important things — in the last few years Ann and I spoke at least once a week. She bolstered my spirits and fed my soul with her laughter and love. 
We also shared complicated personal journeys with our health and could strategize and promote self advocacy.   I literally can not believe she will not be a phone call away.  **Truly I send my love for your loss. Take good care and be well.

Dear Mark and Family—-!
From Meredith w
Ann and I met at Harvard - Radcliffe and worked on theater and film projects there. We followed a similar path into independent mission-driven media and worked together occasionally.  
The most important things were beyond “work”— Ann was a bright light in my life consistently for  four decades.  See Part 2

At the Boston premiere for Through A Lens Darkly (I believe) at the Museum of Fine Arts

At 2014 Sundance with Ann Bennett and some of our merch

Ann with one of her besties Lolita Parker Jr

At Sundance 2014 with Ann for our premiere of Through A Lens Darkly: Black Photographers and the Emergence of a People - together with some of our amazing team of producers, executive producers, funders and composers

It's heartbreaking to hear of Ann's passing. I had the pleasure of knowing her through her years of work in independent documentary and media, most recently working with her and the team on Razing Liberty Square. Ann was humble, smart, fun and very generous. I always knew I was speaking with someone who was taking everything in and who would find a way to share that energy and knowledge with folks who sought or needed it. Ann's passing is a loss to our documentary community and beyond. Our hearts go out to her family, friends and neighbors. We're so sorry for your loss.

I'm lucky I got to know Ann during a fellowship. She was always kind and so generous, and I fondly remember some of the great advice she's given me along the way. Thanks for always fighting for social justice, and looking out for other women of color in this industry. Rest easy, Ann.

My condolences to the family and loved ones of Ann Bennett.  She will be missed.

Deepest condolences to the family. She sounded like an amazing woman. Her gifts and talents will surely be missed. Prayers go out to the family. So sorry for your loss 🙏🏽 

Mark & Dawn Matthews

In the mid-1990s, Ann was a vital member of the "Africans in America" team. She was one of the most generous, supportive and good-natured colleagues I've ever had. She will be missed by so many.

I will surely miss you! You were amazing. You made my first visit to America so much easier and fruitful. I was young and needed guidance and you provided that in plenty and with love. I will treasure your memory in my heart. Rest in peace my dear big sis. Kay Ramtu from Nairobi, Kenya.

As a teenager, Ann was warm, lively, and a vital  member of the dorm. 
I am proud but not surprised to read of her many accompishments and greatly saddened to hear of her early death.  Bishop Ann Tottenham

I met dear Ann over a decade ago when she hired me as an intern to work on a film project where she was our wonderful producer.  

She became a dear friend, teacher, and mentor to me and she has positively impacted the lives of so many people in our media & arts community. Ann was always so talented and humble, truly one of the nicest, most generous and gifted people I will ever have the honor of knowing.  She was a born producer; someone with a genuinely warm heart who guides everyone around her to see the clear picture to create and present something beautiful.  

This news of her passing is unexpected and shattering. I offer my condolences to the Bennett Family and all of Ann's loved ones, she has an incredible legacy.

With one of our interns from Korea. All of our intense adored Ann

Celebrating with  Melissa Haizlip & Lisa Jones and on eve of historic 2008 election of President Obama in Harlem

I first met Ann as a guest speaker, via zoom, in a Kristy Guevara-Flanagan's Documentary Research Method's class in the Fall of 2020 during my MFA program at UCLA. What an amazing speaker? I remember our assigned viewing was: Through a Lens Darkly: Black Photographers and the Emergence of a People , directed by Thomas Allen Harris and Produced by Ann Bennett.  After that class, Kristy created one-on-one meetings for students to meet with  Ann on how to conduct Archival Research.  Huge loss to the documentary community.  My thoughts and prayers are with Ann's family and loved ones. I'm so sorry for your loss. Sincerely, Indira Somani

L to R: Robert Bennett, Ann Bennett, Mark Bennett, Karyn Bennett, Marceline Donaldson


photo courtesy of Lolita B Parker Jr

Ann was a colleague, mentor and fellow traveler.  I loved her spirit.  Thank you Ann, for your endless generosity and insight.

One of the most painful experiences in life is the loss of a child - even an adult child.  Ann is my daughter and someone who made me very proud of the way she lived her life.  She was surrounded by friends,  co-workers and family - all of whom she treated like family and was always very interested in the lives of her friends.  Her life was one of sharing what she learned, experienced, loved with those around her.   

My life will not be the same without Ann.  Memories of Ann will have to sustain me for whatever time I have left.

I love you Ann  and wish I could have taken some of the pain you suffered throughout the end of your life.  You are now in the arms of God.  My prayers are always with you and about you.

Dad.

I've known Ann for eons - and worked with her over many years. She often led seminars for Third World Newsreel on budgeting and producing for emerging filmmakers and worked on films with me and many others. Always so charismatic and generous, and so so smart!  We hosted her just last February as she spoke about her film Razing Liberty Square at a TWN/Doc Forum Evening Seminar, and she was so up and making plans.  All of us learned so much from Ann and had so much fun with her – and all of us will miss her very much. Our condolences to her family and all of us for this terrible loss.

I mourn with you, I share your sorow from beyong the ocean in Dakar Senegal.
To have been around Ann is  a grace, to have been loved  by her dear Mark and dear Karyn is an eternal gift.

Ann was my roommate in high school, and brought so much joy and laughter to my life.  Warm in person and sharp in observance..  that combination created great, and I mean LOL humerous great  and accurate sarcasm and wit.  Sorry her time was so short and wish I had had more time with her.

Ann was so generous and full of life. Her enthusiasm filled me and she walked me through a budget spreadsheet earlier in my career. Taking the time to help another Black filmmaker, her presence was a joy.

Ann you were a treasure to budding people
of color in the film industry! You will be missed. My heart goes out to your family ❤️🕊️ Kazembe Balagun Third World Newsreel Production Fellow.

Through A Lens Darkly party, SOB’s, 2014

Black Public Media Summit (NBPC), Washington, DC. 2008

In our Through a Lens Darkly offices with interns

Ann at Gordon Parks' birthday celebration.

Such a major loss. Ann was a warm and caring warrior in our ongoing struggle. Always quick and willing to share resources and contacts. Always willing to instruct and advise. Her spirit and generosity will continue to sustain us but this is sad and hurtful News. Condolences to her friends and  family. May she rest peacefully. 

Eric V Tait jr.

Ann was such a dear friend and a producer. She came to teach my Documentary class and left me with a detailed spreadsheet slideshow that I still use.. she was amazing, constantly sharing news about grants and other opportunities to the Documentary community.. I’m so sad to hear this news and I have shared it with her professors at Columbia Journalism School. We all send our condolences and hope to Honor her memory soon. Thank you so much, Ann, for your service, your humor, your compassion, and your work.

Ann, you will be so missed. We love you and find it hard to believe you're gone. Susie & Greg

Still can't believe Ann is no longer with us. She was such a beautiful spirit. I had the pleasure of working with her at ROJA--she was super smart and had a wicked sense of humor. She was also quite the social butterfly and knew everyone who was anyone. She was taken from us much too soon.  Rest in Peace Ann! Love, Sharon

OBITUARY

Ann Elizabeth Bennett

16 March, 1963 – 15 November, 2024

Harmon Funeral Home

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