WADE IN THE WATER

WADE IN THE WATER

A Mirror for Humanity. A Call to Remembrance.

Wade in the Water is a powerful ritual short film inspired by the ancestral Negro spiritual of the same name. Blending spoken word, cinematic storytelling, and spiritual symbolism, the piece follows the emotional and psychological journeys of three Black men as they confront the fear, pain, and inherited trauma of being Black in America.

Set against the backdrop of Black History Month in the UK, this evocative work becomes a global reflection—reminding us how far we’ve come, and how far we still must go.

Wade In the Water (2020) Official Trailer

At its core, this film is a sacred inquiry into:

  • The balance and healing of masculine and feminine energies

  • Remembrance of the Ancestors

  • Critical consciousness and collective reflection

  • Uncovering erased histories and cultural memory

  • Breaking cycles of disconnection and disembodiment

All of this unfolds within a spiritual, cinematic container that asks:
How much longer will we continue to do this to ourselves?
If we are all connected, then what happens to one, happens to all.

Behind the Scenes with ONYI LOVE

Featuring

Joivan Wade • David Bianchi • Llewellyn C. Radford
Onyi Love as the Priestess, embodiment of the Divine Feminine

Accolades & Distribution

Wade in the Water has been recognized with multiple honors, including nominations from the BronzeLens Film Festival and the African Movie Academy Awards, and a Film Threat Award This! win.

The motion picture soundtrack is streaming on Bandcamp, Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, Pandora, and all major platforms.

Full Award This! 2021 ceremony. Wade In the Water Best Short Film win and acceptance from 9:52 - 11:00

Credits

Written by: David Bianchi, Joivan Wade, Llewellyn C. Radford
Directed by: David Bianchi
Produced by / Executive Producers: David Bianchi, Joivan Wade, Percelle Ascott, Tafara Makopa
Director of Photography: Dave Perry
Score: Batu Sener
Edited by: David Bianchi

Watch Wade In The Water

A still from the award winning short film Wade In the Water showing Onyi Love as the divine feminine energy embracing Joivan Wade from behind.
A still from the award winning short film Wade In the Water showing Onyi Love, the priestess character, wearing a white head wrap, regal jewelry, and gold face paint adornment. She is singing.
A still from the award winning short spoken word film Wade In the Water showing Onyi Love as the divine feminine energy embracing touching the neck of Llewellyn C. Radford has his head is lowered.
Promotion for the film Wade in the Water featuring Onyi Love—singer, actress, model, dancer—in all white and face paint, alongside David Bianchi, Joivan Wade, and Llewellyn C. Radford, dressed as enslaved men, kneeling in front of her.
Heart-wrenching image of Onyi Love and David Bianchi, both with shaved heads embracing. The text ‘Wade In The Water’ is displayed over them. The bottom includes credits, stating music by Batu Sener and vocals by Onyi Love, from a motion picture

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