1.23.2026

Announcing the opening of the National Association of Mathematicians, Inc. (NAM) Archival Collection featuring many of the more than 90 African American mathematicians who were interviewed for the Journeys of Black Mathematicians film series. The initial 10 video biographies of Black mathematicians in the NAM sub-collection are now available online, free for the public to use. The Atlanta University Center Robert W. Woodruff Library is hosting the sub-collection here.

The goal of the series, anticipated for completion by December 2028, envisages editing 50 to 60 biographical videos to be accessible free of charge in NAM's repository. Videos will vary in length from five to 50 minutes or longer. The online biographies are the result of a collaboration between NAM, the Simons Laufer Mathematical Sciences Institute (SLMath), Zala Films, and the AUC Woodruff Library Archives Research Center.

Filming the Journeys of Black Mathematicians project began in 2020 with the objective of producing a documentary film on the considerable achievements of African American mathematicians, many of whom remain unknown to the general public. Two documentaries, one hour each, were released for theatrical, educational, and broadcast distribution: Forging Resilience in 2024 and Creating Pathways in 2025. Both films began airing on public television in 2025.

For information about the sub-collection, contact NAM's Historical and Archival Committee (NAM-HAC) at archival-committee@nam-math.org.

1.1.2026

"[Journeys of Black Mathematicians: Forging Resilience] is a must-watch for anyone interested in STEM, social justice, or personal stories of resilience...," writes Raegan Higgins, PhD, in her review of the film in the Association for Women in Mathematics January/February 2025 newsletter (see Media Column, page 10). "The documentary's strongest asset is its personal approach. Each mathematician's story is unique, yet they all reflect shared experiences of resilience, making the film deeply impactful."

1.1.2026

The January/February 2026 issue of the French mathematics magazine, Tangente, features the brilliant Iranian mathematician and Fields Medalist Maryam Mirzakhani, and the Zala Films' 2020 documentary about Mirzakhani's life and work, Secrets of the Surface: The Mathematical Vision of Maryam Mirzakhani. Focused on making math accessible and engaging for a broad audience, Tangente is published by the Comité International des Jeux Mathématiques (CIJM). The issue includes an interview with Zala Films' director George Csicsery, which you can read here (the interview is in free access, with registration required but no payment).

12.11.2025

George Csicsery, producer/director of Zala Films, has been honored by the World Congress of Science and Factual Producers with a 2025 Buzzies Award for Diversity Leadership for the film, Journeys of Black Mathematicians: Creating Pathways. The Buzzies celebrate excellence in science and factual storytelling, and recognize short-form, long-form and multiplatform science, history and natural history projects, as well as awarding projects for innovation and impact. Congratulations to all the nominees and winners, who are listed here.

12.11.2025

The American Institute of Mathematics is hosting a movie night on December 11, at 6 p.m., in the Feynman Lecture Hall, 201 E. Bridge, Caltech Campus, Pasadena, California. The institute will screen the two-part documentary series, Journeys of Black Mathematicians. The event is free and open to the public. Seats are available on a first come, first served basis. No RSVP is needed.

11.25.2025

Zala Films is pleased to announce that Secrets of the Surface: The Mathematical Vision of Maryam Mirzakhani is now available for streaming via Kanopy.

11.25.2025

Journeys of Black Mathematicians: Creating Pathways screens at the Heidelberg Laureate Forum Foundation Film Festival Mathematik — Informatik at the Karlstorkino Heidelberg in Germany at 7:30 p.m. local time.

8.9.2025

In a film screening and panel discussion titled "Celebrating Black Excellence in Mathematics," Zala Films' Journeys of Black Mathematicians: Creating Pathways was screened at the Mathematical Association of America MAA Mathfest in Sacramento, California, on August 9. Organizers of the session included Torina Lewis of the National Association of Mathematicians, Asamoah Nkwanta of Morgan State University, and Edray Goins and Ami Radunskaya of Pomona College.

6.6.2025

The Seattle Universal Math Museum screened Journeys of Black Mathematicians: Forging Resilience at the Museum of Flight on June 6, from 5 to 6 p.m., in Tukwila, Washington.

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