Test Pattern
Directed by Shatara Michelle Ford
Part psychological horror, part realist drama, this exhilarating debut feature from Shatara Michelle Ford is set against the backdrop of national discussions around inequitable health care and policing, the #metoo movement, and race in America. Test Pattern follows an interracial couple whose relationship is put to the test after a Black woman is sexually assaulted and her white boyfriend drives her from hospital to hospital in search of a rape kit. Their story reveals the systemic injustices and social conditioning women face when navigating sex and consent within the American patriarchy. Winner of top prizes at the BlackStar and New Orleans Film Festivals, this gripping social thriller offers a unique exploration of institutional racism and sexism from a Black woman's point of view. Content warning: This film includes a depiction of sexual assault.
Reviews More Reviews
"A film poised to become one of the year’s must-see indie gems... one the year's first true discoveries."
"A staggeringly impressive debut… It's a cinematic achievement.”
“Test Pattern offers a fresh way of examining sexual assault and its aftermath on screen, one that feels just as emblematic of its moment as Thelma & Louise.”
“A brilliant debut… whose intellectual impact feels almost physical in its intensity.”
“Stunning in its examination of blackness, whiteness, gender, and class… This is talent. Pure, plain and simple.”
“Intelligent and engrossing… [a] quietly momentous first feature.”
“Transposes the discourse around the #MeToo movement from whiteness to a Black female lens. In line with... I May Destroy You, it’s part of an indispensable breakthrough in media.”
“An engrossing human drama, one that examines the intersections and inequalities between race, gender, and healthcare in a poignant and powerful way.”
“A searing, yet nuanced, interrogation of the racism and sexism baked into our society at every level... Strikingly punctuates the detachment of realist drama with the expressionism of psychological horror.”
“Signals an absolute powerhouse talent… feels like a revelation.”
“Ford demands that we work to believe this Black woman’s experiences.”
"Ford has unfurled a story — and a burgeoning career — worth considering long after."
“A gripping movie with first-rate performances… an eyeopener.”
“A slow burn movie done right… with brilliant performances by Hall and Brill.”
“Shatara Michelle Ford has an assured, unique visual storytelling style.”
"Gripping and powerful."
Press & Exhibitors
Below please find additional information and promotional materials for this film. Use the buttons on the left to request to book this film for theatrical or educational/community screenings.
For all press requests, please contact us at [email protected].
Technical Info
- Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
- Color: Color
Press & Promotion:
playdates
Venue | City | State | Date |
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a/perture cinema | Winston Salem | NC | 1612155600February 1 - April 20, 2021 |
ACME Screening Room | Lambertville | NJ | 1614056400February 23 - April 20, 2021 |
AFI Silver | Silver Spring | MD | 1613970000February 22 - April 20, 2021 |
All Saints Cinema / Tallahassee Film Society | Tallahassee | FL | 1614142800February 24 - April 20, 2021 |
Amherst Cinema | Amherst | MA | 1613624400February 18 - April 20, 2021 |
Arena Theater | Point Arena | CA | 1614229200February 25 - April 20, 2021 |
ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks | Bethlehem | PA | 1614661200March 2 - April 23, 2021 |
Athens Ciné | Athens | GA | 1612760400February 8 - March 29, 2021 |
Avalon Theatre | Washington | DC | 1613624400February 18 - April 20, 2021 |
Avon Theatre | Stamford | CT | 1615266000March 9 - March 31, 2021 |
BAM Rose Cinemas | Brooklyn | NY | 1612155600February 1 - April 16, 2021 |
Baxter Avenue Theatres | Louisville | KY | 1613624400February 18 - April 20, 2021 |
Belcourt Theatre | Nashville | TN | 1613970000February 22 - April 20, 2021 |
Bijou Theatre | Lincoln City | OR | 1614229200February 25 - April 2, 2021 |
Bozeman Film Society | Bozeman | MT | 1614142800February 24 - April 20, 2021 |
Bryn Mawr Film Institute | Bryn Mawr | PA | 1614056400February 23 - March 23, 2021 |
Burns Court Cinemas | Sarasota | FL | 1613970000February 22 - April 20, 2021 |
Cameo Art House Theatre | Fayetteville | NC | 1615352400March 10 - April 22, 2021 |
Cape Cinema | Dennis | MA | 1613106000February 12 - April 20, 2021 |
Carbon Arc Cinema | Halifax | NS | 1614056400February 23 - April 20, 2021 |
Chelsea Theater | Chapel Hill | NC | 1613451600February 16 - April 20, 2021 |
Cinema Arts Centre | Huntington | NY | 1613970000February 22 - April 20, 2021 |
Cinema Detroit | Detroit | MI | 1613970000February 22 - April 20, 2021 |
Cinema Paradiso | Hollywood | FL | 1615780800March 15 - April 20, 2021 |
Cinemapolis | Ithaca | NY | 1612501200February 5 - April 20, 2021 |
CinemaSavannah | Savannah | GA | 1613106000February 12 - April 20, 2021 |
CineSpeak | Philadelphia | PA | 1612155600February 1 - April 20, 2021 |
Circle Cinema | Tulsa | OK | 1615266000March 9 - March 31, 2021 |
Cleveland Cinemas | Cleveland | OH | 1612155600February 1 - April 20, 2021 |
Cleveland Cinematheque | Cleveland | OH | 1612155600February 1 - April 20, 2021 |
Coolidge Corner Theatre | Brookline | MA | 1613624400February 18 - April 20, 2021 |
Coral Gables Art Cinema | Coral Gables | FL | 1613624400February 18 - April 20, 2021 |
Crandell Theatre | Chatham | NY | 1616990400March 29 - April 9, 2021 |
Darkside Cinema | Corvallis | OR | 1615352400March 10 - April 20, 2021 |
Denver Film / Sie FilmCenter | Denver | CO | 1613970000February 22 - April 20, 2021 |
Des Moines Film Society | Des Moines | IA | 1615266000March 9 - April 20, 2021 |
Detroit Institute of Arts | Detroit | MI | 1613710800February 19 - April 20, 2021 |
Downing Film Center | Newburgh | NY | 1612155600February 1 - April 20, 2021 |
Enzian Theatre | Maitland | FL | 1614229200February 25 - March 22, 2021 |
Film Streams | Omaha | NE | 1613624400February 18 - March 22, 2021 |
FilmScene | Iowa City | IA | 1612155600February 1 - April 20, 2021 |
Fine Arts Theatres | Overland Park | KS | 1612155600February 1 - April 20, 2021 |
Flicks Theatre | Boise | ID | 1612155600February 1 - March 29, 2021 |
Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival | Fort Lauderdale | FL | 1615266000March 9 - March 31, 2021 |
Gateway Film Center | Columbus | OH | 1614229200February 25 - April 20, 2021 |
Goldtown Nickelodeon Theater | Juneau | AK | 1614056400February 23 - April 20, 2021 |
Grand Cinema | Tacoma | WA | 1612155600February 1 - April 20, 2021 |
Grand Illusion Cinema | Seattle | WA | 1613970000February 22 - April 20, 2021 |
Guild Cinema | Albuquerque | NM | 1612155600February 1 - April 20, 2021 |
Havre de Grace Cinema at the Opera House | Havre de Grace | MD | 1617595200April 5 - April 20, 2021 |
Historic Howell Theater | Howell | MI | 1615438800March 11 - April 20, 2021 |
IFC Center | New York | NY | 1615266000March 9 - March 24, 2021 |
Images Cinema | Williamstown | MA | 1614661200March 2 - April 20, 2021 |
International Film Series | Boulder | CO | 1613710800February 19 - April 20, 2021 |
Kiggins Theatre | Vancouver | WA | 1612155600February 1 - April 2, 2021 |
Laemmle Theatres | Los Angeles | CA | 1612501200February 5 - April 20, 2021 |
Liberty Theatre | Camas | WA | 1615780800March 15 - April 20, 2021 |
Lincoln Theatre | Mount Vernon | WA | 1615266000March 9 - May 5, 2021 |
Lumiere Cinema | Los Angeles | CA | 1613106000February 12 - April 20, 2021 |
Maine Film Center | Waterville | ME | 1613624400February 18 - April 20, 2021 |
mama.film | Wichita | KS | 1614056400February 23 - April 20, 2021 |
Martha's Vineyard Film Society | Vineyard Haven | MA | 1615266000March 9 - April 20, 2021 |
Montclair Film Festival | Montclair | NJ | 1613970000February 22 - April 20, 2021 |
MSP Film Society | Minneapolis | MN | 1613451600February 16 - April 20, 2021 |
Museum of Fine Arts, Houston | Houston | TX | 1612155600February 1 - April 20, 2021 |
Museum of the Moving Image | Astoria | NY | 1612155600February 1 - April 20, 2021 |
Music Box Theatre | Chicago | IL | 1613970000February 22 - April 20, 2021 |
Nantucket Film Festival | Nantucket | MA | 1615266000March 9 - April 30, 2021 |
New York Women in Film & Television | New York | NY | 1613106000February 12 - April 20, 2021 |
Nickelodeon Theatre | Columbia | SC | 1612155600February 1 - April 20, 2021 |
Oklahoma City Museum of Art | Oklahoma City | OK | 1616644800March 25 - April 8, 2021 |
Oxford Film Festival | Oxford | MS | 1613970000February 22 - April 20, 2021 |
Pickford Film Center | Bellingham | WA | 1613970000February 22 - April 20, 2021 |
Plaza Theatre | Atlanta | GA | 1612155600February 1 - April 20, 2021 |
Portland Museum of Art | Portland | ME | 1612155600February 1 - April 20, 2021 |
Red River Theatres | Concord | NH | 1613538000February 17 - April 20, 2021 |
Reg Lenna Center for the Arts | Jamestown | NY | 1614229200February 25 - April 20, 2021 |
Revue Cinema | Toronto | ON | 1613624400February 18 - April 15, 2021 |
Row House Cinema | Pittsburgh | PA | 1614142800February 24 - April 20, 2021 |
Roxie Theater | San Francisco | CA | 1613970000February 22 - April 20, 2021 |
Salem Cinema | Salem | OR | 1614056400February 23 - April 20, 2021 |
Salina Art Center | Salina | KS | 1614142800February 24 - April 20, 2021 |
Salt Lake Film Society | Salt Lake City | UT | 1613451600February 16 - April 20, 2021 |
Savor Cinema | Fort Lauderdale | FL | 1615780800March 15 - April 20, 2021 |
Screen Slate | Brooklyn | NY | 1614142800February 24 - April 20, 2021 |
Sneak Preview | 1612414800February 4 - February 17, 2021 | ||
SNF Parkway Theatre | Baltimore | MD | 1613970000February 22 - April 20, 2021 |
Sonoma Film Institute at SSU | Rohnert Park | CA | 1612846800February 9 - March 8, 2021 |
State Theatre | Modesto | CA | 1613106000February 12 - April 20, 2021 |
Suns Cinema | Washington | DC | 1613451600February 16 - April 20, 2021 |
Taking Over Presents | Brooklyn | NY | 1614229200February 25 - April 20, 2021 |
Tampa Theatre | Tampa | FL | 1612155600February 1 - April 20, 2021 |
The Cinematheque | Vancouver | BC | 1612155600February 1 - April 20, 2021 |
The Frida Cinema | Santa Ana | CA | 1613970000February 22 - April 20, 2021 |
The Future of Film is Female | Brooklyn | NY | 1612933200February 10 - April 20, 2021 |
The Grand Berry Theater | Fort Worth | TX | 1615780800March 15 - April 20, 2021 |
The Independent Picture House (Charlotte Film Society) | Charlotte | NC | 1613624400February 18 - April 16, 2021 |
The Little Theatre | Rochester | NY | 1614056400February 23 - April 9, 2021 |
The Loft Cinema | Tucson | AZ | 1613624400February 18 - April 20, 2021 |
The Moviehouse | Millerton | NY | 1614574800March 1 - April 2, 2021 |
The Nightlight Cinema | Akron | OH | 1614056400February 23 - April 20, 2021 |
The Ryder Film Series | Bloomington | IN | 1613624400February 18 - April 20, 2021 |
The Screening Room | Newburyport | MA | 1612760400February 8 - March 26, 2021 |
Time & Space Limited | Hudson | NY | 1612155600February 1 - April 20, 2021 |
Tivoli at the Nelson-Atkins | Kansas City | MO | 1612155600February 1 - April 20, 2021 |
Tropic Cinema | Key West | FL | 1614056400February 23 - April 20, 2021 |
United Theatre | Westerly | RI | 1614056400February 23 - April 20, 2021 |
UWM Union Cinema | Milwaukee | WI | 1615780800March 15 - April 12, 2021 |
Varsity Theatre | Davis | CA | 1615352400March 10 - April 20, 2021 |
Vickers Theatre | Three Oaks | MI | 1614834000March 4 - April 20, 2021 |
Violet Crown Austin | Austin | TX | 1614315600February 26 - April 20, 2021 |
Violet Crown Charlottesville | Charlottesville | VA | 1614315600February 26 - April 20, 2021 |
Violet Crown Santa Fe | Santa Fe | NM | 1614315600February 26 - April 20, 2021 |
Wellfleet Preservation Hall | Wellfleet | MA | 1612414800February 4 - April 20, 2021 |
Zeitgeist Theatre | Arabi | LA | 1613538000February 17 - April 20, 2021 |
Zinema 2 | Duluth | MN | 1612933200February 10 - April 20, 2021 |