Kali O’Ray Death – Dead | Passed Away – Obituary
Kali O’Ray Death – Dead: A great loss was made known to InsideEko. As friends and families of the deceased are mourning the passing of their loved and cherished Kali O’Ray.
Having heard about this great loss, the family of this individual is passing through pains, mourning the unexpected passing of their beloved.
This departure was confirmed through social media posts made by Twitter users who pour out tributes, and condolences to the family of the deceased.
Very sad to hear about the passing of Kali O’Ray, Co-Director of the
@SFBFF
. I deeply appreciate all the support he and his wife Katera gave my work, especially the extra support and recognition they gave my film White Face in 2017. Good folks. R.I.P.
Very sad to hear about the passing of Kali O’Ray, Co-Director of the @SFBFF. I deeply appreciate all the support he and his wife Katera gave my work, especially the extra support and recognition they gave my film White Face in 2017. Good folks. R.I.P.https://t.co/dr9qIsVYBL
— Tumes (@SirCoreGant) August 10, 2020
Received shocking news that San Francisco Black Film Festival Co-Director Kali O’Ray suddenly died Friday August 7, 2020. Kali, along with his wife Katera Crossley were co-directors of the San Francisco Black Film Festival. Kali and Katera moved to San Francisco from Atlanta to take over the festival after Kali’s mother, SF Black Film Festival founder Ava Montague, passed away days after producing a San Francisco reception for former President Barack Obama’s first inauguration in 2009.
Kali and his wife not only took over operation of the festival but also quickly adapted to the changing technologies of the film, video and marketing industries to solicit cutting edge videos, documentaries and films produced not only from full length professional filmmakers, but also content created by community filmmakers and citizen photojournalists using camcorders and smartphones. Kali and Katera were masters of using social media to market, promote and showcase films on the internet, skills that were utilized this year when the entire festival was presented online because of the corona crisis rather than the usual Fillmore District festival venues on Juneteenth weekend. Kali and Katera formed partnerships with other Black owned media such as the SF Bayview Newpaper, La Hitz Media, Wright Enterprises and KPOO Radio to promote the SF Black Film Festival.
In addition to his year around work with the festival, Kali was a Fillmore District regular who frequented Fillmore district businesses, Kali would always engage in friendly conversation about any subject from the future of Black people in San Francisco, what city has the best barbecue (according to Kali, it wasn’t San Francisco) to the best technology to produce films and videos. Until the March corona shutdown of bars and nightclubs, Kali worked as a doorman at the Boom Boom Room.
Here are some pictures I’ve taken of Kali and his wife Katera at various San Francisco Black Film Festival Events.
I am devastated by the loss of this incredible young man! He died Friday from degenerative heart condition not Covid as previously reported.
Kali’s mother Ave Montague was a dear friend. She threw the “Inaugural Ball West” in 2009 to celebrate the inauguration of President Barack Obama. Four days later she was found dead, slumped over her computer. Kali came back to San Francisco and picked up his mother’s Juneteenth Film Festival and carried her vision to even greater heights.
He was a warm, joy-filled spirit. He was a treasure. I’m still trying to wrap my mind around the loss.
Rest in Power, Kali. I know your mom was there to meet you and like me she likely said, “Too soon, my son, too soon.”
Love you Kali, tell Ave I love her too.
We are still working on getting more details about the death, as family statement on the death is yet to be released.