Three people in dresses, one that is silver mesh, posing for a photo at the gala.
Celebrate Artists Who Move Culture Forward at the Luminary Gala
Upcoming Events
A still from Return to Haifa shows a Palestinian couple standing with one another. The woman has a stricken expression and the man is looking down, he seems to be in contemplation or sorrow.
(Screening)
Nov 2, 2026
Palestine Cinema Days: Return to Haifa
Join BlackStar for Palestine Cinema Days Around the World, with a screening of Return to Haifa followed by a discussion.
A close-up photo of a young Black woman looking into the distance. She is wearing a white head scarf.
(Screening)
Nov 3, 2026
Black Girl with Borom Sarret
Join us at the People's Cinema Club for a screening of two of Ousmane Sembène’s groundbreaking films: Black Girl and Borom Sarret. Hosted by BlackStar.
A photo of a crowded room of people mingling.
(Party)
Nov 11, 2026, 2:00 PM
Seen Issue 011 Launch
Celebrate the launch of Seen 011. Contributing writer Keesean Moore will talk with and editor-in-chief Heidi Saman about their essay on a life-altering cinematic frame. Plus, explore the Brandywine gallery space, enjoy drinks and mingling.
A photo of attendees at the the 2025 Luminary Gala. They are seated around a table in conversation.
(Gala)
Nov 20, 2026
2026 Luminary Gala
BlackStar's annual benefit honoring the people who move culture forward.
A photo of a group of people sitting together, one is looking at a journal and reading from it to the ground. There others appear to be listening intently.
(Seminar)
Mar 5, 2027 – Mar 7, 2027
2027 BlackStar Greaves Seminar
A seminar for Black, Brown, and Indigenous artists working in cinematic realms, hosted by BlackStar. Call for Proposals now open.
Past Events
A still from Rafiki of two young people looking at one another and smiling. One has long pink locs and the other a shaved head and a hat. They are in was appears to be a club, they are glowing red in the light.
(Screening)
Oct 6, 2026
Rafiki
Join us at the People's Cinema Club for a screening of Wanuri Kahiu's Rafiki, hosted by BlackStar.
A black-and white still from The Arch (1968), dir. T'ang Shushuen of a group of people in a salon type setting in China. Two are playing a table game and one is sowing a cloth. The image is manipulated so that the pieces of the frame are slightly different.
(Conversation)
Sep 30, 2026, 3:00 PM
Seen 010 Reading
Join us for a special reading of “Seen But Not Visible: The Paradox of Film Restoration” from Seen 010, by Koel Chu.
A still from Tongues Untied shows two Black men holding one another. They are not wearing shirts, and are looking at the camera with stern expressions.
(Screening)
Sep 8, 2026
Tongues Untied
Join us for the first screening of the People's Cinema Club, Marlon Riggs' Tongues Untied, hosted by BlackStar.
A photo of a crowd watching a film, masks on, at BlackStar Film Festival inside the Kimmel Center.
(Festival)
Aug 6, 2026 – Aug 9, 2026
15th BlackStar Film Festival
An annual celebration of the visual and storytelling traditions of the global majority—showcasing films by Black, Brown, and Indigenous people from around the world.
A film still from Mother of George. It is a close-up shot of the face of an African woman. She has gold eye shadow, earrings, and a gold-and-tan head wrap. She is looking directly at the camera with a soft but striking gaze.
(Screening Series)
Jun 12, 2025, 2:30 PM
John Coltrane En Motion: Mother of George
For What Now: 2026, BlackStar will curate John Coltrane En Motion: Live Rescoring Diasporic Stories of Migration, an immersive film-and-music experience that explores the emotional, cultural, and spiritual pathways of migration through the sonic universe of John Coltrane.
A still from The Queen of My Dreams shows two young people laying on the hood of an old car. The women is looking at the man with a soft smile. The man is looking up at the sky above him.
(Screening Series)
Jun 10, 2025, 2:30 PM
John Coltrane En Motion: The Queen of My Dreams
For What Now: 2026, BlackStar will curate John Coltrane En Motion: Live Rescoring Diasporic Stories of Migration, an immersive film-and-music experience that explores the emotional, cultural, and spiritual pathways of migration through the sonic universe of John Coltrane.
A reimagined painting of the Girl with a Pearl Earring featuring a Black girl looking directly at the camera with a strong gaze. She has long, detailed eyelashes, and her expression is calm but intense.
(Conversation)
May 28, 2026, 3:00 PM
Seen Issue 010 Launch Event
Please join us for a conversation about how Seen issue 010 came together from the editorial, creative, and design process with section editor Camille Acker and art director Leo Brooks, moderated by Heidi Saman.
A photo of a group of people sitting together, one is looking at a journal and reading from it to the ground. There others appear to be listening intently.
(Seminar)
Mar 5, 2026 – Mar 7, 2026
William and Louise Greaves Filmmaker Seminar 2026
A seminar for Black, Brown, and Indigenous artists working in cinematic realms, hosted by BlackStar. Registration open now.
A black-and-white photo of four people at a party flipping through a copy of Seen Issue 009.
(Conversation)
Feb 12, 2026, 2:00 PM
Seen Issue 009 Contributors Roundtable
Please join us for food, drinks, and a live conversation between Seen Issue 009 contributors Maya S. Cade, Jenny Yang, and Darol Olu Kae, moderated by editor-in-chief Heidi Saman.
A black-and-white film still from TCB – The Toni Cade Bambara School of Organizing shows Toni Cade Bambara leaning against a paisley-printed curtain, gazing directly at the camera. She wears an afro and an open striped vest over a long-sleeve top. Behind her is a board with papers pinned to it and a shelf with books.
(Screening)
Feb 11, 2026, 2:30 PM
TCB – The Toni Cade Bambara School of Organizing
A special screening of Louis Massiah and Monica Henriquez's TCB – The Toni Cade Bambara School of Organizing at Vidiots in Los Angeles, followed by a conversation with Massiah moderated by Courtney R. Baker.