Festival← Blackstar Projects
2025
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FILMS A–Z

92 films

A film still from 16 ½ shows half the face of a young Black girl. Her gaze is straight ahead with a gentle smile. A cloth is presumably draped over her head. There is a pink overlay over the entire still.
(World Premiere)(Best Feature Documentary Nominee)

16 ½

Feature DocumentaryDir. by Harlan BanksUnited StatesRuntime: 63 minutes
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TW: Discussion of murder, physical violence; Flashing lights - 49:31-50:09
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A film still from A LUTA CONTINUA // ATARAXY 44 shows the eyes and nose of an older Black man who is staring at something off screen. He is wearing black circle glasses with dark lenses. In the reflection of the lenses there is a window with items placed along the window sill.
(World Premiere)(Best Experimental Film Nominee)

A Luta Continua // Ataraxy 44

ExperimentalDir. by Curtis EsselGermanyRuntime: 2 minutes
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A film still from A New Voice shows two Black women in conversation presumably in a dining room with wooden furniture. The older woman is wearing an orange floral dress and gold and orange pendant earrings. The other woman with her back to the camera has locs tied together with a blue hair band. There is an older Black man recording the women with a camcorder.
(World Premiere)

A New Voice

Short DocumentaryDir. by Mike Davis & Debbie DavisUnited StatesRuntime: 16 minutes
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A poster from Adamstown shows three film stills stacked vertically. The top film still shows the side profile of a Black woman staring at something off screen. She is wearing a green scarf tied in a knot on her head and gold earrings against a blurred out background. The middle film still shows a figure dressed in all black running through a dimly lit room. On both sides of the figure are metal gates lining the wall. The bottom film still shows the silhouette of a person walking from the darkness into a window-lit room. To the right of the silhouette is a door with closed shades on the glass.
(World Premiere)

Adamstown

Short NarrativeDir. by Andrew BilindabagaboUnited States, RwandaRuntime: 15 minutes
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TW: Flashing lights - 06:08, 09:30
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A film still from All That’s Left of You shows a group of Palestinians posing in front of a blue backdrop with a painted palm tree. At the center stands a woman in a white wedding dress and veil, with a young boy in front of her. Two men in suits stand to her left, and two more men in suits stand to her right. A woman holding presumably a baby wrapped in a white cloth stands nearby, along with another woman in a fur coat.
(Philadelphia Premiere)

All That’s Left of You (اللي باقي منك)

Feature NarrativeDir. by Cherien DabisGermany, Cyprus, Palestine, Jordan, Greece, Qatar, Saudi ArabiaRuntime: 145 minutes
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TW: Colonial violence
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A film still from all the love i could handle shows the side profile of a young Black girl curiously staring at something off screen.
(East Coast Premiere)

all the love i could handle

Short NarrativeDir. by Ruby Rose CollinsUnited StatesRuntime: 15 minutes
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A film still from Another One shows a Black man in a dark room. There are highlights only on his forehead, nose, and mouth. Only the top of his red t-shirt is visible. He stares at something beyond the screen with no emotion.
(North America Premiere)

Another Other

ExperimentalDir. by Bex Oluwatoyin ThompsonUnited StatesRuntime: 9 minutes
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TW: Flashing lights - 00:41-02:20
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A film still from Axel shows the face of a Black child emerging from darkness. The child’s eyes are fixed down.
(World Premiere)

Axel

Short NarrativeDir. by Stefani SaintongeUnited StatesRuntime: 12 minutes
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A film still from Binnigula’sa’ (Ancient Zapotec People) shows a young boy in conversation with an older man. The boy is looking at the man who looks at a photo the boy holds in his hands. They are seated outside around a table with small crafted figures.
(United States Premiere)

Binnigula’sa’ (Ancient Zapotec People)

Feature DocumentaryDir. by Jorge Ángel PérezMexicoRuntime: 75 minutes
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A film still from Black Glass shows an open field, presumably atop a mountain, with algae speckled rocks covered in yellow grass. There is a blue sky filled with fluffy white clouds. In the foreground a pole stands planted between the rocks, draped with hats, shirts, and other articles of clothing.
(Philadelphia Premiere)

Black Glass

ExperimentalDir. by Adam PironUnited StatesRuntime: 9 minutes
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TW: Flashing lights - 05:10-05:45
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A film still from BLKNWS: Terms & Conditions shows a woman standing in a room illuminated by red lights. There is a thick dark ink that goes from the bottom of her lip to her chin. Her hands are stacked on top of each other palm up in front of her. She is wearing a plaid suit.

BLKNWS: Terms & Conditions

Feature DocumentaryDir. by Kahlil JosephUnited StatesRuntime: 113 minutes
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A film still from Bloodlines, Mississippi shows a Black man looking down at something off screen. He is wearing a black t-shirt with an orange graphic and purple circle lensed glasses, the left lens is gold.
(East Coast Premiere)

Bloodlines, Mississippi

Short DocumentaryDir. by Crystal KayizaUnited States, United KingdomRuntime: 20 minutes
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A film still from Boil That Cabbage Down shows a group of Black people posed together in a field with a clear light blue sky. At the center is a man wearing a blue blazer over a white collared shirt. Next to him is a woman wearing a white shirt with a frilly collar. Behind them stand three Black men also in blazers. The man on the left stands out, wearing a red blazer and an afro. He is the only person without a white scarf tied on their head.
(Philadelphia Premiere)

Boil That Cabbage Down

Short DocumentaryDir. by Candace WilliamsonUnited StatesRuntime: 25 minutes
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A film still from Brick by Brick shows a woman with a soft gaze looking into the distance at night, her hand resting gently on her opposite shoulder in a self-embrace. She has curly hair that fades from black to hot pink. The background is blurred, filled with soft dots of light.
(North America Premiere)

Brick by Brick (Tijolo por tijolo)

Feature DocumentaryDir. by Victória Álvares & Quentin DelarocheBrazilRuntime: 103 minutes
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A film still from Bubbling Baby shows two women in a crowd. The woman on the left is wearing a white knitted off the shoulder top. She has her hands on the waist of the other woman who is bent over in front of her. The other woman is wearing a silk tank top tied in the back and jean shorts.
(North America Premiere)

Bubbling Baby

Short DocumentaryDir. by Sharine RijsenburgNetherlandsRuntime: 19 minutes
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A film still from Budget Paradise shows a series of blue washing machines in a laundromat. The second to last washing machine door is open. The glass on the door blurs the face of a young person sitting on a stool with their back against the washer looking out into the distance.
(East Coast Premiere)

Budget Paradise

Short NarrativeDir. by LaTajh Simmons-WeaverUnited StatesRuntime: 14 minutes
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A film still from Bukra shows a young Syrian boy and girl sitting in a field. Both of their gazes in the distance. Between them is a makeshift soccer ball made with different fabrics, held together with bands.
(East Coast Premiere)

Bukra (بُكرا)

Short NarrativeDir. by Alex AljouniUnited StatesRuntime: 15 minutes
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A film still from Cais shows the back of a woman standing at the opening of double doors. She looks out at a stretch of grass that leads up to the grayscale water and sky in front of her.
(North America Premiere)

Cais

Feature DocumentaryDir. by Safira MoreiraBrazilRuntime: 69 minutes
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A film still from Carissa shows a young girl lying against white bags filled with a green crop. The girl is looking into the partly cloudy blue sky.
(Philadelphia Premiere)

Carissa

Feature NarrativeDir. by Jason Jacobs & Devon DelmarSouth AfricaRuntime: 90 minutes
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A film still from Celestine Florida Storm shows a barn illuminated in red light in the middle of the night. The shadows of trees can be seen above the barn against the starry sky.
(Philadelphia Premiere)

Celestine (Florida Storm)

ExperimentalDir. by Allison Janae HamiltonUnited StatesRuntime: 12 minutes
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A poster for Children of the Waves features three film stills stacked vertically, each depicting the same three young Black boys. In the top still, they sit on a ledge in front of a white building with blue shutters, gazing into the distance. The boy on the left holds a Monopoly game in his lap, the middle boy holds a folded piece of paper, and the boy on the right holds a soccer ball. The middle still shows their silhouettes as they sit at the edge of a surface, watching the sunset over the ocean. In the bottom still, they sit in front of the same building from the first still, laughing and talking with each other.
(Philadelphia Premiere)

Children of the Waves (Enfants des Courants d’Eaux)

Short DocumentaryDir. by Kezia SakhoFranceRuntime: 8 minutes
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A black-and-white film still from Compensation shows a Black woman and man sitting at a dining table. Both their gazes are fixed on each other as they converse with sign language. Above their heads, the word “F–L–O–W-” appears in small white text with dashes between each letter.
(Philadelphia Premiere)

Compensation

Feature NarrativeDir. by Zeinabu irene DavisUnited StatesRuntime: 92 minutes
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A film still from Correct Me If I’m Wrong shows an older Asian woman standing on a balcony, leaning against the railing as she looks into the distance. One of her arms is perched on the railing with a cigarette in her hand. She wears a pink shawl draped around her shoulders.
(Philadelphia Premiere)(Best Short Documentary Nominee)

Correct Me If I’m Wrong (如你所愿 / Ru ni suo yuan)

Short DocumentaryDir. by Hao ZhouGermany, United StatesRuntime: 23 minutes
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TW: Homophobia
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A film still from Dear Sikhonkwane shows a gray typewriter resting on a table in front of a sheer white curtain. Behind the curtain, a window with an iron guard is partially visible.
(World Premiere)

Dear Sikhonkwane

Short DocumentaryDir. by Sihle HlopheSouth AfricaRuntime: 21 minutes
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A film still from Della Can Fly shows an older Black man and young Black girl standing next to each other, looking beyond the camera. The man wears a blue beret and a red multicolored fuzzy cardigan. The young girl is wearing a black polka dot top, and her black hair is styled in braids, with the first two on each side being red.
(World Premiere)

Della Can Fly!

Short NarrativeDir. by Jasmine LyneaUnited StatesRuntime: 14 minutes
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A film still from Don’t Cry Butterfly shows two Asian people standing side by side looking up at presumably the ceiling of a home. The person on the right is folding a mop.
(Philadelphia Premiere)

Don’t Cry, Butterfly (Mưa trên cánh bướm)

Feature NarrativeDir. by Dương Diệu LinhViet Nam, Singapore, Philippines, IndonesiaRuntime: 97 minutes
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A film still from Dooni shows the silhouette of a person’s head in front of a wall illuminated by an unknown light source. On the wall is the shadow of another head.
(World Premiere)

Dooni

ExperimentalDir. by Kevin Jerome Everson & Claudrena N. HaroldUnited StatesRuntime: 8 minutes
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A film still from Eternal Kinship shows a Nepali woman with a soft gaze, looking at something off screen. She is wearing a red scarf draped over the crown of her head with a red top and a necklace with red beads and pearls. Coming into frame from the left are a pair of hands. One hand touches the forehead of the woman while the other hand holds a small gold platter.
(World Premiere)(Best Short Narrative Nominee)

Eternal Kinship (अनन्त नाता)

Short NarrativeDir. by Arbin RaiNepalRuntime: 11 minutes
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A black-and-white film still from Exodus shows a woman wearing a winter coat with a fur lined hood pulled over her head. The view of the woman is through a gap between two unknown objects.
(Philadelphia Premiere)

Exodus

Short DocumentaryDir. by Nimco SheikhadenUnited States, PanamaRuntime: 35 minutes
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A film still from Food for the Souls shows a young Black woman and man in an embrace sharing a gaze.
(World Premiere)

Food for the Soul

Short NarrativeDir. by Chisom ChiekeUnited StatesRuntime: 18 minutes
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A film still from Gazan Tales shows two young boys. The boy on the left looks toward the boy on the right, who gazes into the camera with teary eyes and a single tear trailing down his cheek.
(Philadelphia Premiere)

Gazan Tales (غزة التي تطل على البحر)

Feature DocumentaryDir. by Mahmoud Nabil AhmedPalestine, TunisiaRuntime: 82 minutes
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A film still from Hanami shows a young Black girl holding a conch shell up to her ear as she looks at something off screen.
(Philadelphia Premiere)

Hanami

Feature NarrativeDir. by Denise FernandesSwitzerland, Portugal, Cape VerdeRuntime: 96 minutes
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A film still from Hatchlings shows a young black girl holding her phone up to her ear. Her gaze is fixed off screen.
(Philadelphia Premiere)

Hatchlings

Short NarrativeDir. by Jahmil EadyUnited StatesRuntime: 15 minutes
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TW: Maternal death
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A film still from Highway to the Moon shows a young Black man in an astronaut suit standing in a room with blue walls. He holds his helmet in his hands, which emits a glowing light purple light that softly illuminates his body.
(North America Premiere)

Highway to the Moon

Short NarrativeDir. by Letitia WrightUnited Kingdom, United StatesRuntime: 26 minutes
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TW: Flashing lights - 01:00:11-01:00:41, 01:10:29-01:10:46, 01:15:47-01:16:52
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A film still from Hosts for Half a Century shows an older Asian man wearing a face mask pushing a shopping cart filled with groceries down an aisle of a grocery store.
(Philadelphia Premiere)

Hosts for Half a Century (Anfitriões há meio século)

Short DocumentaryDir. by Typju Mỹky & André Tupxi LopesBrazilRuntime: 39 minutes
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A film still from Images de Tunisie shows the palm of a hand covered in clay that holds a clay figure.
(United States Premiere)

Images de Tunisie (صور من تونس)

ExperimentalDir. by Younès Ben SlimaneUnited Kingdom, France, TunisiaRuntime: 15 minutes
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A film still from Kanenon:we–Original Seeds shows a tan cartoon hand pasted over an image of the galaxy. In the palm of the hand are 2 beans, 2 seeds, and 3 kernels of corn.
(Philadelphia Premiere)

Kanenon:we – Original Seeds

Short DocumentaryDir. by Katsitsionni FoxUnited StatesRuntime: 26 minutes
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A film still from L'Arbre de l’Authenticité shows a glass counter displaying jars filled with organic materials like lemons and leaves. Inside the counter, logs and more organic items are arranged on shelves. Behind it, glass doored shelves hold similar contents and additional jars.
(Philadelphia Premiere)

L’Arbre de l’Authenticité

Feature DocumentaryDir. by Sammy BalojiBelgium, Democratic Republic of CongoRuntime: 89 minutes
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A film still from Lana shows a young Black woman with a calm gaze fixed off screen. She wears a gray, white, and red flannel with her hair in braids.
(Philadelphia Premiere)

Lana

Short NarrativeDir. by Laetitia Angba & Julie R. LissoubaCanadaRuntime: 17 minutes
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A film still from Las Cosas Que Brillan shows a black frame around a staged scene. Inside the frame is a woman dressed as a mermaid, with a yellow tail and top, sleeping on a faux rock. Standing above her is a man dressed as a soldier, wearing dirty armor with a grimy face, gazing down at her. They are positioned within a theatrical set designed to mimic an ocean scene with a series of waves behind them.
(World Premiere)

Las Cosas Que Brillan

Short NarrativeDir. by Kristal SotomayorUnited StatesRuntime: 11 minutes
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TW: Flashing lights - 05:12-05:19
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A film still from Last Hoorah at G-Baby’s shows two Black women sitting on a plastic-covered couch. They both look with concern at a phone one of the women holds. They are surrounded by bath towels and other articles of clothing.
(Philadelphia Premiere)

Last Hoorah at G-Baby’s

Short NarrativeDir. by DeeDee CasimirUnited StatesRuntime: 14 minutes
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A film still from Leaving Ikorodu in 1999 shows a Black woman looking at a young Black girl, who stands with her arms crossed and a solemn face at her passenger window.
(United States Premiere)(Best Short Narrative Nominee)

Leaving Ikorodu In 1999

Short NarrativeDir. by Rashida SerikiUnited Kingdom, NigeriaRuntime: 18 minutes
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A film still from Lees Waxul shows a Black man sitting on a step with his back against the wall of an abandoned building. The structure is crumbling, with gaps in the walls and plants growing up from the floor. He looks off to the side at something off screen, holding a phone between his legs.
(Philadelphia Premiere)

Lees Waxul

Short NarrativeDir. by Yoro MbayeSenegal, FranceRuntime: 21 minutes
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A black-and-white film still from Listen to Me shows presumably a pregnant woman holding her stomach as she walks along the shoreline of a beach.
(World Premiere)

Listen to Me

Feature DocumentaryDir. by Stephanie Etienne & Kanika HarrisUnited StatesRuntime: 77 minutes
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TW: Maternal and infant mortality
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A film still from Listen to the Voices shows four young Black boys sitting side-by-side. Their attention is focused on something that one of the boys holds in his lap off screen.
(Philadelphia Premiere)

Listen to the Voices (Kouté vwa)

Feature DocumentaryDir. by Maxime Jean-BaptisteBelgium, France, French GuianaRuntime: 77 minutes
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A film still from Love, Brooklyn shows a Black man and woman conversing in front of a wall of framed paintings. They both hold a glass of wine. The man looks at the woman who has her head tilted towards him, smiling with her eyes closed.
(Philadelphia Premiere)

Love, Brooklyn

Feature NarrativeDir. by Rachael Abigail HolderUnited StatesRuntime: 97 minutes
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A film still from Lazy White Cows shows the face of a Brazilian girl with red braids from the perspective of her phone. The power off symbol can be seen at the top of the still. Her hand can be seen reaching to turn off her phone.
(North America Premiere)(Best Short Narrative Nominee)

LWC (Lazy White Cows)

Short NarrativeDir. by Asaph LuccasBrazilRuntime: 19 minutes
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A film still from Maqluba shows a serene living room lit up solely with various candles. From the back of the couch an older woman can be seen speaking to a young woman as they share a close moment.
(East Coast Premiere)

Maqluba

Short NarrativeDir. by Mike ElsherifUnited StatesRuntime: 28 minutes
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A film still from Move Ya Body: The Birth of House shows a group of six young people. They stand in a yard holding various instruments.
(Philadelphia Premiere)

Move Ya Body: The Birth of House

Feature DocumentaryDir. by Elegance BrattonUnited StatesRuntime: 88 minutes
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A film still from Natimorto shows the side profile of a Brazilian man. There is white netting that wraps around his head and body.
(World Premiere)(Best Experimental Film Nominee)

Natimorto

ExperimentalDir. by Ibrahem Hasan & Leandro HBLBrazilRuntime: 12 minutes
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A film still from Next Life shows presumably a painting of a field filled with wildflowers under a partially cloudy blue sky. Behind the field are mountains.
(North America Premiere)

Next Life

Feature NarrativeDir. by Tenzin PhuntsogUnited States, MexicoRuntime: 73 minutes
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A hot pink and light purple dual-toned film still from nobody’s word shows a figure presumably standing in a body of water looking over their shoulder. The bottom of the still reads: “500 years ago…wow.” in small white text.
(Philadelphia Premiere)

nobody’s word

ExperimentalDir. by Camara TaylorScotland, Jamaica, BarbadosRuntime: 13 minutes
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A film still from Oceania shows a dark, seemingly boundless room. A spotlight illuminates a platform holding two bodies, lying face up, covered from the chest down with a sheet. At the head of the platform stands a small group of people dressed in black suits and dresses, each holding a flower. A short distance away, another man in a suit faces them. He stands between two hollowed three-dimensional rectangles that sink into the ground.
(East Coast Premiere)(Best Short Narrative Nominee)

Oceania

Short NarrativeDir. by Valentin NoujaïmFranceRuntime: 24 minutes
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A film still from One Day This Kid shows a young boy standing in a body of water. He looks off into the distance at something off screen with an emotionless face. Everything around the boy is out of focus, including the side profile of a man who stands behind him.
(Philadelphia Premiere)

One Day This Kid

Short NarrativeDir. by Alexander FarahCanadaRuntime: 18 minutes
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TW: Sexuality, may not be appropriate for children
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A film still from Oríkì Oshun shows a woman wearing a yellow veil and dress. Her hands, dressed in gold jewelry and red nails, are pressed together in front of her chest.
(World Premiere)

Oríkì Oshun

ExperimentalDir. by Elena GuzmanUnited StatesRuntime: 16 minutes
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A film still from Otherworld shows a clothesline with empty clothespins standing on a coastline under a cloudy sky. A pile of chopped wood sits in the background.
(World Premiere)

Otherworld

Short DocumentaryDir. by Lokotah SanbornUnited StatesRuntime: 10 minutes
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A film still from Piñata Prayers shows the back of a piñata that faces a blue wall with a palm tree pattern. The piñata resembles a person playing a sport. It wears the number thirteen on its back.
(Philadelphia Premiere)(Best Short Documentary Nominee)

Piñata Prayers

Short DocumentaryDir. by Daniel LariosUnited States, El SalvadorRuntime: 24 minutes
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(World Premiere)

Possible Landscapes

Feature DocumentaryDir. by Kannan ArunasalamUnited StatesRuntime: 105 minutes
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A film still from Ree’s Destiny shows the face of a Black woman who smiles looking into the distance. Her black curled hair fades into a vibrant blue, and she wears a full face of makeup along with a white cowboy hat wrapped with dangling clear crystals around the rim.
(Philadelphia Premiere)

Ree’s Destiny

Short NarrativeDir. by Steven MosleyUnited StatesRuntime: 16 minutes
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A film still from Remaining Native shows a Native American boy in motion, presumably running, with his mid-length black hair flowing behind him. He wears a black tank top and a chain necklace that holds a soda can tab.
(Philadelphia Premiere)

Remaining Native

Feature DocumentaryDir. by Paige BethmannUnited StatesRuntime: 87 minutes
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TW: Colonial violence and child abuse
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A film still from Run, Sister Joan shows a Black nun standing at an opened window. The side of her face is illuminated by the light from outside as she looks over her shoulder at the camera with a serious face.
(World Premiere)

Run, Sister Joan

Short NarrativeDir. by Walé OyéjidéUnited StatesRuntime: 20 minutes
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A film still from Sabbatical shows an overhead shot of a Black woman curled into a ball in a bathtub. Her arms are crossed in a self-embrace, and she slightly tilts her head upwards with her eyes closed. Her hair is in a low cut.
(North America Premiere)(Best Feature Narrative Nominee)

Sabbatical

Feature NarrativeDir. by Karabo LedigaSouth AfricaRuntime: 110 minutes
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A black-and-white film still from Seeds shows an older Black man holding a baby against his chest. The baby looks out while the man looks down at the baby holding their pacifier. There is a playset in the background.
(Philadelphia Premiere)

Seeds

Feature DocumentaryDir. by Brittany ShyneUnited StatesRuntime: 123 minutes
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A film still from Seek No Favor shows the face of a Black woman who looks directly into the camera with a straight face.
(World Premiere)(Best Short Narrative Nominee)

Seek No Favor

Short NarrativeDir. by Elle Clay & Leilah WeinraubUnited StatesRuntime: 12 minutes
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A film still from Space to Breathe shows a Black woman sitting in the middle of two Black men. They are in a room lined with LED strips in various colors. The woman looks into the camera, wearing a purple and pink afro, thick gold necklace, and burgundy off the shoulder dress. The man to her left wears a knitted cap with a kente cloth top and gold jewelry. The other man has two-toned green hair and green jacket along with gold jewelry.
(North America Premiere)

Space to Breathe

Short NarrativeDir. by Juicebox P. BurtonUnited StatesRuntime: 21 minutes
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A film still from Spaces as Traces shows an open case in a dark room that holds a figurine of presumably a religious figure. To either side of the figurine are flowers that illuminate the inside of the case. Fruits are placed in bowls directly in front of the open case.
(United States Premiere)

spaces as traces

ExperimentalDir. by Teo Shi YunSingapore, United KingdomRuntime: 9 minutes
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TW: Flashing lights - 01:35, 01:38, 02:44, 04:35
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A film still from Speaking in Tongues: Take One shows a white background with a thinly outlined faced black circle. Inside the circle, four black right angled pieces make up a plus sign.
(Philadelphia Premiere)

Speaking in Tongues: Take One

ExperimentalDir. by Christopher HarrisUnited StatesRuntime: 15 minutes
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A film still from Sugar Island shows a young Dominican-Haitian woman in a purple tulle dress holding a snake between her hands. Her mouth is slightly open and her eyes, adorned with small gems beneath them are focused with concern on something beyond the camera. In the blurred background, more people can be seen wearing similar purple dresses, along with others in red and green outfits.
(Philadelphia Premiere)(Best Feature Narrative Nominee)

Sugar Island

Feature NarrativeDir. by Johanne Gomez TerreroSpain, Dominican RepublicRuntime: 91 minutes
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A film still from Sun Ra: Do the Impossible shows a Black man dressed in a red and metallic gold outfit seated at a piano. He looks to the side, into the camera. A warm colored fog surrounds him, filling the space with a hazy glow.
(Philadelphia Premiere)

Sun Ra: Do the Impossible

Feature DocumentaryDir. by Christine TurnerUnited StatesRuntime: 84 minutes
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A film still from Taking Walls shows an older Black woman standing at the doors of a brown building. A small sign on one of the doors reads: “Closed for Remodeling”. The woman grins, holding a bouquet of purple and pink flowers, and looks to the side off into the distance.
(Philadelphia Premiere)

Talking Walls

Short DocumentaryDir. by MarcellusUnited StatesRuntime: 27 minutes
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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.
(World Premiere)(Best Feature Documentary Nominee)

TCB – The Toni Cade Bambara School of Organizing

Feature DocumentaryDir. by Louis Massiah & Monica HenriquezUnited States, United Kingdom, Canada, France, SenegalRuntime: 105 minutes
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A film still from Teaching America shows a classroom of majority Black students students seated at desks arranged to form an aisle down the center of the room. The students’ attention is focused on a Black woman who stands in this aisle. She wears a black T-shirt that reads: “Central High NAACP” with a graphic of Africa in the center.
(World Premiere)

Teaching America

Short DocumentaryDir. by Anurima BhargavaUnited StatesRuntime: 23 minutes
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A film still from Tessitura shows a Black woman standing on the stage of a grand room, presumably singing. Her elbows are bent with hands in front of her. She wears a black sheer long-sleeved top and a black floor length skirt with a gold pattern.
(Philadelphia Premiere)(Best Short Documentary Nominee)

Tessitura

Short DocumentaryDir. by Lydia Cornett & Brit FryerUnited StatesRuntime: 18 minutes
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(Special Screening Premiere)

The Debutantes

Feature DocumentaryDir. by Contessa GaylesUnited StatesRuntime: 91 minutes
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A film still from The Devil is Busy Shows an older Black woman wearing a face mask, her gaze looking at something off screen. She wears a neon yellow and orange vest over a grey zip-up hoodie. Held in front of her shoulder is a walkie-talkie.
(Philadelphia Premiere)(Best Short Documentary Nominee)

The Devil Is Busy

Short DocumentaryDir. by Christalyn Hampton & Geeta GandbhirUnited StatesRuntime: 31 minutes
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TW: Abortion, gender-based violence
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A film still from The Flowers Stand Silently, Witnessing shows a hand holding up a stem sprouting magenta flowers. The flowers are framed within a gap between trees, revealing a clear blue sky in the background.
(Philadelphia Premiere)

The Flowers Stand Silently, Witnessing

Short DocumentaryDir. by Theo PanagopoulosUnited KingdomRuntime: 17 minutes
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A film still from The Great North shows a silhouette standing in the center of a dark room, illuminated solely by a window whose curtain is pulled open. The silhouette is positioned between a railing and a wall that extends to the camera. The other side of the wall reveals a dimly lit room with indiscernible items.
(North America Premiere)(Best Feature Documentary Nominee)

The Great North

Feature DocumentaryDir. by Jenn NkiruUnited KingdomRuntime: 52 minutes
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A black-and-white film still from The Last Harvest shows a disheartened young Black boy sitting at a table. His gaze is fixed off screen as his forearms rest on the table, hands touching.
(North America Premiere)(Best Short Narrative Nominee)

The Last Harvest

Short NarrativeDir. by Nuno Boaventura MirandaCape Verde, PortugalRuntime: 22 minutes
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A film still from The River shows a wide shot of a large tree against a clear blue sky. Under the tree stands a woman next to a black and white board in which a child sits in front of. To each side of the child stand four people dressed in white head wraps, white robes with golden crosses in the center, and an orange and gold stole.
(Philadelphia Premiere)(Best Experimental Film Nominee)

The River

ExperimentalDir. by Herrana AddisuEthiopiaRuntime: 18 minutes
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A film still from The Shadow Scholars shows the back of four Black men walking along a sidewalk. One of them wears a black graduation cap and gown along with a blue lei and gold stole.
(Philadelphia Premiere)

The Shadow Scholars

Feature DocumentaryDir. by Eloise KingUnited KingdomRuntime: 100 minutes
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A black-and-white film still from The Sixth Borough shows a Black man walking down the aisle of a record store. He holds a bag in his hand and wears a Brooklyn Nets hat and hoodie along with a chain that reads: “RA”.
(Philadelphia Premiere)

The Sixth Borough

Feature DocumentaryDir. by Jason PollardUnited StatesRuntime: 73 minutes
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A film still from The Volcano Manifesto shows a Black man standing in the middle of the woods, leaning on a walking stick. His face is tense with concern, eyes shifted to the side and focused on something off screen. Behind him, large rocks rise out of frame into the sky, and he is surrounded by patches of trees,bushes, and other foliage.
(Philadelphia Premiere)(Best Experimental Film Nominee)

The Volcano Manifesto

ExperimentalDir. by Cauleen SmithUnited StatesRuntime: 50 minutes
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(Philadelphia Premiere)

Third Act

Feature DocumentaryDir. by Tadashi NakamuraUnited StatesRuntime: 91 minutes
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A film still from Tiger shows the silhouette of a woman’s side profile standing in a doorway. Her head is outlined by a red haze that comes from the room behind her, where the windows glow in a gradient that fades from red to orange.
(Philadelphia Premiere)(Best Short Documentary Nominee)

Tiger

Short DocumentaryDir. by Loren WatersUnited StatesRuntime: 13 minutes
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A film still from Twenty Three shows a dark field of grass. Emerging from the darkness stands three figures draped in red cloth over red and black pants. Sitting in front of them is a young woman wearing a long blue dress with a yellow hijab.
(Philadelphia Premiere)

Twenty Three

ExperimentalDir. by Wasima Farah & Kamyar MohseninUnited StatesRuntime: 2 minutes
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TW: Flashing lights - 0:43-0:46, 1:57-1:59
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A film still from The Nile Shows a man in red lighting holding a film camera up to his eye. A light fog is casted from a spotlight on his side.
(North America Premiere)

Two Niles (Dois Nilos)

Short DocumentaryDir. by Rodrigo de Janeiro & Samuel LoboBrazilRuntime: 18 minutes
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A film still from Untitled (How High the Moon) shows a young Black boy in a suit playing the trumpet. In front of him, a young Black girl dressed in all white is looking up at him. Behind her is a sphinx positioned in front of presumably the side of a pyramid.
(Philadelphia Premiere)(Best Experimental Film Nominee)

Untitled (How High the Moon)

ExperimentalDir. by Rashida BumbrayUnited StatesRuntime: 10 minutes
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A film still from Viet and Nam shows two Asian men standing at the shoreline, facing each other. They wear matching navy blue jackets and pants, holding their shoes as the water washed over their feet. Their gaze is fixed on their hands, which together hold an unknown object.
(Philadelphia Premiere)

Viet and Nam (Trong lòng dat)

Feature NarrativeDir. by Minh Quy TruongVietnam, Philippines, Singapore, France, Netherlands, Italy, Germany, United StatesRuntime: 129 minutes
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A film still from We Want the Funk shows a Black man seated in a music recording studio, holding a guitar. He smiles excitedly.
(Philadelphia Premiere)

We Want the Funk!

Feature DocumentaryDir. by Stanley Nelson & Nicole LondonUnited StatesRuntime: 80 minutes
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A film still from We Were the Scenery shows an Asian woman smiling as she is captured in motion in a door frame. Behind her, two Asian children rest. One child looks at the other, who is lying on a small swing and focused on a TV screen.
(Philadelphia Premiere)(Best Short Documentary Nominee)

We Were The Scenery

Short DocumentaryDir. by Christopher RadcliffUnited States, CanadaRuntime: 15 minutes
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A film still from White House shows an older Black woman in a wheelchair looking out from an overpass above a road. Behind her, a young Black man leans against the opposite fence of the overpass.
(East Coast Premiere)(Best Feature Narrative Nominee)

White House (Kasa Branca)

Feature NarrativeDir. by Luciano VidigalBrazilRuntime: 90 minutes
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TW: Sexuality, may not be appropriate for children
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A film still from Why the Sun Moon Live in the Sky shows two astronauts standing in the middle of the woods, holding hands and sharing a gaze. Their helmets emit a soft blue glow that lights the surrounding darkness.
(North America Premiere)

Why the Sun & Moon Live in the Sky

Short NarrativeDir. by Aisha BolajiIrelandRuntime: 13 minutes
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TW: Flashing lights - 08:46-09:03
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