Schedule Films A–Z Talks & Events My Schedule

SCHEDULE

JULY 31

(EVENT)

BlackStar Pitch

PitchJuly 31, 10:00AM EDTThe Wilma Theater

Eight filmmakers will pitch their short nonfiction projects live for the opportunity to win a grand prize of $75,000 in production funds.

(FILM)(PHILADELPHIA)(OPEN CAPTIONS)

Listen to the Voices (Kouté vwa)

Feature DocumentaryJuly 31, 10:30AM EDTSuzanne Roberts Theatre

During his summer holidays in French Guiana, Melrick, a young boy, becomes aware of the reasons why his family has been destroyed by a tragic death. Thank you to our screening partners: Reelblack, Car...

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.

(FILM)(PHILADELPHIA)(OPEN CAPTIONS)

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

Feature NarrativeJuly 31, 11:00AM EDTPerelman Theater @ Kimmel

Tam, a hardworking staff member at a wedding venue, finds out about her husband’s affair on live TV. Instead of confronting him, she seeks to win back his love with the help of a powerful spell master...

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.

(FILM)(PHILADELPHIA)(BEST FEATURE NARRATIVE NOMINEE)(OPEN CAPTIONS)

Sugar Island

Feature NarrativeJuly 31, 1:00PM EDTSuzanne Roberts Theatre

Makenya, a Dominican-Haitian teenager, navigates an unwanted pregnancy and the harsh labor that defines her world. As Makenya confronts family burdens and the specter of displacement, a mysterious the...

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.

(FILM)(PHILADELPHIA)(OPEN CAPTIONS)

Hanami

Feature NarrativeJuly 31, 1:30PM EDTThe Wilma Theater

On a remote volcanic island that everybody wants to leave, little Nana learns how to stay. Thank you to our screening partners: Undocumented Filmmakers Collective

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.

(EVENT)

StoryCorps Presents: Brightness in Black

ConversationJuly 31, 2:00PM EDTThe Daily Jawn Stage @ Kimmel

A bold, unfiltered morning experience where the Brightness in Black team brings joy, nuance, and storytelling to life—in real time.

(FILM)(EAST COAST)(NORTH AMERICA)(WORLD)(BEST EXPERIMENTAL FILM NOMINEE)(BEST SHORT NARRATIVE NOMINEE)(OPEN CAPTIONS)

In Memoriam Shorts

ExperimentalShort NarrativeJuly 31, 2:00PM EDTPerelman Theater @ Kimmel

Posthumous meditations on the departed. Thank you to our screening partners: Twelve Gates Arts, Vox Populi, Black Girls in Art Spaces, African American Museum in Philadelphia

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.

(EVENT)

Guided Wellness Space with Kim Hunter-Bryant

WellnessJuly 31, 3:30PM EDTMerck Room @ Kimmel

Join Kim Hunter-Bryant, LCSW, PMH-C, a licensed clinical social worker, wellness facilitator, and community healer, for a 4-day immersive wellness experience at BlackStar. These guided sessions invite...

(FILM)(PHILADELPHIA)(WORLD)(BEST SHORT NARRATIVE NOMINEE)(OPEN CAPTIONS)

Jamaa Shorts

Short NarrativeShorts ProgramJuly 31, 4:00PM EDTSuzanne Roberts Theatre

Dilemmas within the community of blood relations. Thank you to our screening partners: Laos in the House

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.

(FILM)(NORTH AMERICA)(OPEN CAPTIONS)

Next Life

Feature NarrativeJuly 31, 4:30PM EDTThe Wilma Theater

A Tibetan family seeks moments of “temporary happiness” while living in exile in suburban America. As their father suﬀers from a mysterious inner pain rooted in childhood trauma, they turn to Buddhist...

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.

(FILM)(EAST COAST)(PHILADELPHIA)(WORLD)(CLOSED CAPTIONING)

Antecessor Shorts

Short DocumentaryShort NarrativeJuly 31, 5:00PM EDTPerelman Theater @ Kimmel

Cause old folks is the nation. — Toni Cade Bambara Thank you to our screening partners: Black Soul Vintage, African American Museum in Phialdelphia

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.

(EVENT)(ASL INTERPRETATION)

Reclaiming the Reel Panel

PanelsJuly 31, 5:30PM EDTThe Daily Jawn Stage @ Kimmel

Reclaiming the Reel Co-presented by Color Congress With Ambreen Qureshi, Charlie Raboteau, Ginou Choueiri and JT Takagi; moderated by Sahar Driver and Sonya Childress In 1992, the Librarian of Congres...

(FILM)(NORTH AMERICA)(OPEN CAPTIONS)

Cais

Feature DocumentaryJuly 31, 7:00PM EDTSuzanne Roberts Theatre

After her mother’s death, Safira travels through a river route to dive into new perspectives on memory, time, birth, life and death. Thank you to our screening partners: cinéSPEAK, Lightbox Film Cente...

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.

(FILM)(EAST COAST)(NORTH AMERICA)(PHILADELPHIA)(BEST SHORT DOCUMENTARY NOMINEE)(OPEN CAPTIONS)

Framed Shorts

ExperimentalShort DocumentaryJuly 31, 7:30PM EDTThe Wilma Theater

Films about films, filmmakers, and filmmaking. Thank you to our screening partners: Scribe Video Center, cinéSPEAK

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.

(FILM)(WORLD)(BEST FEATURE DOCUMENTARY NOMINEE)(AUDIO DESCRIPTION)(OPEN CAPTIONS)

TCB – The Toni Cade Bambara School of Organizing

Feature DocumentaryJuly 31, 8:00PM EDTPerelman Theater @ Kimmel

This screening is sold out. If you have a ticket, arrive early to guarantee your seat. A limited number of rush tickets will be made available at showtime to passholders who have not RSVP’d and to tho...

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.

(EVENT)

Opening Night Party

PartyJuly 31, 9:30PM EDTCherry Street Pier

Kick off the festival in style with music, dancing and more! The party will feature mixes by Rebel Foster and Matthew Law. Free event but RSVP requested. Registration does not guarantee entrance.

SCHEDULE

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