Press Room | BlackStar

For press inquiries, contact ALMA: hannah@almacommunications.co

For other questions, please contact our Chief Executive & Artistic Officer, Maori Karmael Holmes: maori @ blackstarprojects.org.

Press Room

A college with the Luminary Gala honorees headshots. From left to right: Firelight Media President and CEO Loira Limbal and Senior Director of Finance and Operations Rafiah Vitalis; John W. Simmons; Mahershala Ali; and Mara Brock Akil. They are colorized in shades of blue.

(Press Release)

Sep 10, 2026

BlackStar Projects Announces 2026 Luminary Gala

This year's gala will honor Mahershala Ali, Mara Brock Akil, John Simmons and Firelight Media.

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(Press Release)

Aug 11, 2026

2026 Edition of BlackStar Film Festival Celebrates 15 Years

The 15th annual BlackStar Film Festival brought thousands of attendees together in Philadelphia for four days of boundary-pushing cinema, lively conversations and community gatherings, culminating in jury and audience awards honoring standout films from the 2026 program.

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(Press Release)

Jul 9, 2026

BlackStar Projects Releases Full Schedule of Programs for 2026 Film Festival

Beyond the screenings, the 2026 BlackStar Film Festival offers four days of conversations, live events, filmmaker Q&As, industry panels, community gatherings and special programs that deepen engagement with the artists and ideas shaping contemporary cinema.

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A black-and-white film still from Black Lions – Roman Wolves shows a Black woman with an afro standing forward next to her horse. She is wearing a soldier’s uniform and holding her horse’s reins in her right hand.

(Press Release)

Jul 9, 2026

BlackStar Film Festival Announces 2026 Opening and Closing Night Selections

Two films rooted in histories of resistance, memory and collective identity will bookend this year's BlackStar Film Festival.

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A collage of film stills from the 2026 BlackStar Film Festival.

(Press Release)

Jun 2, 2026

BlackStar Projects Announces Lineup for 15th Annual BlackStar Film Festival

BlackStar Film Festival returns with 91 films from more than 30 countries, alongside conversations, performances and community gatherings throughout Philadelphia.

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(Press Release)

May 14, 2026

BlackStar Projects Announces Foundational Identity Rebrand

Developed in collaboration with creative agency Pacific, BlackStar’s new visual identity brings greater cohesion across the organization’s year-round programs while reflecting the experimentation, rigor and care that have defined its work over the past fifteen years.

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In The News

Through Barnes Foundation and Blackstar Fest, Philadelphia Exhibits Dreams of Black Life

Ebony

The best films we saw at Philadelphia’s BlackStar Film Festival

Dazed

Maori Karmael Holmes Looks Back on 15 Years of BlackStar

Hyperallergic

Film attendance has been diminishing, but not at BlackStar. It’s bigger than ever.

The Philadelphia Inquirer

A Summer Of Black Excellence On Stage And Screen

Forbes

Indie Film From the Global Majority: BlackStar Celebrates 15 Years of Cinema for Liberation

Hyperallergic

Criterion Highlights BlackStar Film Festival Selects for July Collection

Criterion

Garrett Bradley, Arthur Jafa & Ja’Tovia Gary To Screen Work As Part Maori Karmael Holmes’ ‘Freedom Dreams’ Exhibition

Deadline

BlackStar Film Festival Will Celebrate Its 15th Anniversary This Year

Surface Mag

A year of art in Philadelphia: “BlackStar remains one of the most essential cultural touchstones in Philadelphia”

Document

BlackStar Head Maori Karmael Holmes On The Festival’s Record 2025 Edition & Upcoming 15th Anniversary: “It’s Been A Real Privilege And Blessing”

Deadline

BlackStar 2025: Hallowed Ground

International Documentary Association