Newark Black Film Festival

Festival Schedule:

10:00 am: Newark Black Film Festival: Family Tree

Join us for a screening of Family Tree, directed by Jennifer MacArthur, and the short film It Takes a Village, directed by Joshua Kissi. Stay for a Q&A following the screenings.

Family Tree

Directed by Jennifer MacArthur (96 min). Not rated
Black land ownership and sustainable forestry are one and the same, and two North Carolina families take on the challenge of building intergenerational wealth while raising healthy forests.

It Takes a Village

Directed by Joshua Kissi (14 min). Not rated
The year is 1965, and the residents of Winneba, Georgia inhabit a community that seems untouched by the rest of the world. A father prepares his son for his ascension to manhood through the hunting of a deer; a rite of passage in this family.

The screenings will be followed by a Q&A.

1:00 pm: Newark Black Film: Shorts Block

Join us for curated selection of short films: To the Girl that Looks Like Me directed by Ewurakua Dawson-Amoah, Harlem Fragments directed by Cameron Tyler Carr, City of Dreamz directed by Imani Celeste, Love Taps directed by Derrick Woodyard and Underwater Projects directed by dream hampton. Followed by a Q&A session.

To the Girl that Looks Like Me

Directed by Ewurakua Dawson-Amoah (6 min). Not rated
An experimental poetry piece that celebrates black women, who continue to thrive in a system that was not built for them. This visual poem explores themes of cultural appropriation, self-love, and self-discovery through a string of vignettes that combine dance, folklore, modern culture, and spirituality.

Harlem Fragments

Directed by Cameron Tyler Carr (17 min). Not rated
An Afro-futurist scrapbook storytelling of a Harlem Black family’s beautiful destruction during the 2008 recession, a natural disaster so mesmerizing you can’t look away. Based on true events.

City of Dreamz

Directed by Imani Celeste (12 min). Not rated
Follow four Black art students telling stories of community, divine intervention, and the artistry that led them to this very moment…smoking weed in a cramped NYC apartment trying not to get caught.

Love Taps

Directed by Derrick Woodyard (14 min). Not rated
A young boy tries to cope with his parent’s separation gains a new perspective of his father after discovering his affair with another man.

Underwater Projects

Directed by dream hampton (28 min). Not rated
Norfolk, Virginia is sinking due to insufficient sea defenses and past urban development choices. The predominantly Black St. Paul’s housing community grapples with government redevelopment plans that prompt inquiries into their true intentions: climate resilience or gentrification.

The screenings will be followed by a Q&A.

4:00 pm: Newark Black Film Festival: Seeking Mavis Beacon

Join us for our final screening at the 50th Newark Black Festival, of Seeking Mavis Beacon directed by Jazmin Renée Jones.

Seeking Mavis Beacon

Directed by Jazmin Renée Jones (102 min). Not rated
The most recognizable woman in technology lives in our collective imagination. Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing taught millions globally, but the software’s Haitian-born cover model vanished decades ago. Two DIY detectives search for the model while posing questions about identity and artificial intelligence.

The screening will be followed by a Q&A.

Tickets: $10 General Admission, $7 Students & NMOA Members, Free for all Festival Pass holders

6:00 pm – 10:00 pm: NBFF Black & Gold Gala

Join us for the first Black & Gold Gala and support the future of Black film!

This seated dinner celebrates excellence in Black cinema and includes the Paul Robeson Awards for this year’s festival winners.

Rub shoulders with industry professionals and fellow film enthusiasts as we celebrate the incredible talent and creativity within the film & TV industry. Enjoy live entertainment, delicious food, and more, all in one unforgettable night.

This event helps to support the Newark Black Film Festival’s ongoing efforts to enhance the awareness, accessibility, and understanding of the art of Black cinema.

Tickets: $120 General Admission, $100 NMOA Members, Free with VIP Festival Pass

Click here to buy tickets.