FINDING THE CORNERSTONE – The Wallace A. Rayfield Story

This film tells the story of two men, separated by race, education and time. However, the two are united by happenstance.

Born in Macon, Georgia in 1873, Wallace Augustus Rayfield was the second university-educated African American architect. His most familiar design is Birmingham’s 16th Street Baptist Church. The church was the site of the 1963 bomb blast that killed four young girls. He designed hundreds of structures throughout the South prior to the Great Depression. Today, around the country, many of the buildings Rayfield designed are still standing.

Talkback time: 1:30 PM
Talkback Host: Sydney Chatman

If You Build It/They Will Come: Building legacy and community through Black Film Festivals 

hosted by Sydney Chatman

The power of the media has the ability to shift perceptions, remind us of our humanity, and make us whole. We belong here. Our visibility in films matter. When we are the curators of our own stories, we uplift our communities and remind them that our existence has power. Join three curators of film festivals as they discuss why centering Black film is important to our legacy. Listen as they share how they build community…one film festival at a time. This discussion will highlight the importance of Black film festivals as agents of change and curators of love. 

PANELISTS

Andrea Stuart-Lehalle: Director of Seattle Black Film Festival 

Moikgantsi Kgama: Founder of ImageNation Cinema Foundation

Troy Pryor: Actor, Producer, Founder of Creative Cypher

“Chicago Guy” poses the question, What would you do with your last 24 hours of life? This darkly comedic, day in the life, dance with spirituality against the backdrop of Chicago’s city scape features Derek Dow as Guy, David Leonard as God. Also features, Amariss Harris, Corey Hendrix and Kimm Beavers.

“Skin” -A small supermarket in a blue collar town, a black man smiles at a 10 year old white boy across the checkout aisle. This innocuous moment sends two gangs into a ruthless war that ends with a shocking backlash.

Singer, rapper, and poet, Akilah Divine sends a wake up call with the performance of her single “TRIBE.”

With the rising trend of grandparents stepping in to raise their children’s children when parents are unable, The G Force explores the phenomenon through the challenges, concerns, and joys of two Chicago families headed by grandmothers. “Grandma will tell you when you are wrong,” says Ellen Robinson to her teen grandson Patrick. The Evanston Second Chance Grandparent Writing Group shows that the overriding message is love.

“Dignity” is a love story between a woman and her family. However, the family’s strength is tested when a moral decision must be made.

A teacher from the city is posted to the countryside where there is high rate of truancy; and huge challenges arises when he meets an intelligent disabled girl whose likeness for him sends him through a series of problems.

PAUL, is based on an unfortunate event., cinematically retold by the film’s director, who happened to be a witness to that unfortunate incident.

Old Black Man Meets Ole Man River — a poignant and revealing journey along the Mississippi by canoe. to discover America

Talkback time: 2:30 PM
Talkback Host: Karen Toering

For more than 150 years a culture from both natives and black slaves full or energies and colours takes place in New Orleans each year for Mardi Gras : the Black Indians Carnival. With the Whashitaw Nation and Big Chief David Montana we travel through a particular History of the USA during the preparation of this event.

“The Black Indians are the most poetic form of resistance to segregation and slavery of the African Americans.”

Afro Future in perspective. A series of short films that explore the divine, the ethereal and the future filled with Blackness

Fatherless

The Golden Record

What you don’t know is bigger than you

Talkback time: 1:30 PM
Talkback Host: Wynter

Above the Line: Cinematographers are the Light of the Industry

Everything that you see on screen is because of the Cinematographer. Lights, camera, action! One of the most important roles in filmmaking is the Cinematographer. But what exactly does a Cinematographer do? How does a Cinematographer convey the Director’s vision and make the images pop on screen? Listen to these award-winning cinematographers share their thoughts on their passion to tell authentically Black stories.

PANELISTS

Eric Branco: Variety’s “10 Cinematographers to Watch” 2019, and one of American Cinematographer’s “Rising Stars of Cinematography” 2020.   

Hans L. Charles: Nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Cinematography for the movie 13TH by Ava Duvernay – Academy Award Nominated and Best Documentary BAFTA / Independent Spirit Awards.

Kick off the weekend with a very soulful DJ Set by Duane Powell with your host Sydney Chatman!

DEVIL’S PIE: Available at 7pm

Devil’s Pie is a psychological drama in the (musical) universe of D’Angelo. The film tells the story of a great musical talent who returns into the public arena after 14 years of absence in destruction. While we discover his musical vision and talents, the documentary tells the story of a man who is stuck between fears and dreams. It’s about the price of fame, the loneliness of an artist and the pressure of the music industry. We film the last days in the music studio, the rehearsal process and we travel along with his tour. The question arises more and more; does he want to be a star again and will it happen? It is up to D’Angelo.

Your Kid
Kiss From A Rose
Keep Your Flowers
Is it Love or something else? These films explore love from an interior view.

Talkback time: 11:00 AM
Talkback Host: Tiffani

Writers are the future-creating worlds and iconic characters that will live in perpetuity. Their imagination is vast. Join these film and television writers as they share their special ingredients to crafting the perfect story.

PANELISTS

Erika Green: Staff writer for The Mentalist. 

Camille Tucker: Co-writer of the highly-anticipated biopic The Clark Sisters: The First Ladies of Gospel

Charles Murray: Writer and Producer with credits stretching across major Network TV drama series including Marvel’s Luke Cage, Sons Of Anarchy, Criminal Minds, Castle, Star Wars: The Clone Wars & Star Wars Rebels amongst other productions.

Terence Winter: An executive producer on the ABC/eOne police drama The Rookie. Prior to this, Terence spent eight seasons with the hit ABC crime drama Castle, where he worked his way up from staff writer to executive producer/showrunner.

Films from youth filmmakers in the U.S. and around the world.

Being Black in Toronto
Why Bully Me?
Squeaky Clean Quarantine
COVID-19 PROMO

Talkback time: 3:00 PM
Talkback Host: Amhad Ferguson

Ever feel like your life is more like a cartoon? This roundtable of Black animation artists create virtual worlds to build story. Multimedia artists and animators create images that appear to move and visual effects for various forms of media and entertainment. This industry is on fire with the opportunity to create across a spectrum of industry sectors.

My Hero Is You
Skip and the Hops
The Box Assassin
Flame

ANIMATORS Showcase & ROUNDTABLE Talkback time: 3:30 PM
Talkback Host: James

PANELISTS

Chaz Bottoms – Chaz Bottoms is a director, animator, writer and owner of CBA Studios. His 2017 film All Kids Go to Hell premiered at Cannes Short Film Corner, Chaz has collaborated and produced content for Springhill, Adult Swim, Steve Harvey Global, John Legend, TBS, Sony Music, Columbia Records, Atlantic Records, Snapchat, Footlocker, and Nike SB.

Dominick Bedasse- Dominick Bedasse is a 2D illustrator and animator who enjoys storytelling. Currently he serves as a storyboard artist for Titmouse Inc. in New York. He’s worked as a children’s book illustrator, was selected to participate in a Pixar Story Workshop, and completed his first independent animated short, Run Little Boy.

Jaylen Herod – Jaylen is 16-year-old animator from York, Pennsylvania hoping to make her way into the animation industry. She is the founder and president of her high school’s animation club, teaching students who are interested in the subject twice a week to bring projects to various competitions and festivals

A documentary about two transgender women who are struggling for the right to change their names and gender in all official documents and seeking respect from their families and society. Selem, 45 years old, is a transvestite; Diana, 22, is a transsexual woman.

Talkback time: 7:30 PM
Talkback Host: Karen

A documentary about Darryl Jones, extraordinary musician and activist, bass player with the Rolling Stones. A story about music and racism in America.

Talkback time: 12:00 PM
Talkback Host: Brandon/Walter

Black Women. Award-winning. Filmmaking. ‘Nuff said. Creativity, grace, passion, and a meticulous level of detail. Our Black women filmmakers will share how they create films their way with equanimity. As the song goes, “Sistas are doing it for themselves.”

PANELISTS

Jennia Aponte: Award-winning writer/director of 90 Days.

Kristen Carter:   Award-winning Independent filmmaker short film First Date.

Shahari Moore:  Director, Producer, and Writer. National and international acclaim, for her films at the Black Harvest Film Festival and the Cannes International Film Festival

Timeca Seretti: American actress, singer, writer, producer and director.

Gary takes centerstage in these films by or about people from our hometown of Gary, IN.

Talkback time: 3:00 PM
Talkback Host: James

Then and Now is a retrospective reappraisal of how representation and opportunities for black creatives have evolved behind the scenes in the entertainment industry from the perspective of veterans, featuring veteran actor, producer and director, Bill Duke. 

PANELISTS

Bill Duke

While many film fans may not be familiar with Bill Duke’s name, they most certainly recognize his face. Dating back to the 1970s, Duke has appeared in a number of popular films, including Car Wash, American Gigolo, Commando, Predator, and X-Men: The Last Stand. Fewer still might be aware of Duke’s extraordinary accomplishments off-screen—as a talented director, producer, entrepreneur, and humanitarian.

Host: Wynter

Watch the newly restored Nationtime: Gary at any time during the festival and join us for this vibrant oral history

It was more than a moment. It was a movement that reverberates in the streets more than 40 years after it began. This oral history and discussion pulls back the curtain on movement strategy and the building blocks that created the historic 1972 Black National Political Convention. Movements that last don’t happen overnight, and history can sometimes paint a one-dimensional picture of the labor, conflict and camaraderie that built the convention in Gary.

PANELISTS

Sababa Akili- poet, writer, political activist. A long term contributor to the struggle for human rights, freedom, justice, equality, self determination, and self defense.

Azima Lok- Born and raised in Newark New Jersey. At  the age of 12, She joined the Committee for Unified Newark organization which became the Congress of African People, Who’s Founder and Leader was Imamu Amiri Baraka and his wife Amina Baraka this is where ,she received her foundation and development of who she is  today. It was this group that attended the 1972  Gary Indiana National Black Political Convention, which Imamu Amiri Baraka  Co-Organized. She now resided in Charlotte, NC where she practices Reiki, Akashic Reader & facilitates awareness of traditional healing for our community . 

Tyrone DeNeal

Served as a page for the 1972 National Political Convention. Born and raised in Gary Indiana, graduate of Purdue University Calumet. He received his degree in Electrical Engineering Technology. A founder of the Progressivie Student Union later known as the Black Student Union  (BSU). Husband to Coquilla Lipscomb and  the parent of three. Mr DeNeal is a retiree of General Electric 43 years of service,retired as Global Sales Director and P&L Leader. He launched an independent Manufactures’ Representative business called DeNeal Industrial Sales & Services, LLC”.

Host: Ludeen

Mr. Emancipation is the story of Walter L Perry’s determination to put on a celebration that would transcend divisions of race and class. He staged an Emancipation Day festival that was where everyone wanted to be. Eleanor Roosevelt, Martin Luther King Jr, Jesse Owens all headed there because, as civil rights activist Dick Gregory said “The largest Juneteenth celebration was not in America, it was in Windsor, Canada. At its peak the event doubled the City of Windsor’s population of 100,000.

When two women are betrayed by their manipulative husbands, they begin plotting to find a way out. The escape they seek, turns deadly.
Talkback time: 9:00 PM
Talkback Host: Ludeen

Our inaugural project is Women of Faith: Coping with Trauma. This mental health documentary takes an in-depth look into the lives of four women who are survivors of childhood sexual abuse, but who also triumphantly find joy, hope and peace through their faith in God and their community. We know it is a tough subject, but let’s have the tough conversation so women, children and families can find healing.

Why this topic? Thousands of children of all different ethnicities are sexually abused every year in the United States. The topic is relevant after numerous claims of abuse have recently been in the news – from the #metoo campaign to USA Women’s Gymnastics, Boy Scouts of America and the Catholic Church.

Marielle’s Legacy Will Not Die

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, February 2019, artists and activists used the 2019 Carnival to call for justice for AfroBrazilian Councilwoman Marielle Franco, assassinated in March 2018. In the midst of social protest and rising fear over the Far Right Government of Jair Bolsonaro, Rio de Janeiro has become an active site of resistance and memorialization of Franco’s legacy. Black women and Lesbian activists invest the city to ask “who ordered Marielle Franco’s murder?”

A brilliant psychoanalyst is trapped in an elevator with a man sent to kill her.

Need a Dolla is a story about Akeem, a promising, young man living in a rough neighborhood with five roommates who finally gets his chance at a big break with an interview for his dream job.

Talkback: 7:30pm
Talkback host: Karen Toering

In 2019, after months of protests across Sudan, the military removed thirty-year dictator Omar al-Bashir and cracked down in a violent fashion on the civilian sit-in outside its headquarters. The Internet was shut down, leaving those outside Sudan to voice a plea for peaceful transition to civilian government. An ocean away, Sudanese-American poets and musicians, whose families left Sudan for America in decades past, gather in major American cities to perform in support of the revolution. At the heart of the film is a conversation around identity, belonging, and the uncertain future of Sudan, from which they have been physically cut off. What happens when they can only watch from afar?

A Day with Jerusa follows Silvia, a young, mediumic market researcher facing the hardships of underemployment while awaiting the result of a public exam, and Jerusa, a gracious 77-year-old lady, eyewitness to the daily life on Bixiga, a neighborhood filled with ancestral memories. On Jerusa’s birthday, while she waits for her family’s arrival, the encounter between her deepest memories and Silvia’s mediumship allows them to travel through time and realities common to their ancestry.

Stories of life, love and belonging.

Talkback time: 7:00 PM
Talkback Host: Sydney

Remind, Remember is a multidisciplinary work that serves as an exercise in shifting the internal voice. This piece is a celebration of cultural practice, healing work and grief. Through movement, sound, and design the collaborators explore our imminent proximity to death. Remind, Remember embraces the ephemeral nature of life.

Shaw, the oldest black university in the South, rises from the Civil War, segregation and the Civil Rights Movement to confront the future of education and social justice in America.

Talkback time: 9:30 PM
Talkback Host: Sydney Chatman

There is a critical dearth of safe, culturally relevant and competent Mental Health Services in Haiti, due to lack of social services and mental health infrastructure, lack of affordable resources, shortage of trained clinicians, and shortage of funding for potentially useful psychotropic medications.

The story behind Twoub Mantal (Healing A Nation)is that a few years ago, a social worker, Jean-Richard Saintal from the Cit Soleil region of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. He suffered what appeared to be a traumatic psychotic break. Richard’s preventable death while in residential care at a psychiatric hospital in Haiti was an outrage. It underscores how many disadvantaged individuals with mental disorders who reach out to the Haitian Mental Health system fail to receive the help. In fact, these individuals may face neglect, poor care and eventually life-threatening conditions.

Two Genius musicians…

One still living in Cuba, the other taking refuge in New York U.S.A.

When the prodigal son came back to his hometown of Havana, only one jam session starts.

While living in Detroit, a struggling young white writer and a retired black psychiatrist form an unlikely friendship in the midst of the city’s changing demographics and culture, all while uncovering secrets about one another that threaten to destroy their growing bond.

Life through the eyes of young Black boys.

wow
Little Men
Run Little Boy
Young and Creative

Talkback time: 1:30 PM
Talkback Host: Sydney

Culture and art in a time of COVID-19 and beyond the border.

THE KITE
AJE IJO SERIES: IMMORTAL
¡Gracias, Santiago!

Talkback time: 5:00 PM
Talkback Host: Sydney

Closing Night shines with a celebration of 10 Years of Black Brilliance featuring the announcement of the Kelechukwu Brnfre Vanguard Award, The GIBFF Impact Award, comedy with the hilarious Ben Noble and along with our final fiery DJ set with the celebrated DJ K. Ceasar.

SKIP AND THE HOPS
RUN LITTLE BOY
THE BOX ASSASSIN

Two Genius musicians…

One still living in Cuba, the other taking refuge in New York U.S.A.

When the prodigal son came back to his hometown of Havana, only one jam session starts.

Debauchery Ball is the story of Chicago’s Afro-Futuristic, BDSM, fetish-themed House music party and how it has reshaped the Black social scene and challenged the narratives of Black sexuality.

Union of “House Heads” & Freedom: The DEBAUCHERY BALL

The Debauchery Ball is a jubilant celebration of the once underground House dance scene that ignited and still ignites nightlife in Chicago. You are immediately drawn in and transported to the dance floor and seduced by the music, vibrancy and themed party. This annual event is affectionately frequented by “House Heads”, Blerds (black nerds), and those who are ready to explore in a safe space. The Debauchery Ball intersects freedom, BDSM, fetish, against the backdrop of “House”. All are welcome as long as you respect the space of this black subculture. The film is a snapshot of a hidden jewel for those who have yet to attend. Khari B Chicago’s ToastMaster extraordinaire. 

Talkback time: 9:30 PM

Talkback Host: Ludeen

PAUL, is based on an unfortunate event., cinematically retold by the film’s director, who happened to be a witness to that unfortunate incident.

Old Black Man Meets Ole Man River — a poignant and revealing journey along the Mississippi by canoe. to discover America

Winner: BEST DOC FEATURE – AUDIENCE AWARD

Debauchery Ball is the story of Chicago’s Afro-Futuristic, BDSM, fetish-themed House music party and how it has reshaped the Black social scene and challenged the narratives of Black sexuality.

Union of “House Heads” & Freedom: The DEBAUCHERY BALL

The Debauchery Ball is a jubilant celebration of the once underground House dance scene that ignited and still ignites nightlife in Chicago. You are immediately drawn in and transported to the dance floor and seduced by the music, vibrancy and themed party. This annual event is affectionately frequented by “House Heads”, Blerds (black nerds), and those who are ready to explore in a safe space. The Debauchery Ball intersects freedom, BDSM, fetish, against the backdrop of “House”. All are welcome as long as you respect the space of this black subculture. The film is a snapshot of a hidden jewel for those who have yet to attend. Khari B Chicago’s ToastMaster extraordinaire. 

A Day with Jerusa follows Silvia, a young, mediumic market researcher facing the hardships of underemployment while awaiting the result of a public exam, and Jerusa, a gracious 77-year-old lady, eyewitness to the daily life on Bixiga, a neighborhood filled with ancestral memories. On Jerusa’s birthday, while she waits for her family’s arrival, the encounter between her deepest memories and Silvia’s mediumship allows them to travel through time and realities common to their ancestry.

WOW
BEING BLACK IN TORONTO
WHY BULLY ME

CHICAGO GUY
BLACK BOYS CAN’T CRY

LARRY FROM GARY
WATCH THE STORM

For more than 150 years a culture from both natives and black slaves full or energies and colours takes place in New Orleans each year for Mardi Gras : the Black Indians Carnival. With the Whashitaw Nation and Big Chief David Montana we travel through a particular History of the USA during the preparation of this event.

“The Black Indians are the most poetic form of resistance to segregation and slavery of the African Americans.”

MARIELLE’S LEGACY WILL NOT DIE
BROOKS PEOPLE

Mr. Emancipation is the story of Walter L Perry’s determination to put on a celebration that would transcend divisions of race and class. He staged an Emancipation Day festival that was where everyone wanted to be. Eleanor Roosevelt, Martin Luther King Jr, Jesse Owens all headed there because, as civil rights activist Dick Gregory said “The largest Juneteenth celebration was not in America, it was in Windsor, Canada. At its peak the event doubled the City of Windsor’s population of 100,000.

Devil’s Pie is a psychological drama in the (musical) universe of D’Angelo. The film tells the story of a great musical talent who returns into the public arena after 14 years of absence in destruction. While we discover his musical vision and talents, the documentary tells the story of a man who is stuck between fears and dreams. It’s about the price of fame, the loneliness of an artist and the pressure of the music industry. We film the last days in the music studio, the rehearsal process and we travel along with his tour. The question arises more and more; does he want to be a star again and will it happen? It is up to D’Angelo.