
Black Perspectives
Founded in 1997 in collaboration with Spike Lee to highlight the excellence and diversity of African American cinema and films by black filmmakers from around the world, this program celebrates the richness and diversity of African-American and Black storytellers from Chicago to the Ivory Coast to Venezuela
“-Ship: A Visual Poem” [Short Film]
A young boy wrestles with his sense of self on the day of his cousin’s funeral.
40 Years a Prisoner
A bracing examination of the U.S.’s longstanding racially and politically biased justice system, this powerful documentary bears witness to the lifelong efforts of Michael Africa, Jr. to secure the freedom of his parents, members of 1970s Black Liberation group MOVE, who were incarcerated for four decades.
Bad Hair
“Ethereality” [Short Film]
A blend of fiction and documentary creates a moving reflection about migration, home, and belonging.
Farewell Amor
After 17 years apart, Walter’s wife Esther and daughter Sylvia arrive in New York from Angola; time apart has rendered them virtual strangers, and the three must find a way to reconnect. This beautifully conceived film captures the immigrant experience with complexity and nuance.
“Gramercy” [Short Film]
A young New Jersey native returns to his hometown, where his ongoing battle with depression becomes a poetic exploration of brotherhood and personal struggle.
“Heaven Reaches Down to Earth” [Short Film] Legodimo Le Kopana Le Lefatshe
Tau and Tumelo journey across the South African landscape. When Tau comes to a realization about their sexuality, it sets in motion a cascade of thoughts and emotions.
Mama Gloria
Meet Mama Gloria. Chicago’s Black transgender icon Gloria Allen emerged from the South Side’s drag ball culture in the 1960s to trailblaze a path for transgender youth to follow. With positivity and polish, she overcame prejudice and traumatic violence to become a proud leader in her community.
MLK/FBI
Night of the Kings La nuit des rois
One Night in Miami
Adapted from the award-winning play of the same name, One Night in Miami is a fictional account of the incredible night in 1964 when underdog Cassius Clay, soon to be called Muhammad Ali (Eli Goree), defeats heavyweight champion Sonny Liston at the Miami Convention Hall—Clay memorialized the event with three of his friends: Malcolm X (Kingsley Ben-Adir), Sam Cooke (Leslie Odom Jr.) and Jim Brown (Aldis Hodge).
“The Price of Cheap Rent” [Short Film]
An aspiring artist discusses the challenges of finding affordable housing in a new city and the compromises she has to make with her spooky new roommates.
Shorts 7: Evidence of Things Unseen (Black Perspectives)
This program showcases the talents of Black filmmakers from across the diaspora, painting a sweeping image of Black life in the United States and abroad. A collection of varied genres and styles, these films are reflective, observant, and sometimes hilarious. Featuring works by Terrance Day, Nico Opper and Shannon St. Aubin, Kantarama Gahigiri, Amina Sutton, Maya Tanaka, Tebogo Malebogo, and Pat Heywood and Jamil McGinnis.
The Special Especial
In this deftly told and uplifting debut, a profoundly charming young man must navigate the challenges of early adulthood with Down Syndrome as he seeks to build a life of independence from his troubled father. Long separated by an ocean of silence and shame, will the two men be able to assemble a common future?
Sylvie’s Love
“When I Write It” [Short Film]
A warm-hearted portrait of teenage summer days, When I Write It follows two young Oakland artists as they come to grips with the change all around them.