Is there a national or international cultural festival you simply hate to miss? Is there one you're excited to attend? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Because I love movies, I decided to attend the 2024 Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival (MVAAFF). I also love Martha’s Vineyard, so nothing excited me more than celebrating Black films, actors, movie makers and other film buffs in my happy place.
I was impressed with the film and TV projects being presented at the festival as well as the abundance of events and A-list celebs in attendance. There were talkbacks with actors and filmmakers, film business discussions, luncheons, premieres and parties attended by my favorite actors including Taraji P. Henson, Don Cheadle, Coleman Domingo, Sanaa Lathan, Uzo Aduba, Sunny Hostin, Keke Palmer, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor and more.
I had a great conversation with Sunny Hostin, who took the time to tape a happy birthday wish to my mom who is a huge fan of hers, and I fanned out talking to Aunjanue at the annual White Party about how much I loved her on the show Quantico.
I was impressed with the film and TV projects being presented at the festival as well as the abundance of events and A-list celebs in attendance.
In addition to MVAAFF, there are several other Black film festivals that are just as awesome, taking place all around the country. Maybe one is happening near you or in one of your favorite places to visit.
Here are a few festivals to check out this year
American Black Film Festival
(ABFF), Miami, June 11 - June 15, 2025, abff.com
Held each spring in Miami Beach, Florida, the American Black Film Festival (ABFF) is the largest and most well-known Black film festival. It has launched the careers of several emerging filmmakers who have gone on to become superstars including John Singleton, Ryan Coogler and Will Packer. The festival is also well known for its annual star-studded ABFF Honors gala.
Established: 1997
Founder: Jeff Friday, a former ad agency executive
Past Highlights: Halle Berry appeared at the first ABFF in 1997 and Denzel Washington appeared the 2nd year. Washington returned in 2024.
Past Celeb Attendees: Issa Rae, Ryan Coogler, John Singleton, Spike Lee, Will Packer, Lena Waithe, Malcolm D. Lee, Mara Brock-Akil, Robert Townsend, Lorenz Tate, Queen Latifah, John Boyega, Danielle Brooks, Taraji P. Henson, Gabrielle Union, Common, and more.
Charlotte Black Film Festival
(CBFF), Charlotte, June 5 - 8, 2025
charlotteblackfilmfestival.com
One of the South’s largest Black film festivals, featuring screenings, master classes, workshops, “Pitch Me” sessions, and fashion and comedy shows. With awards from $500 to $5000, the festival also supports emerging filmmakers with its grant programs.
Established: 2011
Founders: Tommy Nichols of Power Up USA and IOC TV
Past Highlights: MasterClass presented by Tyler Perry Studios casting director, Rhavynn Drummer
Past Celeb Attendees: Actors Keith David and Darrin Henson, iconic singer/actress Stephanie Mills.
Essence Film Festival
(EFF), New Orleans, July 3 - 7, 2025
EssenceFilmFestival.com
Running concurrently with the Essence Festival of Culture in New Orleans every July 4th weekend, EFF celebrates Black creatives at the forefront the filmmaking community, while also showcasing television, music and new media projects also from Black talent.
Established: 2021
Founders: Essence Ventures
Past Highlights: Ava Duvernay (2024) in conversation about her film Origins.
Past Celebrity Attendees: Actors Aunjanue Ellis, Wayne Brady, Danielle Brooks, Garcelle Beauvais, Tisha Campbell, Essence Atkins, Richard Lawson, and Danielle Pinnock.
San Antonio Black International Film Festival
(SABIFF), San Antonio, Texas, Oct 2 - 5, 2025
SABIFF.tv
Virtual and in-person
This festival showcases quality indie, studio and student films. Supports Black filmmakers and their unique stories, voices, perspectives and images, and features screenings, premiers, workshops and local student field trips that support its yearly theme.
Established: 2018
Founders: Ada M. Babineaux, indie filmmaker, founder of Jezebel Filmworks, and Nommo Speaker's Bureau
Past Highlights: Hosting Ankh Achievement Award honorees and award-winning actors Danny Glover (2020) Phylicia Rashad and Debbie Allen (2023).
Past Celeb Attendees: Aldis Hodge, Carl Lumby, Charnele Brown, and directors Euzhan Palsy and Charles Burnette, Haile Gerima, Bruce W. Smith, Ayo Chenzira, Kelley Kali.
National Black Film Festival
(NBFF), Houston, Texas, August 27 - 30, 2025
NationalBlackFilmFestival.com
In-person and digital
A festival created by filmmakers to support filmmakers through education and empowerment, workshops and networking opportunities. There is also a vendor market.
Established: 2016
Founder: J.O. Malone, Houston-native, filmmaker and creator Black Market Houston.
Past Highlights: Workshop with filmmaker/screenwriter Leah Pride who has written the faith-based films Message and the Messenger and Why Wait?
Past Celeb Attendees: Filmmakers Jalene Mack, Gracie Henley, Greg Carter, Leah Pride
Virginia Black Film Festival
(VBFF) Hampton, Virginia, June 19 - 20th, 2025,
VirginiaBlackFilmFestival.com
Happening Juneteenth weekend at Hampton University in Hampton, Va, the festival was created to support student, emerging and independent filmmakers, and features master classes and panel discussions attended by established actors and film executives.
Established: 2024
Founder: Bryan Thompson, filmmaker and founder of Miami Webfest
Past Festival Highlights: The premiere of the BET+ film Kemba from Kemba Smith.
Past Celebrity Attendees: Actor Clifton Powell, director Jesse Vaughn; Paramount Pictures executive Grant Housley, fight scene choreographer Willie “The Bam” Johnson, filmmakers Rely Dowdell and Morgan Avery McCoy, Hampton Mayor Donnie Tuck and Congressman Bob Scott.
Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival
(MVAAFF), Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, August 1 - 9, 2025
mvaaff.com
Held in the historically Black beach community of Oak Bluffs, the 9-day festival showcases independent and established films, and television projects from new and seasoned Black filmmakers, as well as celebrity attended events, panels and film business discussions.
Established: 2002
Founders: Stephanie and Floyd Rance, a husband-and-wife team.
Past Highlights: in 2022, Barack and Michelle Obama attended the festival and premiered their documentary feature, Descendants. 2022 also featured a conversation with Viola Davis about The Woman King.
Past Celeb Attendees: Spike Lee, Regina Hall, Tracee Ellis Ross, Yara Shahidi, Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, Don Cheadle, Sanaa Lathan, Uzo Adubo, Coleman Domingo, Taraji P. Henson, Chloe Bailey, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Sonny Hostin, Keke Palmer, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor and more.
Pan African Film + Arts Festival
(PAFF) Los Angeles, Los Angeles, February 4 -17, 2025
Paff.corg
Held in Los Angeles, the festival features filmmakers and creatives from around the globe, spotlighting African and African Diaspora cinema and art. It is the longest running Black film festival and brings fine artists and crafts people together with film and visual artists.
Established: 1992
Founders: Ayuko Babu, PAFF’s executive director, Danny Glover and the late Ja’Net DuBois (actress, Good Times)
Past Highlights: Hosting Oscar-winning actor Sydney Portier in 2011 at the PAFF DGA brunch.
Past Celeb Attendees: Denzel Washington, Idris Elba, Kein Hart, Jamie Foxx, Issa Rae, Forest Whitaker, Taraji P. Henson, Trevor Noah, Laurence Fishburn, Angela Bassett, Alfre Woodard, Kerry Washington, Regina King, John Legend, Billy D. Williams and more
Detroit Black Film Festival
(DBFF), Detroit, MI, Sept 25 - 28, 2025
Themed Cinema, Cocktails and Culture, the Detroit Black Film Festival spotlights filmmakers and actors from Detroit as well as showcasing independent and studio films from around the world.
Established: 2019
Founders: Husband and wife team, Lazar and Marshall Favors of Trinity Films Entertainment Group
Past Highlights: Partnering with the Taste of Black Spirits Conference for 2024 and beyond, treating festival goers to handcrafted cocktails from Black spirit brands.
Past Celeb Attendees: Deborah Joy Winans, Christine Swanson (Director of Lifetime’s The Clark Sisters)
Urbanworld Film Festival
(UFF) New York, New York, November 2025
Urbanworld.org
Held in New York City each year, it is one of the largest film festivals celebrating indie and Hollywood films from Women and BiPoC filmmakers. The Urbanworld Innovation Summit, held during the festival, shares insight on financing, distributions, marketing, AI and more.
Established: 1997
Founder: Stacy Spikes, tech entrepreneur and co-founder of MoviePass
Past Festival Highlights: 2016 Urbanworld Ambassadors Ava DuVernay and David Oyelowo; the New York City premiere of American Fiction with an appearance from Director Cord Jefferson in 2023.
Past Celebrity Attendees: Directors Malcom D. Lee, Nia DaCosta, Gina Prince-Bythewood, filmmaker and actor Reggie Rock Bythewood, actors Lynn Whitfield, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor and David Oyelowo, Gary Dourdan, actress/comedienne Yvonne Orji, history-making ballerina Misty Copeland, filmmakers Nelson George and Coodie and Chike, Rapper/politician Moses “Shyne” Barrow, and more
Is there a national or international cultural festival you simply hate to miss? Is there one you're excited to attend? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
