ART! Reel Lit – Lighting up RI’s film world at the 8th annual RI Black Film Festival

8th annual Rhode Island Black Film Festival Announces Line Up of Films and Presenters

When the Trinity Academy for Performing Arts graduated its first class  in 2014, among those graduates was aspiring actor Angela Cooper. Following her dream for a career in the movies, the TAPA graduate relocated to Atlanta, Georgia known as Black Hollywood for the many film productions including Tyler Perry Studios and latest film on  the Six Triple Eight. 

The Trinity Academy for Performing Arts’ graduate Angie Cooper is among the stellar lineup of panelists and presenters at REEL LIT: 8th annual Rhode Island Black Film Festival, April 10-14in venues in Providence and Newport. 

There will be Film Screenings of 17+ films, panel discussions and receptions for filmmakers and partnering institutions, sponsors and grantors at on Johnson & Wales University, Brown University and Community College of Rhode Island. campuses.  The Newport Art Museum will host Sunday film screening and Filmmakers’ reception. 

From April 10 through April 14, the Rhode Island Black Film Festival will screen feature, short and documentary films. 

Among the highlights are University of Rhode Island College of Arts & Science Professors’ and award winning filmmakers’ Kendall Moore and Michele Le Brun, Official Selections “Harm in the Water” (Saturday, April 12 at Brown University ) and “Optics of Aging” ( Sunday, April 12 at Brown University) are among the multiple selections from locally grown filmmakers. 

Award winning poet and director of the “Tell Your Truth” non profit organization, Damont Combs, aka mrorangelive will perform pieces from his latest installment between the screenings and post discussions during the Saturday, April 12 session. 

The Rhode Island Black Film Festival is the only film festival in Rhode Island showcasing storytelling about the historical and cultural contributions of people of African descent will screen  two time Oscar nominated Director Ramell Ross Nickel Boys opens the film festival on Thursday, April 10 on the Johnson & Wales University Providence campus sponsored by the College of Arts & Sciences. Johnson & Wales University is also host to the Film Festival’s youth program Beyond the Lens Academy for Rhode Island and southern New England high School film and media students.

 PRESENTERS INCLUDE

Monique Graham, Hair & Make Up Artists Hair Dept. Head tv/film/editorial/corporate Local I.A.T.S.E 798

Oliver Arias, Tikkun Olam Productions

Jackie Davis, Actor. Director “Alabama Sky” – Trinity Repertory Theater 

Françoise N. Hamlin, Associate Professor, Africana Studies & History, Brown University Moderator 

Gregory Warfield, Filmmaker and Videographer, “Sweeter the Juice” Production Company

Nerissa Williams, That Child’s Got Talent  Production Company 

DATES AND TIMES

• Dates: Thursday April 10 – 9:25 am to 4:30 pm 
• Location(s) April 10, 9:30 am, Johnson & Wales University Schneider Auditorium, 261 Pine Street
• CIC Building 225 Dyer Street, Providence 
• April 11, 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
• April 12, 10:45 -4:30 pm, Brown University, Metacalf Auditorium, Metcalf Research Center, 190 Thayer St.
• April 13,  Newport Art Museum, 76 Bellevue Ave, Newport                     

The Film Festival is made possible by the generosity of the Rhode Island Humanities, Rhode Island Expansion Arts and the Rhode Island General Assembly, State Representative Nathan Biah. 

Suggested donations for all screenings and the REEL RED CARPET opening night reception is $20.  Additional details on the venues, schedule and events are on the Rhode Island Black Film Festival website – HERE.

“We are so thrilled (the RIBFF Board of Directors) to see our festival come to life after months of planning. It’s a celebration of our rich cultural heritage and a testament that we are here and will continue to be for the community as a platform for emerging filmmakers and the community,” says  Managing Director and Founder, Ann Clanton.

About the Film Festival 
Founded in 2017, the Rhode Island Black Film Festival served as a platform for established and aspiring filmmakers to showcase their films. To nurture high school students’ interest in a career and study of Film; the Beyond the Lens Academy cohort was created in partnership with the Johnson & Wales University to nurture the next generation of Rhode Island’s film industry professionals.  In 2024 the Rhode Island Black Film Festival was recognized by the Rhode Island Film and Television Office with an award for advancing the conversation and contributions  to advancing diversity to Rhode Island’s film production industry.  The Rhode Island Black Film Festival presents year round programming.” Black Classics Under the Stars” outdoor film screening in August and a Polo & Punch Tailgate Party are among their signature events  Black Classics Under the Stars is August 21 at the 195 District Park. 

Website: https//:ribff.org
Social Media: @ribff twitter.com/ri1bff

CONTACT INFORMATION: Ann Clanton, 401-996-1166, [email protected]