BlackStar Projects has announced the full schedule of events for the 2025 BlackStar Film Festival, taking place July 31–August 3 in Philadelphia and streaming online around the world. Featuring more than 90 films from 40 countries worldwide, highlights in the lineup include the North American premiere of Jenn Nkiru’s The Great North (2024) on closing night and the world premiere of TCB – The Toni Cade Bambara School of Organizing (2025), from Louis Massiah and Monica Henriquez, on opening night.
The festival is an annual celebration of independent cinema from the global majority and a one-of-a-kind gathering centered on connection, discussion, and learning. Notable guests and speakers at this year’s festival include Cauleen Smith, Letitia Wright, Kevin Jerome Everson, Meg Onli, and Charles Burnett — who will be in conversation with David Hartt on August 3, after a retrospective screening of the new 4K restoration of his 1978 classic, Killer of Sheep.
All tickets and passes are on sale at blackstarfest.org/festival.
Opening Night Film
TCB – The Toni Cade Bambara School of Organizing
Dir. by Louis Massiah & Monica Henriquez
World Premiere
Filmed over the course of several years, TCB – The Toni Cade Bambara School of Organizing is a powerful feature documentary that includes direct interviews with Bambara, Toni Morrison, Nikky Finney, Haile Gerima, and others; collectively telling the story of the influential writer whose literary works and film collaborations were a catalyzing force for 20th century cultural and political movements.
Special Screening
BLKNWS: Terms & Conditions
Dir. Khalil Joseph
Conceived as a cinematic experience that mirrors the sonic textures of a record album, BLKNWS: Terms & Conditions (2025) is a genre-bending documentary adapted from BlackStar alum Kahlil Joseph’s renowned video art installation. The film’s unique soundscape is mastered in stereo, with featured guest artists interwoven across its 21 tracks, each adding their distinct perspective. Joseph will also take part in a spotlight conversation on August 2.
Special Screening
All That’s Left of You (2025)
Dir. Cherien Dabis
After a Palestinian teen gets swept up into a West Bank protest, his mother recounts their family’s story of hope, courage, and relentless struggle that led them to this fateful moment.
Closing Night Film
The Great North (2024)
Dir. by Jenn Nkiru
North America Premiere
A meditative feature film from the Grammy-winning filmmaker that weaves together new footage and archive material to explore parallels between architecture and the human body – and how they both shapeshift through time and space. Taking Manchester’s industrial history as a starting point and grounded in the history of Black music, Afro-surrealism, experimental film and the Black arts movement, the film pays homage to the people and culture that make up a city.
To learn more, visit blackstarfest.org.
