(Photo credit: Glenn Kujansuu)
The 5th Annual Detroit Black Film Festival (DBFF) returns this September, blending art, culture, and community with a showcase of 57 independent films from 13 countries, including a special focus on Africa. Presented by the Ford Foundation, the festival will run from September 25th to September 29th, 2024, offering audiences the opportunity to engage with a diverse range of films, panels, and events that celebrate Black artistry in film.
This year’s DBFF celebrates both local and international talent, shining a spotlight on filmmakers and actors from Detroit. Some of the featured artists include Alphonso Settles and Cierra Smith, stars of The Housekeeper; Denzel Dandridge, actor in B.A.S.H.; Anthony Green, director of Fighting for Grace; and singer, dancer, and actress Jessica Lamarre, director of the documentary The Pursuit of a Dream. The festival will also honor eight notable figures in the metro Detroit independent film scene: Grover McCants, Brian Sullivan Taylor, Kamal Smith, Catherine Martinez, Deborah Chenault-Green, Timashion Jones, Jezar Riches, and Rocky and Janaya Black.
Among the highly anticipated films is Fannie, produced and directed by award-winning filmmaker Christine Swanson and featuring Emmy Award-winning actress Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor. The film centers on civil rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer’s powerful speech at the 1964 Democratic National Convention. Swanson will also showcase her feature film Albany Road at Emagine Theater Royal Oak. With an all-star cast including Detroit native and Tony Award winner Renée Elise Goldsberry, Lynn Whitfield, and J. Alphonse Nicholson, the film explores the story of a New York executive who unexpectedly shares a rental car with her ex-fiancé’s mother during a snowstorm. Both Goldsberry and Swanson will attend the festival’s press conference and are available for interviews.
Also generating buzz is the holiday drama Love After the Holidays, starring hip-hop icon Trina, Malik Yoba, Taral Hicks, and Jeremy Meeks. The film follows a talk show host battling addiction and personal turmoil during the holiday season as she fights for redemption and forgiveness.
The festival will feature a special screening of the documentary Redemption Road by Detroit native Yusef Bunchy Shakur. Chronicling Shakur’s journey from gang member to community leader, the film addresses systemic racism, incarceration, and resilience in a deindustrialized Detroit. Other notable films include Twisted Hearts, Whispers of the Heart, and the social justice short Chasing the Night. The DBFF also provides a platform for up-and-coming student filmmakers like Wilderley Mauricette, whose film Spare Me tells the story of a young African American man confronting his past.
Running alongside the film festival is the 11th edition of the Taste of Black Spirits National Conference, themed “Cinema, Culture & Cocktails.” This unique blend of cinema and spirits offers attendees the chance to sample handcrafted cocktails from talented Black mixologists, including the highly anticipated Liquid Gold XO Brandy from Ronald “Mr. Biggs” Isley, crafted by Gravesande Braxton Distillery.
A key highlight of the conference is the Liquid Forum, held at the Doubletree Hotel on September 26th and 27th. This flagship event brings together industry professionals, entrepreneurs, and curious minds to discuss the social and economic advancement of Black professionals in the beverage alcohol industry. Attendees can participate in workshops, panel discussions, and networking opportunities with industry leaders such as Derek Orvis from Meijer and retail supplier Dominick Lemonious.
The two-day event includes sessions on financial planning, sustainability practices, and supply chain dynamics, culminating in the Spirited Women in Supply Chain panel, featuring leaders like MaryAnn Pisani and Dawn O’Neal. This portion of the festival provides valuable insights into the business side of the spirits industry, offering attendees practical tools for growth and success.
The Detroit Black Film Festival and Taste of Black Spirits National Conference will take place at several venues, including The Carr Center, Marlene Boll Theater, Emagine Theater Royal Oak, and Michigan State University Detroit Center. The festival promises a rich and engaging experience for lovers of film, culture, and cocktails. Tickets and the full event schedule are available now on Eventbrite. Don’t miss out on this incredible celebration of Black cinema and culture in the heart of Detroit!
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