Black Cinema Series

On a trip to London with his daughter (Yvette Curtis) for some dirt-bike races, Dr. Matt Younger (Sidney Poitier) meets beautiful dignitary Catherine Oswandu (Esther Anderson) and quickly falls for her. But something is amiss -- strange men seem to be following her wherever she goes, and Younger assumes she's at the center of some political intrigue. His heart sinks when he learns that she has sickle cell anemia, and the men are watchdogs in the employ of her anxious father (Earl Cameron).

Filmmaker Jamila Wignot examines the life of visionary dancer and choreographer Alvin Ailey.

Ousmane Sembène, the most internationally renowned African director of the twentieth century, made his feature debut in 1966 with the brilliant and stirring Black Girl. A complex, layered critique on the lingering colonialist mindset of a supposedly postcolonial world. Black Girl is a harrowing human drama as well as a radical political statement—and one of the essential films of the 1960s.

Marvel Studios’ “Black Panther” follows T’Challa who, after the death of his father, the King of Wakanda, returns home to the isolated, technologically advanced African nation to succeed to the throne and take his rightful place as king.

From her escape from slavery through the dangerous missions she led to liberate hundreds of slaves through the Underground Railroad, the story of heroic abolitionist Harriet Tubman is told.

Honoring the heritage, unity, culture, and rich contributions of African Americans, Kwanzaa is more than just a celebration; it’s a way of life. Cultural Expressions: Kwanzaa explores the seven principles that are the foundation of Kwanzaa by sharing seven real-life stories of impact. These stories reveal how each principle plays a role in the Black community, illustrated through cultural elements of dance, storytelling, music, and spoken word.

Miss Juneteenth tells the story of a former beauty queen and single mom prepares her rebellious teenage daughter for the "Miss Juneteenth" pageant.

A look at three defining chapters in the life of Chiron, a young black man growing up in Miami. His epic journey to manhood is guided by the kindness, support and love of the community that helps raise him.

​Local filmmaker Tam Little, captures a community’s response to the violence in their neighborhoods and their resolve to reduce violence in their city by facing the underlying issues of violence head-on. Through the family’s stories, she hopes viewers will walk away taking a moment to remember the casualties of America’s epidemic of gun violence and see themselves moving and mobilizing their efforts to make children safe in cities and suburbs all across America.

While grappling with tremendous personal tragedy, Isabel sets herself on a path of global investigation and discovery. Despite the colossal scope of her project, she finds beauty and bravery while crafting one of the defining American books of our time: “Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents.” Written and directed by Ava DuVernay.

Because jazz is the miraculous product of the horror of slavery, Youssou N'Dour returns to the slave route and the music they created in search of new inspiration.

​At a time when women, people of color, and homosexuals were confined to the margins of society, Lorraine Hansberry (1930-1965), best known for A Raisin in the Sun, boldly challenged U.S. society to live up to its ideals. Sighted Eyes/Feeling Heart tells the dramatic story of the young, gifted and black woman who chose words to fight injustice—on stage and off.

Over the course of a hot summer day in Los Angeles, the lives of 25 young Angelinos intersect.

After growing up in quiet, rural Lincolnshire, teenager Femi struggles with unfamiliar surroundings and cultural differences when he moves in with his mother in London.

The dramatic rise and fall of the Negro Leagues - providing a lens on the dramatic parallel world of Black baseball created by African Americans during the Jim Crow years. The story is told through previously unearthed archival footage and never-before-seen interviews.

Mrs. Recy Taylor was gang raped by six white boys in 1944 Alabama. Unbroken, she spoke up and fought for justice with help from Rosa Parks and legions of women.The hidden, epic story of sexual violence in the Jim Crow South, when courageous black women fight to take back their bodies and their dignity. Recy Taylor speaks up when danger is greatest, powering the coming Civil Rights Movement.

Confronted with a series of racially charged incidents, a young black man must overcome rage, alienation, and hopelessness in order to find his own humanity.

The epic emotional journey of a suburban African American family as they navigate love, forgiveness and coming together in the wake of a tragic loss.