Black Alphabet Film Festival 2024 returns for it's 11th season

CHICAGO, Sept. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Black Alphabet NFP, the world's oldest Black-focused LGBTQ+ arts organization, is excited to announce the 11th Annual Black Alphabet Film Festival (BAFF), taking place from October 11th - 13th, 2024 at Sisters In Cinema and the Harper Theater in Chicago. This year's festival showcases the breadth and depth of Black LGBTQ+ storytelling, presenting films that span themes of identity, resilience, love, and community. This year's festival showcases filmmakers from diverse backgrounds, including a deaf filmmaker and a Black trans male director.

"Our mission has always been to center Black queer voices and narratives in ways that challenge and inspire," said Adam L. McMath, Executive Director of Black Alphabet. "As we celebrate eleven years of the Black Alphabet Film Festival, we are proud to uplift filmmakers whose stories reflect the richness of our lives, our struggles, and our victories."

This year's lineup includes a wide variety of films, from documentaries that explore the complexities of gender and identity to fictional stories that touch on love, friendship, and personal growth. Some of the festival's highly anticipated films include:

• What Somalia Wants (Dir. Jade Bryan): A gentrified Harlem dramedy following Somalia LaMine, a Black deaf fashion designer and TikTok influencer, as she navigates new challenges in the Gen Z era. Director Jade Bryan is a deaf filmmaker
• The Aggressives (Dir. Daniel Peddle): This pioneering documentary, filmed in NYC from 1997-2004, follows a group of masculine-presenting queer people of color exploring evolving gender definitions.
• Eden's Garden - The Jungle Has No Face - Ep 1 (Dir. Malachi King): A thrilling peek into the lives of transmen in New York City and the secrets that bind them.
• Never Would Have Thought: from a Woman to a Goddess (Dir. Adam L. McMath): A moving documentary about poet and activist Goddess Warrior, capturing her life's journey through her own poetry.
• My Dear (Dir. Greg Ellis): A heartfelt story of a retired football player and his daughter as they confront the struggles of untreated mental health issues.

In addition to the films, attendees will have the opportunity to engage directly with the filmmakers during special Q&A sessions:

• Friday, October 11th: After the screening of What Somalia Wants
• Saturday, October 12th: Following Eden's Garden
• Sunday, October 13th: After Never Would Have Thought and My Dear

"These Q&A sessions are an invaluable part of our festival, allowing audiences to connect with the filmmakers and gain deeper insight into their creative processes," said McMath. "This year, we're especially excited to offer these discussions, which are a testament to the collaborative and inclusive spirit of BAFF."

Additional Films Featured at BAFF 2024:

• Black Trans Miracle (Dir. Tinaye Nyathi): A young trans man embarks on a journey of self-discovery after an unexpected encounter.
• The Butterfly: Victory Lap (Dir. Amariah Hardwick and Broady Best): A documentary highlighting the journey of the first openly transgender woman to graduate from an HBCU.
• What Somalia Wants (Dir. Jade Bryan): A comedic look at the pressures of being a Gen Z Black deaf fashion designer in Harlem.
• Miss Honey: The Catsuit (Dir. Brandon Nichoolas): The fashion mishap that led to the iconic cut-out catsuit worn by NYC nightlife celebrity Moi Renee.
• The Aggressives (Dir. Daniel Peddle): An intimate portrait of masculine-presenting queer people of color navigating gender identities and the ballroom scene.

The Black Alphabet Film Festival continues to foster a platform for Black LGBTQ+ filmmakers and stories, making space for marginalized voices and ensuring that their stories are shared, celebrated, and remembered.

The festival is free/pay what you can and open to the public, but RSVPs are required. Secure your tickets now via www.blackalphabet.org/events.

About Black Alphabet NFP:

Founded in 2013, Black Alphabet is the world's oldest Black-focused LGBTQ+ arts organization. Through film, arts, and culture, Black Alphabet empowers the Black LGBTQ+ community by providing platforms for storytelling, expression, and connection.

For press inquiries or further information, please contact:

Adam L. McMath

Email: adam.mcmath@blackalphabet.org

Website: www.blackalphabet.org

Instagram: @black_alphabet

Media Contact

Adam L. McMath, Black Alphabet NFP, 1 3149735692, adam.mcmath@blackalphabet.org, www.blackalphabet.org

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SOURCE Black Alphabet NFP