BlackStar Film Festival
Annual film festival hosted in Philadelphia, PA, USA
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The BlackStar Film Festival is an annual film festival organized by BlackStar Projects. The festival focuses on films about and by black, brown and indigenous people from around the world.[1] It takes place each August in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. It has been described as the "Black Sundance."[2][3]
Closing: 3 August 2025
 | |
| Location | Philadelphia, United States |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2012 |
| Founded by | Maori Karmael Holmes |
| Festival date | Opening: 31 July 2025 Closing: 3 August 2025 |
| Language | English, American Sign Language |
| Website | www |
The festival is named after Marcus Garvey's shipping line, the Black Star Line.[3] It was founded in 2012 by Maori Karmael Holmes, with the first BlackStar Film Festival initially conceived as a one-day "microfestival" that, due to the large number of submissions, ultimately turned into a four-day international event.[4] Holmes developed the festival due to her view that there were very few film festivals for Black filmmakers,[5] as well as a desire to share stories that go beyond stereotypical representations of people of color.[6] Backers of the festival include the MacArthur Foundation, the Knight Foundation, HBO, CAA, Comcast, and Lionsgate.[3]
The first festival included a master class and screening of part of Middle of Nowhere by Ava DuVernay.[7][8] Produced by nonprofit BlackStar Projects, that festival included 40 films from four continents.[5] Later festivals have included films by Arthur Jafa,[9] Ja'Tovia Gary,[10] Terence Nance, Jenn Nkiru,[11] Gabourey Sidibe,[12] Janine Sherman Barrois,[13] Darius Clark Monroe, Shatara Michelle Ford,[14] Garrett Bradley,[15] and Naima Ramos-Chapman. Panels have included Bradford Young, Rashid Shabazz,[4] Spike Lee, and Tarana Burke.[16]
Yaba Blay, Akiba Solomon, Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, and Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter have all previously served on the advisory board of the festival.[17]
In 2024, the festival had over 17,000 attendees.[18]
Sister programming from Blackstar Projects includes Seen, a biannual journal of art and writing; a seminar for artists of color; a fellowship; and exhibitions.[5]