Newark Black Film Festival
Date(s)Mid-July
FrequencyAnnual
VenueNewark Museum of Art
Location(s)Newark, New Jersey
Founded1974
Websitehttps://newarkmuseumart.org/2023-newark-black-film-festival/
Every summer, the Newark Black Film Festival is held at the Newark Museum of Art
The New Jersey-born singer, actor and activist Paul Robeson in 1942. The Paul Robeson Awards are held biannually at the Newark Black Film Festival.

The Newark Black Film Festival (NBFF), is an annual film festival that has taken place since 1974 in Newark, New Jersey, and is the longest running Black film festival in the United States.[1][2] It operates under the auspices of the Newark Museum of Art. The NBFF focuses on the work and history of African Americans and the African Diaspora. Screenings are typically followed by a Q&A session with the filmmakers and scholars.

The Newark Black Film Festival Paul Robeson Awards began as a biennial competition in 1985.[2][3] The festival receives funding in the form of grants from various foundations and corporations and is free of charge to the public.[4]

History

The concept of the festival was originated by filmmaker Oliver Franklin in 1974 at the University of Pennsylvania Annenberg Center. Gus Heningburg, of the Greater Newark Urban Coalition, suggested that the Newark Museum host one of its traveling events, after which it became part of the museum's programming. As quoted in the Newark-based newspaper, The Star-Ledger, Rutgers University professor Clement Price (originally on the selection committee) said "The festival was started in the lean years of Newark history, following the disturbances of the summer of '67, The Newark Black Film Festival was one of the early and more credible efforts to address the trauma and civic dislocation and the concerns about the future of Newark. The enduring aspiration of the festival has been to show films that give a believable portrait of African-American and African diasporic life."[5]

During its history, films have been shown at other venues in the city including the Newark Public Library, Newark Symphony Hall, Washington Park, Rutgers University–Newark, New Jersey Institute of Technology, and Cityplex12.[6][7][8]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Villadolid, Alice C. (June 24, 1979). "Black Film Festival" – via NYTimes.com.
  2. 1 2 Muro, Matt (June 27, 1999). "A Century of Black Film" – via NYTimes.com.
  3. ↑ Newark Black Film Festival
  4. ↑ Newark Black Film Festival — Entry Deadline February 26
  5. ↑ Tsai, Martin (June 30, 2010). "Newark Black Film Festival provides treat for fans". TheStar-Ledger.
  6. ↑ "Newark Black Film Festival". NewJerseyStage.com. July 25, 2018.
  7. ↑ Perry, Claudia (June 23, 2008). "Newark Black Film Festival adds Camden venue". nj.
  8. ↑ "Newark Museum Black Film Festival Marks 45th Anniversary". June 12, 2019.
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