Rhode Island Black Film Festival: Black Culture in Film

Now in its 9th year, the Rhode Island Black Film Festival (April 16–19, 2026) showcases films capturing African-American, Afro-Caribbean and Afro-Latino cinema from emerging and established filmmakers. The festival serves as a platform for bringing the medium of film to the community with a series of free screenings in a variety of locations.

Headlining the festival this year are films about the ties between Cape Verdean immigrants and the cranberry industry in southern Massachusetts ("Cape Verdean Cranberry: The Fernandes Family Story"), 55 years of sisterhood, service and social action by the Providence Alumnae chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. ("Through Her Eyes: The Evolution of Providence Alumnae"), and the first African-American to be nominated for an Oscar ("The Dichotomy of Hattie McDaniel").

As part of the festival, Beyond the Lens Academy partners with Johnson & Wales University to offer high school students the opportunity to spend two days with filmmakers, videographers and more to learn the careers behind the film industry.

In addition to screenings and panel discussions, some selections will be offered virtually following the festival.