Now in its 7th year, the Rhode Island Black Film Festival (April 3–7, 2024) 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 Black baseball players in Providence ("The Price of Admission"), an Olympic bowling gold-medalist from Cranston ("Last Place Champ"), and the controversial practice of hazing ("Hazing").
"The Bannister Project," which celebrates the life and work of Edward Mitchell Bannister and Christiana Carteaux Bannister, is presented by first-time director Angel Sweeney. Sweeney is a current senior at the Trinity Academy for the Performing Arts and interviewed members of the Providence Art Club, Rhode Island Black Storytellers, and Stages of Freedom to display Bannister's impact on the art community in Rhode Island.
In addition to screenings and panel discussions, some selections will be offered virtually following the festival.
