Ann Arbor is longstanding in its reputation to consistently punch above its weight in cinema. That fact is only going to become more so when the second ever Ann Arbor Black Film Festival opens at the State Theater on June 7.
“We are showing films from three different countries and 11 states, including films from Ann Arbor, Flint, Grand Rapids and Inkster,” Chris Anderson, a local film maker and A2BFF board member, said. “I’m really glad because we barely had any Michigan films our first year. But it’s really nice to see more Michigan film makers supporting us.”
The three day festival is spread over three locations. The main event will be at the State Theater on Saturday. Marquee Arts owns the Michigan and State Theaters.
“This is the second annual A2 Black Film Festival, and we at the State are so honored and excited to be included in the building of this new tradition. Chris Anderson has paved the way for local artists of color to showcase their talent, voices and experiences,” Chris Zettek, the rentals manager at Marquee Arts, which owns and operates both the Michigan and the State, said in an emailed statement. “We are excited to watch this festival grow into a staple of the Ann Arbor arts and film community and we hope that Marquee Arts will be able to continue to support them for many years to come.”
It will be followed up by historical context films at an independent bookstore, Third Mind Books at 118 East Washington Street. The Ann Arbor District Library will also show films at its 343 South Fifth Avenue.
RELATED: Ann Arbor Film Festival is Back with a Joyful Opening Gala
What’s on screen
Films have come in from all over the world. According to the organizers, 30 percent of the 73 films submitted will be screened.
The international scope of the festival is just as much a testament to the diversity and scope of Black experiences across the world. However, organizers said they had been effected by the 100 percent tariff on foreign made films that President Trump implemented by executive order, driving up costs for festival organizers. Multiple civil rights, law firms and states attorneys-general are currently taking Trump to court on all of his tariff executive orders, on constitutional grounds.
Saturday at noon
- “Songs from the Sky” – 17 minutes and 17 seconds – directed by Juan Lopez of New York City
- “Say Your Name” – 12 minutes and 6 seconds – directed by Len Tran of Grand Rapids
- “Bad Day: Good Man Gone Bad” – 12 minutes and 10 seconds – directed by Kendrick Ramon McLin of Brockton, Mass.
- “Evergreen” – 10 minutes and 48 seconds – directed by Audrey Douglas of Baltimore
- “Mind Games” – 10 minutes – by Isabella Kestermann of Los Angeles
Saturday at 2:15 p.m.
- “Our Backyard Hist’ry” – 6 minutes and 55 seconds – directed by Christopher Thomas Anderson of Ann Arbor
- “Something in the Water” – 12 minutes and 11 seconds – directed by Nateya Taylor of Milwaukee
- “John Street: Story of a Neighborhood” – 56 minutes and 46 seconds – directed by Justin Rodney Brown
On Saturday at 4:25 p.m.
- “Driving the Green Book” – 40 minutes – by Alvin Hall of NYC
- “Stoop Chat with Maani & Mr. Sweat” – 14 minutes and 9 seconds – directed by Marj Kleinmann of Brooklyn
- “Land Rivers Spaghetti Catfish” – 8 minutes and 20 seconds – directed by Derek Anthony Holland
- “Stay Out of the Sun” – 14 minutes and 51 seconds – directed by Vivienne Ayres of California
Saturday at 6:40 p.m.
- “Finding Hero” – 45 minutes – by Matt Coole of Baltimore
- “Grieving Brothers” – 7 minutes and 51 seconds – directed by Jere’Miah McGhee of Baypoint, California
- “Huey” – 29 minutes and 39 seconds – directed by Ken Gregory of Los Angeles
Saturday at 8:55 p.m.
- “Three’s a Crowd” – 10 minutes and 6 seconds – directed by Jonathan Berenstein of Los Angeles
- “Welcome to Afrotree” – 20 minutes and 44 seconds – directed by Chase Parker of NYC
- “Don’t Hang Up” – 10 minutes and 31 seconds – directed by Diamond Batiste of Hayti, Missouri
- “A Different Kind Of War” – 16 minutes and 19 seconds – directed by Jamel King of Fort Wayne
- “Some Kind of Heavenly Fire”– 20 minutes and 39 seconds – directed by Jasmin Joseph of Los Angeles
Book spaces become theaters
The other two locations will screen some repeats of these films, meaning that you don’t need to block out your entire time at the State, or have to find your favorites online on your own, to see again.
“I will show the film that I produced for the Ann Arbor District Library bicentennial, called ‘Relentless Warrior.’ It’s about Ann Arbor’s first Black, mayor Al Wheeler,” Carole Gibson, who also has a film in the festival in addition to being one of the jurors who selected films for the festival – along with the film editor Alex Luna, Michigan-based documentarian Fred Culpepper, and Detroit-native actress Lauren LaStradda – said. “We also have one on DeLong’s a Bar-B-Q, a very famous restaurant and cultural hangout spot, with the daughter of the founder of DeLong’s.”
It has been half a century since Wheeler’s successful campaign for mayor, and three decades since he passed away. Gibson says her documentary takes you through Wheeler’s upbringing “to a whirlwind tour of top educational institutions. We share how Professor Wheeler shaped and shared a life of firsts with his equally impressive wife, Emma, and their accomplished family. We also hear from some people who knew Al best and helped him become the first Black Mayor of Ann Arbor, as well as win re-election with one vote, a precedent-setting result.”
Third Mind Books will be screening five short films on Saturday. The three screenings they’ll do – at 2:45 p.m., 4:45 p.m. and 6:45 p.m., will also be free, but space is super limited. They will be showing:
- “Stay Out of the Sun” – 14 minutes and 51 seconds – directed by Zola Franchi, Vivienne Ayres and Nidhi Kumar of California
- “Our Backyard History” – 6 minutes and 55 seconds – directed by Christopher Thomas Anderson of Ann Arbor
- “DeLong’s” – 17 minutes and 49 seconds – directed by Kameron Donald of Ann Arbor
- “A Film Called Black: King’s Speech” – 19 minutes and 20 seconds – directed by Cam Be of Chicago
- “Relentless Warrior”: Al Wheeler – Ann Arbor’s First Black Mayor – 25 minutes and 30 seconds – directed by Carole Gibson of Ann Arbor
The AADL will be hosting two shows, which will also be free. They will be screening “Bankie Banx: King of the Dune,” at 5 p.m. on Friday. This film, which is the longest film of the festival, will be played again, starting at 1 p.m. on Saturday, alongside:
- “Music & Movement: Timal Brothers” – 16 minutes and 18 seconds – from Guadeloupe
- “A Film Called Black: King’s Speech” – 19 minutes and 20 seconds – directed by Cam Be of Chicago
- “The Life, The Legend, The Man: Reggie McKenzie” – 1 hour and 17 minutes – directed by James C Turner of Farmington Hills
- “Bankie Banx: King of the Dune” – 1 hour and 58 minutes – directed by Nara Garber of Anguilla
- “Music & Movement” again at 6 p.m.
- “A Film Called Black: King’s Speech” – 19 minutes and 20 seconds – directed by Cam Be of Chicago
- “The Life, The Legend, The Man: Reggie McKenzie” again after 6 p.m.
The films of the first festival will also be celebrated again too at the AADL. Organizers will wrap up the festival with “a collection of films” from the A2BFF 2024.
“The Ann Arbor Black Film Festival came to the Library, looking for space for this year’s festival, and we’re happy that we were able to offer it to them,” AADL staff member Rich Retyi said. “We’re excited to showcase these two documentaries to a wider audience and share more stories about our community.”
Sponsors come from all over the city. Boober Tours is providing free transportation to the screening locations, which are all within downtown.
Destination Ann Arbor is another one of the sponsors. Its President and CEO, Sarah Miller, told Current via a spokesperson: “We’re proud to support the Ann Arbor Black Film Festival as it amplifies Black voices and stories through film. The festival reflects the creativity and diversity that make Ann Arbor such a vibrant, welcoming place to visit and explore.”
Drew Saunders is a freelance business and environmental journalist who grew up just outside of Ann Arbor. He covers local business developments, embraces his foodie side with reviews restaurants, obsesses over Michigan's environmental state, loves movies, and feels spoiled by the music he gets to review for Ann Arbor!
