By Tasnia Habib
The DC Black Film Festival (DCBFF) announced its 2020 virtual film festival will take place from September 14 through September 19. DCBFF is an annual event dedicated to showcasing quality films by and about people of African heritage.
The seven-day festival will show over 60 short films across various genres, including documentaries, romance and horror. The festival will also include live events, panels and workshops, as well as a virtual 90s party and costume contest. Panel topics include a Black critics panel, the power of short films, Making Black Lives Matter through film, and a branding masterclass. There will also be film panel discussions with the casts of the films Cool Black North and American Wisper.
Films will be available via the platform Eventive, where there are several different ticketing options. Attendees can purchase an all-access pass, a single pass, or a pass to a pre-arranged film block. Viewers Passes can be purchased on their website.
Below are the synopses for some of the feature films that will be available starting September 14. The full list of films showing can be found online.
The Evers
Director: Loki Mulholland
Cast: Reena Evers, Myrlie Evers, Dr. Michael Williams, Jerry Mitchell
Logline: On June 12, 1963, an assassin’s bullet ended the life of Medgar Evers, the Field Secretary of the NAACP in Mississippi. From the Emmy-winning director of “The Uncomfortable Truth” comes the incredible true story of one family’s unbreakable love and tragic sacrifice in the name of freedom for everyone. “The Evers” is a powerful testament of love, faith and family in the quest for a better world.
The Subject
Director: Lanie Zipoy
Cast: Jason Biggs, Aunjanue Ellis, Anabelle Acosta, Carra Patterson, Nile Bullock, Caleb Eberhardt
Logline: A successful documentarian deals with the moral fallout from his last film, which caught the murder of an African American teenager on tape. Now, someone else is videotaping his every move, threatening his idyllic life.
Cool Black North
Director: Alison Duke
Cast: Darren Osborne
Logline: Cool Black North explores the unique and vibrant Canadian Black Community and its role in our country’s contemporary identity.
Through a series of intimate profiles we are witness to a wide spectrum of life experiences, including the arts, entertainment, law, business, science and social activism. Though each person’s pathway to success is unique, they all share a common purpose and strength in overcoming often racially-based obstacles to succeed at the highest level in their respective fields.
American Wisper
Director: Russ Emanuel
Cast: Christian Barber, Naaji Kenn, Lanisha Javon Gholston, Kenishia Green, Laquana Henny,
Logline: A unique experimental found footage take on an anti-hero protagonist. ‘American Wisper’ is the true story of the murder of a middle-class African American family in Northern New Jersey. In the summer of 2016, three children and their mother were found shot to death in their large suburban home. Loosely based on the personal videotapes and diaries owned by the father of the victims.
Still from Three Blades.
Three Blades (Trois Machettes)
Country: France. Language: Haitian-Creole.
Director: Matthieu Maunier-Rossi
Cast: Davidson Dupoy, Jordany Cothias, Norbert Alix
Logline: Haiti, nowadays. One day in the life of a family of three – three men, alone with their dreams and frustrations. Three generations under the burning sun. A day like every other day… And between them, everywhere, in every hand, there are blades, machetes. So when the night eventually comes…