(NEWARK, NJ) -- The 50th Newark Black Film Festival took place July 10-14, 2024 at The Newark Museum of Art. Found in 1974, it has grown from its roots as a visionary project into the longest-running Black film festival in the United States.

2024 Award-Winning Films

Best Shore Narrative - Behold a Lady | Britt Williams

Best Short Documentary - Underwater Projects | dream hampton

Best Long Documentary - Family Tree | Jennifer MacArthur

Best Experimental - To the Girl that Looks Like Me | Ewurakua Dawson-Amoah

The Spirit of Paul Robeson Award - Songs from the Hole | Contessa Gayles

The Newark Black Film Festival's inception was inspired by a touring black film festival curated by Oliver Franklin at the Annenberg Center for Communication, Art & Sciences, which caught the attention of Gus Henningburg, the then Executive Director of the Greater Newark Urban Coalition. Seeing its potential, Henningburg proposed the idea to The Newark Museum of Art, which embraced and transformed it into what we celebrate today as the NBFF.

With the establishment of a Selection Committee comprised of volunteer members from key institutions within the community, the festival began to shape a platform that would not only showcase but also nurture the talents of Black filmmakers. This committee was instrumental in handpicking films that span a wide spectrum of the Black experience, from historical documentaries to avant-garde pieces, reflecting both past and present narratives.

Over the decades, the NBFF has been a beacon for over 850 films, drawing nearly 200,000 attendees to The Newark Museum of Art. It has premiered works from young, independent filmmakers such as Spike Lee and Ava DuVernay, and featured influential figures like James Earl Jones and Danny Glover. Each screening, typically followed by a Q&A session with filmmakers and scholars, fosters a rich dialogue and deepens the audience’s connection to the films.

As the NBFF moves forward, it carries with it the legacy of its founders, the visions of the filmmakers it champions, and the spirit of its diverse and engaged audience. It stands as a testament to the enduring power and necessity of Black cinema, committed to inspiring future generations and celebrating the rich tapestry of the Black experience through film.