(NEWARK, NJ) -- The 52nd Newark Black Film Festival takes place Wednesday from July 8 through August 5, 2026 at The Newark Museum of Art. There is a mix of films for adults and films for the entire family. Admission to the screenings is free, but reservations are required.
As one of the nation’s longest-running celebrations of Black cinema, the Newark Black Film Festival continues its tradition of bringing together filmmakers, artists, and audiences for meaningful conversations that extend beyond the screen.
July 8 @ 1:00pm - Children’s Series: Sarah’s Oil. Directed by Cyrus Nowrasteh, Sarah’s Oil tells the inspiring story of an African American girl born in the early 1900s who believes there is oil beneath the land she has been allotted. When her faith is proven right, powerful interests seek to take control of her discovery. With the help of her family and a group of wildcatters, Sarah must fight to protect her land and secure her future.
Filled with themes of perseverance, family, determination, and resilience, Sarah’s Oil offers an uplifting story for audiences of all ages while highlighting an important chapter of American history.
July 8 @ 6:30pm - Opening Night Film: When We Free the World. Join them as the 52nd Newark Black Film Festival opens with a special reception, screening, and filmmaker conversation featuring When We Free the World, the powerful feature-length documentary from acclaimed writer, activist, and filmmaker Kevin Powell.
The evening begins with an opening night reception, offering guests an opportunity to gather and celebrate the start of this year’s festival before the screening.
Centered on the question of modern manhood, When We Free the World brings together the voices of 70 Black men spanning five generations to explore identity, fatherhood, mental health, healing, accountability, and the work of breaking cycles that have impacted families and communities for generations. Through intimate conversations and personal reflections, the film challenges audiences to consider what freedom, equity, and human rights truly mean when applied universally.
Following the screening, attendees are invited to stay for a special talkback featuring filmmaker and writer Kevin Powell and producer and writer Evangeline Lawson of Brooklyn Diego Productions. The discussion will be moderated by Richard Wesley and Darryl Dwayne.
July 11 @ 11:00am - Children’s Series: Sarah’s Oil. An inspiring family film about courage, determination, and protecting what matters most as a young girl fights to preserve her family's future. See listing for July 8th for more information.
July 15 @ 1:00pm - Children's Series: Sing 2. Buster Moon and his friends have a new dream: debuting their biggest show yet at the glamorous Crystal Tower Theater. There’s just one problem. To make it happen, they must convince legendary rock star Clay Calloway to come out of retirement and join the production.
Filled with music, humor, heart, and memorable characters, Sing 2 celebrates friendship, perseverance, creativity, and the courage to follow your dreams. This family-friendly adventure is sure to entertain audiences of all ages.
July 15 @ 7:00pm - Motel Destino. Set along the sun-drenched coast of Ceará in northeastern Brazil, Motel Destino unfolds within a roadside motel where desire, power, and violence collide. When 21-year-old Heraldo arrives seeking refuge after a failed criminal undertaking, his presence disrupts the fragile balance between the motel’s owners, setting in motion a dangerous chain of events driven by passion, ambition, and the search for freedom. Visually striking and emotionally charged, the film immerses audiences in a world where every choice carries consequences.
Directed by Karim Aïnouz, one of Brazil’s most celebrated contemporary filmmakers, Motel Destino premiered in competition for the Palme d’Or at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival. The film combines elements of noir, thriller, and melodrama to create a vivid portrait of longing, survival, and self-determination.
Following the screening, attendees are invited to stay for a post-film discussion moderated by Roger Costa.
July 18 @ 11:00am - Children's Series: Sing 2. Buster Moon and his friends set out to convince a legendary rock star to join their biggest show ever in this heartwarming musical adventure filled with laughter and unforgettable songs. See listing for July 15th for more information.
July 22 @ 1:00pm - Children's Series: Soul. Joe Gardner is a middle-school band teacher whose life hasn’t quite gone the way he expected. His true passion is jazz, and when an unexpected event sends him on a journey beyond the physical world, Joe finds himself helping another soul discover its purpose while gaining a new appreciation for life himself.
Directed by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Pete Docter, Soul is a heartfelt and imaginative adventure that explores purpose, passion, friendship, and the small moments that make life meaningful. Filled with humor, music, and unforgettable characters, the film encourages audiences of all ages to embrace life’s possibilities and appreciate the journey along the way.
July 22 @ 7:00pm - New Jersey Filmmakers Showcase: Talks With Myself and Atelier: The Story of Brownmill Company. Join them for an evening celebrating New Jersey filmmakers, storytellers, and creative entrepreneurs through a special shorts program featuring Operation: Is Jersey the New Hollywood?, the debut of Talks With Myself Season 6, Episode 6, and Atelier: The Story of Brownmill Company.
Atelier: The Story of Brownmill Company is a lyrical documentary short film about Justis Pitt, Kwaku Agyemang, and Taha Shimou, the three young men behind the Newark-born clothing brand Brownmill Company. Through sentimental archival footage, mixed-media animation, and verité-style observational footage, the film offers an intimate and inspiring portrayal of how three Black men turned their love of art and fashion into a business that has forever changed the fabric of their community. Beyond celebrating Black entrepreneurial excellence, the film seeks to foster dialogue on legacy, representation, cultural heritage preservation, and the power of collective creativity.
Talks With Myself is a Black queer dramedy that centers around Morris as he reckons with the lies and choices that have shaped his life. Sharing his and his friends’ stories through raw livestream confessionals, Morris and those closest to him collectively search for love, healing, and clarity. The series offers a nuanced portrait of Black queer life anchored in New Jersey and told from an authentic community perspective.
Following the screenings, attendees are invited to stay for a conversation exploring filmmaking in New Jersey, from large studio productions to independent and web-based storytelling. Panelists include Damon Williams and Brandon Tyler, co-founders of WTHGlobal Production Company; Roger Omeus Jr., director and writer of Talks With Myself; Erby Beauvil, producer of Talks With Myself; and Anya Dillard, director of Atelier: The Story of Brownmill Company, joined by Brownmill Company founder Justis Pitt-Goodman. The discussion will be moderated by Darryl Dwayne.
July 25 @ 11:00am - Children's Series: Soul. When a jazz-loving teacher embarks on an extraordinary journey beyond the physical world, he discovers the true meaning of purpose, passion, and living life to the fullest. See listing for July 22 for more information.
July 25 @ 1:00pm - Children's Series: Secret Life of Pets. Directed by Chris Renaud, The Secret Life of Pets imagines the hilarious adventures that unfold behind closed doors when pets are left home alone. Max, a lovable terrier, enjoys a comfortable life with his owner until everything changes when she adopts Duke, a large and unruly rescue dog.
As Max and Duke navigate their differences, they find themselves on an unexpected adventure through New York City filled with excitement, friendship, and plenty of surprises. Along the way, they discover the importance of teamwork, loyalty, and finding common ground.
Filled with memorable characters, laugh-out-loud moments, and heartwarming lessons, The Secret Life of Pets is a fun-filled animated adventure for audiences of all ages.
August 5 @ 11:00am - Children's Series: Secret Life of Pets. When a pampered terrier's world is turned upside down by the arrival of a new dog, the two unlikely companions embark on a hilarious adventure through New York City. See listing for July 25 for more information.
August 5 @ 6:30pm - Closing Night Film - Sinners. Join them as they close the 52nd Newark Black Film Festival with a special Michael B. Jordan Day screening of Sinners and a closing toast celebrating another remarkable year of Black cinema, storytelling, and community.
Raised in Newark and a graduate of Newark Arts High School, Michael B. Jordan has become one of the city’s most celebrated cultural ambassadors. This special screening honors his extraordinary contributions to film and his enduring connection to Newark.
Written and directed by Ryan Coogler, Sinners stars Michael B. Jordan in dual roles as twin brothers who return to their hometown hoping to leave their troubled past behind, only to encounter a powerful evil waiting to welcome them back.
Following the screening, attendees are invited to stay for a closing toast as we celebrate the filmmakers, artists, partners, and audiences who have made the 52nd Newark Black Film Festival a success.
For 52 years, the Newark Black Film Festival has brought together generations of storytellers and film lovers through powerful films and meaningful conversations. Join them as they conclude this year’s festival and look ahead to the future of Black cinema.
The Newark Black Film Festival (NBFF), founded in 1974, has grown from its roots as a visionary project into the longest-running Black film festival in the United States.
Its 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.
