The theme of the 19th edition of the International Black Film Festival, taking place this week in Nashville, is particularly powerful and poignant: “Who’s Gonna Tell Them? Breaking Barriers Through Knowing Your Story.” The theme reinforces not only the ongoing urgency of various people and cultures being able to accurately document and chronicle their experiences, but also reaffirms what IBFF has always strived to achieve throughout its existence — offering a forum and exposure for voices, accomplishments, events and personalities that otherwise might be ignored or underexposed, both domestically and globally.
Following a kickoff event on Oct. 2, this year’s film screenings take place Oct. 3 through 6. The festival once more combines features, documentaries, shorts and seminars into a thorough series of presentations that cover current issues in cinema, television and broadcasting, while also examining ongoing developments across the entertainment spectrum.
“We are deeply humbled to have been a part of this journey for 19 years, fostering a platform that not only showcases exceptional filmmaking, but also engages our community in meaningful ways,” IBFF founder Hazel Joyner Smith says in a statement about the festival’s vision. “Through our festival, we have built a vibrant family of creatives, top industry professionals and film enthusiasts, all united by a passion for storytelling through film and TV and a commitment to amplifying marginalized voices.”
Smith, chief operating officer Ingrid L. Brown and chief creative director Ivy J. Brown have assembled an impressive roster of diverse and compelling productions for audiences. These will be screened at the Scarritt Bennett Center and at Belmont University’s Johnson Center, with additional events happening elsewhere.
The Tennessee 11
Recommended festival highlights include: Oden Few Roberts’ inspirational documentary short “Fuzz,” which spotlights the life and times of the longtime Nashville pastor and activist Enoch Fuzz and his battles against both personal and community obstacles (7 p.m. Friday at Belmont); Rod Blackhurst’s festival-opening documentary The Tennessee 11, which brings to the screen in vivid fashion the social and political divisions that still exist while raising the question of how to resolve them in today’s tense environment (11:30 a.m. Thursday at the Scarritt Bennett Center); Evergreen, Iman Shervington’s poignant tale of a search for personal truth and identity (2:30 p.m. Friday at Scarritt Bennett Center); Alex Eskandarkhah’s documentary short “Coaching While Black,” a Canadian entry that explores a basketball coach’s quest to keep his team together in the midst of controversial and damaging allegations (12:15 p.m. Sunday at Belmont); and Betye Saar: Ready to Be a Warrior, Angela Robinson Witherspoon’s comprehensive portrait of innovative Los Angeles artist Saar, a pioneer in the art world for more than six decades (5 p.m. Friday at the Scarritt Bennett Center).
There’s an equally attractive list of industry panels featuring such subjects as “Soundtrack Pioneers,” “The Inevitable Presence of AI in Your Future,” “Pitch to Profit” and “The Power of Women Storytellers,” plus a special Saturday “Get Greenlit” live pitch session. Festival parties will be held throughout the weekend at Analog at Hutton Hotel and elsewhere. Tickets and passes to all these events, as well as a complete screening and festival schedule, can be found online at ibffevents.com.
This year’s roster shows that IBFF is expanding its reach and continuing to provide special cultural insights and viewpoints.
