The Ballantine House will be temporarily closed from Thursday, July 25 through Thursday, November 21, 2024.

2022 Newark Black Film Festival

Overview

The Newark Black Film Festival, the longest-running Black film festival in the United States, returned after a brief hiatus!

Celebrating films that heighten the historic importance of the Black experience in the United States, the festival features live panel discussions and exclusive screenings of films created in the last three years.

Since 1974, NBFF has presented the work of young, independent, Black filmmakers, showcasing early films by the likes of Spike Lee, Ayoka Chenzira, and Warrington and Reginald Hudlin. Other luminaries that have participated in the festival over the years include James Earl Jones, Danny Glover, Pam Grier, Donald Bogle, Richard Wesley, Euzhan Palcy, Ava DuVernay and S. Epatha Merkerson.

2022 Paul Robeson Award Winners

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Ludi (2021). Directed by Edson Jean. (80 min). Not rated

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The Spirit God Gave Us (2021). Directed by Michael Donte Jemison. (20 min). Not rated

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Ludi (2021). Directed by Edson Jean. (80 min). Not rated

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Clarisa (2022). Directed by Philip Knowlton. (16 min). Not rated

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Big Chief Black Hawk (2021). Directed by Jonathan Isaac Jackson. (53 min). Not rated

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Souls (2020). Directed by Malakai. (15 min). Not rated

Photos

Enjoy these photo highlights from the 2022 NBFF. Feel free to right-click to download and save yours!

You can also visit our Facebook photo album to browse through the complete set of over 1,100 photos!

Newark Black Film Festival ‑ Thursday, July 14, 2022 | Photo by Chrystofer Davis

Newark Black Film Festival Opening Party ‑ Saturday, July 16, 2022 | Photo by Chrystofer Davis

Newark Black Film Festival ‑ Thursday, July 14, 2022 | Photo by Chrystofer Davis

Newark Black Film Festival Opening Party | Etta Denk, Bank of America ‑ Saturday, July 16, 2022 | Photo by Chrystofer Davis

Newark Black Film Festival ‑ Thursday, July 14, 2022 | Photo by Chrystofer Davis

Newark Black Film Festival ‑ Thursday, July 14, 2022 | Photo by Chrystofer Davis

DJ Wallah, Marcy DePina | Newark Black Film Festival ‑ Thursday, July 14, 2022 | Photo by Chrystofer Davis

Newark Black Film Festival ‑ Thursday, July 14, 2022 | Photo by Chrystofer Davis

Newark Black Film Festival Opening Party ‑ Thursday, July 14, 2022 | Photo by Chrystofer Davis

Newark Black Film Festival Opening Party ‑ Thursday, July 14, 2022 | Photo by Chrystofer Davis

Newark Black Film Festival Opening Party ‑ Saturday, July 16, 2022 | Photo by Chrystofer Davis

Newark Black Film Festival Opening Party ‑ Thursday, July 14, 2022 | Photo by Chrystofer Davis

Newark Black Film Festival Opening Party ‑ Thursday, July 14, 2022 | Photo by Chrystofer Davis

Newark Black Film Festival Opening Party ‑ Thursday, July 14, 2022 | Photo by Chrystofer Davis

Newark Black Film Festival Opening Party ‑ Thursday, July 14, 2022 | Photo by Chrystofer Davis

Newark Black Film Festival ‑ Saturday, July 16, 2022 | Photo by Chrystofer Davis

Newark Black Film Festival ‑ Saturday, July 16, 2022 | Photo by Chrystofer Davis

Newark Black Film Festival ‑ Saturday, July 16, 2022 | Photo by Chrystofer Davis

Newark Black Film Festival ‑ Saturday, July 16, 2022 | Photo by Chrystofer Davis

Newark Black Film Festival Awards Ceremony ‑ Sunday, July 17 2022 | Photo by Chrystofer Davis

Newark Black Film Festival ‑ Saturday, July 16, 2022 | Photo by Chrystofer Davis

Newark Black Film Festival Awards Ceremony ‑ Sunday, July 17, 2022 | Photo by Chrystofer Davis

Newark Black Film Festival Awards Ceremony ‑ Sunday, July 17, 2022 | Photo by Chrystofer Davis

Newark Black Film Festival Awards Ceremony ‑ Sunday, July 17, 2022 | Photo by Chrystofer Davis

Newark Black Film Festival After Party ‑ Sunday, July 17, 2022 | Photo by Chrystofer Davis

Newark Black Film Festival After Party ‑ Sunday, July 17, 2022 | Photo by Chrystofer Davis

Newark Black Film Festival After Party ‑ Sunday, July 17, 2022 | Photo by Chrystofer Davis

Newark Black Film Festival After Party ‑ Sunday, July 17, 2022 | Photo by Chrystofer Davis

Newark Black Film Festival After Party ‑ Sunday, July 17, 2022 | Photo by Chrystofer Davis

Screenings + Events

The 2022 Newark Black Film Festival took place July 12-17, 2022.

Selection Committee

Dale E. Colston

Patricia Faison

Jeff Friday

LeRoy Henderson

LeRon Lee

Millicent Matthews

Lisa Payne

Mary Sue Price

Yvonne Michelle Shirley

Ayana Stafford-Morris

Richard Wesley (Chair)

Funding

The Newark Museum of Art’s Newark Black Film Festival is made possible by

The Newark Museum of Art, a not-for-profit museum of art and science, receives operating support from the City of Newark, the State of New Jersey, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State (a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts), the New Jersey Cultural Trust, the Prudential Foundation, the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, the Victoria Foundation, the Estate of Phyllis and Sanford Bolton, the Wallace Foundation, and other corporations, foundations, and individuals. Funds for acquisitions and activities other than operations are provided by members and other contributors.