> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://hyperallergic.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Cinema for Liberation: BlackStar Film Festival Returns July 31–August 3 - URL: https://hyperallergic.com/cinema-for-liberation-blackstar-film-festival-2025/ - Published: 2025-07-08T18:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2025-11-24T15:11:44.000Z - Description: BlackStar presents its 14th annual celebration of indie film from the global majority, with screenings, panels, parties, and much more. - Author: BlackStar Film Festival - Tags: Announcement, Film Announcements, Sponsored, #wp, #wp-post, #image-position-large, #Import 2025-11-24 09:41 (2025) BlackStar Projects has announced the full [schedule of events](https://bit.ly/4leZmfz?ref=hyperallergic.com) for the [2025 BlackStar Film Festival](https://bit.ly/45Tn644?ref=hyperallergic.com), taking place July 31–August 3 in Philadelphia and streaming online around the world. Featuring more than 90 films from 40 countries worldwide, highlights in the lineup include the North American premiere of Jenn Nkiru's *The Great North* (2024) on closing night and the world premiere of *TCB - The Toni Cade Bambara School of Organizing* (2025), from Louis Massiah and Monica Henriquez, on opening night. The festival is an annual celebration of independent cinema from the global majority and a one-of-a-kind gathering centered on connection, discussion, and learning. Notable guests and speakers at this year’s festival include Cauleen Smith, Letitia Wright, Kevin Jerome Everson, Meg Onli, and Charles Burnett — who will be [in conversation with David Hartt](https://bit.ly/44B2H1v?ref=hyperallergic.com) on August 3, after a retrospective screening of the new 4K restoration of his 1978 classic, *Killer of Sheep*. **All tickets and passes are on sale at** [**blackstarfest.org/festival**](https://bit.ly/45Tn644?ref=hyperallergic.com)**.** --- **Opening Night Film** [***TCB - The Toni Cade Bambara School of Organizing***](https://bit.ly/3TnsQM4?ref=hyperallergic.com) Dir. by Louis Massiah & Monica Henriquez World Premiere ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2025/07/bsff25_ad_hyperallergic_announcement_tcbthetonicadebambaraschooloforganizing.png) *TCB – The Toni Cade Bambara School of Organizing* (2025), Dir. Louis Massiah & Monica Henriquez Filmed over the course of several years, *TCB – The Toni Cade Bambara School of Organizing* is a powerful feature documentary that includes direct interviews with Bambara, Toni Morrison, Nikky Finney, Haile Gerima, and others; collectively telling the story of the influential writer whose literary works and film collaborations were a catalyzing force for 20th century cultural and political movements. --- **Special Screening** [***BLKNWS: Terms & Conditions***](https://bit.ly/3TIiBSJ?ref=hyperallergic.com) Dir. Khalil Joseph Conceived as a cinematic experience that mirrors the sonic textures of a record album, *BLKNWS: Terms & Conditions* (2025) is a genre-bending documentary adapted from BlackStar alum Kahlil Joseph’s renowned video art installation. The film’s unique soundscape is mastered in stereo, with featured guest artists interwoven across its 21 tracks, each adding their distinct perspective. Joseph will also take part in a [spotlight conversation](https://bit.ly/3Tnho2R?ref=hyperallergic.com) on August 2. --- **Special Screening** [***All That's Left of You***](https://bit.ly/4evKIxM?ref=hyperallergic.com) **(2025)** Dir. Cherien Dabis ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2025/07/bsff25_ad_hyperallergic_announcement_all-thats-left-of-you.png) *All That’s Left of You (اللي باقي منك)* (2025), Dir. Cherien Dabis After a Palestinian teen gets swept up into a West Bank protest, his mother recounts their family’s story of hope, courage, and relentless struggle that led them to this fateful moment. --- **Closing Night Film** [***The Great North***](https://bit.ly/3TjyNtn?ref=hyperallergic.com) **(2024)** Dir. by Jenn Nkiru North America Premiere ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2025/07/bsff25_ad_hyperallergic_announcement_thegreatnorth.png) The Great North (2024), Dir. Jenn Nkiru A meditative feature film from the Grammy-winning filmmaker that weaves together new footage and archive material to explore parallels between architecture and the human body – and how they both shapeshift through time and space. Taking Manchester’s industrial history as a starting point and grounded in the history of Black music, Afro-surrealism, experimental film and the Black arts movement, the film pays homage to the people and culture that make up a city. --- To learn more, visit [blackstarfest.org](https://bit.ly/45Tn644?ref=hyperallergic.com).