North Carolina Black Film Festival Announces 2025 Lineup of Powerful Films, Panels & Honorees
WILMINGTON, NC – The 22nd Annual North Carolina Black Film Festival (NCBFF) returns to Wilmington, North Carolina from April 10–13, 2025, bringing with it an impressive slate of Black cinema, dynamic conversations, industry workshops, and community celebration.
Produced by the Black Arts Alliance, Inc., this year’s festival highlights emerging talent and industry legends while providing a platform for stories that reflect the richness, resilience, and brilliance of the Black experience.
Festival Kickoff – CineMixer at the Wilson Center
The festival launches on Thursday, April 10 at 6:00 PM with the CineMixer Opening Reception, hosted at the Wilson Center at Cape Fear Community College and sponsored by Ken Weeden & Associates.
Guests will enjoy:
- Live music by Village Minded
- Hors d’oeuvres
- Screenings of two music-themed documentary shorts:
APR – AFRICAN RHYTHMS POWER (Dir. Nelson Shongo Leoni)
THE JAZZ PHOTOGRAPHER (Dir. Cedric D. Ingram)
Friday Features at Jengo’s Playhouse – April 11
The screenings begin at 5:00 PM Friday at Jengo’s Playhouse, featuring an exciting mix of shorts, narratives, documentaries, and features.
Highlighted feature films include:
- GHETTO CHILDREN (Dir. Zac Manuel) – A coming-of-age documentary exploring identity and legacy through the lens of the sons of Cash Money legends Juvenile, B.G., and Soulja Slim.
- COTTON CANDY BUBBLE GUM (Dir. J Pinder) – A SXSW-premiered, vibrant coming-of-age comedy following 21-year-old Carter as he confronts adulthood.
A special community screening of LIFE IN MY EYES will take place at Boseman’s Shoes at 6:30 PM.
Saturday Spotlight – April 12
Screenings begin at 10:00 AM at Jengo’s Playhouse with a strong emphasis on youth storytelling and cinematic craft:
- Black Girls Film Camp returns from 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM, amplifying the voices of future filmmakers.
- A Cinematography 101 Workshop featuring Isiah Donté Lee, this year’s Visionary Award Honoree, takes place at 11:00 AM at Vue21North.
Afternoon highlights include:
- Family Cinema Block from 1:20 PM – 3:05 PM
- Shorts and feature presentations throughout the day
At 6:10 PM, the festival presents the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award in Animation to Bruce W. Smith, celebrated animator and producer of Hair Love and creator of The Proud Family. Smith will participate in a Fireside Chat, moderated by Coast 97.3FM’s Sandra McClammy, also known as “The Midday Miss.”
The evening concludes with a screening of OUR MOVEMENT STARTS HERE (Dirs. John Rash & Melanie Ho), a powerful environmental justice documentary rooted in North Carolina history.
Closing Ceremony – April 13 at Cameron Art Museum
The festival wraps on Sunday, April 13 with a Closing Awards Ceremony at the Cameron Art Museum, where the following honors will be presented:
- 2025 Visionary Award in Cinematography – Isiah Donté Lee
- Best Feature, Best Short, and Best Documentary
The final screening of the 22nd Annual North Carolina Black Film Festival will be MINNIE EVANS: DRAW OR DIE (Dir. Linda Royal), a moving documentary about one of the most influential African-American artists of the 20th century.
Tickets & Festival Info
Tickets and passes are available now via Eventbrite.
- Red Carpet Premiere Pass (VIP All-Access): $150
- Individual tickets and day passes also available
Visit www.BlackArtsAlliance.org for the complete schedule, filmmaker spotlights, venue details, and ticket links.
Photos courtesy of Black Arts Alliance.