August 3rd 2025.
The Martha's Vineyard African American Film Festival is in full swing and it's bringing some serious star power. From political heavyweights like Michelle Obama and Representatives Jasmine Crockett and Ayanna Pressley, to renowned filmmaker Spike Lee, the festival is showcasing an impressive lineup of Black talent. The festival officially kicked off on July 31st and will run through August 9th.
According to WROR, the festival has a jam-packed schedule that includes film premieres, podcasts, talk shows, fireside chats, and panel discussions. It's fitting that on its 23rd year, the festival's opening proceedings featured a documentary about basketball legend Michael Jordan. "Unraveling George," which premiered on August 1st, highlights the life and impact of civil rights leader, entrepreneur, and Hall of Fame coach George Raveling. The film was executive produced by another Hall of Famer, Charles Barkley, and narrated by Marlon Wayans, who portrayed Raveling in the 2023 film "Air."
"Unraveling George" is not the only film creating buzz at the festival. The highly anticipated reinterpretation of the classic Akira Kurosawa film "High and Low," titled "Highest 2 Lowest," was also presented by Spike Lee on August 1st. The film stars Denzel Washington and A$AP Rocky and was discussed by Lee, along with stars LaChanze, John Douglas Thompson, and Ilfenesh Hadera.
The festival is not just about films, as it will also host a live episode of Michelle Obama's podcast, "IMO," on August 9th. Mrs. Obama co-hosts the podcast with her brother, Craig Robinson, and their special guest for the episode will be multi-hyphenate star Teyana Taylor, whose latest film "One Battle After Another" will be hitting theaters on September 26th.
Other notable events at the festival include a discussion with EGOT winner and daytime host Jennifer Hudson, presented by Warner Brothers on August 5th. U.S. Representatives Ayanna Pressley and Jasmine Crockett will also join Rev. Al Sharpton for a fireside chat on August 7th, focusing on the power of joy as a political act and driving force behind justice, storytelling, and community transformation.
The festival will close with a two-part documentary, titled "Seen & Heard Part 2," which highlights the importance and influence of Black creatives in the TV industry. The discussion will be led by actress and executive producer Issa Rae and will feature interviews with Tyler Perry, Oprah Winfrey, Tracee Ellis Ross, and Shonda Rhimes. Issa Rae premiered the second part of the documentary earlier this year at Austin's SXSW Conference and Festival, where she spoke about the lack of representation of Black-led shows in the industry.
"We wanted to showcase the comprehensive history and evidence that shows how the success of these networks was built on our backs, yet we still have very little to show for it. It's tragic, and history continues to repeat itself," Rae said at SXSW.
It's clear that the Martha's Vineyard African American Film Festival is not only a celebration of Black film and excellence, but also an important platform for discussing important issues and promoting diversity and inclusion in the entertainment industry. With its impressive lineup of films and events, it's no wonder that this festival has become a must-attend event for anyone passionate about Black culture and storytelling.
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