BlackStar Film Festival 2026: 15 Years of Indie Cinema from the Global Majority

BlackStar Projects has announced the full schedule for the 2026 BlackStar Film Festival, running August 6–9 in Philadelphia and streaming online. The festival marks its 15th year with 91 films from over 40 countries. Opening night features the world premiere of Taylor Hosking's 'West Side Familia,' about a Puerto Rican biker crew fighting gentrification on Manhattan's Upper West Side. Closing night presents the North American premiere of Haile Gerima's five-part epic 'Black Lions—Roman Wolves,' on Ethiopian resistance to Italy's 1935 invasion. Other highlights include the world premiere of Fahamu Pecou's 'The Store,' Miryam Charles's 'Treasure Island (L'île aux trésors),' and the U.S. premiere of Dammy Twitch's 'Call of My Life.' A new 4K restoration of Alile Sharon Larkin's 1982 film 'A Different Image' will screen with a conversation between Larkin and Melissa Lyde on August 9. Notable guests include Sky Hopinka, Michèle Stephenson, Cybil St. Aude-Tate, and Felicia Pride. Sanaz Sohrabi's 'An Incomplete Calendar' also premieres.