Schedule
2026
Day 0: THUR. 15 Oct
Day 1: FRI. 16 Oct
Day 2: SAT. 17 Oct
Day 3: SUN. 19 Oct
5:45 - 6:45 PM FREE
Join author and entrepreneur Leslie Short (FUBU , GOTHAMS), writer of Someone Has to Be the First.This special event is free and open to the public. Copies of the book will be available for purchase, followed by a book signing.
5:00 - 10:30 PM
5:00 - 6:00 PM
All Access Reception powered by Blk_Script
6:00 - 6:30 PM
Founders Greeting + Update
Vanguard Award
Festival Ambassador #1
Festival Ambassador #2
Legacy Award
Opening Night Gala
Someone Has to Be First
Book Discussion & Signing
10:30 - 11:56 AM
Documentary Feature
Fatherless No More 1:26:00
12:20 - 1:25 PM
Family Matters
Block 1
Love Zuri
Bleeding
Alone
The Heir
10:30 - 11:00 AM
Emerging Film
Block 6
The Fallen Tree
Afterthoughts
Dear Vivian
Somewhere in Brooklyn
6:30 - 7:00 PM
Lowelyfe
Stream of Memories
If Anything Happens I Love You
Opening Night Select Short
What Chu Mixed With?
Liars of Black Mountain Road
1:40 - 2:40 PM
The Dating Game
Crossroads
Love is Blind
Black & Blue
2:55 - 4:20 PM
Matinee Feature
A Mess of Memories
OWWHH Show Live
7:30 - 8:00 PM
Dinner Served for ticket and All Access Pass Holders ( limited seating available )
11:45 - 12:30 PM FREE
Greenlight Effect
Two Lewis - GRAMMY winning music producer turned film producer, Two Lewis shares what it takes to greenlight your own project from the first spark of an idea to development, production, and final release.
9:00 - 11:00 AM
Tru Talent Workshop
Tobias Truvillion, acclaimed actor and performance coach will conduct his special branded actors workshop
(limited space available)
8:30 - 10:30 AM
Filmmakers Brunch
Tobias Truvillion
8:00 - 10:00 PM
Join the Ladies of the airwaves from BKS1 Radios Hit show Outstanding Women Who Help Heal (OWWHH ) Show and some very special guests
4:45 - 6:05 PM
The Struggle
Block 4
Beg A Yuh Call
No Labels
Jamarcus Rose & Da 5 Bullet Holes
Take it to the Grave
8:00 - 9:30 pm
Opening Night Jazz Concert
powered by
Blk_Script & Downtown Plainfield
BLOOD BROTHERS
featuring Nasheet Waits & Abraham Burton
12:45 - 1:30 PM FREE
Beyond The Gates:
Come explore the power of Independent Media with 5 leaders of the industry
1:45 - 3:00 PM
Matinee Documentary
Set Her Free
6:20 - 7:40 PM
Corners of the Mind
Paralysis
Affordable Housing
Noperra
Chasing Memories
Attached
8:45 - 10:00 PM
Can't Stop Won't Stop
Sweet Like Mango
Ree's Destiny
8:45 - 10:00 PM
Primetime Feature
Regulars 1:15:00
4:00 - 5:00 PM FREE
Filmmaking in NJ
Featured discussions on film & television growth in New Jersey, understanding New Jersey film tax incentives, legal considerations for film productions, production accounting
5:10 - 5:30 PM FREE
Awards Ceremony
Best of Fest
5:35 - 6:25 PM FREE
More Than Storytellers
Award Winning Director Jamal Hodge holds a directors workshop and woodshed
6:00 - 6:30 PM
Closing Feature
The Sight Unseen