BlackStar Film Festival is an annual celebration of the visual and storytelling traditions of the African diaspora and of global Indigenous communities, showcasing films by Black, Brown, and Indigenous artists from around the world. This year’s festival will take place August 3–7, and will include screenings, panel discussions, and other special events in Philadelphia and online.

Firelight Media is proud to be a festival sponsor again this year, and to support premiere screenings of films by five Firelight-supported filmmakers: Hazel Gurland-Pooler, Byron Hurt, Jasmín Mara López, Kevin Shaw, and Nadia Shihab. Firelight Media leadership will also be present at the festival: Firelight Media President Marcia Smith will be featured in a virtual panel discussion; Monika Navarro, senior director of artist programs, will serve as a coach for the BlackStar Pitch competition; and Chloë Walters-Wallace, director of regional initiatives, will serve as a judge for the BlackStar Pitch.

This year, Firelight Media will also be hosting a Beyond Resilience Cool Down at BlackStar. On Thursday, August 4 from 12–3pm in Annenberg Plaza, join the Firelight Family for drinks, treats, and beats — full details below.

Read on for more information about film screenings by Firelight-supported filmmakers as well as appearances by Firelight Media staff.

Read more on our Medium page.