black films
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Did Y'all Know Vanessa Williams Improvised That Iconic 'F-ck the Family' Line in Soul Food?
Thanksgiving has come and gone, but we have yet another upcoming reason to sit down and eat a smorgasbord of ‘itis-inducing food. That’s right, we have Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah and more this month! In the spirit of this deliciously heavy food, we need to take a trip down memory lane to the 1997 classic, Soul…
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Tiger, Tiger Woods Y'all: Documentary America's Son Set for ESPN Premiere
If there’s one thing that I love, it’s a good-ass documentary—especially if it involves sports. And while 2020 has been a resounding clusterfuck otherwise, it’s been a spectacular year on the film front, as sports docs like Netflix’s Uppity, Quibi’s The Scheme, and Blackballed have not only raised the bar but have explored how racial dynamics…
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Urbanworld 2020’s Virtual Festival Packs Cinematic Treats—and Some Scares—in Must-Watch Lineup
Urbanworld Film Festival will be virtual this year—much like everything else—but it won’t lack for sizzle or star power. The film festival announced its much-anticipated 2020 lineup on Thursday, starting with African British actor David Oyelowo’s feature directorial debut, The Water Man. The fantasy-adventure film will open the festival, now in its 24th year, on…
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Reel Pieces: Mudbound Director Dee Rees to Join 92nd Street Y's Racial Justice-Themed Online Film Course
With months of quarantine now behind us (and who knows how many more to go), hopefully, you’ve been indulging in some online education as well as entertainment—and starting on Sunday, New York City’s famed 92nd Street Y debuts an online course that offers both. Continuing its popular online film course, Reel Pieces Remote: Classic Films…
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Jordan Peele Explains Why He Chose Nia DaCosta to Direct Candyman
Contrary to the Internet’s (…always correct…) attribution, Jordan Peele is not the director of the film Candyman, he is simply a producer and co-writer of the upcoming revival of the ‘90s horror flick. Nia DaCosta, who is rising up the ranks as a filmmaker thanks to her work on Netflix’s Top Boy and the award-winning…
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Two Dollars and a Dream: Stanley Nelson's 1st Documentary Separates the Fact From the Fiction of Self Made
Self-isolation can make for strange bedfellows—and strange viewing, as the streaming industry seems to be one of the few thriving in during the coronavirus crisis (raise your hand if you’re wandered far from your intended Netflix queue at this point). Sometimes, the truth is stranger than any fiction imaginable (we’re looking at you, Tiger King);…
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John Boyega Is Partnering With Netflix to Create Feature Films Focusing on Africa's Rich History of Storytelling
With the latest Star Wars installment now in his rearview, actor John Boyega is shifting his priorities to bring more diverse content to American audiences. Variety reports that the 27-year-old’s U.K.-based production company, UpperRoom Productions, is joining forces with streaming media giant Netflix to develop film projects that will explore a wealth of stories about…
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The Root Presents the Inaugural Blackest Awards in Honor of Dr. Henry Louis Gates Jr., aka 'The Skippies'
It’s awards season and that means your blood pressure and sugar levels are likely to go up and down if you spend any time paying attention to who is winning the various awards at the various awards shows. The “biggest nights” in music and movies, though, often do a fairly terrible job of acknowledging the…
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Hey, Wig! The Photograph Trailer Debuts—and We Can’t Take Our Eyes off of Issa Rae’s Hair
Ahh, black love…that deep, dark and magical force the luckiest among us experience, but is too rarely shown on film. No wonder that we’re eagerly anticipating The Photograph, the romantic drama starring Issa Rae and Lakeith Stanfield, dropping into our hearts on—you guessed it—Valentine’s Day, 2020. Will it take the place of the Love Jones…
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AAFCA and TCM Team Up to Discuss Classic Motown Films Mahogany, The Last Dragon, and Lady Sings the Blues
Two champions of film, The African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA) and Turner Classic Movies (TCM) are partnering up again to discuss our favorite black ass films. AAFCA Presents: Motown Productions will feature AAFCA member Christopher Witherspoon in conversation with TCM host Alicia Malone to discuss classic films, The Last Dragon, Mahogany and Lady Sings…