What movies are showing at the Newark Black Film Festival in NJ

NEWARK, N.J. (PIX11) — The Newark Black Film Festival is celebrating 50 years of uplifting Black voices in cinema and storytelling.

The festival, already underway at The Newark Museum of Art, has a stacked schedule through Sunday. Programming will highlight films that showcase the Black experience across America and worldwide. Some of the screenings include:

• Ruby Bridges, directed by Euzhan Palcy – Friday, July 12 at 1 p.m.
• Hole, directed by Contessa Gayles – Friday, July 12 at 6 p.m.
• Toll, directed by Carolina Markowicz – Friday, July 12 at 9 p.m
• Swamp Dogg Gets His Pool Painted, directed by Isaac Gale, Ryan Olson, and David McMurry – Saturday, July 13 at 5 p.m
• Rob Peace, directed by Chiwetel Ejiofor – Saturday, July 13 at 8 p.m
• Family Tree, directed by Jennifer MacArthur – Sunday, July 14 at 10 a.m.
• Seeking Mavis Beacon directed by Jazmin Renée Jones – Sunday, July 14 at 4 p.m.

Organizers will also host a variety of panel discussions throughout the weekend to give guidance to up-and-coming filmmakers and local businesses. The festival will close out the weekend with its first Black & Gold Gala on Sunday night to celebrate this year’s winners.

The Newark Black Film Festival, recognized as the longest-running Black film festival in the United States, has been a platform for Black storytellers and actors since 1974, according to organizers. Over the years, the organization has showcased early works from legends like Spike Lee and Ava DuVernay along with featuring trailblazing actors such as James Earl Jones and Danny Glover.

Tickets for this year’s festival are still available online along with a full schedule of events.

Dominique Jack is a digital content producer from Brooklyn with more than five years of experience covering news. She joined PIX11 in 2024. More of her work can be found here .

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