The Black Harvest Film Festival is Chicago’s annual showcase for films that celebrate, explore, and share the Black, African American, and African Diaspora experience.

Celebrating Revolutionary Visions:

The 29th Black Harvest Film Festival celebrates “Revolutionary Visions,” the history, politics, and art honoring the remarkable legacy of revolutionary struggle across the diaspora, and the intersectionality of Black experiences worldwide.
From the relentless journey of the Middle Passage to the fight against apartheid and the Civil Rights struggle,
thehistory of revolutionary thought is deeply woven into the fabric of our collective narrative.
“Revolutionary Visions" beckon us to traverse Black imaginations that unfurl as a vast ancestral landscape of boundless creativity that transcends time and space.
Since 1994, the Black Harvest Film Festival has been Chicago’s annual showcase for films that celebrate, explore, and share the Black, African American, and
African Diaspora experience. With the passing of celebrated film critic and Black Harvest Film Festival co-founder and consultant Sergio Mims last fall,
The Gene Siskel Film Center has announced the establishment of the Sergio Mims Fund for Black Excellence in Filmmaking,
to honor his legacy of giving a voice and platform to the next generation of Black filmmakers.
Thefestival is being curated by Jada-Amina and Nick Leffel.

Welcome to the 29th Black Harvest Film Festival! Join us for this presentation of select Black Harvest Film Festival short films
and the announcement of the winners of The Richard and Ellen Sandor Family Black Harvest Film Festival Prize, followed by a lively reception.

Schedule Of Events:

November 3, 2023

Opening Night: A BLACK HARVEST FEAST
2023, Various directors, USA/Jamaica, 63 mins

Program:

Tik tok Challenged
2023, dir. Ivan Rome, USA, 9 min., In English / Format: Digital
A grandmother-grandson duo are on a quest for TikTok fame.

Salone Love
2023, dir. Tajana B. Williams, USA, 5 min., In English / Format: Digital
A cosmic love story.

Six Winters Gone Still
2023, dir. Justin Emeka, USA, 10 min., In English / Format: Digital
Shakespeare's Richard II is reimagined in a contemporary Black cultural context.

Gaps
2023, dir. Jenn Shaw, USA, 12 min., In English / Format: Digital
A tween wrestles with ideals of perfection.

A Mind Of Its Own
2023, dir. C.C. Randle, USA, 13 min., In English / Format: Digital
A young woman makes a bold hairstyle change.

For The Crib
2023, dir. Lawrence Agyei, USA, 5 min., In English / Format: Digital
An intimate look at the South Shore Drill Team during the 2021 Bud Billiken Parade.

Burnt Milk
2023, dir. Joseph Douglas Elmhirst, Jamaica, 9 min., In English / Format: Digital
A Jamaican woman reflects cultural heritage as she makes a traditional dish.

Showtimes
Fri, Nov 3, 7:00 pm

November 4, 2023

GAINING GROUND: THE FIGHT FOR BLACK LAND -  5:45 pm
2023, Eternal Polk, USA, 96 mins

In the wake of emancipation, many Black Americans reclaimed their ancestral soil, amassing acres of land.
Yet, with nearly 90% of that land lost, there is little to show for it. In GAINING GROUND: THE FIGHT FOR BLACK LAND, Executive produced by Al Roker,
systemic forces that relentlessly wage war on Black liberation are unveiled.
Cheer on Black landowners as they reclaim their heritage, generational wealth, and birthrights.Director Eternal Polk and Tharlyn Fox,
John Deere Leep Program Manager schedule to attend both screenings; Marc Howze, John Deere SVP, Counsel to the president scheduled to attend November 4.

Showtimes
Sat. Nov - 4, 11:45 am

Shorts Program: EXPERIMENTS IN BLACK EXPERIENCE
2021, 2023, Various directors, USA/Jamaica, 96 mins

Showtimes
Sat. Nov - 4, 12:00 pm

Meet the Curators: Jada-Amina and Nick Leffel
2023, Agnès Varda, USA, 90 mins

Showtimes
Sat. Nov - 4, 2:15 pm

NINE DIVINE
2023, Jurian Isabelle, USA, 95 mins

Showtimes
Sat. Nov - 4, 2:30 pm

Shorts Program: FROM THE BLOCK - SURREAL
2023, Various directors, USA, 86 mins

Showtimes
Sat. Nov 4, 3:45 pm

Shorts Program: BRANCHES & ROOTS
2022, 2023, Various directors, USA/Canada, 85 mins

Showtimes
Sat. Nov 4, 4:45 pm

HIGHER LEARNING
An Evening with Justice Singleton
1995, John Singleton, USA, 128 mins   

Showtimes
Sat. Nov 4, 6:15 pm

BAD LIKE BROOKLYN DANCEHALL
2023, Ben Di Giacomo, Dutty Vannier, USA/Jamaica, 90 mins

Showtimes
Sat. Nov 4, 7:15 pm

Shorts Program: NIGHTSCAPES & REVELATIONS
2022, 2023, Various directors, USA, 85 mins

Showtimes
Sat. Nov 4, 9:30 pm

November 5, 2023

BETYE SAAR: READY TO BE A WARRIOR
2023, Angela Robinson Witherspoon, USA, 78 mins

Wielding a paintbrush, Betye Saar steadfastly forges her own path with the mantra "Make Better Art.
" Her unwavering determination disrupted art conventions, paving the way for experimentation and conceptualism, ultimately sparking the Black women's movement.
Now in her 90s, this icon from Watts is documented in this vivid portrait of her remarkable ascent in the art world and how she continues to carve an indelible mark in history.
Director Angela Robinson Witherspoon scheduled to attend.

Showtimes
Sun. Nov 5, 12:30 pm

NO COP ACADEMY: THE DOCUMENTARY -  12:45 pm
2023, Caullen Hudson, USA, 69 mins

SUMMER OF VIOLENCE - 2:30 pm
2023, Nicki Micheaux, USA, 111 mins

Chicago Community Film Workshop Showcase: VOICES OF THE SOUTH SIDE - 3:00 pm
2023, Various directors, USA, 90 mins

Shorts Program: BLACK ACROSS SPACE AND TIME - 4:45 pm
2023, Various directors, USA, 89 mins

Africa Worldwide collage - 5.45PM
BLACK HARVEST FILM FESTIVAL

HOW I LEARNED TO FLY - 7:00 pm
2023, Simon Steuri, USA, 104 mins

November 6, 2023

Poetic Justice
1993, John Singleton, USA, 109 mins

Janet Jackson and Tupac Shakur shine in this timeless Singleton masterpiece, where artistry collides with sacrifice.
Justice (Janet Jackson), a gifted young poet, seeks refuge in her poetry, finding solace in writing as grief takes its toll.
Encouraged by friends, she sets out on a journey to Oakland, where the ingénue crosses paths with Lucky (Tupac Shakur), a charming boy from around the way.
As much as they run from it, they inevitably find themselves catching feelings for each other.
Will this love transcend the chasm of their differences and the weight of their trauma.

Showtimes
Mon. Nov 6, 6:00 pm

American Fiction - 6:15 pm
2023, Cord Jefferson, USA, 117 mins

Shorts Program: SISTERS OF THE YAM - 8:15 pm
2022, 2023, Various directors, USA, 73 mins

How I Learned To Fly - 8.30pm
2023, Simon Steuri, USA, 104 mins


November 7, 2023

GAINING GROUND: THE FIGHT FOR BLACK LAND
2023, Eternal Polk, USA, 96 mins

In the wake of emancipation, many Black Americans reclaimed their ancestral soil, amassing acres of land.
Yet, with nearly 90% of that land lost, there is little to show for it. In GAINING GROUND: THE FIGHT FOR BLACK LAND, Executive produced by Al Roker,
systemic forces that relentlessly wage war on Black liberation are unveiled.
Cheer on Black landowners as they reclaim their heritage, generational wealth, and birthrights.Director Eternal Polk and Tharlyn Fox,
John Deere Leep Program Manager schedule to attend both screenings; Marc Howze, John Deere SVP, Counsel to the president scheduled to attend November 4.

Showtimes
Mon. Nov 7, 5:45pm


November 8, 2023

KINKY AND LOVING IT
2023, David Weathersby, Mr. Scott, USA, 44 mins

KINKY AND LOVING IT is an empowering documentary highlighting the transformative potential of reclamation.
Celebrating how Black folks reclaim agency over their desires, bodies, and identities,
KINKY AND LOVING IT is a liberating journey into the transformative power of radical acceptance, reclamation, and love within the world of Black kink.
Director David Weathersby scheduled to attend. Tickets to November 8 screening include a post-screening kink vendor fair and reception.

Showtimes
Wed. Nov 8, 6:00 pm

Boyz The Hood - 6:15 pm
1991, John Singleton, USA, 112 mins

Homeshoppers' Paradise - 7:45 pm
2022, Nancy Mac Granaky-Quaye, Germany, 90 mins

Bad Like Brooklyn Dance Hall - 8:30 pm
2023, Ben Di Giacomo, Dutty Vannier, USA/Jamaica, 90 mins

November 9, 2023

A different kind of tender
2023, Katherine Simóne Reynolds, USA, 41 mins

In A different kind of tender, we journey alongside The Queen, portrayed by Reynolds herself, through the Rust Belt landscapes of Cairo and Brooklyn, Illinois.
Once thriving industrial hubs, now marked by abandonment and transformation,
the towns provide a poignant backdrop to The Queen's quest for healing and belonging.
The keloid, a scar-like growth that transcends the original wound, symbolizes the profound outward expression of healing and its sensitivity to renewal.
Amid the scars of industrial ascent and decline, The Queen navigates the intricate interplay of recovery, Black femme imagination, as a means to heal.
Her journey emerges as a powerful and poetic reflection on healing, belonging, and the reclamation of identity in a world in flux. Reynolds, a multi-disciplinary artist, masterfully weaves together portrait photography, video, choreography, sculpture, and installation to scour the socio-emotional landscapes of Blackness and the essence of 'Black Work' in our contemporary milieu.
Followed by a conversation with Katherine Simóne Reynolds and Black Harvest Lead Curator Jada-Amina Harvey.

Tickets to any screening on November 9 include a 5:00PM Female Filmmakers Happy Hour with complimentary drinks and light bites, hosted by Chaz Ebe

Showtimes
Thu. Nov 9, 6:00 pm

Mountains - 6.15pm
2023, Monica Sorelle, USA, 95 mins

KEMBA - 7:30 pm
2023, Kelley Kali, USA, 118 mins

Shorts Program: PHENOMENAL WOMEN - 8:30 pm
2022, 2023, Various directors, USA, 80 mins


November 10, 2023

THE CRY OF JAZZ
1959, Edward O. Bland, USA, 90 mins

In an immersive screening experience, filmmaker Terence Nance (THE OVERSIMPLIFICATION OF HER BEAUTY, “Random Acts of Flyness”) and Chicago-based composer Angel Bat Dawid excavate Edward O. Bland’s 1959 archival treasure THE CRY OF JAZZ. Connecting jazz to Black history, witness performances by luminaries like Sun Ra, John Gilmore, and Julian Priester, and a mesmerizing dance between rehearsed and improvised jazz. This visionary film, a harbinger of the early Black Power movement, penetrates the soul of an era.
Followed by a live performance and conversation with Terence Nance and Angel Bat Dawid.

Showtimes
Fri. Nov 10, 6:00 pm

BETYE SAAR: Ready To be Warrior - 6.00pm
2023, Angela Robinson Witherspoon, USA, 78 mins

Black Barbie: A Documentary - 8:00 pm
2023, Lagueria Davis, USA, 100 mins

SHAFT: - 8:15 pm
2000, John Singleton, USA, 99 mins
In English | Format: 35MM

November 11, 2023

Shorts Program: THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT
2021, 2023, Various directors, USA/South Africa, 102 mins

Young filmmakers and protagonists showcase their indomitable spirit and resilience in this showcase of youthful determination.
In Benjamin Mullholland’s THE LAKE MERRITT MONSTER (17 min.), Ollie quests to rescue his mother from the grasp of a ferocious beast.
Victorious F. Mcleod’s CRAYONS (16 min.) is a journey through a young boy's colorful imagination, and Jenn Shaw’s GAPS (12 min.)
explores the gaps between a tween’s self-acceptance and perfection. In Monique Morton Derouselle’s RISING DAWN (15 min.),
we witness Dawn baton twirl her way to confidence, while Addison Belhomme’s A THIN LINE BETWEEN BLACK AND WHITE (6 min.) showcases young Ayanna's activism.
In FATHER'S DAY (27 min.) director Tumelo Lekna delves into the intricacies of family matters, and in Ivan Rome’s TIKTOK CHALLENGED (9 min.)
a grandmother-grandson duo join forces in hopes of finding TikTok fame.
Select filmmakers scheduled to attend.

Showtimes
Sat. Nov 11, 11:00 am

Shorts Program: EXPERIMENTS IN BLACK EXPERIENCE - 12:30 pm
2021, 2023, Various directors, USA/Jamaica, 96 mins

Shorts Program: FROM THE BLOCK - SURREAL - 1:30 pm
2023, Various directors, USA, 86 mins

KEMBA -  2:00 pm
2023, Kelley Kali, USA, 118 mins

Shorts Program: FROM THE BLOCK - FOR REAL - 4:00 pm
2023, Various directors, USA, 67 mins

KINKY AND LOVING IT - 4.45pm
2023, David Weathersby, Mr. Scott, USA, 44 mins

NINE DIVINE - 6:30 pm
2023, Jurian Isabelle, USA, 95 mins

THE SYMBOL OF THE UNCONQUERED - 7:00 pm
1920, Oscar Micheaux, USA, 54 mins

MOUNTAINS - 8:45 pm
2023, Monica Sorelle, USA, 95 mins

Shorts Program: NIGHTSCAPES & REVELATIONS - 9:00 pm
2022, 2023, Various directors, USA, 85 mins


November 12, 2023

Shorts Program: THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT
2021, 2023, Various directors, USA/South Africa, 102 mins

Young filmmakers and protagonists showcase their indomitable spirit and resilience in this showcase of youthful determination.
In Benjamin Mullholland’s THE LAKE MERRITT MONSTER (17 min.), Ollie quests to rescue his mother from the grasp of a ferocious beast.
Victorious F. Mcleod’s CRAYONS (16 min.) is a journey through a young boy's colorful imagination, and Jenn Shaw’s GAPS (12 min.)
explores the gaps between a tween’s self-acceptance and perfection. In Monique Morton Derouselle’s RISING DAWN (15 min.),
we witness Dawn baton twirl her way to confidence, while Addison Belhomme’s A THIN LINE BETWEEN BLACK AND WHITE (6 min.) showcases young Ayanna's activism.
In FATHER'S DAY (27 min.) director Tumelo Lekna delves into the intricacies of family matters, and in Ivan Rome’s TIKTOK CHALLENGED (9 min.)
a grandmother-grandson duo join forces in hopes of finding TikTok fame. Select filmmakers scheduled to attend.

Showtimes
Sat. Nov 12, 11:00 am

Shorts Program: BLACK ACROSS SPACE AND TIME - 12:00 pm
2023, Various directors, USA, 89 mins

BLACK BARBIE: A DOCUMENTARY - 1:30 pm
2023, Lagueria Davis, USA, 100 mins
 
SUMMER OF VIOLENCE - 2:15 pm
2023, Nicki Micheaux, USA, 111 mins

MAX ROACH: THE DRUM ALSO WALTZES - 3:45 pm
2023, Ben Shapiro, Sam Pollard, USA, 82 mins

Shorts Program: BRANCHES & ROOTS - 5:15 pm
2022, 2023, Various directors, USA/Canada, 85 mins

NO COP ACADEMY: THE DOCUMENTARY - 6:00 pm
2023, Caullen Hudson, USA, 69 mins

November 13, 2023

Shorts Program: FROM THE BLOCK - FOR REAL
2023, Various directors, USA, 67 mins

An evocative assemblage of true Chicago love stories, celebrating Black love through the eyes of artists, midwives, and househeads—for the culture.
In DEAR BLACK ARTIST (22 min.), we are introduced to director Rachel S.

Gadson’s documentary series featuring 77 Chicago artists discussing their creative journeys, barriers to access, and hopes for the future of Black artists.
Lawrence Agyei’s FOR THE CRIB (5 min.) provides an intimate look at the South Shore Drill Team during the 2021 Bud Billiken Parade. The story of Eric Williams,
who fell in love with Chicago house music and built a thriving business around it, is documented in Lonnie Edwards and Tobi Shinobi’s TWENTYFIVE (12 min.);
and in Mia Harvey’s WITH WOMAN (28 min.), Star, a Black midwife in Chicago, advocates for home births among Black women, in light of high maternal mortality rates
in hospitals, despite legal restrictions. Select filmmakers scheduled to attend.

Showtimes
Mon. Nov 13, 6:00 pm

Shorts Program: AFRICA WORLDWIDE - 6:15 pm
2022, 2023, Various directors, USA/Rwanda/Spain/Canada/France/Brazil, 72 mins

BABY BOY - 8:15 pm
2001, John Singleton, USA, 130 mins

Shorts Program: SISTERS OF THE YAM - 8:30 pm
2022, 2023, Various directors, USA, 73 mins


November 15, 2023

MAX ROACH: THE DRUM ALSO WALTZES
2023, Ben Shapiro, Sam Pollard, USA, 82 mins

From the shadows of Jim Crow to the crescendo of the Civil Rights movement,
the birth of jazz  to the expanses of Hip Hop and beyond, American jazz drummer,
composer, and bebop pioneer Max Roach's life and legacy live on with a resounding and enduring rhythm.
Featuring a vanguard of Black legends and luminaries including Roach himself,
Abbey Lincoln, Questlove, Quincy Jones, Harry Belafonte, Sonny Rollins, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Abdullah Ibrahim, Randy Weston, and more,
this documentary is a testament to musical atonement the midst of cultural evolution and social change.
Directors Ben Shapiro and Sam Pollard scheduled to attend via virtual Q&A.

Showtimes
Wed. Nov 15, 6:00 pm

Shorts Program: EXPERIMENTS IN BLACK EXPERIENCE - 6:00 pm
2021, 2023, Various directors, USA/Jamaica, 96 mins

HOMESHOPPERS' PARADISE - 8:45 pm
2022, Nancy Mac Granaky-Quaye, Germany, 90 mins

Shorts Program: PHENOMENAL WOMEN - 8:30 pm
2022, 2023, Various directors, USA, 80 mins

November 16, 2023

Closing Night: MAXINE'S BABY: THE TYLER PERRY STORY
2023, Gelila Bekele, Armani Ortiz, USA, 115 mins

Writer, actor, filmmaker, studio head, and media titan, Tyler Perry is America’s consummate multihyphenate.
But underneath this entertainment behemoth is a man working humbly to heal his childhood trauma by transforming his pain into promise.
MAXINE’S BABY: THE TYLER PERRY STORY, a nod to his mother’s love, is a tender and intimate portrait of visionary and innovator Tyler Perry–his harrowing
but faithful road to the top of an industry that didn’t always include him. With unfettered access, directors/filmmakers Gelila Bekele and Armani Ortiz lead us
into the inner-world of a man whose story has never fully been told, as he becomes a father and a media mogul with a mission to pave his own road to the top.
The product is a profound lesson on remembering where you came from to know where you want to go. (Amazon) Directors Gelila Bekele and Armani Ortiz scheduled to attend.
Followed by a Closing Night reception.

Showtimes
Thu. Nov 16, 6:00 pm

Date: November 3 - 16, 2023

Location:

Gene Siskel Film Center of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago,
164 North State Street,
Chicago, IL 60601.

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