Kansas City PBS is proud to invite the community to its first-ever film festival dedicated to showcasing local Black filmmakers from Kansas City.

“The Reel Black Film Fest is an exciting opportunity to bring folks together as we showcase these powerful films on our platform and honor the incredible contributions of Kansas City’s Black community,” said Kliff Kuehl, president and CEO of Kansas City PBS.

The film festival will feature Emmy Award-winning filmmakers Nico Giles Wiggins, Jacob Handy, and Kerry Rounds and their respective films:

Land of Opportunity: The Road of Resistance: Inspired by Richard Rothstein’s ‘The Color of Law,’ this film focuses on Kansas City’s U.S. Highway 71 project and reveals how the city’s urban renewal efforts displaced 10,000 families.

The Potato King: A Dynasty Built on Dirt and Dreams: Told from the perspective of local farmer Mike B. Rollen, this film tells the story of potato farmer Junius Groves and his pioneering journey to become one of the wealthiest men of his time.

Diamond Jubilee: A 75-Year Celebration of Carter Broadcast: In 1950, Andrew “Skip” Carter began operating KPRS as the nation’s first Black radio station west of the Mississippi River. Seventy-five years later, the Kansas City radio station is still alive and well, celebrating its Diamond Jubilee anniversary.

Schedule:
1:30 - 3:00 pm: Doors open & vendors available
3:00 pm: Program begins
3:30 pm: 'Land of Opportunity: The Road of Resistance' premiere
4:00 pm: Panel discussion with filmmaker, Nico Wiggins, moderator, Tori Foushee, Dee Evans, community leader, Stephenie Smith, and Dr. Rodney Smith.
4:30 pm: 'The Potato King: A Dynasty Built on Dirt and Dreams' premiere
5:00 pm: Panel discussion with filmmaker, Jacob Handy, moderator, Tori Foushee, founder of Ophelia's Blue Vine Farm, Mike B Rollen, Nina Kimbrough, and African American History Professor, James Leiker.
5:40 - 6:00 pm: Intermission
6:00 pm: 'Diamond Jubilee: A 75-Year Celebration of Carter Broadcast' premiere
7:00 pm: Panel discussion with filmmaker, Kerry Rounds, moderator and film critic, Shawn Edwards, Brian B Shynin, Robinson Carter, and Michael Carter.
8:00 pm: Event ends

Date: Saturday, February 22, 2025

Location: The Truman Kansas City, 601 E Truman Rd, Kansas City, MO 64106

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