What to know about Wilmington's N.C. Black Film Festival and its visitor from Wu-Tang Clan
Since it began more than two decades ago, Wilmington's North Carolina Black Film Festival has evolved into being one of the most important film festivals in the state, with people coming to the Port City from all over for five days of screenings, gatherings and discussions.
"It has grown and changed and evolved. Ebbed and flowed over the years," said festival director Charlon Turner Everett. "We're seeing a lot of people now coming in from places like Charlotte and Fayetteville, and that has accounted for a lot of the growth."
On May 15, the 21st annual N.C. Black Film Festival will open with the festival's kickoff party at Waterline Brewing, with Wilmington DJ RizzyBeats spinning classic cuts from hip-hop heavyweights Wu-Tang Clan, turning the kickoff into "Wu-Tang Wednesday." The festival runs through Sunday, May 19, at six Wilmington venues.
In the past, the festival has highlighted and honored the work of filmmakers local (Nakia Hamilton in 2022) and national, with past attendees including director Ava DuVernay ("Selma," "13th"), Giancarlo Esposito ("Breaking Bad," Wilmington-filmed show "Revolution") and Anthony Hemingway ("Red Tails," "The Wire").
Last year, the festival brought in iconic film actress Pam Grier ("Jackie Brown," "Coffy") for the festival's 20th anniversay.
"After last year I was a little worried," Everett said. "How do you top Pam Grier? But I'm really happy with this year's lineup."
In addition to Gerald Barclay, director of the documentary "A Wu-Tang Experience: Live at Red Rocks Amphitheatre," which screens 7 p.m. May 16 at CFCC's Union Station auditorium, the festival is also bringing in Wu-Tang member Cappadonna for a post-screening discussion.
At 6 p.m. Saturday, the festival will screen 2023 comedy thriller "Kill Room," co-starring Sameul L. Jackson. A discussion after the film will be held with executive producer BK Fulton, founding chairman and CEO of Soulidifly Productions. On Sunday, during the festival's awards ceremony at the Cameron Art Museum, Fulton will receive the N.C. Black Film Festival's Renaissance Award.
"He's just got a huge resume of accomplishments," Everett said of Fulton.
The festival's other honoree will be Wilmington filmmaker Christopher Everett, director of the documentary "Wilmington on Fire" and co-founder of 3 Chambers Fest, a local celebration of hip-hop, anime and martial arts. Everett will receive the 2024 Trailblazer Award in Documentary Film before the 7 p.m. screening of "A Wu-Tang Experience" at CFCC Union Station on May 16.
Christopher Everett is married to festival director Charlon Turner Everett, who said the decision to honor her husband was made by the board of the Black Arts Alliance, the nonprofit that puts on the N.C. Black Film Festival.
Other festival highlights include a screening of Hulu documentary "Freaknik: The Wildest Party Never Told" 8:15 p.m. Friday at Jengo's Playhouse on Princess Street.
A look at how a spring picnic for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in Atlanta turned into a major cultural event, the screening will be a homecoming for the film's producers, Jay Allen, who graduated from the University of North Carolina Wilmington, and Nikki Byles, a Wilmington native. Both have worked with Swirl Films, a production company started in Wilmington by "Freaknik" executive producer Eric Tomosunas.
Saturday highlights include family films at 10 a.m. at Jengo's and multiple short films and features noon-8 p.m. at Jengo's and noon-6 p.m. Thalian Hall. "Box Brown," screening 1 p.m. May 18 at Thalian, is the story of an enslaved man who mailed himself to freedom in 1849.
The festival will close Sunday, May 19, at the Cameron Art Museum with an awards ceremony and the screening of director Bill Horace's "Art, Beats + Lyrics," a documentary about a visual art and hip-hop roadshow. A post-film discussion will follow.
For a full festival schedule and descriptions of films, or to purchase tickets, go to BlackArtsAlliance.org.
Want to go?
When: May 15-19
Where: Venues are Waterline Brewing, CFCC Union Station auditorium, Jengo's Playhouse, Boseman's Shoes, Thalian Hall studio theater and the Cameron Art Museum.
Info: Various ticket packages are available. An all-inclusive festival pass is $150.
Details: For full schedule and film descriptions, or to purchase tickets, go to BlackArtsAlliance.org.
SCHEDULE
May 15: Kickoff party at Waterline Brewing, 5-8 p.m.
May 16: Cinemixer at CFCC Union Station, screening of "A Wu-Tang Experience: Live at Red Rocks," 6-9 p.m.
May 17: Shorts and student films at Jengo's Playhouse, 4-10 p.m.
May 17: "Force of Blue" documentary at Boseman's Shoes, 6 p.m.
May 18: Family/teen films, Jengo's Playhouse, 10 a.m.
May 18: Film screenings at Jengo's Playhouse, noon-8 p.m.
May 18: Film screenings at Thalian Hall studio theater, noon-6 p.m.
May 19: Awards ceremony (2 p.m.) and closing film "Art, Beats + Lyrics" (3 p.m.), Cameron Art Museum
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: N.C. Black Film Festival in Wilmington, NC, features Wu-Tang Clan
