Christopher Adams, a Chicago native and founder of Impakt Studio, combines self-reliance with creativity in film and animation. His versatile works include Grammy-nominated music videos and documentaries. Influenced by his father’s ingenuity, Adams emphasizes care in storytelling, aiming to rewrite narratives about Chicago’s Black community while fostering an independent film ecosystem.
Interview: Chris Adams: Building Worlds from the South Side
ChicagoDirectorsFeaturesFilm HistoryFilm ShowcaseInterviewsProductionUnited States October 18, 2025 0
Christopher Adams, a Chicago native and founder of Impakt Studio, combines self-reliance with creativity in film and animation. His versatile works include Grammy-nominated music videos and documentaries. Influenced by his father’s ingenuity, Adams emphasizes care in storytelling, aiming to rewrite narratives about Chicago’s Black community while fostering an independent film ecosystem.
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The Yasuke Reclamation: Moving the African Samurai From Colonial Novelty to Global South Hero
AnimationBFM News and UpdatesCommunityDramatic FeatureFeaturesFilm HistoryInternationalJapanReflectionsSouth AfricaUnited StatesWorks-in-Progress October 14, 2025 0
The story of Yasuke, the African samurai, has become a global Rorschach test. For Hollywood, he is a box-office premise. For gamers, a controversial character.
But for those of us engaged in global Black cinema, he represents a far more urgent question: Who has the right to tell our stories — and from what soil must those stories grow?
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BLACK HARVEST FILM FEST NOV 7-16, 2025
FeaturesFestival CalendarFestivalsFilm Showcase October 11, 2025 0
Celebrating its 31st year in 2025, the Black Harvest Film Festival is Chicago’s annual showcase for Black film across the diaspora. Born from an urgent need to celebrate the Black experience, the Black Harvest Film Festival unites filmmakers and audiences to showcase the power of Black cinema. This annual festival highlights emerging and established talents and historical narratives, enriching the landscape of Black culture.
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Travel Notes of a Geechee Girl: Julie Dash’s Celebration of Vertamae Smart-Grosvenor
CinematographyDistributionDocumentaryExhibitionFeaturesIn-ProductionSeriesShowcaseTrailersWomenWorks-in-Progress September 25, 2025 0
Julie Dash is creating a documentary titled Travel Notes of a Geechee Girl, exploring the life of Vertamae Smart-Grosvenor, a culinary and cultural pioneer. The series showcases her journey from a Gullah Geechee community to global influence, emphasizing her contributions to food as a means of identity, resistance, and liberation.
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The Michelle Materre Collection
CuratorsDistributionExhibitionFeaturesInternationalReflectionsShowcaseWomen September 25, 2025 0
Niyah’s Multiverse: Chicago’s Afrofuturist Lineage from Sun Ra to Adler Planetarium
AnimationExhibitionFeaturesReflectionsShowcaseTrailersWomenWriting September 23, 2025 0
“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved father, brother, partner and uncle Menelik Shabazz, age 67.
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INTERVIEW: Logan Coles – Producer Rising
FeaturesInterviews September 23, 2025 0
“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved father, brother, partner and uncle Menelik Shabazz, age 67.
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Living within the Frame
CommentaryFeatures September 23, 2025 0