INTERNATIONAL BLACK
FILM FESTIVAL
"Defining Our Stories, Transforming the Image" as its organizational theme, IBFF strives to insure culturally accurate depictions in film with special emphasis on providing a forum for unheard, unseen and unknown viewpoints and to showcase the rich creativity and diversity found in communities of color locally, nationally and internationally.
Like us on Facebook    Follow us on Twitter      
OUR PARTNERS
OUR SPONSORS
FILMS IN COMPETITION
BUCKOUT ROAD
Directed by Matthew Currie Holmes

Synopsis
Buckout Road might be known as the most haunted road in New York State, but nobody really  believed it... until now.    A college class project on modern mythology turns deadly when a trio of students discover a series of horrific urban legends surrounding Buckout Road may actually be true. The deeper they dig into the road's dark history, the more dangerous their quest becomes.    From witches burning at the stake, to backwoods albino killers to a modern, unstoppable stalker, writer/director and horror-film aficionado Matthew Currie Holmes leaves no genre unexploited in this loving throwback to late-80's midnight movies.  

Starring Dominique Provost-Chalkley. Danny Glover, Evan Ross

Buckout Road Trailer!
Buckout Road Trailer

HAKKUNDE
Directed by Asurf Oluseyi

Synopsis
Hakkunde is an intriguing story of a young graduate who battles everything (including love, family, discrimination, drug abuse, culture, tradition and self) on his journey to self discovery and actualization..  

Starring:  Kunle Idowu, Rahama Sadahu, Ali Nuhu


FOR AHKEEM
Directed by Jeremy S. Levine & Landon van Soest 

Synopsis
After a school fight lands 17-year old Daje Shelton in a court-supervised alternative high school, she's determined to turn things around and make a better future for herself in her rough St. Louis neighborhood. But focusing on school is tough as she loses multiple friends to gun violence, falls in love for the first time, and becomes pregnant with a boy, Ahkeem, just as Ferguson erupts a few miles down the road. Through Daje's intimate coming-of-age story, For Ahkeem illuminates challenges that many Black teenagers face in America today, and witnesses the strength, resilience, and determination it takes to survive.




MARZ
Directed by Bobby Yan

Synopsis
Chris Mars, an aspiring rapper poised for success, appears to have it all - a hot track on the streets, a beautiful girlfriend, and most importantly, the loyalty and camaraderie of his longtime childhood buddy, Mel, a tough street gangster type with a not so clean past. Losing his father at a young age, Mel, three years his senior, serves as a surrogate brother and father figure to Chris. It's a bond that could never be broken, or at least not until one fateful night that changes Chris's life forever.

Starring: Jade Yorker, Devale Eillis


MARZ TRAILER
MARZ TRAILER


OPENING NIGHT FILM

The 11th Annual International Black Film Festival is honored to announce the highly anticipated, critically acclaimed feature film "Marshall" as our Opening Night Film. Directed by the esteemed Academy Award Nominee, Mr. Reginald Hudlin, "Marshall" chronicles significant events of  the first African American Supreme Court Justice, Mr. Thurgood Marshall.  Marshall screens on  Thursday, October 5, 2017  at Belmont University.   Tickets and screening details are now available  Click Here to Purchase .

NOTE: Marshall" will be released in theaters across the country on October 13, 2017.

Synopsis
As the nation teeters on the brink of WWII, a nearly bankrupt NAACP sends Thurgood Marshall (Chadwick Boseman) to conservative Connecticut to defend a black chauffeur against his wealthy socialite employer in a sexual assault and attempted murder trial that quickly became tabloid fodder. In need of a high profile victory but muzzled by a segregationist court, Marshall is partnered with Samuel Friedman (Josh Gad), a young Jewish lawyer who has never tried a case.

Starring: Chadwick Boseman, Josh Gad, Kate Hudson


 
SPOTLIGHT FILM

Til Death Us Part
Directed By Chris Stokes

The 11th Annual International Black Film Festival is proud to announce the screening of "Til Death Do Us Part"  as the Spotlight Film on  Saturday, October 7, 2017 at Belmont University. We are excited to have this film a few days after its opening in theaters across the country. Tickets and screening details are available. 

Synopsis
Til Death Do Us Part tells the story of Michael and Madison Roland who planned to spend the rest of their lives together, until one day Michael's controlling ways turned their perfect marriage. With the help of her best friend, Madison decides to get away. After adopting a new identity, she meets Alex Stone and learns to love again. All is well, until Michael discovers Madison's whereabouts, and recreates the nightmare she once lived all over again.


 
 
SPECIAL PRESENTATION

The Rich and Ruthless 
from Emmy Nominated Actress  Victoria Rowell

The 11th Annual International Black Film Festival is excited to showcase the special Screening of series "The Rich and The Ruthless",  Directed by renown actress  Ms. Victoria Rowell.   IBFF also welcomes Ms. Rowell as our special guest for the screening  and Q&A on Saturday October 7, 2017.
Tickets and screening details are now available.  
 Click Here to Purchase.  

Synopsis
T he Rich & The Ruthless; The only black owned daytime drama in the industry, also known as "the stories," is operated by tight fisted, debonair, self-made, AUGUSTUS BARRINGER. When greedy studio executives inform that The Rich and the Ruthless is getting booted off the sound stages for another talk show after twenty years, Augustus Barringer is ready to fight back on another level to stay on the air, even if it means filming his quirky soap opera out of his sleek Hollywood mansion...temporarily. And before moving the company to Jamaica! The Rich and the Ruthless isn't just a soap-within-a-soap it's a sudser with soul and a family drama! So get ready for LIGHTS, CAMERA, CALAMITY and CLAWS on The Rich and the Ruthless!

Starring: Victoria Ross, Caryn Ward Ross, Richard Brooks




2017 COMPETITION FILMS SELECTED

Documentary
Afro.Germany  Directed By Jana Pareigis
Back To Natural Directed By Gillian Scott Ward
For Akheem  Directed By Jeremy S. Levine
Intentional Healing Directed By John Stavas
Little Music Manchild: The Malik Kofi Story Directed By Malena Cunningham Anderson
Seaman and 207 Directed By Sophia Tewa
SenCinema Directed By Josh Gibson
The Art of the Journey - The Ben Jones Story Directed By William Michael Barbee
The Ride Directed By Jeff Adachi
This Train: The Gospel Sessions Directed By Kelvin Wooten

Narrative Feature
Ambitions Debt Directed By Devin E. Haqq
Buckout Road Directed By Matthew Currie Holmes
Cargo Directed By Kareem Mortimer
Hakkunde Directed By Oluseyi Asurf
The Dunning Man Directed By Michael Clayton

Narrative Short
1x1 Directed By Ramon Abreu
Black Chicks Directed By Labute
Black? Directed By Guy Calaf
Blackface Directed By Malcolm Baity
Byers Remorse Directed By Michael McClendon
Class 15 Directed By Dean Leon Anderson
Coming and Going Directed By Annie Huntington
Covered Directed By Desha Dauchan
Happy Hour 2017 William Cochran
Hold On Directed By Christine Turner
Junior Directed By Pearl Gluck
Last Stop on Market Street Directed By Eric J. Smith
Lawman Directed By Matthew Gentile
Like Fine Silk Directed By Manzanares
Marz Directed By Bobby Yan
Masquerade Directed By Andrew Hawkins
Mosquito: The Bite of Passage Directed By Brian Vincent Rhodes
Night Shift Directed By Efuru Flowers
Now or Later Directed By Mara Kassin
Proclamation Punctuation Directed By Sewra G. Kidane
Robox Directed By Bubba Murray
Sam is Sick and Sam Is Tired Direct By Cochice Wesson
The Tale of Four Directed By Gabourey Sidibe
Thick Water Directed By Prince Domonick
To Be Free Directed By Adepero Oduye
Torments of Love Directed By Caroline Jules
Walk A Mile In My Shoes Directed By Alvin Moore, Jr.
War Brides Directed By Rod Putman
White Guilt Directed By Ben Edmonds

Web Series
Make Up x Break Up Series Directed By Eric Dickens

DOWNLOAD THE FREE 
TENNESSEE VACATION GUIDE TODAY!

Complete tourism information is at your fingertips with comprehensive road maps, contact information, and detailed facts about attractions.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD
EXPERIENCE YOUR BREAKTHROUGH
The International Black Film Festival kicks off a full schedule of exciting events on October 5-8, 2017.  Save the date, block your calendar and join us for a week of amazing studio and independent films, music, special conversations with industry executives and celebrities, networking events, red carpets, parties and more.

Please check our website at www.ibffevents.com for regular updates to the festival schedule or email us at info@ibffnashville.com.

Build your festival, experience your breakthrough at IBFF 2017! #ibffbreakthrough

2017 IBFF VOLUNTEER SIGNUP
The 2017 festival is fast approaching. And we need you to help make it an awesome experience for our festival goers. It's easy to sign up to volunteer.  Just go online and enter in your information and a member of the IBFF Volunteer team will reach out to you to provide more details.  

To sign up today just click here  2017 IBFF Volunteer Sign Up. If you have any questions please feel free to email us at volunteer@ibffnashville.com.