FLINT, MI – Communities First, Inc. (CFI) is excited to announce the return of the African American Film Series for its landmark 10th season, in partnership with the Flint Institute of Arts (FIA). This beloved free series showcases films that celebrate the artistry of African American creatives while inspiring, informing, empowering and entertaining audiences in our community. The 2024 – 2025 season marks the 10th year that CFI has held the African American Film Series.
“It is a tremendous honor to have hosted the African American Film Series for a decade,” says Glenn Wilson, President and CEO of Communities First, Inc. “We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the community for their continued support, allowing us to uplift the voices of African American directors, actors and creatives. Over the past ten years, these films have empowered our community with new knowledge and insight that they could not have gained elsewhere.”
The series will continue to run monthly through February. The remaining screenings are December 19, 2024, and January 9, and February 13, 2025. All films are shown in-person at the Flint Institute of Arts (1120 E Kearsley St, Flint, MI 48503).
Before each screening, attendees are invited to explore FIA’s galleries and enjoy a complimentary dinner accompanied by live music. Dinner starts at 5:30 p.m. and the films begin at 6:45 PM. Directly following each film, CFI will host engaging discussions with various experts who will delve into the themes and issues presented in the films.
“When choosing these films, we try to find topics that will expose people to new experiences that they otherwise might not have had,” says Essence Wilson, Chief Strategy Officer of Communities First, Inc.
She added: “I am honored that we have been able to sustain this film series for ten years, fostering discovery and celebrating diversity in our community.”
Film Series Schedule:
Butterfly in the Sky, took place November 14, 2024
This documentary chronicles the journeys of broadcasters, educators and filmmakers who believed television could inspire a lifelong love of reading with the acclaimed PBS show, Reading Rainbow (1983).
Farming While Black, December 19, 2024
A feature-length documentary examining the historical plight of Black farmers in the United States and the rising generation reclaiming their rightful ownership to land and reconnecting with their ancestral roots.
MLK/FBI, January 9, 2025
This groundbreaking documentary is the first film to uncover the extent of the FBI’s surveillance and harassment of Martin Luther King, Jr. Based on newly discovered and declassified files, the documentary explores the government’s history of targeting Black activists, and the contested meaning behind some of our most cherished ideals. From Emmy Award winning director Sam Pollard and featuring interviews with Andrew Young, James Comey, Clarence Jones and more.
This Is My Black, February 13, 2025
Students at Berks County’s Pine Forge Academy display that Black youth with agency can persist even in a world trying to stifle them. Opening with a glorious and rhythm-filled musical number, the students spotlight their gifts as well as their awareness of the precarity of Black life. Further expressed in choir rehearsal, where personal struggles yield results, a vulnerable moment allows the students to reveal the hardship of navigating a world where Black death consumes the media.
The series is sponsored in part by the Flint Institute of Arts, Genesee Health System, Gary and Carol Hurand, Lynne Hurand, Nartel Family Foundation, Glenn and Essence Wilson, Mid-Michigan NOW, and the Ananich Legacy Foundation. Donations are encouraged but not required.
About Communities First, Inc. (CFI)
Communities First, Inc. is a nonprofit Community Development Corporation. Headquartered in Flint, CFI serves over 35,000 community members across Michigan and Indiana. CFI’s mission is to build healthy, vibrant communities through economic development, affordable housing, and innovative programming. More information about Communities First, Inc. can be found at www.communitiesfirstinc.org.
