Diamond State Black Film Festival
Diamond State Black Film Festival
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2024 official selections

BLUE HOUR

BOX BROWN: A BOX MARKED FREEDOM

BOX BROWN: A BOX MARKED FREEDOM

Two personal journeys intersect when a struggling young photographer is hired for a cheap last minute portrait gig. The unfolding photo session, while transient, leaves an indelible mark on both women.


Writer/Director: J.D Shields

Producers: Diana Ward,  Maya Korn, and Lauren Avinoam

Time: 16 minutes

BOX BROWN: A BOX MARKED FREEDOM

BOX BROWN: A BOX MARKED FREEDOM

BOX BROWN: A BOX MARKED FREEDOM

The incredible TRUE story of Henry "Box" Brown, an enslaved man who mailed himself to freedom in 1849.

Directors: Robert Alan Underhill and Aravind Ragupathi


Writers: Mike Wiley, Allen Gies, and Rob Underhill

Producers: Aravind Ragupathi,  Rob Underhill, and Mike Wiley

Time: 90 minutes

FARMING WHILE BLACK

BOX BROWN: A BOX MARKED FREEDOM

FARMING WHILE BLACK

Examines 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.

 

Writer/Director: Mark Decena

Producers: Elizabeth Lupino Decena and Lynn Kincaid Waymer

Time: 75 minutes


THE FIRST CLASS

THE FIRST CLASS

FARMING WHILE BLACK

An up-close and personal look at the founding class of Crosstown High in Memphis, one of the XQ schools across the nation. Join Crosstown students on their journeys from 9th grade through the triumph of graduation as they imagine life on Mars, step into the lives of refugees, learn to think critically, and ultimately find themselves.

 

Writ

An up-close and personal look at the founding class of Crosstown High in Memphis, one of the XQ schools across the nation. Join Crosstown students on their journeys from 9th grade through the triumph of graduation as they imagine life on Mars, step into the lives of refugees, learn to think critically, and ultimately find themselves.

 

Writer/Director: Lee Hirsch

Producers: Lee Hirsch, Robert Fernandez, Laurene Powell Jobs, and Russlynn Ali 

Time: 96 minutes 

FOOT THE BILL

THE FIRST CLASS

FOOT THE BILL

Oh no! A historically black restaurant has been seized by white ownership! Meanwhile, two financially struggling friends argue over who should pay the bill.


Writer/Director/Producer: Lloyd J Tunstill

Time: 10 minutes

THE GOOD MAN

THE FIRST CLASS

FOOT THE BILL

Reggie and Monica have a tumultuous toxic relationship. Reggie is a hardworking provider while Monica is a stay at home drunk. One day they get in a huge argument and Reggie has a psychotic break.


Director: Andrew AJ Jackson

Writer/Producer: Celeste A Engley

Time: 22 minutes

HOW'S MAN MADE

HOW'S MAN MADE

HOW'S MAN MADE

Coltrane, undergoes a tumultuous journey of emotions after discovering a life-changing truth about his daughter. That forces him to question his role as a father.


Writer/Director: Edward L Varnie

Producer: Natalie Sidbtury

Time: 19 minutes

INNOCENCE

HOW'S MAN MADE

HOW'S MAN MADE

After witnessing several instances of racial bias, a young Black boy's worldview is forever changed.


Writer/Director: Marcella Taylor

Producers: Marcella Taylor, Dennis Beier, and Nandi George

Time: 11 minutes

LETTING GO

HOW'S MAN MADE

THE NIGHTS OF VERONA: A ROMEO AND JULIET TALE

Tracy finds herself caught in a love affair when a terminally ill woman pushes her husband to find another woman before she passes away.


Writer/Director/Producer: 

Lynette Jones

Time: 26 minutes 

THE NIGHTS OF VERONA: A ROMEO AND JULIET TALE

THE NIGHTS OF VERONA: A ROMEO AND JULIET TALE

A contemporary prequel to Romeo & Juliet that follows Mercutio who must broker an alliance between his family and the Capulets, in order to quell the power of the Montagues, while being terrorized by Queen Mab with visions of his imminent death.


Writer/Director: Maxwell Michael Towson

Producer: LaTonya Joyce

Time: 11 minutes

P.S. NO WORRIES

A famous Hollywood director returns to his home town to premier his latest film just as his old friends are being stalked by an unstoppable killer, mirroring his latest movie. The town has many secrets that will unravel as he navigates his past to get justice for some and truth for others.


Writer/Director/Producer: 

Lee Vishion Bumgarner

Time: 61 minutes

REBOOT

A boy that’s too addicted to his computer gets a reality check when a file corruption causes him to get sucked into a digital disaster and unknowingly brings his avatar to life.


Writer/Director: Tyra Pacheco

Writer: Liv Bullock

Producer: Imi Hunter

Time: 3 minutes  

THE RIVER

SEEKING MAVIS BEACON

SEEKING MAVIS BEACON

After discovering the drowning of a little girl, an unnamed narrator describes her community's response while battling the memories of her own fight with The River in this experimental take on sexual violence, grief, and trauma.


Writer/Director: Janay Kelley

Producers: Amanda Wiloughby and Joseph Carr

Time: 11 minutes 

SEEKING MAVIS BEACON

SEEKING MAVIS BEACON

SEEKING MAVIS BEACON

The most recognizable woman in technology lives in our collective imagination. Mavis Beacon Teaches

Typing taught millions globally, but the software’s Haitian-born cover model vanished decades ago. Two DIY detectives search for the model while posing questions about identity and artificial intelligence.


Director: Jazmin Jones

Producer:  Guetty Felin

Time: 102 minutes

SLICE

SOMEWHERE IN BROOKLYN

SOMEWHERE IN BROOKLYN

Black folks and water don’t mix, right? SLICE explores how Rico Golden and his homeboys from Memphis, TN, submerge themselves in an original swimming art form of athleticism, creativity, and joy called slicing while refusing to drown in a pool of society’s expectations.  


Writer/Director: Zaire Love

Producers:   Charolette Cook, Caitlin Mae Burke,  and Joyya Baines 

Time: 16 minutes

SOMEWHERE IN BROOKLYN

SOMEWHERE IN BROOKLYN

SOMEWHERE IN BROOKLYN

A police officer rekindles a romance with a woman he was involved with while undercover during Quarantine of 2020, unbeknownst to him, the criminal he was pursuing has put a hit out on him.


Writer/Director: Brandon D. Wilkerson

Producers:  Laniya Ailes and Brandon D. Wilkerson

Time: 21 minutes

Don't miss a scene

VIP ALL-ACCESS PASS

Access to ALL festival events including the Opening reception, Awards Ceremony and Closing Party. -$150

OPENING NIGHT CELEBRATION - THURSDAY, OCT. 10

Special salute to Emmy-nominated screenwriter and producer Chuck Hayward. The Delaware native has penned episodes of Ted Lasso, WandaVision and Dear White People. His latest work is the remake of  Don't Tell Mom the Babysitters Dead.. - $30

AWARDS & CLOSING PARTY - SATURDAY, OCT. 13=2

Learn which of the amazing films received awards in their selected categories then party the night away.  . - $75

DAY PASS

View films and other activities at Theatre N on the selected day. (Friday , Saturday, or Sunday) -$30 a day

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Copyright © 2025 Diamond State Black Film Festival - All Rights Reserved.

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