The Black Film Festival, organized by the Nehemiah Center for Urban Leadership Development, will take place at three Madison Public Library locations from November 13 to 15, 2025. This is the first time the festival will be held in the city’s public libraries. The event will include film screenings and discussions focused on Black cinema and culture. The festival aims to feature the work of Black filmmakers from both local and national backgrounds.
The festival will begin with an opening event on Wednesday, November 12, at the Fountain of Life Church. The documentary ‘Decade of Discontent,’ which covers civil rights struggles in 1960s Milwaukee, will be shown. A panel discussion will follow, with retired civil rights attorney Thomas Jacobson, Dr. Christy Clark-Pujara from UW-Madison, and Professor Alexander Shashko of UW-Madison.
Each day of the festival will take place at a different library. Pinney Library will host Arts & Culture Day on Thursday, November 13. Sequoya Library will present Family Day on Friday, November 14. Central Library will feature Filmmaker Day on Saturday, November 15. The program includes films, documentaries, and video essays such as ‘Mufasa’ (2024), ‘Fresh Dressed’ (2015), ‘American Rapstar’ (2020), and ‘The Great American Game’ (2025)…