The Diaspora Festival of Black and Independent Film, hosted annually at the Sonja Haynes Stone Center for Black Culture and History on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, is dedicated to celebrating and promoting the works of Black and independent filmmakers.
The festival serves to illuminate the multifaceted narratives within the Black diaspora. The curated selection of films encompasses a wide range of genres, including documentaries, narrative features, short films, and experimental projects. These cinematic creations delve deep into the realms of African American history, culture, contemporary issues, and the broader global Black experience.
A distinctive feature of the Diaspora Festival is its commitment to fostering meaningful discourse and critique. In addition to screenings, the Diaspora Festival hosts illuminating discussions, panels, and Q&A sessions with filmmakers, actors, and industry professionals. This interaction not only enhances audiences' understanding of the creative process but also offers a unique opportunity to critically examine the stories portrayed on screen.
Throughout its existence, the Festival has played a pivotal role in spotlighting cinematic voices, forging community, and facilitating a deeper understanding of Diasporic cultures and history through the lens of independent cinema. The Diaspora Film Festival continues to stand as a vibrant cultural forum, bridging the worlds of film, art, and education while celebrating the diverse stories and experiences of the Black diaspora.
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The 2025 edition of the Diaspora Festival of Black and Independent Film features the following screening lineup and schedule:
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 | 12:05PM
JE NE SUIS PAS ELLE, JE SUIS L'AUTRE
Dirs.: Céline BERNABÉ, Kevin MACEDOT | Short | Guadeloupe | 28 MIN
A woman artist, struggling with a mental illness following her mother's death, tries to overcome society's judgment and the obstacles caused by her health condition, to regain custody of her daughter.
“AFTER THOUGHTS”
Dir.: Cortez Mack | Short | USA | 10 MIN
An inspirational story about PTSD awareness
HEAT OF THE BORDER
Dir.: Robert Rafael dos Santos | Documentary | 19 MIN
HEAT OF THE BORDER addresses the difficulties faced by two immigrant families in Foz do Iguaçu, a city known for its rich linguistic and cultural diversity. Through stories, the film follows the challenges of these families. Even in a multicultural city like Foz do Iguaçu, bridges to true integration can be difficult to build.
CRUZANDO EL DARIÉN
Dir.: Xochil Pamela Vergara | Documentary | Panama (2025) | 20 MIN
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30 | 6:30PM
HARM IN THE WATER
Dir.: Kendall Moore | Documentary | USA (2025) | 90 MIN
HARM IN THE WATER delves into the critical issue of water pollution affecting Black communities along the Mississippi River. This documentary weaves together historical context, scientific insights, and the urgent call for environmental justice.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9 | 6:30PM
MERCY
Dir.: Philip Szporer | Short | Canada (2025) | 15 MIN
This poetic short film voices issues of race, place, and identity, and dives into the double-voiced discourses of a particular Black literary tradition concerning the complication of the slave learning their captor’s language.
FROM RODEO TO POLO: THE FIRST HBCU POLO TEAM
Dir.: Kendi King | Documentary | USA | 9 MIN
The first Black collegiate polo team at Morehouse College chases national USPA certification, training a rag-tag team of charismatic cowboys into pioneering polo stars.
“RUNAWAY”
Dir.: Donya A.R Conley | Short | USA | 10 MIN
Ms. Edna spends the night in the police station based on the assumption of her daughter’s disappearance. She begins to plead with the Officer who gives her a hard time regarding the justification for her daughter's missing.
FOOD FOR THE SOUL
Dir.: Chisom Chieke | Short | USA | 17 MIN
As cultures clash and insufferable parents meddle, a first generation Nigerian American and her Black American boyfriend must decide between being true to themselves or trying to live up to their families' expectations…a risk to their happily ever after.
HARLEM TO HARVARD
Dir.: Zuzelin Martin | Short | USA | 14 MIN
An inspirational short documentary about a teacher, Edouard E. Plummer, who helped over 600 students from Harlem attend the most elite boarding schools in the country creating countless ripples of generational impact.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14 | 12:05PM
MAMAYA
Dir.: Prince Adablah | Short | Ghana/Guinea (2025) | 10 MIN
A fearless Guinean drummer and singer breaks centuries-old taboos to rise on the world stage—and brings her rhythm to Austin in a powerful journey of resistance and rhythm.
MAWONS - SOLITUDE (MAROONS)
Dirs.: Bp Neneb, Christophe Agelan | Short | Martinique (2025) | 19 MIN
In 1802, after Napoleon reinstated slavery in the French colonies, escaped Black and mixed-race slaves fled into the forests of the Caribbean. These maroons formed hidden mountain communities. Among them, Solitude, a young woman of mixed heritage, seeks refuge. But one day beneath the canopy, a violent encounter will force her to confront her past—and shape the future of their fragile resistance. Inspired by a true story of resilience and sacrifice.
THE MOST QUIET NOISE
Dir.: Joanne Flovella | Short | USA (2025) | 7 MIN
A young woman perpetually distracted by social media is set on a new course when she finds out she gains a supernatural ability.
LOCUS
Dir.: C S DeBose | Short | USA (2025) | 6 MIN
A poetic narrative of a woman's reluctant search to find a tree that may turn out to be a site of power - connecting her to the family she drifted away from long ago. Told as a series of inner musings and phone calls.
GUARDIAN OF THE WELL
Dirs.: Bentley Brown, Tahir Ben Mahamat Zene | Documentary | Chad (2025) | 5 MIN
Amid a historic drought in the southern reaches of Chad's Sahara Desert, a well-goer recalls his lost cattle and contemplates his plans for a change in livelihood.
A NEW CREATION STORY
Dirs.: Dane Figueroa Edidi, J Mase III, Audria LB | Short | USA 2025) | 5 MIN
Since the ancient world, Creation Stories have been told to help us not simply imagine the way the world was formed, but our divine place within it. Blending animation, poetry, music, stories rooted in various cultures and live elements, A New Creation Story celebrates Black Trans community and retells the making of the Universe — taking us on a journey from before the first molecule was crafted until the precise moment where everything has truly come to be.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21 | 6:30PM
MEGNOT (TWO HEARTS)
Dir.: Abel Regasa | Feature | Ethiopia (2025) | 97 MIN
MEGNOT is a compelling drama that bridges the personal and the universal. Set against the breathtaking landscapes of Arba Minch and the vibrant streets of Addis Ababa, it follows a young woman navigating the tension between tradition and modernity as she faces a forced marriage imposed by her grandfather, challenging societal norms in search of love and self-determination. A chance meeting with a stranger on his own journey of healing sparks a bond that reshapes their futures.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30 | 6:30PM
MUZIZI
Dir.: Jamila Pomeroy | Documentary | Canada (2025) | 85 MIN
MUZIZI takes viewers on a cross-cultural, multigenerational journey into Vancouver's African diasporic culinary scene. Through cooking segments, commentary, and interviews, the film, guided by director Jamila Pomeroy, explores cultural preservation, sovereignty, and food security, showcasing powerful stories of immigration, resilience, and joy.
CYP/ HOMECOMING OPEN HOUSE: SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 8 | 12:05PM (STONE CENTER AUDITORIUM)
PAW PAW & DAYJA
Dir. Gregory Alan Williams | Feature | USA (2025) | 60 MIN
PAW PAW and DAYJA follows the adventures of a Bigfoot obsessed ten-year old who, with the help of her widowed grandfather, learns that each of us sees the world a little differently and that everyone’s view has value.
SPECIAL SCREENING: THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20 | 6:30PM
LUMBEELAND
Dir.: Montana Cypress | Short | USA (2024) | 30 MIN
LUMBEELAND follows one family that must reckon with the harm they have caused, discovering what happens when we reap what we sow. A tragic tale exploring how we hurt the ones we love, even when we want to protect them - that anger and greed lead us to betray those we are closest to, even ourselves.
Writer Malinda Maynor Lowery
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Unless otherwise noted, all screenings will take place in the Stone Center's Hitchcock Multipurpose Room. A brief comments/Q&A and audience reaction occurs following the screenings. All screenings are FREE and open the public.