Opening Night: When We Free the World
July 8 @ 6:30 pm – 10:00 pm
Join us as the 52nd Newark Black Film Festival opens with a special reception, screening, and filmmaker conversation featuring When We Free the World, the powerful feature-length documentary from acclaimed writer, activist, and filmmaker Kevin Powell.
The evening begins with an opening night reception, offering guests an opportunity to gather and celebrate the start of this year’s festival before the screening.
Centered on the question of modern manhood, When We Free the World brings together the voices of 70 Black men spanning five generations to explore identity, fatherhood, mental health, healing, accountability, and the work of breaking cycles that have impacted families and communities for generations. Through intimate conversations and personal reflections, the film challenges audiences to consider what freedom, equity, and human rights truly mean when applied universally.
Following the screening, attendees are invited to stay for a special talkback featuring filmmaker and writer Kevin Powell and producer and writer Evangeline Lawson of Brooklyn Diego Productions. The discussion will be moderated by Richard Wesley and Darryl Dwayne.
As one of the nation’s longest-running celebrations of Black cinema, the Newark Black Film Festival continues its tradition of bringing together filmmakers, artists, and audiences for meaningful conversations that extend beyond the screen.