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 and screening of When We Free the World, the powerful feature-length documentary from acclaimed writer, activist, and filmmaker Kevin Powell.
Centered on the question of modern manhood, the film 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, When We Free the World 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 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.