San Diego Black Film Festival facts for kids
The San Diego Black Film Festival is a big event in the United States. It celebrates movies made by and about African Americans and people of African heritage. The festival happens every year in San Diego County, California. Its main goal is to "Spotlight on African American and African Diaspora Cinema." It started in 2002.
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Festival History: How It Started
The San Diego Black Film Festival began in 2003. It was first called the Noir Film Festival. The very first event was small. It took place in a hotel room in the Gaslamp Quarter. Only three films were shown, and about 20 people came to watch.
Why the Name Changed
In 2006, the festival's name was changed. It became the San Diego Black Film Festival. The organizers realized that the old name, "Noir Film Festival," caused confusion. People thought it was about "Film Noir" movies, which are a specific style of dark crime films. The new name made it clear what the festival was about.
Growing Bigger Each Year
By 2011, the festival had grown a lot. It showed about 120 films. Between 15,000 and 30,000 people were expected to attend. This made it one of the largest black film festivals in the United States. It also became a very important event in San Diego.
What Films Are Shown?
The festival shows many different kinds of movies. You can see comedies, dramas, and documentaries. There are also animated films and horror movies. The festival includes films about the GLBT community and religious topics. It also features movies from the African Diaspora (people of African descent living outside Africa). You can watch short films, full-length movies, and even music videos.
Other Festival Events
Besides showing films, the festival also hosts other activities. There are "panels" where filmmakers and experts talk about movies. They also have reception banquets. These are special dinners or parties.
Where Does the Festival Happen?
The San Diego Black Film Festival uses different places to show movies. In the past, it has used theaters like the United Artists Theatre at Westfield Horton Plaza. Other locations include the Pacific Gaslamp multiplex and the Reading Grossmont Theater in La Mesa. It has also used AMC Fashion Valley Theaters and UltraStar Mission Valley. The Theatre Box downtown has also been a venue.
Future Plans for the Festival
In 2017, the festival expanded to use three theaters. The organizers are also working on a Black Film Centre. This center will eventually host the festival. It will also have a place to keep old films and records, like an archive.
Who Organizes the Festival?
Karen Willis is the director of the San Diego Black Film Festival. She helps make sure everything runs smoothly. Famous actress Robin Givens has hosted the festival many times.
