Martha's Vineyard African American Film Festival

Martha's Vineyard African American Film Festival
LocationOak Bluffs, Massachusetts, U.S.
Founded2002 (2002)
Most recent2025
Festival dateOpening: 1 August 2025 (2025-08-01)
Closing: 9 August 2025 (2025-08-09)
LanguageEnglish
Websitewww.mvaaff.com

The Martha's Vineyard African American Film Festival is a film festival annually held in Oak Bluffs on Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, every August. It screens films with a curatorial focus on Black storytelling.[1]

In addition to films, the festival hosts panels like the Color of Conversations series and throws events such as the annual White Party, Director’s Brunch, the Black Excellence Brunch, and the Women's C-Suite lunches.[2][3]

History

The festival was founded by Stephanie Tavares-Rance and Floyd Rance in 2002.[1] Before then, Rance had been a filmmaker leading Run & Shoot Filmworks, while Tavares-Rance worked in marketing; In 2001, both of them were working on a film together in Barbados, after which Tavares-Rance thought about possible events to host there. A film festival was one of them, but Barbados withdrew itself from consideration as a site after the September 11 attacks. By 2002, they decided on Martha's Vineyard, which "was actually Plan B"; however, Tavares-Rance and Rance ultimately found it to be "the right plan" after all, given Martha's Vineyard's significance to the Black community.[4][5] It was also inspired by a film screening at a house party in Martha's Vineyard organized by Tavares-Rance during the Fourth of July weekend in 2000.[6]

The very first festival, in August 2002, was held in a local high school on Martha's Vineyard with ten attendees;[6] the following year, it was moved to the Mansion House Inn. Since then, the festival has annually screened over 60 films, at the Performing Arts Center in Edgartown, and attracted numerous community and industry leaders in the Black community.[7][8][9] Notable attendees include Barack and Michelle Obama,[10] Eric Holder, Loretta Lynch, Charles Ogletree, Henry Louis Gates Jr., Khalil Gibran Muhammad,[11] Slick Rick, Spike Lee, Jennifer Hudson,[12] Natasha Rothwell, Gayle King, Ketanji Brown Jackson and Jasmine Crockett.[13] Annual turnout is usually over 2,000 attendees.[4]

As of 2018, Tavares-Rance also hosts a sister festival in Washington, D.C.[14] The couple had also briefly hosted a spinoff festival in Charlotte, North Carolina for two years.[15]

In 2020, the festival was hosted virtually on Facebook due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[16]

During the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, the festival showcased the perspectives of choreographers and authors.[4]

Starting in 2023, the Library of Congress began hosting on-site events and programming at the festival, largely based around the preservation of African American history and cinema, as well as the promotion of its Of the People program.[17][18]

As of 2025, other festivals also held in Martha's Vineyard aimed at Black audiences during the first two weeks of August include the Martha's Vineyard Comedy Fest (since 2010) and the Black Book Festival (since 2024).[13]

Criteria

Films submitted to the festival qualify for screening if they are either created by a writer, director or producer who self-identifies as a person of color; or if they cast people of color in prominent roles.[19]

Awards

Every year, the festival gives out prizes: Best Feature, Best Short Film, and Best Documentary.[20]

As of 2018, the festival has been accredited by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as a qualifying festival for the short film category at the Oscars.[21][22][5]

Winners

2010

2024

  • Best Feature: Albany Road[20]
  • Best Short Film: Rebel Girls[20]
  • Best Documentary: A King Like Me[20]

Programming

There are many events that take place in addition to the screenings. The festival hosts numerous events each year, both official and off-site.

Color of Conversation

After film screenings, dialogue events are held, in which filmmakers and cast members speak about the preceding film amongst each other and answer questions.[24][19]

White Party

At the festival, a White Party is thrown outdoors wherein guests must wear all-white.[20]

Other activities

As of 2025, other activities at the festival include culinary events, theater, workshops, and children's programming.[19]

2002

2003[25]

2006

2009

2010

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018[31]

2019[32]

2021[33]

2022[34]

2023[35]

2024[36]

2025[37]

References

  1. ^ a b Jackson, Angelique (2025-07-10). "Courtney B. Vance, Debbie Allen, Issa Rae, Jennifer Hudson and Dwyane Wade Join Lineup for Martha's Vineyard African American Film Festival (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Archived from the original on 2025-07-21. Retrieved 2025-08-02.
  2. ^ Brown, Evan Nicole (2023-02-04). "C-Suite Luncheon Celebrates Women of Color in Exec Entertainment Roles: "We're Trying to Change This Industry"". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 2023-02-04. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
  3. ^ admin-tonya (2025-07-05). "A First-Timer's Guide to the Martha's Vineyard African American Film Festival". World Footprints. Archived from the original on 2025-08-02. Retrieved 2025-08-02.
  4. ^ a b c Bender, Sydney (2024-07-23). "Lights, Camera, Action". Martha's Vineyard Magazine. Archived from the original on 2024-08-10. Retrieved 2025-07-11.
  5. ^ a b Andrews-Dyer, Helena (2022-08-20). "Why a small film fest in Martha's Vineyard became Black Hollywood's hot spot". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on 2022-08-22. Retrieved 2025-08-02.
  6. ^ a b c d e Robards, Brooks (2012-07-26). "African American Film Fest Marks Ten Years". Martha's Vineyard Magazine. Archived from the original on 2024-11-13. Retrieved 2025-08-02.
  7. ^ Quinn, Gwendolyn (2017-08-30). "Husband and Wife Build Martha's Vineyard African American Film Festival Into a 15-Year Brand". Black Enterprise. Archived from the original on 2024-10-06. Retrieved 2025-08-02.
  8. ^ Major, Derek (2022-08-22). "An African American Film Festival Has Turned Martha's Vineyard Into a Black Celebrity Hot Spot". Black Enterprise. Archived from the original on 2022-08-22. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
  9. ^ Roberts, Allison (2024-08-12). "African American Film Festival celebrates 22 years". The Martha's Vineyard Times. Archived from the original on 2024-08-12. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
  10. ^ "Barack And Michelle Obama Attend Martha's Vineyard African-American Film Festival". Essence. 2022-08-08. Archived from the original on 2023-11-06. Retrieved 2025-08-02.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g Quinn, Gwendolyn (2017-08-30). "Husband and Wife Build Martha's Vineyard African American Film Festival Into a 15-Year Brand". Black Enterprise. Archived from the original on 2024-10-06. Retrieved 2025-08-03.
  12. ^ a b c Deggans, Eric (2025-08-07). "On Martha's Vineyard, Black filmmakers are in the spotlight". NPR. Archived from the original on 2025-08-09. Retrieved 2025-08-09.
  13. ^ a b c Mzizi, Yola (2025-08-10). "Michelle Obama and Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson Draw Crowds on Martha's Vineyard". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2025-08-10. Retrieved 2025-08-11.
  14. ^ Pretsky, Holly (2018-08-01). "African American Film Festival Raises the Bar for Art, Conversation". Vineyard Gazette. Archived from the original on 2025-05-16. Retrieved 2025-08-02.
  15. ^ Hufstader, Louisa (2017-08-03). "African American Film Festival Grows into Cultural Powerhouse". Vineyard Gazette. Archived from the original on 2024-11-25. Retrieved 2025-08-02.
  16. ^ Hufstader, Louisa (2021-02-18). "African American Film Festival Keeps the Conversation Going". Vineyard Gazette. Archived from the original on 2022-08-13. Retrieved 2025-08-02.
  17. ^ Sokol, Donna (2024-08-01). "CCDI's Second Year at the Martha's Vineyard African American Film Festival". Library of Congress. Archived from the original on 2024-08-02. Retrieved 2025-07-11.
  18. ^ Dorsey, Olivia (2024-09-11). "CCDI Artist/Scholars Highlight Creative Uses of Library Materials at the Martha's Vineyard African American Film Festival". Library of Congress. Archived from the original on 2025-04-25. Retrieved 2025-07-11.
  19. ^ a b c Devaney, Rachael (2025-08-01). "Martha's Vineyard African American Film Festival returns to Oak Bluffs". Cape Cod Times. Archived from the original on 2025-08-02. Retrieved 2025-08-02.
  20. ^ a b c d e Torrence, Donna (2024-08-26). "The Martha's Vineyard African American Film Festival Kicked Off Its 22nd Year". blackfilm.com. Archived from the original on 2025-08-02. Retrieved 2025-08-02.
  21. ^ Syckle, Katie Van (2024-08-13). "A Haven for Black Film on Martha's Vineyard Keeps Growing". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2025-06-28. Retrieved 2025-06-28.
  22. ^ "Spike Lee, Michael B. Jordan among stars at Martha's Vineyard African-American Film Festival". The Boston Globe. 2019-08-06. Archived from the original on 2025-07-22. Retrieved 2025-08-02.
  23. ^ a b c d Jr, Alfred Edmond (2010-09-15). "UBR Morning Post: Film Fest Co-founder Stephanie Rance". Black Enterprise. Archived from the original on 2024-11-10. Retrieved 2025-08-05.
  24. ^ Blexmedia (2025-07-11). "MVAAFF 2025 Spotlight: 'Forever' Episode "The Vineyard" Comes Alive at Oak Bluffs Screening & Conversation". Blex Media. Archived from the original on 2025-07-26. Retrieved 2025-07-11.
  25. ^ "film schedule". Martha's Vineyard African American Film Festival. Archived from the original on 2003-10-03. Retrieved 2025-08-09.
  26. ^ Dooley, Megan (2009-08-03). "African American Film Festival Begins". Vineyard Gazette. Archived from the original on 2025-08-02. Retrieved 2025-08-03.
  27. ^ a b c Robards, Brooks (2010-08-12). "Martha's Vineyard African-American Film Festival". The Martha's Vineyard Times. Archived from the original on 2025-08-02. Retrieved 2025-08-03.
  28. ^ a b c d Robbins, Meg (2014-07-31). "Film Festival Aims to Both Engage and Enlighten". Vineyard Gazette. Archived from the original on 2021-04-20. Retrieved 2025-08-03.
  29. ^ a b c d "The African-American Film Festival returns with more than 40 films". The Martha's Vineyard Times. 2015-08-05. Archived from the original on 2025-06-19. Retrieved 2025-08-03.
  30. ^ a b c McKee, Natalie (2016-08-04). "Vineyard film fest puts spotlight on African Americans". Cape Cod Times. Archived from the original on 2025-08-02. Retrieved 2025-08-03.
  31. ^ "2018 Festival Itinerary". Martha's Vineyard African American Film Festival. Archived from the original on 2018-08-28. Retrieved 2025-08-03.
  32. ^ "2019 Festival Itinerary". Martha's Vineyard African American Film Festival. Archived from the original on 2021-07-30. Retrieved 2025-08-03.
  33. ^ "2021 Itinerary". Martha's Vineyard African American Film Festival. Archived from the original on 2021-08-04. Retrieved 2025-08-02.
  34. ^ "2022 Festival Itinerary". Martha's Vineyard African American Film Festival. Archived from the original on 2022-08-13. Retrieved 2025-08-03.
  35. ^ "2023 Festival Itinerary". Martha's Vineyard African American Film Festival. Archived from the original on 2023-07-18. Retrieved 2025-08-03.
  36. ^ "2024 Festival Itinerary". Martha's Vineyard African American Film Festival. Archived from the original on 2025-07-07. Retrieved 2025-08-03.
  37. ^ "2025 Festival Itinerary". Martha's Vineyard African American Film Festival. Archived from the original on 2025-07-29. Retrieved 2025-08-09.
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