San Antonio Black International Film Festival 2020

The annual San Antonio Black International Film Festival presents SABIFF 2020.  “Presenting SABIFF online allows SABIFF the opportunity to attract and present their events to a larger audience base, and we have lots in store,” commented Ada M. Babino, the festival’s Founder and Director. SABIFF 2020’s virtual Opening Night on Gala on October 1st, will be co-hosted by the Carver Community Cultural Center, a performing arts jewel on San Antonio’s Eastside.  SABIFF proudly commemorates the 30-year anniversary of the classic film To Sleep With Anger starring Danny Glover and a cast of renown entertainers.  Veteran Director, Charles Burnett will be presented with SABIFF’s first annual Ankh (life) Achievement Award.  Following the film’s watch party, will be a TSWA reunion with cast members discussion and reflections from this 1990 movie classic.  Invited renowned cast members include: Dany Glover, Sheryl Lee Ralph (Moesha and The Mighty Quinn), Mary Alice (Sparkle, Down on the Delta, and A Different World), Carl Lumbly (Dr. Sleep, The Chi), and Richard Brooks (Law and Order, Being Mary Jane).

SABIFF 2020 will also include 2-days of independent film showcases submitted by 35 filmmakers international in scope, that explore taboo topics such as: mental health and America’s pathology through carefully curated film blocks entitled Blacklash Blues and American Illusions. On October 2 – 3, the festival also presents topics that we need more of, in these days and times. Themes such as LOVE and SOCIAL JUSTICE are showcased through the blocks Love: Under Construction, and BlackLining (presented in partnership with SA’s Black Lives, and Allies in Community (BLAC).

Festival highlights the evening of October 3rd include the screening of A Genius Leaves the Hood, a documentary on businessman/music mogul JZ sponsored by Moguldom Studios, followed by a discussion with producer Jamarlin Martin, CEO and Founder of Nubia Ventures, LLC, and Monguldom.com. Martin will also conduct a workshop aimed to empower filmmakers to take their products to the next level — Game on: Indie Films to e-Commerce Remix – The Digital Master P Model. The Sunday conclusion of SABIFF 2020 is a Film Competition Awards Ceremony, in combination with a virtual Sunday brunch streaming live from the SAPL’s Carver Library, another partner and cultural hub on the Eastside. Physical awards will be mailed to winning filmmakers, along with an option for filmmakers to air their films on Black Reflections Roku Channel.