Seriki, Thompson, Bolaji, and Oyejide will present works at Philadelphia’s leading festival for Black, Brown, and Indigenous cinema.
BlackStar Film Festival Selects Four Nigerian Films For 2025
Four Nigerian films have been selected for the 2025 edition of the BlackStar Film Festival, scheduled to run from July 31 to August 3 across cultural venues in Philadelphia.
The selected titles are “Leaving Ikorodu in 1999” by Rashida Seriki, “Another Other” by Bex Oluwatoyin Thompson, “Why the Sun & Moon Live in the Sky” by Aisha Bolaji, and “Run, Sister Joan” by Wale Oyejide.
Now in its 14th year, the BlackStar Film Festival is a leading platform for Black, Brown, and Indigenous film voices. This year’s edition will feature 92 films from 35 countries, placing Nigerian cinema in a broader global context of resistance, community, and cultural storytelling.
Screenings will take place at venues including the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, the Wilma Theater, and the Suzanne Roberts Theatre.
In addition to film screenings, the festival will host daily panels and conversations with participating filmmakers. These forums allow directors to discuss their creative processes and connect with audiences, peers, and industry professionals.
Another key component is the BlackStar Pitch competition, where documentary filmmakers can compete for $75,000 in production funding. Presented in partnership with Blackbird, the live event underscores the festival’s commitment to supporting emerging filmmakers.
This year’s highlights include the world premiere of Louis Massiah and Monica Henriquez’s TCB, The Toni Cade Bambara School of Organizing; the North American premieres of Jenn Nkiru’s The Great North and Letitia Wright’s Highway to the Moon; and special screenings such as Kahlil Joseph’s BLKNWS: Terms & Conditions.
Other films in the lineup include “Della Can Fly!” by Jasmine Lynea, “Hanami” by Denise Fernandes, “Last Hoorah at G-Baby’s” by DeeDee Casimir, “Oríkì Oshun” by Elena Guzman, and “The Shadow Scholars” by Eloise King.
Beyond the four-day festival, BlackStar Projects continues to support filmmakers through year-round initiatives. These include the Philadelphia Filmmaker Lab, which awards $50,000 to four filmmakers annually, and Seen, a journal that engages with film, art, and visual culture.