Detroit’s Black Film Festival: Where Cinema Meets Culture and Cocktails

The Chronicle News
4 days ago
2 min read

Detroit is a city that has always known how to tell a story. From Motown’s rhythm to the murals on the east side, the narrative of resilience, brilliance, and Black artistry hums through its streets. This September, that storytelling takes the screen as the 6th Annual Detroit Black Film Festival rolls out four days of films, conversation, and culture across the city.

From September 25–28, 2025, Detroit will transform into a cinematic hub, welcoming films from more than 30 countries and showcasing the voices of Black filmmakers who refuse to let their stories go untold. Since its launch in 2020, the festival has screened more than 500 films, steadily carving out its place as one of the premier showcases for Black cinema in the Midwest.

Unlike many film festivals tucked into one venue, Detroit’s edition spreads its wings. Screenings and panels light up institutions like the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, the Marlene Boll YMCA Theater, the Carr Center, and the LOVE Building; each space adding its own texture. On Friday night, the LOVE Building opens its doors to a free community screening series, reminding us that film is not just for ticketholders, but for everyone who claims Detroit as home.

More Than a Movie Night

But the Detroit Black Film Festival isn’t just about sitting in the dark and watching reels. On Saturday, September 27, the Taste of Black Spirits: The Cocktail Concierge brings the art of mixology into the fold. Picture it: a ballroom filled with 100+ Black-owned wine, beer, and spirit brands, from Ronald Isley’s Liquid Gold to Sable Bourbon by Morris Chestnut & Taye Diggs. It’s cinema paired with a toast to culture, making the experience as flavorful as it is visual.

This year’s lineup boasts 72 films, ranging from documentaries that dig deep into history and activism, to narratives that stretch from Detroit to the diaspora. The festival bridges continents, but the common thread is always the same: Black voices telling their truths, their way.

Passes & Tickets

Tickets can be purchased through FilmFreeway.

All Access Festival Pass + Taste of Black Spirits Event – $225

Includes all screenings, Awards Ceremony, and Taste of Black Spirits event.

Taste of Black Spirits: “The Cocktail Concierge” Only – $120

Event on September 27.

Festival Screening Pass (4 Days) – $100

Includes all screenings and the Awards Ceremony.

One-Day Screening Pass – $35

Includes all screenings for one selected day.

Individual Ticket (Sept. 28 Only) – $75

Films + Honors & Awards Ceremony.