This Friday, December 13 and Saturday, December 14, The Black Film Festival of New Orleans will return with 20+ hours of dynamic programming spanning three locations.

All events will be free, open to the public and feature film screenings and panels from emerging independent filmmakers of color.

According to Festival Director Gian Smith, “Traditionally, filmmakers of color have a strong relationship with the film festival. Our most talented have all made their names with their independent work. Spike Lee, Ava DuVernay, Issa Rae, and many more charted their own path to mainstream success. The film festival is an incubator for filmmakers Hollywood hasn’t yet noticed.”

The Stella Jones Art Gallery will be hosting a block of documentaries on Friday, December 13 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Afrofuture Night: an event featuring DJs, an alumni film competition and discussions with special guests, is occuring at the New Orleans African American Museum from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. that same day.

On Saturday, December 14, head to the Ashe Cultural Arts Center for 12 straight hours of events. Catch matinee film showings from 10 a.m. to noon “Making Connections: NOLA Young Filmmakers Block” from noon to 1 p.m. the “BFFNO Content Creators Block” from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., a special artist talk segment with producer Monty Ross of “Do The Right Thing” and “Mo’ Better Blues” from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., the “BFFNO New Orleans filmmakers Block” from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., a variety talent show presented by New Orleans Black Artists’ Society from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., and a four-hour block of BFFNO Primetime Films from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Check in with the facebook event page for updates.