Newark Black Film Festival to Kick Off 38th Year

Mark your calendars: The 38th annual Newark Black Film Festival is slated to begin June 20 at the featuring a summer-long list of blockbusters for the family.

Kicking off the longtime festival is "Fold, Crumple, Crush: The Art of El Anatsui," a documentary on acclaimed Ghanaian artist El Anatsui. The 7 p.m. opening night screening will be followed by a reception and discussion about the making of the film and Anatsui's work with filmmaker Susan Vogel and museum curator Christa Clark.

Youth Cinema, a series of children's features and short films, debuts July 9 at the and July 11 at the museum.

Screenings, which will continue at the museum every Wednesday through August 1, are free but seating is limited and on a first-come, first-served basis. Pre-registration for opening night is required and can be made by calling 973-596-6550 or emailing rsvp@newarkmuseum.org.

Newark Black Film Festival Schedule

All screenings begin at 7 p.m. at the museum (49 Washington St.) unless otherwise noted.

June 20: "Fold, Crumple, Crush: The Art of El Anatsui" - A portrait of Africa’s acclaimed contemporary artist El Anatsui. Following the screening, there will be a discussion and reception.

Speakers: Filmmaker Susan Vogel and museum Curator Christa Clark

Hosts: Gloria H. Buck and museum Director Mary Sue Sweeney Price

June 27: "Boomerang" (1992) - A successful advertising executive who woos women almost at will is traumatized when his new boss treats him exactly the same way.

Speaker: Warrington Hudlin

Hosts: Richard Wesley, Gloria H. Buck and Lisa Payne

July 11: "The Contradictions of Fair Hope" - This documentary traces the development, contributions, struggles and gradual loss of tradition of one of the last remaining African-American benevolent societies.

Speaker: S. Epatha Merkerson

Hosts: Wilma J. Grey and Bobby Shephard

July 18: "The First Grader" – In the Kenyan bush, Maruge, an old Mau Mau veteran octogarian, arrives for the education he could never afford.

Speaker: Producer Richard Harding

Host: Dr. Clement Price and Tynesha McHarris

July 25 at New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT): "CAUTION! Heartache Ahead" - The story of a young mother struggling with her decision to stay with her husband after she learns of his infidelity.

Speaker: Dornycya Suggs

"Minds of Men" - A very candid and honest depiction of how men think, spoken straight from the mouths of various men of different cultures. 

Speaker: Usman Sharif

Both screenings will be hosted by Dr. Theodore Johnson and LeRoy Henderson.

Aug. 1 at CityPlex 12 Newark: Paul Robeson Awards screening. Visit www.newarkmuseum.org for additional information and winners.

Newark Black Film Festival Youth Cinema Schedule

Youth Cinema screenings will be held Mondays at the Newark Public Library (5 Washington St.) at 10:30 a.m. and at the Newark Museum Wednesdays at 1 p.m. unless otherwise noted.

July 9, 11: "Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears" - A tale sets off a chain of mishaps in the jungle.

"A Story, A Story" - Stories kept in a box by the Sky God and the Spider determined to get them.

"Who’s in Rabbit’s House?" - Someone is in the Rabbit’s house and won’t let her in.

July 16, 18: "Lemonade for Sale" - The Elm Street Kids Club needs money to fix up their clubhouse, so they decide to sell lemonade.

"Tar Beach" - Lying on her Harlem roof-top, young Cassie’s dreams takes you flying above the city.

"He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands" - Through images of a boy and his family, this story is a depiction of diversity and beauty of the world with song.

July 23, 25: "Shrinking Violet" - The shyest girl in school gets the lead part in the school play.

"Three Cheers for Catherine the Great!" - Story of a young girl’s feisty Russian grandmother and her birthday celebration.

"Giraffes Can’t Dance"­ ­- Gerald the Giraffe just wants to dance, and with a little encouragement perhaps he will.

"Amazing Grace" - Story of a young African girl who overcomes obstacles on her way to winning the part of Peter Pan in the school play.

July 30, Aug. 1: "Cinderella" - An enduring fairytale with a modern twist - a prince, a pumpkin, a glass slipper, with Whitney Houston and Brandy.

Aug. 8: "Duck for President"  - As Duck decides to run for president, follow his rise and fall from power.

"Galimoto" - Follow a young African boy using his wits to search for scraps of wire to make his own galimoto (motorcar).

"The Honest-to-Goodness Truth" - What is the right way and the wrong way to tell the truth?

Aug. 15: "Einstein: Light to the Power of 2" - A story of the friendship between the wild haired Einstein and a 12-year-old African-American girl named Lannie.