In a packed 4-day weekend, Langston, the new non-profit housed in the Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute, will host its Annual Langston Hughes African American Film Festival (LHAAFF) with over 30 features, documentary and short films selected from the U.S. and abroad this week. The festival will run Thur., Apr. 19 and through Sun., Apr. 22 at the Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute, 104 17th Avenue S. in Seattle.
This year’s festival features selected works from 31 countries, with over a dozen world premieres each exploring the Black diaspora in new and challenging ways.
“It never ceases to amaze me how powerful and complex the stories of our people and community can be when we can see ourselves represented on the screen, notes Langston Executive Director, Tim Lennon. There is power in our ability to tell and share our own stories.”
LHAAFF kicks off on Thursday, April 19th with a lively celebration of Black Brilliance in cinema including a Bites and Bubbly Happy Hour at 5:00 pm followed at 6:30 pm with a brilliant programme of Seattle premiere short films along with a post screening discussion with filmmakers.
Other festival highlights include:
● Friday 4/20 at 12:30 PM – Matinee Screening: Behind the Badge – A lunchtime discussion and film paring exploring the Black community’s relationship with law
● Friday Night Feature Film at 8PM : Love and Life – Featuring local filmmaker Nikki Wade’s Seattle Premiere of Charlie/ “La Vie Magnifique De Charlie”
● Also on Friday – HepCat Ball – In partnership with the Museum of History and Industry, LHAAFF swings into style, featuring jazzy music, vintage duds with hors d’oeuvres included in the ticket price and drinks for purchase.
● Saturday Workshops –
○ From Page to Screen: A writing workshop with veteran screenwriter Charles Murray (Luke Cage, Sons of Anarchy) and writer/director Jackie Stone (Burning Angel Dust, Intercept)
○ Virtual Reality: Exploring Blackness in a Virtual World – SIXN Collective Experience
● Saturday 4/21 at 12:30 pm Youth Film Showcase – featuring youth film entries and SIFF Crash youth workshop films
● Saturday Afternoon Feature : Making SkyBreak – Featuring Zo! followed by a late night after party featuring Zo! & Carmen Rodgers “Piano & A Microphone ” at the official after party Saturday, April 21 at 10:00 PM – 2 AM at Fred Wildlife Refuge
● Sunday – A tribute to the Seattle Chapter of the Black Panthers with the Seattle premiere of “My People Are Rising” Documentary with Seattle filmmaker Rafael Flores. This powerful documentary, over 7 years in the making tells the story of a young Aaron Dixon whose initiation, rise and founding of the Seattle Chapter of the Black Panther Party is chronicled.
The festival will host 20+ filmmakers in attendance, and feature a variety of provocative conversations, quirky, heartbreaking and powerful handcrafted independent films. Local filmmakers in attendance include:
Kiana Harris – AJE IJO: ‘7 Reflections’
Rafael Flores – “My People Are Rising”
Nikki Wade – Charlie/ “La Vie Magnifique De Charlie”
Tickets:
Full Festival Pass – $90
Opening Night $20.00
All other screenings – Adult $12 | Youth (12 under)/ Seniors (65+) $7
Tickets are available now at brownpapertickets.com/profile/2370339
