In less than a decade, the Rhode Island Black Film Festival (RIBFF) has grown into a highly anticipated cultural event in Rhode Island. What began as a small, grassroots effort in 2017 has evolved into an essential platform for Black storytellers, filmmakers, and audiences to come together and engage with cinema that speaks to Black culture, history, and social issues. The festival serves as a vital platform for fostering this type of creative expression, where Black voices, long excluded from mainstream media, can access the tools of storytelling and utilize the medium of film to shape cultural discourse and inspire social change. Ann Clanton, the managing director of the festival and one of its co-founders, has been at the forefront of the event’s development. In our conversation, she shared her passion for one of the festival’s key objectives: to create a space where Black stories are given a platform to be both celebrated and critically analyzed. “The goal is to increase interest and access to careers and internships for Black and other children of color minority youth in Rhode Island’s film industry,” she explains. “But cannabis beyond that, we’re creating a platform that allows filmmakers to showcase their work, especially when their stories reflect underrepresented perspectives within mainstream media.” For Clanton, the power of film lies in its unique ability to create empathy and spur action. Drawing attention to Tyler Perry’s film Six Triple Eight, which tells the story of the Black women who served in the US Army during World War II, she emphasizes the emotional impact such films can have. “When people see these stories — stories of overlooked history — they are moved. The Rhode Island Black Film Festival encourages audiences not only to reflect but to act, to advocate, and to support Black businesses and communities,” she says.
In 2023, the festival was honored by the Rhode Island Film and Television Office and the Rhode Island International Film Festival for its contributions to the local industry. But even as it garners recognition, the festival has remained deeply committed to its roots — nurturing local talent through initiatives like “Beyond the Lens Academy,” which supports aspiring filmmakers from RI and southern New England. “We want to provide opportunities for youth of color in the film industry,” Clanton emphasizes. “We hope that adults already in the industry will mentor high school and college-level film students, helping them navigate their way into careers here in Rhode Island.” The “Beyond the Lens Academy” is a vital part of this initiative, offering young filmmakers not just guidance, but real-world experience through internships and hands-on training. Despite the success of such programs, the road ahead remains challenging. The arts, as Clanton points out, face significant financial hurdles, which have only been exacerbated by the recent losses of federal funding that organizations across the nation have been experiencing. “Private foundations and individuals with the financial means need to step up to fill the void left by government cuts,” she says. “We can’t let these financial challenges stop the momentum we’ve built.”
This is where the Rhode Island Black Film Festival’s community involvement becomes particularly crucial. Films, like those featured at the festival, serve not just as entertainment but as powerful tools for reflection, advocacy, and action. April Brown, the Director of the Racial & Environmental Justice Committee (REJC), echoes this sentiment when discussing how art — especially film — can spark social change. Brown, whose work centers on advocating for environmental and racial justice, believes that true change begins with understanding the connections between systemic inequality and all aspects of people’s everyday lives. “Environmental justice is not just saving the whales or preserving flowers; that’s conservationism,” she explains. “It’s about the things that directly impact people’s quality of life, like access to good food, services, and economic opportunities. It’s a daily concern.”
Brown draws a parallel between her work and the role of films at the festival. She believes films that address such social issues do more than just entertain — they serve as a mirror, reflecting the realities of Black life while encouraging viewers to confront uncomfortable truths. “We have this gift of making ordinary things extraordinary,” she adds. “When we tell our stories, we don’t just show what’s real — we elevate it, giving people a new way to see the world.” The films featured at the festival, which often tackle topics like environmental justice, Black history, and systemic inequality, give the audience a way to process these complex issues. But Clanton also emphasizes the importance of not leaving change at the theater doors. “It’s not enough just to watch. We need to engage, to discuss, and to act,” she stresses.
If I took anything away from attending this year’s RIBFF, it’s that real societal change doesn’t stem from sitting back and being a pure consumer, the way that people in power would like for you to do. To be quiet. Be well-fed. Don’t complain. Comply. Like livestock. It comes from taking action: getting out and advocating for policy changes, supporting Black-owned businesses, volunteering with initiatives like the “Beyond the Lens Academy,” or whatever meaningful course of action speaks to your heart and uplifts the spirits of yourself and the people around you. The festival encourages participants to bring the themes of the films into their everyday lives. This ongoing dialogue between film and real-world action is what makes the festival truly special. In a landscape where so many cultural events risk being diluted by commercial interests or political pressure, the Rhode Island Black Film Festival remains unapologetically focused on its mission: to showcase the richness of Black life, history, and culture, while creating opportunities for Black youth and other minority children in RI and surrounding New England to engage with and contribute to the film production industry at every stage of their journey. •
