Wednesday, October 9, 2024 | 7:00PM | AMC Boston Common (175 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02111)

Join RoxFilm and Luca PR for an early free screening of PIECE BY PIECE!

PIECE BY PIECE is a unique cinematic experience that invites audiences on a vibrant journey through the life of cultural icon Pharrell Williams. Told through the lens of LEGO® animation, turn up the volume on your imagination and witness the evolution of one of music's most innovative minds.

Director: Morgan Neville

Producers: Pharrell Williams, Mimi Valdés, Caitrin Rogers, Morgan Neville

Executive Producer: David Lawrence, Shani Saxon, Jill Wilfert, Keith Malone

Featuring: Pharrell Williams, Gwen Stefani, Kendrick Lamar, Timbaland, Justin Timberlake, Busta Rhymes, Jay Z, Snoop Dogg

Directed by Itandehui Jansen.

In the not-so-distant future of 2084, Ángel finds himself trapped as a climate migrant in an unspecified smart city, under constant surveillance. Amidst a bleak and oppressive existence, Ángel makes a living by cultivating plants, preserving the fading wisdom of seeds.

Within this desolate landscape he crosses paths with Sofia, another climate migrant who works at a recycling facility. Fate intertwines their lives when a chance encounter reveals an unexpected connection: a shared language.

Fueling Ángel's longing for human connection and a glimmer of hope, he reaches out to Sofia. Aware of the omnipresent digital monitoring, Ángel decides to communicate with her through the timeless medium of pen and paper, fostering an intimate, clandestine bond.

As their secret correspondence unfolds, a friendship grows between Ángel and Sofia as does their desire for liberation from excessive control.

FESTIVALS:

• San Diego Latino Film Festival (2024)

• Houston Latino Film Festival (2024)

• Cine las Americas Film Festival (2024)

Nyanga

Directed by Medhin Tewolde Serrano

Animated Documentary, 20 mins, Mexico, 2024

During the colonial era, Nyanga was kidnapped off the coast of Africa, brought to Mexico and enslaved. Based on historical fact, and using shadow theater and handmade cinema, ‘Nyanga’ is an homage to resistance against colonial chains.

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We Were Kids Back Then

Directed by Rafael Alvarado

Narrative, 16 mins, USA, 2023

Emilio, a young Peruvian living in NYC, is caught off guard when Mary, a Peruvian childhood acquaintance (now his cleaning woman), arrives with her baby to his apartment. The situation tests Emilio’s loyalties as he tries to satisfy his demanding partner, Andrew, and support a compatriot in need.

I Went Out Walking

Directed by Sylvia Bofill

Narrative, 19 mins, Puerto Rico, 2023

On a hot sunny afternoon following the funeral of his wife, Marcos struggles between confronting his own despair and taking care of his estranged daughters who are now distraught by the sudden and mysterious death of their mother. Will Marcos be able to grapple with his new reality?

Remember Us

Directed by Pablo Leon

Animated Narrative, 14 mins, USA/El Salvador, 2024

A journalist documents the experiences of three different people who lived through the tragic 12-year-long Salvadoran Civil War in the 1980s, exploring themes of childhood loss, violence against women and the indigenous population, and regaining a sense of hope for the future that spans over three generations.

Mara Has Three Jobs in San Juan, Puerto Rico

Directed by Ana Verde

Narrative, 11 mins, USA/Puerto Rico, 2023

After the death of her father, a young woman takes on a third job to make ends meet in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

In one of Latin America’s most unequal countries, Francia Márquez, a Black Colombian rural activist, challenges the status quo with a presidential campaign that reappropriates the derogatory term “Igualada” — someone who acts as if they deserve rights that supposedly don’t correspond to them — and inspires a nation to dream.

 Q&A with Director Juan Mejía

FESTIVALS:

• Sundance Film Festival (2024)

• Seattle International Film Festival (2024)

• Cine Las Americas Jury Award Winner for Best Documentary Feature (2024)

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author Isabel Wilkerson discusses her book Caste: The Origin of Our Discontents and the power of storytelling when speaking truth to power with President and CEO of The Boston Foundation, Dr. M. Lee Pelton and Artistic and Executive Director of Roxbury Film Festival, Lisa Simmons.

The Boston Comics in Color Festival (BCICF) is a family-friendly event for all ages focusing on creators of color and stories by and about people of color. This event will take place in person on April 20, 2024 from 10am to 5pm at the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center on the campus of Roxbury Community College. A first-of-its-kind-event on the Boston scene, BCICF includes an event headliner, special guest speakers, panel discussions with working artist and writers, workshops, and live art demos, as well as an artist alley for comic creators to share and sell their books, materials, artwork. FREE to enter!

Co-presented with Emerson’s Bright Lights Cinema Series, the Roxbury International Film Festival and the Independent Film Festival Boston.

Directed by Cord Jefferson, drama/comedy, English, United States, 117 minutes, 2023

Cord Jefferson’s hilarious directorial debut confronts our culture’s obsession with reducing people to outrageous stereotypes. Monk is a frustrated novelist who’s fed up with the establishment profiting from “Black” entertainment that relies on tired and offensive tropes. To prove his point, Monk uses a pen name to write an outlandish “Black” book of his own, a book that propels him to the heart of hypocrisy and the madness he claims to disdain. Discussion with Emerson professor and writer Jerald Walker to follow.

All screenings are free and open to the public and seating is available on a first-come basis. Doors open at 6:30pm. 

UNSEEN

Directed by Set Hernandez

As a blind, undocumented immigrant, Pedro faces uncertainty to obtain his college degree, become a social worker, and support his family. Through experimental cinematography and sound, unseen reimagines the accessibility of cinema, while exploring the intersections of immigration, disability, and mental health.

Doc West Moves

Directed by Federico Muchnik

Doc West Moves follows Cambridge, Massachusetts, resident Lewis “Doc” West—a blind, Black blues musician—as he moves out of his current apartment and into a new place across town. No matter where he goes, Doc lives with the power of Jesus and faith that the Lord will provide for him and see him through life’s challenges.

Q&A with filmmaker, community leaders and ASL interpretation following the screening.

• Federico Muchnik – Director, Doc West Moves

• Christopher Robinson – Founder, Vice President, Clerk, Think Outside the Vox

• Maria Hendricks, Multi-Lingual Interpreter, Artist & Activist

• Sabrina Aviles – Moderator; Director, CineFest Latino Boston

CONTENT WARNING: Suicide, mass shooting/gun violence, depression

ACCESS: English and Spanish; Open Captions; Audio Description; American Sign Language interpretation following the screening

$12 | Tickets

Emmy winning documentary, Dawnland, tells the untold story of indigenous child removal in which the stakes of family separation policy are no less than cultural survival. Going behind the scenes of the Maine-Wabanaki truth and reconciliation commission.

Part of the series Shared Stories: Community, Conversation, and Connection Through Cinema. Presented by ArtsEmerson in collaboration with the Boston Asian American Film Festival (BAAFF), Cinefest Latino Boston, and the Roxbury International Film Festival (RoxFilm).

A must see film!

Q & A to follow with director.

FREE; first come, first serve

Co-presented with the Roxbury International Film Festival, Harvard University Native American Program, United American Indians of New England and North American Indian Center of Boston

This program, curated by ROXFILM, celebrates the vibrant diversity and rich cultural tapestry of Indigenous communities around the world. The program is a carefully curated selection of films that illuminate the stories, traditions, and struggles of Indigenous peoples, offering a powerful platform for their voices to be heard. Each film has been selected with a deep respect for Indigenous perspectives, shedding light on the unique histories, traditions, and contemporary issues faced by these communities. From remote landscapes to urban environments, these films capture the essence of Indigenous identity, resilience, and the ongoing pursuit of preservation of Indigenous cultures that shape our global heritage.

Co-presented with the Roxbury International Film Festival, the Salem Film Festival, the Independent Film Festival Boston, the Boston Women’s Film Festival, Harvard University Native American Program, United American Indians of New England and North American Indian Center of Boston

FREE / FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE

Directed by Rebecca Landsberry-Baker and Joe Peeler, documentary, English, United States, 98 minutes, 2023

When the Muscogee Nation government abruptly repeals its landmark Free Press Act to muzzle the tribe’s hard-hitting news outlet, defiant and foul-mouthed journalist Angel Ellis charges headfirst into a historic (and surprisingly funny) battle to restore her tribe’s press freedoms. An enthralling, edge-of-your-seat nail biter that unfurls with the energy and suspense of a political thriller, Bad Press is a timely and unprecedented documentary about a lone journalist fighting a corrupt system for her fellow citizens. Discussion with directors Rebecca Landsberry-Baker and Joe Peeler and journalist Angel Ellis to follow. GD, BIPOC, SJ [CC]

THE SPACE RACE weaves together the stories of Black astronauts seeking to break the bonds of social injustice to reach for the stars, including Guion Bluford, Ed Dwight and Charles Bolden, among many others. In THE SPACE RACE, directors Diego Hurtado de Mendoza and Lisa Cortés profile the pioneering Black pilots, scientists and engineers who joined NASA to serve their country in space, even as their country failed to achieve equality for them back on Earth. From 1963, when the assassination of JFK thwarted Captain Ed Dwight’s quest to reach the moon, to 2020, when the echoes of the civil unrest sparked by the killing of George Floyd reached the International Space Station, the story of African Americans at NASA is a tale of world events colliding with the aspirations of uncommon men. The bright dreams of Afrofuturism become reality in THE SPACE RACE, turning science fiction into science fact and forever redefining what “the right stuff” looks like, giving us new heroes to celebrate and a fresh history to explore

The Loop Lab Apprentice Showcase

‘Join The Loop Lab on January 17th for Loop Lab's 6th cohort showcase, hosted by Lisa Simmons, co-founder of the Roxbury International Film Festival. This impactful event, co-sponsored by Audible, State Street Foundation, and The Brattle Foundation, will feature compelling short films addressing social issues in Cambridge, followed by engaging Q&A discussions—an evening dedicated to fostering awareness and dialogue in collaboration with Audible.’

RSVP HERE

Co-presented with the Independent Film Festival Boston and Globedocs.

Directed by Jesse Short Bull and Laura Tomaselli, documentary, English, United States, 118 minutes, 2023.

Lakota Nation vs. the United States chronicles the Lakota Indians’ century-long quest to reclaim the Black Hills, sacred land that was stolen in violation of treaty agreements. A searing, timely portrait of resistance, the film explores the ways America has ignored its debt to indigenous communities, and ponders what might be done today to repair the wrongs of the past. Discussion with Emerson College professor Adam Spry (White Earth Anishinaabe) to follow. GD, BIPOC, SJ, En [CC, AD].

Director: Nneka Onuorah (USA 2023; 85 minutes)

Content warning: Homophobia

"Truth Be Told" presents an unfiltered look at the diverse experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals within the Black church. With the aim of sparking a conversation that has never been had before, the film dives deep into the culture, struggles, and triumphs of those who navigate their faith while also embracing their sexual and gender identities.

The documentary features an impressive roster of interviews, including renowned figures such as Billy Porter, Cedric the Entertainer, and David and Tamela Mann. These influential voices in the entertainment industry bring their personal experiences to the forefront, offering insights into the complex dynamics between the Black church and the LGBTQ+ community.

Director Nneka Onuorah, known for her Emmy-winning work, attaches her own personal journey to the film, ensuring an authentic and heartfelt narrative. By intertwining her experiences with those of the interviewees, Onuorah aims to provide an intimate and relatable exploration of living at the intersection of faith and queer identity.

America’s Family

(Director Anike Tourse; 103 minutes)

americasfamilymovie.com chirla.org ,

America's Family Synopsis

This holiday season, experience the inspiring story of a family that is torn apart by ICE, but never broken. From rising BIPOC director, Anike Tourse, comes a powerful and moving film about the immigrant experience in America. 

When ICE raids the Diaz home on Thanksgiving Day, the family is ripped apart. Mother Marisol is arrested and detained, father Jorge is forced to seek refuge in a synagogue, and eldest son Koke is deported. Middle son Emiliano, an attorney, launches a crusade in the courts to reunite the family, while youngest daughter Valentina sparks a social media campaign that shares their story with the world. 
 

As each family member braves their way through the crisis, they discover unexpected reserves of love, faith and the restorative resilience of community. 

Join this moving journey as the Diaz family discovers supporters on both sides of the border, standing by their side and championing their quest to be together. 

- “Fierce, illuminating, and refreshing." - Federico Furzan, Movie Blogger, 

- "At its core, this is an important call for change and respect." - Sabina Dana Plasse, Film Threat

- "Emotion,.Movment. These are the words that describe this film." - Sonia Cavazos, Sampan

Genre: Drama

Director: Anike Tourse

Writer: Anike Tourse

Cast: Anike Tourse, Jailene Arias, Emmanuel López Alonso, Ricardo Cisneros, Mauricio Mendoza, Angie Kim, Jennie Fahn, Judeline Charles, Kristen Vaganos, Aida Rodriguez, Baltimore Betran, Ulises Chavez. 

Festivals: 2022 Dances with Films Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award, 2022 Roxbury International Film Festival Best Narrative Film, 2022 Maui Film Festival Official Selection

Languages:  In theaters film is in English and Spanish, there are English and Spanish subtitles (we have video and audio description available if requested.)

Q&A With Jewelle Gomez & Director Madeleine Lim in person.

From Black Power in late-60s Boston, to AIDS activism in mid-80s New York, to Marriage Equality in early-10s San Francisco, Jewelle: A Just Vision (64 mins, 2022) from award-winning filmmaker Madeleine Lim, focuses a joyful and hope-filled spotlight on novelist, playwright, essayist, poet, and journalist Jewelle Gomez. An Ioway and Wampanoag, African American and Cape Verdean, femme lesbian, Jewelle co-founded decades-old social justice organizations that are more relevant than ever. Expansive in her creative imagination, inclusive in her philanthropic leadership, and passionate in her lesbian of color feminist ethics, she is an unrelenting torchbearer for the transformative power of the artist as activist.

This feature will be preceded by the following short film:

The ABCs of Book Banning (26 min) In recent years, more than 2,500 books have been removed from school districts around the US