The 22nd annual Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival (MVAAFF) commenced on August 2 with a nine-day schedule filled with programming, movie screenings, panels, and parties showcasing Black filmmakers, actors, and producers. This festival was held against the backdrop of Martha’s Vineyard, a picturesque Massachusetts island on the Atlantic just south of Cape Cod known for its lighthouses, sandy beaches, and farmland.
Every year, the festival hosts lively celebrations of culture and community, shining a spotlight on successful Black professionals, creatives, and trailblazers. This year, approximately 70 short films, features, TV series, and documentaries were shown at the MVAAFF. The festival was founded in 2002 by Floyd and Stephanie Rance of Run & Shoot Filmworks to amplify Black voices, storytelling, and culture, and has since become an annual film festival that is Oscar-qualifying in the short film category.
In addition to participating in screenings, panels, and social gatherings, attendees enjoyed the beauty of Martha’s Vineyard, a charming New England retreat that has been a favored summer destination for Black vacationers and celebrities for many years. In the 20th century, when Black Americans were excluded from beaches, pools, and resorts due to segregation, they sought refuge in the town of Oak Bluffs on the island. The area attracted Black families, as well as influential figures and artists such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Senator Edward W. Brooke, and Maya Angelou. Today, Martha’s Vineyard remains a sanctuary for Black Hollywood and notable personalities like Jennifer Hudson, Spike Lee, and the Obamas.
Highlighted below are some key events and programs that occurred during the MVAAFF.
“World of Hyatt on the Vineyard”
On August 8, the World of Hyatt hosted Bar Noir, an evening featuring cocktails, discussions, and community bonding at the Martha’s Vineyard Museum in Vineyard Haven. Tyronne Stoudemire, the Senior Vice President of Global Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Hyatt Hotels Corporation, addressed the audience, emphasizing the hospitality brand’s dedication to advancing and supporting Black entrepreneurship.
“Change Starts Here”
Stoudemire spoke about the “Change Starts Here” initiative launched in response to the death of George Floyd in 2020. The program aims to combat systemic racism through initiatives related to employment, community support, and partnerships. Beyond offering job opportunities, the program focuses on promoting managerial growth, community development, and supplier diversity. Additionally, it has contributed $1 million over three years to six community-based organizations in Chicago, Atlanta, and Minneapolis.
“It’s more than just money; it’s about compassion. It’s not just about compassion; it’s about aiding people in their growth and investing in businesses,” he commented.
Attendees at the World of Hyatt Bar Noir event at the Martha’s Vineyard Museum in Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts. Empowering Black Excellence Brunch
More than 200 attendees in elegant white attire came together for the Empowering Black Excellence Brunch at the Aria, an outdoor venue in Edgartown, on August 9. The exclusive event celebrated the achievements of actress and filmmaker Sanaa Lathan for her remarkable career in Hollywood spanning two decades. In a live conversation with Trell Thomas, the creator of the Black Excellence Brunch, the 52-year-old star of “Love & Basketball” candidly shared her family’s struggles with addiction and her personal journey to sobriety.
“I decided to stop drinking six years ago,” Lathan disclosed. “My family has a history of addiction. It was eye-opening to learn about the generations of alcoholics in my ancestry who had tragic endings.”
Lathan also acknowledged how alcohol negatively impacted her life. “It was affecting my health and the people I surrounded myself with. Recognizing this pattern in my family, I knew I had to break free from it.”
Instead of seeking support from Alcoholics Anonymous, Lathan chose to quit drinking independently just before the pandemic. She later directed and starred in “On the Come Up” on Paramount+ in 2022, portraying a recovering addict and mother.
The brunch, sponsored by Camille Rose and featuring specialty beverages from Ciroc, welcomed esteemed guests like filmmaker Will Packer, “Orange is the New Black” actress Uzo Aduba, Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, Win With Black Women founder Jotaka Eddy, former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, and cast members from Bravo’s “Summer House: Martha’s Vineyard,” Alex Tyree and Nick Arrington.
Reflecting on the event, Arrington described the Black Excellence Brunch as reminiscent of the warmth and unity felt at an HBCU homecoming or a Black family reunion. “Trell’s brunches are a celebration of our culture and community,” he remarked.
Established in 2017, Thomas initiated the event series to cultivate connections and honor the legacy of Black excellence. Inspired by the Sunday gatherings of his childhood in South Carolina, the local event has evolved into a global celebration honoring underappreciated cultural icons from various regions worldwide.
“Martha’s Vineyard has a rich history of Black excellence, and hosting our inaugural Black Excellence Brunch on the Vineyard was truly phenomenal,” Thomas expressed in a statement to BLACK ENTERPRISE. “It was such a privilege to present flowers to many outstanding individuals and honor the cultural icon that Sanaa Lathan is.”
“The Director’s Brunch”
On August 10th, MVAAFF, Comcast NBC Universal, and Black Experience on Xfinity collaborated to host “The Director’s Brunch” to celebrate storytellers of color. The event, held at the Aria, featured a buffet-style brunch, live DJ, and a panel discussion with MSNBC president Rashida Jones, award-winning filmmaker B. Monét, director Gia-Rayne Harris, Robert Baltazar, NBCU Launch’s Vice President of TV Programming DEI, and moderator Loren Hudson, the Senior Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer for Comcast Cable. The panel discussed the challenges Black filmmakers encounter while trying to break into the industry.
“The journey to becoming a director, especially if that’s your dream, isn’t straightforward,” said Monet. “It’s not a matter of just going to film school and succeeding. Unfortunately, the rules are different for us.”
Monet encouraged aspiring filmmakers to explore alternative routes to enter the industry, such as creating short films and shadowing other producers and artists.
“Fight Night”
The MVAAFF concluded with a bang, featuring a special screening, star-studded panel, and after-party for Peacock’s limited series “Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist” on the closing night.
The evening began with live music from DJ Trauma, followed by festival founders Stephanie and Floyd Rance introducing acclaimed filmmaker and the series’ executive producer, Will Packer. Packer engaged in a fireside chat with journalist Danielle Cadet on Roc Nation’s Lenny Santiago’s iconic gold couch.
“All sorts of fascinating individuals have sat on and conversed on this couch. It’s a cultural experience for us that we get to enjoy at a Martha’s Vineyard film festival and nowhere else,” Packer expressed to a sold-out audience.
The show, set to premiere on Peacock on September 5th, narrates the story of a daring armed robbery that occurred in Atlanta on the night of Muhammad Ali’s famous return to the ring in 1970. Based on the iHeart true-crime podcast, “Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist” depicts how the notorious robbery transformed Atlanta into the “Black Mecca.”
The narrative revolves around a hustler named Chicken Man (portrayed by comedian and actor Kevin Hart) who throws a post-fight celebration with the country’s wealthiest and most infamous gangsters on the guest list. However, the night culminates in the most audacious heist in Atlanta’s history. Suspected of orchestrating the crime, Chicken Man is determined to clear his name but must persuade his old foe, J.D. Hudson (played by Don Cheadle), one of the first Black detectives in the city’s desegregated police force, who is responsible for bringing the culprits to justice.