FILM SERIES
The Little Theatre’s Black Cinema Series, presented in partnership with the Rochester Association of Black Journalists (RABJ), screens both scripted and non-fiction films about the Black experience. With an emphasis on contemporary independent films, the series highlights Black perspectives and filmmakers, with screenings and panel discussions with community experts and filmmakers.
UPCOMING
Dancing the Twist in Bamako – Nov. 30
BLACK CINEMA SERIES | Sunday, November 30 at 3:00pm | In the 1960s, just after Mali gains its independence, a young socialist meets and falls in love with a woman trying to escape an arranged marriage.
PAST
All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt (with Discussion) – Nov. 30
BLACK CINEMA SERIES | Thursday, November 30 at 7:00pm | A decades-spanning exploration of a woman’s life in Mississippi and an ode to the generations of people, places, and ineffable moments that shape us.
The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster – Oct 4
BLACK CINEMA SERIES x SPOOKY SEASON | Wednesday, October 4 at 7:30pm | Vicaria is a brilliant teenager who believes death is a disease that can be cured. After the brutal murder of her brother, she embarks on a dangerous journey to bring him back to life, injecting the classic “Frankenstein” story with fresh innovation and social relevance.
Brother – Sep 6, 2023
BLACK CINEMA SERIES | Wednesday, September 6 at 7:30pm | Sons of Caribbean immigrants, Francis and Michael face questions of masculinity, identity and family amid the pulsing beat of Toronto’s early hip-hop scene.
Black Barbie – Aug 2, 2023
BLACK CINEMA SERIES | Wednesday, August 2 at 7:30pm | Through intimate access to a charismatic Mattel insider, Beulah Mae Mitchell, BLACK BARBIE delves into the cross section of merchandise and representation as Black women strive to elevate their own voices and stories, refusing to be invisible.
The League – Jul 5, 2023
BLACK CINEMA SERIES | Wednesday, July 5 at 7:30pm | The Negro Leagues; changing the game, transforming America. From acclaimed filmmaker Sam Pollard (MLK/FBI).
The Five Demands – May 17, 2023
BLACK CINEMA SERIES | Wednesday, May 17 at 7:30pm | The Five Demands follow the dramatic but little-known story of the 1969 student strike that transformed the face of higher education.
American Fiction (with discussion) – Jan. 13
BLACK CINEMA SERIES | Saturday, January 13 at 7pm | In this hilarious new satire, novelist Monk (Jeffrey Wright) is frustrated by an industry that limits Black storytelling to Black trauma. He writes an outlandish book of his own, which accidentally propels him into the heart of the hypocrisy and madness he despises.
Origin (with discussion) – Feb. 1
BLACK CINEMA SERIES | Thursday, February 1 at 7:00pm | Director Ava DuVernay’s newest film, about author Isabel Wilkerson writing her seminal book “Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents,” about the unspoken system that has shaped America and defined lives by a hierarchy of human divisions.
Buck and the Preacher – Jun 22, 2023
BLACK CINEMA SERIES | Thursday, June 22 at 7:30pm | A wagon master and a con-man preacher help freed slaves dogged by cheap-labor agents out West.
Punch 9 for Harold Washington – Mar. 14
BLACK CINEMA SERIES | Thursday, March 14 at 7:30pm | Harold Washington takes on a city rife with corruption and discrimination to be elected Chicago’s first African-American mayor in 1983.
Chevalier (with discussion) – Apr 26, 2023
BLACK CINEMA SERIS + WXXI CLASSICAL PRESENTS | Wednesday, April 26 at 7:30pm | Inspired by the incredible true story of composer Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, who rose to improbable heights in French society as a celebrated violinist-composer and fencer, complete with a love affair and falling out with Marie Antoinette.
Saint Omer – Mar 1, 2023
BLACK CINEMA SERIES | Wednesday, March 1 at 7:30pm | Theatre 1 | A novelist attends a murder trial, but things don’t go as expected.
Love & Basketball – Feb 1, 2023
BLACK CINEMA SERIES | Wednesday, February 1 at 7:30pm | Theatre 1 | Gina Prince-Bythewood’s 2000 debut features a fantastic cast, headed by Sanaa Lathan and Omar Epps as two neighbors who fall for each other while striving to achieve, their basketball dreams in this sports-romance.
A Jazzman’s Blues – June 20
BLACK CINEMA SERIS | Thursday, June 20 at 7:30pm | Tyler Perry’s tale of forbidden love and family drama unravels 40 years of secrets and lies against a soundtrack of juke-joint blues in the Deep South.
Wade in the Water: A Journey into Black Surfing – July 17
BLACK CINEMA SERIES | Wednesday, July 17 at 7:30pm | Braiding historical accounts with modern-day testimonials, this documentary on Black surfing and aquatic culture dismantles the racial barriers of conventional surf culture over the 1,000-year-old tradition, and honors its current movement — inspiring the next generation of Black surfers.
Till (with post-film discussion) – Oct 28, 2022
BLACK CINEMA SERIES | Friday, October 28 at 6:45pm | The Jack Garner Theatre | The true story of Mamie Till-Mobley’s relentless pursuit of justice for her 14-year-old son, Emmett Till, who was brutally lynched in 1955 while visiting his cousins in Mississippi.
Generation Z – Nov 18, 2022
BLACK CINEMA SERIES | Friday, November 18 at 7:30pm | Little 1 | A documentary that explores the impact of the events from the year 2020 have had on the lives of children.
Sing Sing (with discussion) – Aug. 23
BLACK CINEMA SERIES | Friday, August 23 at 7:00pm in Theatre 5 | Divine G, imprisoned at Sing Sing for a crime he didn’t commit, finds purpose by acting in a theatre group alongside other incarcerated men in this story of resilience, humanity, and the transformative power of art.
Cultural Expressions: Kwanzaa – Dec 16, 2022
Cultural Expressions: Kwanzaa, produced by WXXI Public Media, explores the seven principles that are the foundation of Kwanzaa by sharing seven real-life stories of impact. These stories reveal how each principle plays a role in the Black community, illustrated through cultural elements of dance, storytelling, music, and spoken word.
The Black Walnut – Sept. 23
BLACK CINEMA SERIES | Monday, September 23 at 7:00pm | This drama tells the story of 6 men on an extraordinary prostate cancer journey, as they spread the word about the African-American prostate cancer disparity. September is National Prostate Cancer Awareness month.
The Blackening – Oct. 23
BLACK CINEMA SERIES x SPOOKY SEASON | Wednesday, October 23 at 7pm | Seven friends go away for the weekend, only to find themselves trapped in a cabin with a killer who has a vendetta. They must pit their street smarts and knowledge of horror movies against the murderer to stay alive.
Luther: Never Too Much
ONE TAKE x BLACK CINEMA SERIES | Thursday, November 21 & Saturday, November 23 | The documentary, from director Dawn Porter, chronicles the story of a vocal virtuoso, Luther Vandross. Using a wealth of rarely seen archives, Luther tells his own story with assistance from his closest friends and musical collaborators including Mariah Carey, Dionne Warwick, Valerie Simpson and Roberta Flack.
Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey – Dec. 11
HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE x BLACK CINEMA SERIES | Wednesday, December 11 at 7:00pm | An imaginary world comes to life in a holiday tale of an eccentric toymaker, his adventurous granddaughter, and a magical invention that has the power to change their lives forever.
Albany Road – Jan. 18
BLACK CINEMA SERIES | Saturday, January 18 at 3:00pm | A New York executive shares a rental car with her ex-fiancé’s mother, discovering she’s the only one who knows a secret about her ex-fiancé.
The Color of Medicine – Apr 8, 2022
BLACK CINEMA SERIES | Friday, April 8 at 7:30pm | About the rise and fall of St. Louis, Missouri’s premier black hospital that trained the largest number of Black doctors and nurses in the world from 1937 through 1979, before and after desegregation.
Dressed Like Kings – May 13, 2022
BLACK CINEMA SERIES | Friday, May 13 at 7:30pm | A fashionable group of Zulu men’s measure of self-worth is tested by exuberant prices, dying interest, and a generation who believe one’s worth isn’t based on what you adorn.
Miss Juneteenth – Jun 10, 2022
BLACK CINEMA SERIES | Friday, June 10, 7:30pm | Little 1 | A former beauty queen and single mother prepares her rebellious teenage daughter for the Miss Juneteenth pageant.
Exhibiting Forgiveness – Feb. 21
BLACK CINEMA SERIES | Friday, February 21 at 7:30pm | A Black artist on the path to success is derailed by an unexpected visit from his estranged father, a recovering addict desperate to reconcile. Together, they struggle and learn that forgetting might be a greater challenge than forgiving.
Nope: Film + Discussion – Jul 22, 2022
BLACK CINEMA SERIES | Friday, July 22 at 7:30pm | Little Theatre 1 | The new film from Jordan Peele. Caretakers at a California horse ranch encounter a mysterious force that affects human and animal behavior. Starring Daniel Kaluuya, Keke Palmer, and Steven Yeun.
Executive Order – Mar. 26
BLACK CINEMA SERIES | Wednesday, March 26 at 7:30pm | In a dystopian near future in Brazil, an authoritarian government orders all citizens of African descent to move to Africa – creating chaos, protests, and an underground resistance movement that inspires the nation.
Woman in Motion – Aug 19, 2022
BLACK CINEMA SERIES | Friday, August 19 at 7:30pm | Nichelle Nichols’ daunting task to launch a national blitz for NASA, recruiting 8,000 of the nation’s best and brightest, including the trailblazing astronauts who became the first African American, Asian and Latino men and women to fly in space.
Alma’s Rainbow – Sep 9, 2022
BLACK CINEMA SERIES | Friday, September 9 at 7:30pm | A coming-of-age comedy-drama about three Black women living in Brooklyn. Ayoka Chenzira’s feature film explores the life of teenager Rainbow Gold (Victoria Gabrielle Platt) who is entering womanhood and navigating conversations and experiences around standards of beauty, self-image, and the rights Black women have over their bodies.
Compensation – Apr. 11
BLAcK CINEMA SERIES | Friday, April 11 at 7:30pm | 4K Restoration of the 1999 independent cinema classic. An ambitious portrait of the struggles of Deaf African Americans and the complexities of loving relationships at the bookends of the twentieth century, with dual storylines in 1910 and 1990 Chicago.
The Sleeping Negro – Jan 21, 2022
Black Cinema Series The Sleeping Negro Screening and Panel Discussion FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 2022Little Theatre 1 (240 East Ave.) Standard ticket pricesTickets available online in advance, or at the door. PROOF OF VACCINATION REQUIRED TO ATTENDIMPORTANT: Proof of vaccination (along with photo ID) and a mask are REQUIRED to attend this event. Please read our updated COVID Safety Guidelines for full...
A Warm December – Feb 11, 2022
BLACK CINEMA SERIES • Friday, February 11 at 7:30pm • On a trip to London with his daughter (Yvette Curtis) for some dirt-bike races, Dr. Matt Younger (Sidney Poitier) meets beautiful dignitary Catherine Oswandu (Esther Anderson) and quickly falls for her. But something is amiss — strange men seem to be following her wherever she goes, and Younger assumes she’s at the center of some political intrigue.
On These Grounds – Mar 11, 2022
BLACK CINEMA SERIES | Friday, March 11 at 7:30pm | Little 1 | Against the backdrop of a racial reckoning, one incident illuminates how Black girls are creating a more just and equitable future for our entire education system.
My Dead Friend Zoe – May 21
BLACK CINEMA SERIES | Wednesday, May 21 at 7:00pm | Engaged in a mysterious relationship with her dead best friend from the Army, a female Afghanistan veteran comes head to head with her Vietnam vet grandfather at the family’s ancestral lake house.
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom – June 18
BLACK CINEMA SERIES | Wednesday, June 18 at 7:00pm | Tensions rise when trailblazing blues singer Ma Rainey and her band gather at a recording studio in Chicago in 1927. Nominated for 5 Oscars, including Best Actress and Best Actor.
The Last Tree – Nov 27, 2021
The Little Theatre’s Black Cinema Series, presented in partnership with the Rochester Association of Black Journalists (RABJ), screens both scripted and non-fiction films about the Black experience.
Return to Goree – Oct 27, 2021
Black Cinema Series Youssou N'Dour: Return to Gorée Screening and Panel Discussion WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2021Little Theatre 1 (240 East Ave.) Standard ticket pricesTickets available online in advance, or at the door. PROOF OF VACCINATION REQUIRED TO ATTENDIMPORTANT: Proof of vaccination (along with photo ID) and a mask are REQUIRED to attend this event. Please read our updated COVID Safety...
Chameleon Street – July 28
BLACK CINEMA SERIES | Monday, July 28 at 7pm | William Douglas Street is bored with his life. Working for his father is getting to him, his wife wants more money, and he’s had enough. His solution is to re-invent himself. He becomes a chameleon, taking on whatever role suits the situation. New 4K restoration of this underseen, Sundance Grand-Jury-Prize winning indie gem.
Highest 2 Lowest (w/ discussion) – Aug. 17
BLACK CINEMA SERIES | Sunday, August 17 at 3:00pm | Spike Lee. Denzel Washington. A music mogul faces a ransom plot and moral dilemma. | Post-film discussion on this screening; additional showtimes available.
Summertime – Sep 10, 2021
Black Cinema Series Summertime Screening and Panel Discussion FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2021Little Theatre 1 (240 East Ave.) Standard ticket pricesTickets available online in advance, or at the door. PROOF OF VACCINATION REQUIRED TO ATTENDIMPORTANT: Proof of vaccination (along with photo ID) and a mask are REQUIRED to attend this event. Please read our updated COVID Safety Guidelines for full...
Love, Brooklyn – Sept. 21
BLACK CINEMA SERIES | Sunday, September 21 | Three longtime Brooklynites navigate careers, love, loss, and friendship against the rapidly changing landscape of their beloved city.
Ailey – Aug 12, 2021
Black Cinema Series • “Ailey” Screening and Panel Discussion • Thursday, August 12, 2021 at 6:30pm • Little Theatre 1 (240 East Ave.)
Sinners – Oct. 25 & 26
SPOOKY SEASON x STAFF PICKS x BLACK CINEMA SERIES | Saturday, Oct. 25 at 8pm + Sunday, Oct. 26 at 3pm | One of THE defining movies of 2025 makes its Little debut! Trying to leave their troubled lives behind, twin brothers (Michael B. Jordan and Michael B. Jordan) return to their hometown to start again, only to discover that an even greater evil is waiting to welcome them back, in Ryan Coogler’s instant classic/probable Oscar flick.
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