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Lights, camera, action on an epic celebration of art and culture as Festival du film BlackStar celebrates its 15th anniversary.
That’s 15 years of showcasing work by brilliant Black, Brown and Indigenous voices in filmmaking, 15 years of breaking boundaries, and countless audience members inspired.
The annual Oscar-qualifying fest commemorates the milestone with a slate of nearly 100 indie film screenings across genres, including a whopping 83 (!) premieres, and over a dozen free or low-cost parties, talks and community events.
- Photo de D. Jackson
Centered at venues along Philadelphia’s Avenue des Arts — including the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, the Suzanne Roberts Theatre and the Wilma Theater — Festival du film BlackStar retours August 6 through 9, 2026.
Read on for the full rundown on this year’s fest, including insider tips from yours truly.
BlackStar Film Festival has long graduated from a one-off micro fest to a full-fledged international film destination. From the outside looking in, it’s been an incredible ride.
My first BlackStar was the fourth fest, back during its Ouest Philly days. While the venues have changed and audiences grown — 2025’s fest saw over 20,000 tickets sold (!) — its mission has remained crystal clear: to spotlight interesting stories and artists from the world’s Black, Brown and Indigenous communities. And have a damn good time while doing it.
That said, there are so many ways to festival, and here’s where to start:
This year’s lineup brings straight heat with more than 90 films from 30 different countries, including Palestine, Nigeria, Cambodia, Mexico and Brazil.
The City of Brotherly Love still represents with several flicks about Philly music, history, culture and communities, including festival founder Maori Karmael Holmes’ documentary directorial debut, Scene Not Heard: Women in Philadelphia Hip Hop.
- Photo de P. Jackson
Titles criss-cross genres, from traditional narrative films and documentaries to animated works, music videos and experimental projects. With 83 premieres slated — including 22 world premieres and 34 Philadelphia premieres — the odds are high that you’ll be among any film’s first viewers.
Overwhelmed? Steal my watch list! I’m excited for:
The celebration continues outside the theater with multiple days of parties and an all-star DJ lineup, including NA$H and Cory Townes (you may know his dad — DJ Jazzy Jeff).
Ne manquez pas la free opening night dance party at Frankie’s Summer Club (August 6, 2026), a special edition of First Friday at the Barnes (August 7, 2026), and a free closing night bash at the Barnes Foundation (August 9, 2026). Advanced registration is required.
— Photo gracieusement fournie par le BlackStar Film Festival
Pro-tip: For First Friday at the Barnes, use code BLACKSTAR26 at checkout for $10 tickets. All-access and industry pass holders get in for free!
Want to hear from filmmakers, actors and other creatives — like the team behind Netflix’s highly anticipated reboot of A Different World? Check out BlackStar’s schedule of free panels and live conversations.
Insider tip: The Daily Jawn Morning Show is an awesome way for last-minute planners to map out their festival day. Grab a coffee, matcha or caffeinated bevvie of your choosing from nearby shops (like Good Karma, Curtain Call, Madi’s and La Colombe) and listen in as the hosts talk shop with special guests and preview the day to come.
Thought you were going to spend all day sitting in a cozy theater, right? Wrong! (Unless you want to.)
There’s no movie without m-o-v-e: Sharpen your self-care practices with daily, free wellness workshops. Learn how to manifest your best creative work through guided movement, drop into savasana in between screenings with yoga classes, and more.
Shop local and small at the BlackStar Bazaar (Sunday). Browse merch and posters from Black independent cinema; nourishing herbs and teas; hip, handcrafted ceramics; red carpet-worthy accessories; and more from 14 different small businesses.
Plus, BlackStar has some of the best merch around, debuting colorful, cute and collectible new designs each year. This year’s collection of shirts, bags and more hasn’t been released yet, but I’d set aside some cash.
When it comes to enjoying BlackStar Film Festival, you’ve got options.
Le meilleur rapport qualité-prix : le Pass Accès illimité, which includes admission to all screenings and special events (both in-person and virtual).
Billets individuels et forfaits are available, and youth (ages 13 to 21), students (with valid ID), and seniors (age 55 and above) can receive 25% hors service par criblage. Virtual-only passes sont également disponibles.
Plus, ACCESS cardholders can use code 26ACCAR to receive discounted tickets for just $2 each (in-person and virtual).
Le festival se déroule principalement au Centre Kimmel pour les arts du spectacle (300 S. Broad Street), le théâtre Suzanne Roberts (480 S. Broad Street) et les Théâtre Wilma (265 S. Broad Street), with select events at local spots like Le club d'été de Frankie (355 S. 15th Street) and the Barnes Foundation (2025 Benjamin Franklin Parkway).
Il n'y a pas de mauvais moyen de se rendre à Broad Street, mais pour ceux qui souhaitent éviter de se garer, SEPTA’Nous sommes là pour vous aider. Autobus run down Broad Street all day, and the Lombard-South stop on the Ligne de métro B (Broad Street) vous dépose à moins de cinq minutes de chaque cinéma.
Vous préférez vous rendre aux salons à deux roues ? Prenez un Indego rental bike and park it at one of the several stations near Broad Street, including one right next to the Kimmel Center at 15th and Spruce streets.
For more on BlackStar Film Festival, click the button below.
So many options! Upscale accommodations like L'hôtel Bellevue et les Cambria Hotel Philadelphia Downtown Centre-ville are located right along South Broad Street, just steps away from the festival action.
The only thing better than luxurious accommodations are discounted luxurious accommodations. In addition to those mentioned above, other Center City hotels, including the Hyatt Centric Rittenhouse Square Philadelphie, Roost Midtown, Roost East Market and YOWIE, are official festival partners, with several offering special discounts to festivalgoers.
YOWIE - Photo par Visit Philadelphia
Wanna take your stay to the next level? Book the Visit Philly Overnight Package at a participating hotel for free parking et complimentary tickets to five of the region’s most popular attractions, like Parcs à thème Universal : l'exposition at The Franklin Institute and Longwood Gardens in Chester County.
Taking a break from the watch fest? Continue your journey through Philly arts and culture with this list of things to do during — and after — BlackStar Film Festival:
Ce n'est pas surprenant : Philly connaît bien l'alimentation. Mais notre scène culinaire primée goes beyond just pretzels and cheesesteaks.
Célébrez la diversité culinaire de Philly en dégustant un ou plusieurs repas dans certains des meilleurs restaurants de la ville. appartenant à des Asiatiques, Appartenant à des Latino-Américains et Appartenant à des Noirs restaurants, de Michelin– and James Beard-honored fine dining, like Vendredi Samedi Dimanche et Chèvrefeuille, to markets like the Marché de l'Asie du Sud-Est to the culturally diverse eateries dotting Philly neighborhoods.
(Extra points if you dine at Honeysuckle before or after co-owner Cybille St. Aude-Tate takes the festival stage.)
Chèvrefeuille - Photo par D. Knoll pour Visit Philadelphia
Philly est une plateforme pour Entreprises détenues par des personnes noires et brunes, offering handmade goods and hard-to-find products at dozens of brick-and-mortar and online Appartenant à des Noirs businesses; Appartenant à des Latino-Américains shops and boutiques; and appartenant à des Asiatiques stores, markets and specialty shops.
Retro Rewind Vintage & Occasion — Photo gracieusement fournie par Fairmount Community Development Corporation
L'art et le talent artistique sont omniprésents à Philly. Vous voulez découvrir comment la magie opère ? Des créatifs noirs et métis de toute la ville proposent des visites de leurs ateliers dans divers endroits, notamment :
Besoin de vous dégourdir les jambes ? En tant que berceau de la nation, Philadelphie abrite monuments culturels importants, y compris l'église fondatrice de la dénomination méthodiste épiscopale africaine (Mère Bethel AME) et le premier grand musée du pays consacré à l'histoire afro-américaine (African American Museum in Philadelphia).
Tour important sites in Black history with Le voyage des Noirs : Visite à pied de l'histoire afro-américaine de Philadelphie, or visit the actual homes of influential figures, like entertainers and Civil Rights icons Marian Anderson et Paul Robeson.
Visitors can also explore thousands of artifacts inside the Penn Museum’Les vastes galeries consacrées à l'Afrique, au Mexique, à l'Amérique centrale et à l'Asie.
De plus, le Philadelphia Museum of Art regularly stages exhibitions featuring Black, Latino and Asian artists, while organizations like Salon du tourisme à Puertorriqueño, Centre d'art Esperanza et Initiative artistique asiatique highlight Latino and Asian culture and history in their gallery exhibitions and other programming.
Penn Museum - Photo par Visit Philadelphia
Il est temps de faire une ovation debout. Le vénérable Greater Philadelphia théâtres et salles de spectacle mettre en scène des productions exceptionnelles tout au long de l'année, dont le point central se trouve sur la Avenue des Arts (le tronçon de South Broad Street entre City Hall et Rue du Sud).
Là, les amateurs de théâtre, les fans d'orchestre et les passionnés de danse et d'opéra se pressent dans le Centre Kimmel pour les arts du spectacle, le Académie de musique, le Théâtre Miller et lauréat d'un Tony Award Théâtre Wilma. Discounted last-minute tickets are often available through TKTS.
Philly est déjà l'une des meilleures villes d'Amérique pour le street art. Mais c'est aussi un centre névralgique pour les œuvres magnifiques qui célèbrent la riche diversité culturelle américaine.
Chérissez la planète et le pouvoir des femmes avec La Borinqueña in Norris Square, marvel at intricate Mexican mosaics inside the Musée des jardins magiques, réfléchissez à l'expérience des Noirs en Amérique avec Cartographie du courage on South Street, or stare in awe at the 21-story-high Le passé soutient l'avenir (承前啓後) peinture murale dans Chinatown.
Musée des jardins magiques - Photo par D. Knoll pour Visit Philadelphia
Looking for even more fun between the flicks? Chow down, watch live performances, jam out to live music, and join in the revelry at some of the other festivals and events happening during BlackStar.
Consultez le Fête des lanternes chinoises à Franklin Square (through August 16, 2026), Light Up the Night à la Sud de la 9e rue Italian Market (August 8 and 9, 2026), and various events celebrating the nation’s 250th anniversary.
Festival des lanternes chinoises de Philadelphie - Photo par Visit Philadelphia
C'est la plus grande année de Philly !
Profitez-en pour réserver le Visit Philly Overnight Package, qui s'accompagne d'un parking gratuit et de billets gratuits pour certaines des attractions les plus populaires dans chacun des cinq comtés de l'agglomération de Philadelphie, notamment Parcs à thème Universal : l'exposition à The Franklin Institute, le Mercer Museum à Bucks County, Longwood Gardens à Chester County, le Brandywine Museum of Art à Delaware County et Elmwood Park Zoo à Montgomery County.
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