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Lights, camera, action on an epic celebration of art and culture as BlackStar Film Festival 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 by D. Jackson
Centered at venues along Philadelphia’s Avenue of the Arts — including the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, the Suzanne Roberts Theatre and the Wilma Theater — BlackStar Film Festival returns 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 West 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 by 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).
Don’t miss the 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 courtesy 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.
The most bang for your buck: the All Access Pass, which includes admission to all screenings and special events (both in-person and virtual).
Individual film tickets and bundles are available, and youth (ages 13 to 21), students (with valid ID), and seniors (age 55 and above) can receive 25% off per screening. Virtual-only passes are also available.
Plus, ACCESS cardholders can use code 26ACCAR to receive discounted tickets for just $2 each (in-person and virtual).
The festival takes place primarily at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts (300 S. Broad Street), the Suzanne Roberts Theatre (480 S. Broad Street) and the Wilma Theater (265 S. Broad Street), with select events at local spots like Frankie’s Summer Club (355 S. 15th Street) and the Barnes Foundation (2025 Benjamin Franklin Parkway).
There’s no wrong way to get to Broad Street, but for those looking to skip parking, SEPTA’s got you covered. Buses run down Broad Street all day, and the Lombard-South stop on the B (Broad Street) subway line drops you off less than five minutes away from each theater.
Want to arrive on two wheels at the shows instead? Grab an 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 The Bellevue Hotel and the Cambria Hotel Philadelphia Downtown Center City 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 Philadelphia, Roost Midtown, Roost East Market and YOWIE, are official festival partners, with several offering special discounts to festivalgoers.
YOWIE — Photo by Visit Philadelphia
Wanna take your stay to the next level? Book the Visit Philly Overnight Package at a participating hotel for free parking and complimentary tickets to five of the region’s most popular attractions, like Universal Theme Parks: The Exhibition 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:
It’s no surprise: Philly knows food. But our award-winning culinary scene goes beyond just pretzels and cheesesteaks.
Celebrate Philly’s diverse food scene with a meal — or several — at some of the city’s top Asian-owned, Latino-owned and Black-owned restaurants, from Michelin– and James Beard-honored fine dining, like Friday Saturday Sunday and Honeysuckle, to markets like the Southeast Asian Market 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.)
Honeysuckle — Photo by D. Knoll for Visit Philadelphia
Philly is a hub for Black- and Brown-owned businesses, offering handmade goods and hard-to-find products at dozens of brick-and-mortar and online Black-owned businesses; Latino-owned shops and boutiques; and Asian-owned stores, markets and specialty shops.
Retro Rewind Vintage & Thrift — Photo courtesy Fairmount Community Development Corporation
Art and artistry are all around you in Philly. Want to see how the magic happens? Black and Brown creatives throughout the city offer studio tours at various locations, including:
Need to stretch your legs? As the nation’s birthplace, Philadelphia is home to significant cultural landmarks, including the founding church of the African Methodist Episcopal denomination (Mother Bethel AME) and the country’s first major museum devoted to African American history (African American Museum in Philadelphia).
Tour important sites in Black history with The Black Journey: African-American History Walking Tour of Philadelphia, or visit the actual homes of influential figures, like entertainers and Civil Rights icons Marian Anderson and Paul Robeson.
Visitors can also explore thousands of artifacts inside the Penn Museum’s sprawling Africa, Mexico & Central America, and Asia galleries.
Plus, the Philadelphia Museum of Art regularly stages exhibitions featuring Black, Latino and Asian artists, while organizations like Taller Puertorriqueño, Esperanza Arts Center and Asian Arts Initiative highlight Latino and Asian culture and history in their gallery exhibitions and other programming.
Penn Museum — Photo by Visit Philadelphia
It’s time to give a standing ovation. Greater Philadelphia’s venerable theaters and performing arts venues stage stellar productions all year long — and the epicenter is on the Avenue of the Arts (the stretch of South Broad Street between City Hall and South Street).
There, theatergoers, orchestra fans, and dance and opera lovers funnel into the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, the Academy of Music, the Miller Theater and the Tony Award-winning Wilma Theater. Discounted last-minute tickets are often available through TKTS.
Philly is already one of the best cities in America for street art. But it’s also a hub for magnificent works celebrating America’s rich cultural diversity.
Cherish the planet and the power of women with La Borinqueña in Norris Square, marvel at intricate Mexican mosaics inside the Magic Gardens Museum, reflect on the Black experience in America with Mapping Courage on South Street, or stare in awe at the 21-story-high Past Supporting the Future (承前啓後) mural in Chinatown.
Magic Gardens Museum — Photo by D. Knoll for 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.
Check out the Chinese Lantern Festival at Franklin Square (through August 16, 2026), Light Up the Night at the South 9th Street Italian Market (August 8 and 9, 2026), and various events celebrating the nation’s 250th anniversary.
Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival — Photo by Visit Philadelphia
It’s Philly’s biggest year yet!
Make the most of it by booking the Visit Philly Overnight Package, which comes with free hotel parking and complimentary tickets to some of the most popular attractions in each of Greater Philadelphia’s five counties including Universal Theme Parks: The Exhibition at The Franklin Institute, the Mercer Museum in Bucks County, Longwood Gardens in Chester County, the Brandywine Museum of Art in Delaware County and Elmwood Park Zoo in Montgomery County.
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