Filmscene

Out of the Archive: Envisioning Blackness

FilmScene is proud to present Out of the Archive: Envisioning Blackness, a continuation of the conversations started in spring 2023 by Out of the Archive: Black Women Behind the Lens, our three-week screening showcase dedicated to the work of Black women in film. Envisioning Blackness takes audiences on a deep dive into the less-frequented depths of Black cinema and is the first edition of an ongoing yearly series committed to revitalizing and bringing much-needed exposure to rare and recently restored works from underrepresented artistic communities.

Previous Screenings

STILL/HERE + TWENTY-FOUR DOLLAR ISLAND

2001 / USA / Christopher Harris

Christopher Harris reflects on the slow, inexorable decay of a once tight-knit African American neighborhood on the north side of St. Louis.

BODY AND SOUL

1925 / USA / Oscar Micheaux

Twin brothers, one a Bible-thumping, alcohol-sipping, sexually-predatory minister and the other an ordinary working man, both vie for the affection of a young woman who is trying to abide by the misguided wishes of her devout mother.

LORRAINE HANSBERRY: SIGHTED EYES/FEELING HEART

2017 / USA / Tracy Heather Strain

Explore the inner life and work of the activist, playwright and author of A Raisin in the Sun, Lorraine Hansberry, in this documentary that dives into the archive for an in-depth look at this influential writer.

JOYFUL DESIRE: THE SHORT FILMS OF AARIN BURCH

2023 / USA / Aarin Burch

A selection of short films by Aarin Burch, a key figure in the independent arts scene of the San Francisco Bay Area, that artfully explore the Black queer experience.

MORE THAN SOMEBODY: THE REVOLUTIONARY FILMS OF MADELINE ANDERSON

1960 / USA / Madeline Anderson

This collection of shorts from a pioneering filmmaker and television producer puts us right in the heart of the Civil Rights movement.