Reel Sisters Film Festival Celebrates 28 Years of Women of Color Filmmaking with Focus on Healing and Community

The Reel Sisters of the Diaspora Film Festival & Lecture Series, recognized as the first Oscar-qualifying film festival devoted to women filmmakers, has announced its 28th anniversary programming featuring films centered on healing, love, and community activism. This four-week festival represents a significant platform for women of color filmmakers at a time when diverse voices remain underrepresented in mainstream cinema.

The festival's importance extends beyond entertainment, serving as a crucial space for authentic storytelling that addresses pressing social issues affecting communities of color. Festival founder Carolyn A. Butts emphasized the timing's significance, stating, "From Harlem to Brooklyn, we're bringing families together to honor our stories during a time when our communities need to unite in power and faith." This focus on community unity through cinematic expression highlights the festival's role in cultural preservation and social dialogue.

A major highlight includes the festival's partnership with the Brooklyn Academy of Music to present a trailblazer award to documentary filmmaker Samantha Knowles, director of "Harlem Ice" on Disney+. Knowles, whose recent work includes directing an episode of Netflix's acclaimed docuseries "Katrina: Come Hell and High Water," will be honored on October 22, 2025. The ceremony will feature award-winning documentary filmmaker Stacey Holman presenting the award, followed by a conversation with Peabody award-winning filmmaker Yoruba Richen about the power of the female lens in storytelling.

The festival's new partnership with 651 Arts will feature a full day of cinematic excellence on October 25, 2025, with screenings from 1 PM to 9 PM. Additional programming includes collaborations with BRIC Media for a staged reading of scripts from the festival's Summer Screenwriting Lab on October 29, 2025, and continued screenings at the Center For Fiction on October 26, 2025.

Notable films in the lineup address critical social issues. "You Are Not Alone" examines the maternal mortality crisis affecting Black women, who face pregnancy-related death rates three times higher than white women nationally, with rates in the Bronx reaching nine times higher. Another significant documentary, "Men of Courage," explores conversations among Black and Latino men about ending violence against women. The festival also features "Nannies of New York," which provides firsthand accounts of Afro-Caribbean women working as domestic workers in New York City and their fight for rights.

The virtual showcase, streaming from October 25 through November 10, 2025, expands accessibility with films like "117 Years of Movie Bullsh*t," a narrative exploring Hollywood's historical treatment of Black characters, and "Barrel Children: The Families Windrush Left Behind," which examines the experiences of Caribbean children separated from parents who migrated to Britain.

Ticket accessibility remains a priority, with All Access Passes priced at $75, single-day passes at $25 ($20 for seniors/students), and individual section tickets at $12 ($8 for seniors/students). The virtual showcase offers blocks for $5 or full access for $20. Festival information and tickets are available at www.reelsisters.org.

Founded in 1997 by African Voices magazine and LIU Brooklyn Campus, Reel Sisters has established itself as a vital institution for women filmmakers of color, having honored industry leaders from Radio One founder Cathy Hughes to HBO's Issa Rae. The festival's continued growth and partnerships with major cultural institutions demonstrate the increasing recognition of the importance of diverse storytelling in contemporary cinema.