About the Festival

The Black Harvest Film Festival, taking place November 4 - 27, 2022, is Chicago’s annual showcase for films that celebrate, explore and share the Black, African American and African Diaspora experience. The Festival curates both short and feature length films, proudly presenting influential auteurs and emerging filmmakers of color side by side. Each year since 1994, the Black Harvest film Festival has presented a vibrant celebration of independent films that tell the stories and explore the images, heritage, and history of the worldwide Black experience.

Black Harvest Community Council
Adrianna Silver Chicago Cares
Alessandra Pinkston Filmmaker
Annette Galloway Filmmaker
Barbara Allen Filmmaker
Cheryl Petratos Filmmaker/BGG Productions
D'Tura Hale Filmmaker
David Weathersby Filmmaker
Daryl Sledge Film and Theater Producer
Derek Dow Filmmaker
Derek Grace Grace Media Group
Djalaal Gene Siskel Film Center volunteer
Donnie Smith Donda's House
Eleva Singleton Filmmaker/Hermes
Felicia Mings The Art Institute of Chicago
Gwen Satterfield Chicago School of Professional Psychology
Harold Dennis Actor in film, stage, and TV
Jackie Samuel National Louis University
Kamau Tyehimba Reel Black Filmmakers
Kayo Williams Kayquarii Productions
Keisha Chavers Chair, Black Harvest Community Council; Coordinator, Best of Black Harvest; Marketing Consultant
Keisha Nickole Actress, Production Manager, Producer
Kenny Johnson  
Kristy Johnson ImageNation Cinema Foundation
Lawrence Lee Wallace Deep Productions Studios
Lonnie Edwards Filmmaker
Cheryl Rayner  
Loris Rayner Pediatrician
Marcus Spearman BMO Harris Bank; Board Member, Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance
Michael Foster The Whitehall Hotel
Monique Smith Filmmaker
Muteeat Lawal Community volunteer
N.K. Gutierrez Filmmaker
Okema "Seven" Gunn Blogger, film critic & filmmaker
Patricia Mosley CME Group
Ramsey Carey Goodman Theatre
Raymond Lambert Filmmaker/Author/Founder of "All Jokes Aside"
Sergio Mims Consultant, Black Harvest Film Festival
Sierra Jackson Artist
Ted Crowder  
Talle Laosebikan  
Troy Pryor Actor/producer, Creative Cypher
Vivienne Bailey  
 
GSFC Advisory Board
  • Ellen Sandor, Advisory Board Chair
  • Kristin L. Anderson
  • Jose Cerda III
  • Dr. Judith Cothran
  • Natalie Crawford
  • Michelle Cucchiaro
  • Eda Davidman
  • Robert Downey, Jr.
  • Susan Downey
  • Charles R. Droege
  • Eliot Ephraim
  • Melissa Sage Fadim
  • David Hundley
  • Marlene Iglitzen
  • Ellen Kollar
  • Rosanne Levin
  • Averill Leviton
  • Margaret MacLean
  • David E. Martin
  • Ingrida Martinkus
  • Felicia Middlebrooks
  • Marcel Munoz
  • Marisa Murillo
  • Edward Siskel
  • Bolaji Sosan
  • Elissa Tenny
  • Roopa P. Weber
  • Joshua Yates
Best of Black Harvest Library Program

After a two-year hiatus, the Film Center is proud to announce the return of the Best of Black Harvest (BoBH) Library program. The Black Harvest Film Festival strives to leverage its resources in media, entertainment, and the arts to raise awareness and acknowledge the many invaluable contributions to cinema that Black creators provide. The Best of Black Harvest in partnership with Chicago Public Library offers community centered  screenings and Q&A’s at three Chicago Public Library locations in historically Black  neighborhoods on the South and West Side.

The Best of Black Harvest screenings at the Chicago Public Library locations are FREE and open to the public.The Film center seeks to mitigate the disparities in access and equity in the arts through BoBH’s fun, family-friendly, cultural program series. These screenings aim to serve communities directly by offering The Best of the Black Harvest Film Festival experience at their local library branch. We are thrilled to amplify emerging Black filmmakers and celebrate Black cinema across the diaspora. Best of Black Harvest attendees will each receive one free ticket to this year’s 28th Annual Black Harvest Film Festival. Free refreshments from a local Chicago business will also be served.

View 2022 BoBH Library Program Schedule

Black Harvest Film Festival Sponsors

A special thanks to our festival sponsors and partners!

Presenting Sponsors:

Celebrity Sponsors:

Foundation and Government Support:

Premier Media Sponsors:

Hospitality Sponsors:

Festival Partners

Special Thanks:

  • Eleva Singleton
  • Marcus Spearman

Sponsors & Partners

A special thanks to our festival sponsors and partners

Presenting Sponsors:

Celebrity Sponsors:

Foundation and Government Support:

Premier Media Sponsors:

Hospitality Sponsors:

Festival Partners

Special Thanks:

  • Eleva Singleton
  • Marcus Spearman