November 11 & 13 | An evocative assemblage of true Chicago love stories, celebrating Black love through the eyes of artists, midwives, and househeads—for the culture. In DEAR BLACK ARTIST (22 min.), we are introduced to director Rachel S. Gadson’s documentary series featuring 77 Chicago artists discussing their creative journeys, barriers to access, and hopes for the future of Black artists. Lawrence Agyei’s FOR THE CRIB (5 min.) provides an intimate look at the South Shore Drill Team during the 2021 Bud Billiken Parade. The story of Eric Williams, who fell in love with Chicago house music and built a thriving business around it, is documented in Lonnie Edwards and Tobi Shinobi’s TWENTYFIVE (12 min.); and in Mia Harvey’s WITH WOMAN (28 min.), Star, a Black midwife in Chicago, advocates for home births among Black women, in light of high maternal mortality rates in hospitals, despite legal restrictions. Select filmmakers scheduled to attend.

Black Harvest Film Festival: 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. View full festival lineup.

The Film Center is ADA accessible. This presentation will be projected without open captions. The theater is hearing-loop equipped. For accessibility requests, please email filmcenter@saic.edu