PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The eighth annual BlackStar Film Festival, which includes more than 100 films, will kick off Thursday in University City, and it's drawing big-name filmmakers.
BlackStar is the annual celebration of the visual storytelling traditions of people of the African diaspora and global communities of color.
"It's a boutique festival," said Maori Holmes, a filmmaker, curator and director of BlackStar. "We curate films that are either pushing the boundaries esthetically, politically, and it's really beautiful when they do that together."
The event started with 40 films, and it has grown over the years. This year, Holmes curated 115 films ranging from documentaries to features to music videos.
She says their goal is to showcase independent filmmakers from around the world.
Other highlights include "Jezebel," which is about internet fetish camera girls, and "When I get Home," a film by singer Solange Knowles.
BlackStar kicks off Aug. 1 and runs through Aug. 4. For details, go to
blackstarfest.org.
