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Curated by the Roxbury International Film Festival; FREE w/ RSVP: https://blo.org/shewasthere/
TRANSFORMING THE BEAUTIFUL GAME: THE CLYDE BEST STORY
Preceded by:
THE BILL PATTERSON STORY
Followed by:
Post-film panel discussion with the filmmakers including Anthony Severo and Barry Gardin (BILL PATTERSON) Clyde Best, Ade Coker and Dan Egan (CLYDE BEST), and Roxbury native, Tony D. Head.
Directed by Anthony Severo. (USA, 2026, 15:57 mins)
This is the untold story of Bill Patterson, who dedicated seven decades to public service in Oakland and along the way mentored some of the greatest people who ever lived—Curt Flood, Bill Russell, Joe Morgan—champions who changed the world, even as forces worked to destroy the Black community he served.
Directed by Dan Egan (USA, 2026, 99:00 mins)
In 1969, Bermudian teenager Clyde Best broke into England’s First Division Football (Soccer) and became the first Black superstar of football/soccer’s modern television era. Enduring racism while inspiring millions, Best emerged as the Jackie Robinson of English football, breaking barriers through his on-field excellence and quiet resilience. Overcoming adversity, inspiring a generation of young Black athletes, and later starring in the North American Soccer League, his influence still echoes across the global game. Featuring Clyde Best himself alongside notable interviewees such as Sir Geoff Hurst, Ian Wright, John Barnes, and Viv Anderson, "Transforming the Beautiful Game" is the first feature documentary to tell Best’s full story, an untold chapter of Black sporting history and a powerful testament to quiet revolution and lasting legacy. The film combines never-before-seen archival footage, historic match material, and intimate interviews to restore Clyde Best to his rightful place in football history.
Join us after the evening’s screenings for a filmmaker hangout at LUCIE (120 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02116)!
Join us after the evening’s screenings for a filmmaker hangout — location TBA.
Join us for a day of free community programming at the Shaw-Roxbury Library (149 Dudley St.)! Registration not required, but recommended.
See below for the agenda of the day:
Each person will have 5 minutes to deliver an overview of their screenplay, outlining the narrative premise, principal characters, thematic elements, genre, and creative vision.
Following each presentation, panelists will have about 10 minutes to offer questions, observations, and constructive feedback to support the continued development of the screenplay.
Winning presentation will receive an award.
If you’d like to sign up to pitch, please do so here. Space is limited.
Everyone is welcome to join the audience and watch the pitch session.
Recommended for teens and adults.
Network with fellow and aspiring directors to talk about all things filmmaking!
Recommended for teens and adults.
Join us for a casual conversation about soccer, life, and more with two of the first Black soccer players at West Ham United, Clyde Best and Ade Coker (who also played with the Boston Minutemen)!
We highly encourage all young athletes to join us for this opportunity to meet Clyde and Ade up close, ask questions, and talk all things soccer!
Recommended for children, teens, and families.
Join us after the evening’s screenings for a filmmaker hangout — location TBA.
Join us after the evening’s screenings for a filmmaker hangout — location TBA.
Join us after the evening’s screenings for a filmmaker hangout — location TBA.
Join us after the evening’s screenings for a filmmaker hangout — location TBA.
Join us after the evening’s screenings for a filmmaker hangout — location TBA.
Co-presented with The Wellness Collaborative and the Shared Stories.
Lineup:
Finding Your Laughter (Fine Cut Impact Preview)
Preceded by:
Scars That Define Us
Gloria
Followed by:
Panel discussion with Directors Arlieta Hall and Brittany Alsot, moderated by Karen Craddock of The Wellness Collaborative
Director Edward Worthy. (USA, 2026. 12:22)
Set during the 2022 Jackson, Mississippi Water Crisis, Lynn, an overwhelmed woman visiting her childhood home to care for her elderly father's wound, struggles to accept her new reality as their water supply depletes and his health continues to deteriorate.
Directed by Kim Blanck. (USA,2025 9:39)
Gloria, a Chinese woman in her 70s living alone and struggling with her memory, finds new purpose in teaching herself Spanish.
Fine Cut Impact Preview.
Director Arlieta Hall & Brittany Alsot. (USA, 2026. 85 mins)
Finding Your Laughter follows Chicago comedian Arlieta Hall who is learning to use her own resources — stand up comedy and improvisation — as tools for both her own mental health and to be a caregiver for her father who is fading from Alzheimer's disease.
Captions. Audio Description available.
This block is also a part of the Shared Stories program. ArtsEmerson presents Shared Stories, a monthly film series in collaboration with the Boston Asian American Film Festival (BAAFF), CINEFEST LATINO boston Film Festival, and the Roxbury International Film Festival (RoxFilm) seeking to build community, shared conversation, and experiences through cinema. This pilot series aspires to create a shared space to find commonality across experiences, and encourage the exchange of stories and ideas.
Join us after the evening’s screenings for a filmmaker hangout at LUCIE (120 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02116)!
Co-presented by CineFest Latino.
IF I GO WILL THEY MISS ME
Preceded by:
CYCLES
Preceded by:
Post-film discussion hosted by Roxann and Keith Mascoll of Living A Triggered Life podcast.
Directed by Martins Imhangbe. (UK, 2026. 19:58)
After a teenage trainer reseller is robbed in a newly gentrified south London, he and his father are forced to confront the cycles of violence and masculinity that shape their lives. As they wrestle with the question of where choice truly begins, the family must decide whether to break the cycle or let it define them.
Directed by Walter Thompson-Hernández. (USA, 2026, 90 min.)
Twelve-year-old Lil Ant transforms his working-class neighborhood beneath the LAX flight path into a living mythology, where family members become gods and the sky is crowded with endless departures. As he searches for connection with his god-like yet conflicted father, he finds support in his close-knit community that helps him reconcile myth and reality.
English captions.
Co-presented by CineFest Latino.
Montmartre
Followed by:
Q&A with Ito Aghayere (Star Trek Picard and The Residence) and Director Leon Hendrix III
Best Narrative Feature Film, Best First Feature Film Pan African Film Festival 2026
Directed by Leon Hendrix III. (USA 2026, 120 mins)
Disillusioned with her lackluster life, JO takes a break and visits the storied French district of MONTMARTRE. There she falls for TOUSSAINT, a tour guide with a penchant for poetry and a strong belief in the power of Magic and Romance. Through their curious connection, Black History, art and love intertwine, reconnecting Jo to her long-lost passion for life.
Join us after the evening’s screenings for a filmmaker hangout at Fort Hill Bar and Grill (2805 Washington St, Boston, MA 02119)!
March 26-29, 2026 | Salem, MA
COME TO SALEM, SEE THE WORLD
Since 2007, Salem Film Fest (SFF) has brought the world's best independent documentaries and their makers to Boston's North Shore. Now the largest international documentary film festival in Massachusetts, the event annually presents features, shorts and special events to a loyal audience of thousands. The festival is mostly run by volunteers through a non-profit entity, Salem Community Arts Center, Inc.
The 19th annual Salem Film Film will take place March 26-29, 2026, with filmmaker Q&As, parties, and other special events. Advance Ticket Packs for SFF 2026 are on sale now.
RoxFilm is co-presenting the following films:
Saturday, March 28th at 10:30am: TRUE NORTH
Through never before seen compelling historical footage and the voices of those who lived through the tumultuous period of 1960s Montréal, TRUE NORTH uses a bold cinematic aesthetic that centers the power of memory and archive to expose the pivotal events of a moment that impacted the global movement for Black liberation.
Sunday, March 29 at 12:15pm: ELEPHANTS & SQUIRRELS *US Premiere
A Sri Lankan artist discovers a collection of ancestral remains in a Swiss museum and embarks on a lengthy repatriation effort for their return. A dialogue about memory, restitution, and accountability.
March 12-13, 2026 | The Cabot (286 Cabot St, Beverly, MA 01915)
Amplifying Voices brings impactful stories and voices to the North Shore, and beyond, by presenting films made by and about people of color. These two days of films are curated by Sabrina Avilés, Executive Director of CineFest Latino Boston and Lisa Simmons, Executive Director of The Roxbury International Film Festival.
We hope to make all voices and people feel welcome in our community by uplifting those who are too often marginalized. With the help of the filmmakers as well as civic, arts, and educational organizations across the North Shore, we hope to deepen empathy, expand understanding, and advance important conversations.
Amplifying Voices screenings are free and open to the public.
Be sure to check out RoxFilm Festival Selections SEA CHARM, FOU, and RO & STARDUST in the lineup!
Diamond Diplomacy explores the long and complex relationship between the U.S. and Japan through the shared love of baseball, revealing a moving diplomatic history that spans generations. The film features a cross-cultural lineup of baseball legends, including Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio, Shohei Ohtani, and Ichiro Suzuki—newly inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame—and makes a powerful case for sports as a conduit for international healing, connection, and resilience.
Q&A with director Yuriko Gamo Romer to follow the screening.
Join us on Friday, June 27, 2025 for Make 'Em Sweat: The Official Closing Night Film & Kick-Off Party for BAMS Festival and Rox Film Festival.
Enjoy drinks, vendors, and an incredible music mashup of R&B, House, Funk, Dirty South, Hip Hop and much more from DJ Q-Boogie, DJ DCaso and the undefeated, DJ Mell Starr.
Supported by Urban Heat 98.1FM, 9 Alarms Entertainment, LiteWork Events, MeetBoston, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, NBC10 Boston,The Boston Globe, and The Bay State Banner.
Get your tickets now before they sell out!
Q&A to follow. Then join us a post-film closing night party - location TBA!
Join us after the evening’s screenings for a filmmaker hangout at Two Saints Tavern (52 Gainsborough St, Boston, MA 02115).
Join us for a special afternoon of honoring Frank Silvera, a pioneer in Black Cinema with a screening and conversation. Frank Silvera’s daughter, Linda Silvera will also be in attendance.
Join us after the evening’s screenings for a filmmaker hangout at LUCIE (120 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02116)
Join us for a special screening of shorts focused on our global communities. Seats are limited and not guaranteed! This event is not included in the festival pass; you must RSVP separately.
Film lineup:
Boston Carnival
Kluskap Meets Summer
Janke
Kanenon:we - Original Seeds
The Last Dance
Join us after the evening’s screenings for a filmmaker hangout at The Mission Bar & Grill (724 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115)
Join us for our 2nd annual Senior Lunch Screening! Boxed lunches will be provided. Q&A to follow.
Join us after the evening’s screenings for a filmmaker hangout at The Mix (555 Talbot Ave, Boston, MA 02124)!
Dinner and A Movie is back! Join us for a special screening focused on Black maternal health followed by an intimate discussion. Seats are limited! This event is not included in the festival pass; separate tickets must be purchased.
Join us after the evening’s screenings for a filmmaker hangout at Top Mix Bar & Kitchen (257 Norfolk Ave., Boston, MA 02119).
Join us after the evening’s screenings for a filmmaker hangout at Two Saints Tavern (52 Gainsborough St, Boston, MA 02115).
Join us after the evening’s screenings for a filmmaker hangout at Fort Hill Bar & Grill (2805 Washington St, Boston, MA 02119)
Join us after the evening’s screenings for a filmmaker hangout at LUCIE (120 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02116)!
Q&A to follow. Then join us at LUCIE for a post-film opening night party!
The Boston Comics in Color Festival [BCICF] is a family-friendly event for all ages focusing on creators of color and stories by and about people of color.
Join ROXFILM at the Comics in Color Festival on April 26th for an exciting screening and conversation with talented Black animators Pat Stout and Asa Palmer, whose passion for storytelling uplifts the community. They are the creators of Sentinel 6, an Afro-futuristic anime set on a post-war Earth following an invasion by intergalactic terrorists. Also joining the discussion is Gabriel Joy Reid—a cartoonist, filmmaker, animator, and illustrator working across live-action, animation, and comics. Gabriel is dedicated to storytelling and collaborating with other passionate creators to amplify diverse and underrepresented voices in the industry.
Don’t miss this inspiring event!
The Roxbury International Film Festival is the largest New England festival dedicated to celebrating films by, for and about people of color around the world. The Studios, in conjunction with the festival, presents two films, Come On In by Daniel Callahan and Paul Laurence Dunbar: Beyond the Mask by Frederick Lewis. Both screenings are followed by talkbacks with the directors.
sponsored by Boston Global Bridge Institute
COME ON IN
Callahan’s directorial debut centers on a jaded artist who returns home after not making it in the big city, only to find a life empty of meaning and a soul-emptying job. But when he encounters a mysterious voice at work an uncanny journey ensues in which the lines between his reality and fantasy, past and present, dream and nightmare begin to blur. WATCH THE TRAILER
Directed by Daniel Callahan. Daniel Callahan is a multimedia artist, filmmaker and designer. Merging a legion of disciplines including painting, digital photography, film, music, writing and performance, Daniel works to craft immersive experiences incorporating story, ritual, and the human form to explore aspects of resilience and mysticism.
Q&A with the Director to follow.
Paul Laurence Dunbar: Beyond the Mask
Paul Laurence Dunbar: Beyond the Mask explores the life of the first nationally renowned African American writer, known for poems like “We Wear the Mask” and “Sympathy.” Highlighting his literary legacy and activism against Jim Crow laws, the film features Maya Angelou and examines Dunbar’s complex navigation of race and art during the turn of the century. WATCH THE TRAILER
Directed by Frederick Lewis. Frederick Lewis, a writer, director, and professor at Ohio University’s School of Media Arts & Studies, creates award-winning documentaries featured on PBS and screened at venues like the National Gallery of Art. A Presidential Teacher Award recipient, he’s taught globally, including as a Fulbright Specialist in Hungary.
Q&A with the Director to follow.
Films introduced by ROXFILM Board Member Andrea Lyman
Andrea Lyman is honored to be invited to represent ROXFILM Festival at The Studios of Key West “Riff on ROXFILM”. Andrea on the board of Roxbury International Film Festival (RoxFilm Festival). She is currently the New England Local President of SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild-American Federation Of Television and Radio Artists), a co-director of the Actors Forum of The Secret Society Of Black Creatives and on the Executive Board of the Greater Boston Labor Council. She plays the Leah, the mother, in Daniel Callahan’s award winning film COME ON IN which premiered at RoxFilm Festival. She has enjoyed appearing in several films over the years at RoxFilm Festival and is in a few films that have been submitted for consideration in the upcoming RoxFilmFestival in June 20-July 2, 2025. She can be seen in films currently touring the film festival circuit such as UGLY SWEATER which is scheduled for its first LA screening at the Pan-African Film Festival and the horror film, CROOKED FINGER and romcom PLUS 1’S (premiered at RoxFilm Festival). Andrea has played real life characters in the historical docudrama films HALF THE HISTORY: ELLEN GARRISON: AN ACTIVIST’S STORY playing Ellen Garrison (she also plays Ellen Garrison in a special film created for the upcoming 250th celebration of Concord, MA) and in NEGRO ELECTION DAY playing the Phyllis wife of the King. Andrea truly loves singing and performed in the Boston stage productions of MOMOLOGUES: THE MUSICAL. She performs her one woman musical show BROADWAY LADY. Andrea has performed in Radio City Music Hall’s CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR, ION-TV’s A SNOW WHITE CHRISTMAS.
JOIN ROXFILM FOR A SPECIAL FREE HOLIDAY SCREENING OF JINGLE JANGLE!
Come by early at 4PM for food, treats, and fun!
Check out our pre-recorded Q&A with the filmmakers David E. Talbert and Lyn Sisson-Talbert here!
—
JINGLE JANGLE
Directed by David E. Talbert. (USA 2020, 02:02:00)
From the mind of writer/director David E. Talbert, Jingle Jangle tells the story of Jeronicus Jangle (Forest Whitaker), a beloved toy maker who loses hope after a series of unfortunate events, including his trusted apprentice stealing his prized book of inventions. A few days before Christmas, Jeronicus’s estranged daughter Jessica (Anika Noni Rose) sends her own daughter and budding inventor Journey (Madalen Mills) to spend time with her grandfather. Over the course of a few days and misadventures, Journey fights past Jeronicus’s tough exterior and gets him to believe in magic—and himself—once again. Trailer.
Sunday, December 8, 2024 | 4:00 - 8:00pm | Hibernian Hall (184 Dudley St., Roxbury, MA 02119)
A Winter NubianLand is finally here! Join us for an evening celebrating the vibrant artists and merchants of the Roxbury Cultural District. Enjoy the sweet sounds of Roxbury’s own Fred Woodard Collective, motivating Hip Hop and Spoken Word by Teen Empowerment, inspiring vocals of Karim Johnson, live art making with Alexis Smith, and many more! Arts and craft vendors will be available for your holiday shopping as you enjoy delectable bites from featured restaurants in the Roxbury Cultural District.
Immerse yourself in the rich culture, music, and flavors of the Roxbury Cultural District. From shopping, dancing + discussion to mouth-watering cuisine, this event promises to be an unforgettable experience. Take a free guided tour of the district led by Live Like a Local Tours and learn about the historic significance of the region. Space for the tour is limited, reserve your seat at info@roxburyculturaldistrict.com
This all-ages event is free and open to the public! Get your tickets now!
Saturday, December 7, 2024 | 1:00 - 8:00pm | Black Market: Nubian Square (2136 Washington St, Boston, MA 02119)
The Kreative Konvergence focuses on uniting diverse voices in the creative and film industry, providing a platform for ideas and connections to flourish. It aims to generate collaborative energy, fostering change and growth in a harmonious manner during uncertain times. Come out to experience the possibilities in the wake of change in our country and our industry.
Stay and celebrate with us afterward at the SSBC holiday gathering to wrap up the year.
Schedule:
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM — State of the Union Address
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM — What we want to offer to DO ABOUT IT!
5:30 PM - 8:00 PM — Holiday Party
Nov 06, 2024 - 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM EST
This event will be held in person.
Where: Hibernian Hall, 184 Dudley Street, Roxbury, MA 02119
Vocal warmups, tongue twisters, physical warmups, emotional preparation, getting out of your head and into the scene, improvisation, and more! This workshop is for every actor who may be bored with their preparation and those just entering the world of how to prepare for auditions, callbacks, and filming.
All are welcome to this special New England SAG-AFTRA Conservatory, in collaboration with the Roxbury International Film Festival, and presented by Secret Society of Black Creatives Actors Forum members, and SAG-AFTRA members David J. Curtis, Liz Eng, Naheem Garcia and Andrea Lyman.
This Actor Prep Workshop is open to all SAG-AFTRA members and the general public!
Click here for information on public transit, driving directions, and where to park at Hibernian Hall
RSVP: Reservations are required.
October 22-27, 2024 | Various Venues, In Person + Virtual
Join us in supporting our friends at GlobeDocs Film Festival as they host their 2024 film festival this month!
GlobeDocs 2024 celebrates the true stories told in documentary films, and the artists and visionaries who bring them to life. The 10th Annual GlobeDocs Film Festival October 22 - 27, 2024 will feature both in-person and virtual film screenings followed by engaging conversations with Globe journalists and filmmakers.
RoxFilm is co-presenting the following screening:
ERNEST COLE: LOST AND FOUND - New England Premiere!
Sunday, October 27, 2024 | 1:00PM | Brattle Theatre
Directed by Raoul Peck; Produced by Tamara Rosenberg, Raoul Peck; Cast: LaKeith Stanfield
(France 2024, 105 minutes)
In this Cannes prize winner for best documentary, Oscar-nominated filmmaker Raoul Peck (I Am Not Your Negro) chronicles the life and remarkable work of Ernest Cole, one of the first Black freelance photographers in South Africa. Cole fled South Africa in 1966, lived in exile in the U.S., and published his landmark book of photographs, House of Bondage, which denounced apartheid and cemented Cole’s place as one of the great photographers of his time (at the young age of 27). Following his death, more than 60,000 of Cole’s 35mm film negatives were inexplicably discovered in a bank vault in Stockholm, Sweden in 1997. Telling his own story through his writings, and the recollections of those closest to him, ERNEST COLE: LOST AND FOUND is a fascinating reintroduction of a pivotal Black artist to a new generation.
October 17-27, 2024 | Various Venues, In Person + Virtual
Join us in supporting our friends at the Boston Asian American Film Festival as they host their 2024 film festival this month!
The Boston Asian American Film Festival (BAAFF) empowers Asian Americans through film by showcasing Asian American experiences and serving as a resource to filmmakers and the Greater Boston Community. The festival is here for YOU—to see and been seen, to hear and be heard— as individuals exploring the joys and challenges of a collective community. Check out the festival trailer here.
from Roxbury Cultural District:
Welcome to the Roxbury Cultural District Convening!
Join us on Thu Oct 03 2024 at 5:30pm at Hibernian Hall for a night of celebration and community building.
This event will bring together artists, activists, and community members to discuss the rich cultural heritage of Roxbury. Come share your ideas, connect with like-minded individuals, and help shape the future of our vibrant neighborhood.
Don't miss out on this opportunity to be part of something special!
• Keynote Speaker: Michael Bobbitt, Executive Director of Mass Cultural Council
• Cultural Pulse Survey Review: Presentation of survey data and insights
• Stakeholder Presentations: Hear from various stakeholders about their contributions and plans
• Resource Share: Stakeholder vendor tables providing information and resources
• Community Engagement: Opportunities for community members to connect and collaborate
• Interactive Discussions: Open forums to discuss future initiatives and strengthen our commitment to the community
Our website:
https://roxburyculturaldistrict.com
Check out Lisa Simmons and Nerissa Williams-Scott on the “The State of Black Storytelling in Film and Television” panel happening at 11:45am!
Black Media: Pioneers Then and Now is a day-long symposium created to highlight Black media professionals and their innovative and important work in the journalism, PR, marketing, advertising, and film industries. Our symposium speakers have broken barriers in their fields, amplified Black voices and stories, and navigated the challenges that still exist for Black storytellers and communications professionals. Their experiences and perspectives will be shared on panels ranging in topics from the future of antiracist journalism to cultivating diverse talent in the media industry. Attendees will network with other media professionals, gain insight into their own careers and ambitions, and celebrate the important work–past, present, and future–of Black media.
Location: Coolidge Corner Theatre. Movie House 5.
“Join us for the BlackBox Film Festival, hosted in conjunction with the Black Media Symposium, to view exemplary short films from Black student filmmakers across the North East.
Films will be judged by a talented and accomplished group of professional filmmakers and the top films from our submission will be screened!
Come watch the winning shorts on September 23 to celebrate the art of film and the talented Black creators who are breaking into the industry!
Refreshments will be served at the reception after the screening.”
