2025 Festival Itinerary

The Festival Itinerary will always be subject to change without notice.
ALL SCREENINGS TAKE PLACE AT MV PERFORMING ARTS CENTER. REGISTRATION & INFORMATION BEGINS EVERYDAY AT 10:30am.

MV Performing Arts Center
100 Edgartown Vineyard Haven Road
Oak Bluffs, MA 02557

Presenting Sponsor

Official Media Sponsor

Thursday 7/31

SPECIAL EVENT

8:00pm – 9:30pm

presents

followed by

with
Luke James, Actor
Lynn Whitfield, Actor
Yolonda Ross, Actor
Johnathan Landrum Jr., Associated Press (moderator)

Friday 8/1

BLK#1

11:00am – 1:00pm

BLK#2

2:00pm – 4:00pm

followed by

with
Michael Jay Tollin, Director
William “Bill” Rhoden, Sports Columnist and Editor-at-Large at Andscape

BLK#3

5:00pm – 7:00pm

followed by

with
Andre Gaines, Director
André Holland, Actor
Aldis Hodge, Actor

BLK#4

8:00pm – 9:30pm

present

followed by

with
Spike Lee
LaChanze
John Douglas Thompson
Ilfenesh Hadera

PARTY

9:00pm – 1:00am

OPENING NIGHT PARTY

11 Circuit Ave.
Oak Bluffs, MA 02557

Join us in kicking off the 23rd MVAAFF with our Opening Night Party—an unforgettable celebration of Black Excellence in Film.
 All Access, Day Pass only, Single Ticket Holders. 

sponsored by

Saturday 8/2

BLK#5

11:00am – 1:00pm

BLK#6

2:00pm – 4:00pm

BLK#7

5:00pm – 6:30pm

followed by

with
Emmai Alaquiva 
Director, The Ebony Canal
Brenda Gilbert 
Executive Producer
Alana Yzola-Daly 
Associate Producer
Gabrielle “Gabby” Albert 
Executive Director, 4Kira4Moms 
Dr. Madeline Sutton 
Board-Certified OB/GYN  

BLK#8

7:30pm – 9:30pm

followed by

with
Chazitear, Director
Lil Rel Howery, Producer
Bree West & Chuck West, Producers
Barshea Lowery, Saint

BLK#8A

10:30pm – 12:10pm

Sunday 8/3

BLK#9

11:00am – 1:00pm

BLK#10

2:00pm – 3:30pm

followed by

with
Dr. Sharon Malone, Chief Medical Officer, Alloy

Moderator: Hopi Noel Morton, Founder, Deeply

BLK#11

4:30pm – 6:30pm

BLK#12

7:30pm – 9:30pm

BLK#13

10:30pm – 12:30am

Monday 8/4

BLK#14

11:00am – 1:00pm

BLK#15

2:00pm – 4:00pm

BLK#16

5:00pm – 7:00pm

BLK#17

8:00pm – 9:30pm

BLK#17A

10:30pm – 12:00am

RECEPTION

6:00pm – 9:00pm

OPENING RECEPTION

Pass Holders and Ticket Holders Only

Martha’s Vineyard Museum
151 Lagoon Pond Rd.
Vineyard Haven, MA 02568

Join us as we salute the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival and discuss the importance of this historic museum.

sponsored by

Tuesday 8/5

BLK#18

11:00am – 1:00pm

BLK#19

2:00pm – 4:00pm

BLK#20

5:00pm – 6:00pm

presents

BLK#21

7:00pm – 9:30pm

with
Bethann Hardison, Co-Director
Lindsay Peoples, The Cut Editor-in-chief

followed by

presented by

BLK#22

10:30pm – 1:00am

Free Community Screening 

Wednesday 8/6

BLK#23

11:00am – 12:30pm

BLK#24

2:00pm – 4:00pm

followed by

with
Chris Charles Scott, Director
Talia L. Young, President & CEO – Newark Performing Arts Corporation – Newark Symphony Hall

BLK#25

5:00pm – 6:30pm

presents

followed by

with
Cole Brown, Creator/Executive Producer
Charles Todd, Director

BLK#26

7:30pm – 9:30pm

followed by

with

Stanley Nelson, Director
Nicole London, Co-Director
Marcus Miller, Musician
dream hampton, Moderator

BLK#26A

10:30pm – 12:00am

Thursday 8/7

BLK#27

11:00am – 12:30pm

BLK#28

1:30pm – 3:00pm

presents

followed by

with
Osato Dixon, Director/Co-writer
Kelley Robins Hicks, Producer
Jamund Washington, Producer
Kara Murphy, Co-writer
Shelley Stewart III, Senior Partner and Global Leader, Reputation & Engagement
Moderated by Frank Holland, CNBC Anchor

BLK#29

4:00pm – 5:00pm

Netflix logo

presents

with
Geeta Gandbhir, Director
Soledad O’Brien, Executive Producer
Alisa Payne, Producer
Pamela Dias, Participant
Iyabo Boyd, Moderator

BLK#30

6:00pm – 7:10pm

presents

BLK#31

8:00pm – 10:00pm

BLK#32

10:30pm – 12:00am

PARTY

6:00pm – 9:00pm

SUMMER WHITE PARTY

Island Inn Conference Center
30 Island Inn Road
Oak Bluffs, MA 02557

Rain or Shine.
Must wear white, no exceptions.

sponsored by

AFTER PARTY

10:00pm – 1:00am

SUMMER WHITE AFTER PARTY

11 Circuit Ave.
Oak Bluffs, MA 02557

Admission for all advance ticket holders, All-Access and Thursday Day Pass holders only.

Must wear white, no exceptions.

sponsored by

Friday 8/8

BLK#33

11:00am – 1:00pm

BLK#34/35

2:30pm – 5:00pm

BLK#36

6:00pm – 7:00pm

presents

followed by

with
Courtney Glaudé, Director/Writer
Antoinetta Stallings, VP of Development & Acquisitions/Producer
Devale Ellis, Actor
Josh Smith, Moderator

BLK#37

8:00pm – 9:30pm

presents

followed by

with
Tracee Ellis Ross
Lindsay Peoples, The CUT Editor-in-Chief

BLK#38

10:30pm – 12:10am

Saturday 8/9

BLK#39

11:00am – 1:00pm

BLK#40

2:00pm – 3:00pm

present

followed by

with
Ryan Clark, ESPN Commentator
Julian Gooden, ESPN’s E60 Director
Karen Greenfield, SVP, Inclusive Content & Engagement
Traci A. Curry, Nat Geo Director

BLK#41

4:00pm – 5:15pm

presents

BLK#42

6:15pm – 7:15pm

BLK#43

8:15pm – 10:15pm

presents

followed by

with
Issa Rae, Executive Producer
Montrel McKay, Executive Producer
Giselle Bailey, Film by, Director/Producer
Phil Bertelsen, Director/Producer

CLOSING PARTY

9:00pm – 1:00am

The Bon Voyage Closing Party

11 Circuit Ave, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557

Admission for advance ticket holders, All-Access and Saturday Day Pass holders only