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The 6th Anniversary Indianapolis Black Documentary Film Festival (IBDFF) will occur from Friday, August 15th to Sunday, August 17, 2025. This event spans three days and two venues: the Indianapolis Art Center and the Kan-Kan Cinema & Restaurant.
From historical figures to social justice movements, and personal journeys to artistic expression, these documentaries offer a window into the rich tapestry of Black life. The Spotlight Award ceremony will take place on opening night. This award goes to a person who has excelled in Filmmaking.
Attendees will buy the their ticket by Blocks at that cost $10 at each block. They can buy a day pass for $25.
Opening night tickets are $30.
Indianapolis Black Documentary Film Festival showcases documentaries about the African American experience that inspire socially conscious cultural discourse. Our dynamic group of collaborators is committed to fostering an appreciation for documentary films by maintaining a platform for filmmakers to share their work as catalysts for meaningful dialogue.
Opening Night- (At the Arts Center)
1. The Light of Truth: Richard Hunt’s Monument to Ida B. Wells
Runtime: 01:10
Rana Segal
This feature documentary weaves together sculptor Richard Hunt’s process and life story, with that of civil rights crusader, suffragist and antilynching activist, Ida B. Wells. Hunt creates the Light of Truth monument for the Bronzeville community at the former site of the Ida B. Wells Homes. Wells’ history and the sculptor’s history intersect in their mutual reaction and actions as they confront the injustices of racism with their work.
2. Equity & Ownership: Napoleon Wallace and the Reconstruction of Black Wealth
Runtime: 20:24
Block:1- (At the Arts Center)
Yuri Vaysgant
Napoleon Wallace left his position as NC’s deputy secretary of commerce and asked his wife for two years to pursue his vision of building multiple organizations around a comprehensive strategy to build Black wealth and bridge racial wealth gaps. He soon confronted a devastating diagnosis.
3. Love Letters
Runtime:12:00
Block:1- (At the Arts Center)
Niglmoro Okuk
At 20, graffiti writer Sight, faced 100+ felony charges and 34-years in prison for his art. Sight was able to reduce his sentence by fighting California wildfires but since his release his wages continue to be garnished for $70,000 in restitution. Sight refuses to give up his lifelong love affair with graffiti and today he wants the world to see graffiti as "the sigils of the people they tried to pave over," challenging a society that values property over human life.
4. Power of the Pen
Runtime: 13:59
Block:1- (At the Arts Center)
Shaun Sinclair
Power of the Pen is a story about the power of manifestation and art to liberate individuals beyond confinement.
5. Mama. I'm Different
Runtime: 12:26
Block: 1- (At the Arts Center)
Tabatha Trammell
In the documentary "i don't even know me yet", Staci is fighting to pursue her highest dreams while navigating the pressure of "being a credit to the race". Here, she addresses politics in the Black south, depression, love, music, and healing her inner child.
6. Hair Dream
Runtime: 01:04:34
Block: 2- (At the Arts Center)
Romel Nusdorfer
Following the work of sister stylists Sharie and Tonya, this film explores Black Hair past and present, challenging myths while celebrating the resilience and beauty of Black women's hair.
7. Welcome to School - A Documentary Celebrating 25 Years of Maya Angelou Schools
Runtime: 25:42
Block: 3- (At the Arts Center)
Kristin Adair (Unchained Stories)
Welcome to School is a documentary produced in 2023 by the Maya Angelou Schools and See Forever Foundation in conjunction with Unchained Stories, a social impact production company.
8. a film called black: King's Speech
Runtime: 19:20
Block: 3- (At the Arts Center)
Cam Be
A film called black’ is an evolving film. Each screening presents different elements to an ongoing conversation. Blackness. ‘King’s Speech’ is a short film that resides within the entirety of ‘a film called black.
9. 42 +Years For Nothing
Runtime:40:00
Block: 3- (At the Arts Center)
Lana Adams
After serving 38 years in prison for the rape and murder of an 8-year-old girl, David Bryant maintained his innocence. With the help of a nonprofit organization, he is released and sent home, but nothing could prepare him for what would happen next.
10. House Music: A Cultural Revolution
Runtime: 52:00
Block: 4- (At the Arts Center)
Barbara E Allen
House Music. It’s a sound that connects, uplifts, and unites. A sound that can be heard around the globe, and on music’s biggest stages. And it’s a sound that was born in Chicago.
11. The Kukus of Ijebu-Ode: A Family Portrait
Runtime: 01:12:50
Block: 4- (At the Arts Center)
Ahmed Olayinka Sule
"The Kukus of Ijebu-Ode: A Family Portrait" is a compelling cinematic journey through the heart of the Kuku Family, a powerful Yoruba dynasty that has significantly shaped the cultural, religious, and political landscape of Ijebu-Ode, South West Nigeria, for generations.
12. Redemption Road
Runtime: 58:00
Block: 5- (At the Arts Center)
Yusef Bunchy Shakur, Scott McCartney
Redemption Road chronicles the journey of Dr. Yusef Bunchy Shakur from gang member who was raised by his Black single mother in a deindustrialized Black Detroit in the 1980s to community leader.
13. Let Us Tell Our Story
Runtime: 48:29
Block: 5- (At the Arts Center)
Brian Christopher Campbell
Let Us Tell Our Story: Black Resilience in Northwest Georgia represents an acknowledgment. In a multicultural society with a history of structural racism, people from different populations need to talk honestly and acknowledge the trauma of historical and contemporary events to facilitate the reconciliation process.
14. A Black History Tour of St. Louis
Runtime: 01:25:36
Block: 6- (At the KANKAN Cinemas)
Tony West
Father Gerald Kleba, a St. Louisan and a priest for over fifty-five years, takes you on a Black History Tour of St. Louis, MO. He highlights the role the Catholic Church played in the complex development of this city founded twelve years before the United States
15. 33 Black Frog: An American Story
Runtime: 01:06:29
Block: 7- (At the KANKAN Cinemas)
Andre Ferguson
Against the backdrop of the Jim Crow era, this documentary chronicles the inspiring journey of one of the first African Americans to defy systemic racism and societal barriers to become a pioneering Navy UDT frogman. His story of resilience and triumph serves as a powerful testament to the human spirit and the early legacy of the Navy SEALs. This film is supported by Prince Georges Arts and Humanities Council.
16. Catching Bullets
Runtime: 01:24:17
Block: 8- (At the KANKAN Cinemas)
Ben Scholle
A generation ago, Darren sold dope. Behind a gun and a bullet-proof vest, he once made a name for himself in Walnut Park, one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in St. Louis — a city itself haunted by a perennially high murder rate.
17. Diligence
Runtime: 01:30:00
Block: 9- (At the KANKAN Cinemas)
Brooklyn True Heart Demme
The primary intention of Diligence is to inspire Black and Indigenous people who might have a legal pathway for reclaiming land stolen from their families (particularly land presently (mis-) classified as public cemeteries/parks).
18. Mushroom's Quest
Runtime: 18:32
Block: 10- (At the KANKAN Cinemas)
Dave Johnson
A compassionate and determined young woman, embarks on a heartfelt journey across continents to discover her roots. Armed with little more than a dream and a prayer, her story unfolds against a backdrop of hidden truths, unexpected revelations, and unwavering love.
19. Dancing With Waves
Runtime: 29:12
Block: 10- (At the KANKAN Cinemas)
Emmitt Thrower
Tammi Judge, the founder of a transformative dance program, leads young dancers on a journey of self-discovery and personal growth, using the power of movement to heal, inspire, and change their lives forever.
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