By Mabel Pais

Screening

ASHWIN CHAUDHARY’S Blind Eye Artist

VIVEK BALD & ALAUDIN ULLAH’S In Search of Bengali Harlem

LHAPAL GYAL’S The Great Distance Delivers Crane

AKIL GIBBONS’ Harlem Is Nowhere                                                

and more

Art sensation JUSTIN WADLINGTON in Blind Eye Artist

ART displayed at the fest

RON CARTER receives the RENAISSANCE AWARD 

Special Live Performance by REGGIE AUSTIN & HIS BAND

The 2023 Harlem International Film Festival (Hi) with STARZ (2023 Luminary Partner) presents its 18th edition – a hybrid event. The in-person screenings happen May 18-28. The in-person screenings take place at AMC Magic Johnson Harlem 9 Theaters (2309 Frederick Douglass Blvd), with the Harlem International Film Festival and Columbia University Zuckerman Institute’s free-to-the-public screenings at The Forum (601 West 125th Street), and the Maysles Documentary Center (343 Malcolm X Blvd.).

With a music theme running throughout the festival, this year’s film lineup will once again celebrate and showcase relatively undiscovered international cinematic gems and local New York filmmaking talent with a special focus on Harlem artists. Hi’s lineup features 64 films, including 35 features (14 narrative, 21 documentary), 29 shorts (20 narrative, 9 documentary), 2 television episodes, and 2 VR projects.

Harlem International Film Festival’s Program Director, Nasri Zacharia, said. “This year we are celebrating over a century of Harlem Renaissance and Resilience with an amazing slate of films from the area.” “This year, music runs throughout our schedule with amazing documentaries, very special honorees, culminating in a big day of music films and a special live performance on Sunday, the 21st. This film festival has always emphasized the idea of being a festival with exciting and entertaining events inspired by the films we screen, and this year really underlines that idea.”

VIRTUAL FILM LINEUP

Following the opening in-person weekend, the film festival will continue virtually.

2023 Hi FEST FILM LINEUP

OPENING NIGHT DOUBLE FEATURE 

Thursday, May 18 at AMC Magic Johnson Harlem 9 Theaters (2309 Frederick Douglass Blvd)

Blow Up My Life – New York Premiere 

Dirs: Ryan Dickie, Abigail Horton l USA l 1h 21m

Jason, a disillusioned pharmaceutical employee (Jason Selvig), is fired after a drug fueled social media post goes viral, but when he accidentally discovers a deadly opioid conspiracy hidden by his former boss (Davram Steifler) he sets out to redeem himself. In this homage to noir comedy thrillers set in the age of tech, Jason goes on the run as a reluctant whistleblower trying to expose the crime with the help of his computer whiz cousin Charlie (Kara Young), but the CEO (Ben Horner) at the heart of the scandal has other plans.

Preceded by

InVade                                                                                   

Dir: Eunice Levis l USA l 15m

An undocumented scientist and his son try to stop an environmental disaster.

Paris Is In Harlem – Manhattan Premiere                                       

Dir: Christina Kallas l USA l 1h 41m

On the eve of New York City’s controversial “No Dancing” Law getting repealed, the lives of several strangers are forever changed by a shooting at a historic jazz bar in Harlem.

Both screening presentations will include appearances and post-screening Q&As with filmmakers, cast and crew.

FRIDAY SPOTLIGHT PRESENTATIONS

Friday, May 19

STARZ’ Run the World – Season 2 – World Premiere

Episode 1: “A Dream Deferred”

Dir: Rachael Holder

Whitney anxiously awaits the fate of her relationship, while Sondi and Renee are reminded by Ella that it’s never a bad time to choose yourself.

Episode 2: “Honeymoon’s Over”

Dir: Rachael Holder

Renee hustles to get her agency some business, as Sondi and Whitney are forced to face the reality of their new living situations.

Attending and participating in a special panel discussion following the screenings will be series stars Amber Stevens West, Bresha Webb, and Corbin Reid, with showrunner Rachelle Williams-BenAry.

In The Weeds – World Premiere

Dirs: Clayton P Allis, Doug E. Doug l USA l 1h 22m

Shaunte, a free-spirited girl from Harlem, has fallen for K, a handsome transplant from London, whose mental scars have been awoken by the pandemic.

Preceded by

I Held Him                                                                                            

Dir: Hans Augustave l USA l 8m

While a man falls deeper into the depths of pain and depression, his friend reluctantly chooses an uncomfortable solution to help him heal.

Doug E. Doug will attend and participate in a post-screening Q&A with additional filmmakers moderated by Malik Yoba.

Hi FILM FEST AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY’S ZUCKERMAN INSTITUTE 

Saturday, May 20, three free-to-the-public screenings at The Forum

Blind Eye Artist      

Dir: Ashwin Chaudhary l USA l 1h 16m

The origin story of painter Justin Wadlington, blind in his left eye.

The Right To Read – New York Premiere                                          

Dir: Jenny Mackenzie l USA l 1h 19m

The Right to Read shares the stories of an NAACP activist, a teacher, and two American families who fight to provide our youngest generation with the most foundational indicator of life-long success: the ability to read.

Harlem Shorts

At The Forum: a special package of Harlem Shorts, celebrating the best in local filmmaking this year.

MUSIC ICONS ONSCREEN

On Sunday, May 21, the HiFF features films putting music front and center

Besides, the above-mentioned films, the below films will be screened:

BronX BandA: Arturo O’Farrill & The Bronx (World Premiere),

The Sacred Place between Earth and Space (World Premiere),

Bonnie Blue: James Cotton’s Life in the Blues

Life & Life

Ron Carter: Finding The Right Notes

The film festival will honor Ron Carter with its Renaissance Award and will also present a special live performance by Reggie Austin and his band out of San Francisco.

ADDITIONAL IN-PERSON NARRATIVE FEATURES

There are 2 additional narratives.

ADDITIONAL IN-PERSON DOCUMENTARY FEATURES

There are 10 additional documentaries.

ADDITIONAL IN-PERSON SHORT FILMS 

There are 4 additional short films.

HYBRID PROGRAM – NARRATIVE FEATURES

There are 8 hybrid narrative features.

HYBRID PROGRAM – DOCUMENTARY FEATURES

There are 8 hybrid documentary features.

HYBRID PROGRAM – NARRATIVE SHORTS

There are 16 narrative shorts.

HYBRID PROGRAM – DOCUMENTARY SHORTS

There are 5 hybrid documentary shorts.

HYBRID PROGRAM – VIRTUAL REALITY (HARLEM360)

There are 2 virtual reality showings.

TICKETS

For updates, film festival passes, tickets, and more information on the Harlem International Film Festival, visit HarlemFilmFestival.org 

The Harlem International Film Festival (HiFF)

Learn more at HarlemFilmFestival.org

(Mabel Pais writes on The Arts and Entertainment, Social Issues, Health & Wellness, Cuisine, Spirituality, and Business)