Inaugural Bermuda Black Film Festival In October

The inaugural Bermuda Black Film Festival will be held from October 15–18, 2026, with a theme of ’Connecting Voices Across the Diaspora.’

A spokesperson said, “Bermuda will take its place at the centre of an important global cultural conversation when the inaugural Bermuda Black Film Festival which launches the 15th to the 18th of October 2026.

“Presented under the theme ‘Connecting Voices Across the Diaspora,’ the four-day event will bring together more than 20 films from over 15 countries and territories, including Bermudian filmmakers, young creatives and visiting film professionals from major international markets, including Los Angeles, New York, Atlanta and Nollywood.

“Film submissions were received from the United States, Jamaica, the US Virgin Islands, Curaçao, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Cabo Verde, Algeria, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands and Sweden.

“More than a film screening event, the Bermuda Black Film Weekend is being established as a new platform for education, cultural exchange, professional development and economic opportunity. Its goal is to position Bermuda as a meeting point for conversations about Black identity, history, culture and the future of storytelling across Africa, the Caribbean, North America, Europe and the wider African diaspora. As a majority-Black island with a history shaped by the Atlantic, Bermuda holds a distinctive place within this global story.”

“Bermuda is not on the edge of the Black Atlantic. We are at its heart,” said Dr Dana Selassie, Founder and Festival Director of the Bermuda Black Film Festival. “Our island has always stood at the crossroads of Africa, the Caribbean, North America and Europe. This festival allows Bermuda to become a gathering place where stories, ideas, skills and opportunities can move across those borders.”

Storytelling As A Tool For Cultural Understanding

A spokesperson added, “Film has the power to preserve history, challenge harmful narratives, inspire dialogue and help communities better understand themselves and one another.

“The Bermuda Black Film Festival celebrates the Black experience in all its complexity while welcoming filmmakers of every background whose work authentically explores Black lives, histories, identities and futures.

“The festival is therefore not limited to Black filmmakers. Its focus is the quality, integrity and cultural importance of the stories being told.

“Through screenings, panel discussions and filmmaker conversations, audiences will be invited to examine how storytelling can address generational trauma, identity, belonging, social change and the cultural connections shared by communities across the diaspora.”

“The stories of the Black Atlantic are not waiting to be discovered. They are already here,” Dr Selassie said. “What has often been missing is access—to the rooms, resources, networks and decision-makers that can help those stories reach the world.”

Building Skills, Networks And Global Pathways

A spokesperson added, “Education and industry development are central to the festival’s mission. International filmmakers, directors, producers, executives and other industry professionals are travelling to Bermuda to share their expertise with Bermudian and Caribbean storytellers. The programme will provide opportunities for local creatives to strengthen their skills, build meaningful professional relationships and better understand pathways into the global film and television industries.

“The festival also seeks to create long-term opportunities for Bermuda’s creative economy by encouraging international collaboration, attracting cultural visitors and demonstrating the island’s potential as a destination for filmmaking, professional development and film-industry dialogue.”

“Bermuda has talented filmmakers and storytellers,” Dr Selassie said. “This festival is about helping them gain the skills, relationships, visibility and industry access required to expand beyond our shores—while also encouraging the global industry to recognise the talent and opportunity that already exist here.”

“We did not build a table and wait for others to sit at it. We are building an ecosystem, with Bermuda at its centre, where international filmmakers and executives can meet our storytellers as collaborators and partners.”

Opening Night Honours Three Black Men: A Journey Into The Magical Otherwise

A spokesperson added, “The festival’s highest honour, the Black Atlantic Storytelling Award, will be presented to Three Black Men: A Journey into the Magical Otherwise, directed by Los Angeles filmmaker Sienna McLean-LoGreco.

“The film follows three Black men as they retrace the transatlantic slave route in reverse—from Los Angeles to Salvador da Bahia and then to Accra. Their journey through the Door of No Return confronts generational trauma while reimagining Black male identity, healing and liberation.

“The award-winning film will open the festival during The Black Carpet: Opening Night Experience on Thursday, 15 October, at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute. The screening will be followed by a curated conversation featuring international and Bermudian film-industry professionals.”

“Three Black Men touches the heart,” Dr Selassie said. “It travels the route our ancestors were forced to take and returns carrying what they were never allowed to hold: freedom on their own terms. For Bermuda, an island shaped by that same Atlantic Ocean and history, there could be no more meaningful film with which to open our inaugural festival.”

Investing In Bermuda’s Next Generation

A spokesperson added, “Thursday, 15 October is the GIFTED Youth Film Summit—Girls in Film, Technology, Entertainment and Design.

“This summit will welcome 50 girls between the ages of 13 and 18 from across Bermuda for hands-on workshops led by visiting international guests and Bermudian filmmakers. Young men with an interest in filmmaking are also welcome to participate.

“The initiative responds to the continued underrepresentation of women in film-industry leadership, cinematography, production and other technical and decision-making roles.

“The free summit is open for all young women interested to attend and is made possible by key Youth Sponsor CONVEX and supported by Education, Industry and Skills Partner, the Ministry of Education.

Festival Highlights

The Black Carpet: Opening Night Experience

Thursday, 15 October | 6 p.m. | BUEI

• Black Carpet welcome reception
• Award-winning opening film
• Complimentary signature cocktail and hors d’oeuvres
• Film-executive fireside networking
• Film screening
• Post film conversations with international guest film executives and producers

She Creates: Celebrating Women in Cinema

Friday, 16 October | BUEI

• A full day of screenings and conversations by and about women
• Industry panels featuring women working across the creative industries
• World premiere of A Christmas Conflict by award-winning actress and producer Tangi Miller
• Ms Jobson, the story of Diane Jobson, Bob Marley’s lawyer and Jamaica’s celebrated “Rasta lawyer”

Roots, Rock, Revolution: Stories. Power. Change.

Saturday, 17 October | BUEI

• Diasporic and island-centred films
• Rediscovering Fanon by Rico Speight
• Discussion with Black male filmmakers and executives
• Conversations about culture, politics, identity and the African diaspora

Closing Film and Inaugural Awards

Saturday, 17 October | 6 p.m. | BUEI

• Closing feature presentation
• Filmmaker conversation
• Inaugural Bermuda Black Film Festival Awards

Industry Workshop: From Vision to Screen

Sunday, 18 October | 12:30–2:30 p.m.

• Practical, cinema-style professional development
• Directing, cinematography and editing
• Production and project development
• Film funding and distribution
• Direct access to international and local industry professionals

“Spaces for the Industry Workshop are limited.

Tickets And Festival Passes

“Tickets and passes are available as follows: Black Carpet tickets are on GPass Festival tickets are on ByBermuda from Oct 1

“Options include:

• The Black Carpet: Opening Night Experience
• Individual screening tickets
• Day passes
• VIP Festival Pass, including festival screenings, the Industry Workshop and Awards night.

“Availability is limited for selected events.

About The Bermuda Black Film Festival

“Produced by Zhyon International Ltd., the Bermuda Black Film Festival celebrates Black film, television, storytelling, culture and creative industries from Bermuda, the Caribbean, Africa, North America, the United Kingdom and across the African diaspora.

“The festival welcomes filmmakers from all backgrounds whose work explores and celebrates Black experiences, histories, cultures and futures.

“Led by Founder and Festival Director Dr Dana Selassie, the festival team also includes Festival Producer Sia Spence, an award-winning screenwriter.

“The Bermuda Black Film Weekend: Founders Edition, taking place from 15–18 October 2026, is the organisation’s inaugural event and the beginning of its vision to establish Bermuda as a boutique international destination for Black cinema, cultural exchange and film-industry development.”

Festival website: www.bermudablackfilmfestival.com

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