Milwaukee Film Announces Programming for Black History Month 2024

MILWAUKEE – Friday, January 5th – Milwaukee Film‘s sixth annual Black History Month celebration will showcase engaging and entertaining film screenings curated by its Black Lens program throughout February.

Screenings include titles such as Boomerang, the 1992 Eddie Murphy-helmed cult-status classic romantic comedy, set to be followed in the cinema by in a retrospective talkback about Black romance and kinship onscreen; Invisible Beauty, a feature-length documentary that highlights an untold chapter in the fight for racial diversity in the fashion industry, as Bethann Hardison looks back on her journey as a pioneering Black model, modeling agent, and activist; and Know Your Place, the feature directorial debut from Zia Mohajerjasbi that follows a young Eritrean-American boy as he confronts the realities of change and loss.

“To kick off the momentous tenth-anniversary celebration of the Black Lens program, Milwaukee Film is thrilled to present an exceptional selection of films during Black History Month. This film series is dedicated to the theme of reclamation—reclaiming ourselves, our stories, our genres, and our vibrant futures,” said Black Lens Programmer Marquise Mays. “The purpose extends beyond mere acknowledgment; it’s about embedding ourselves firmly into the fabric of cinema. From our opening night presentation of Beyoncé’s concert film Renaissance (2022), where attendees are encouraged to dress up in silver to celebrate the film’s themes of Black pride and community, to the poignant British feature film debut Girl (2023), which delves into the yearning of girlhood between a mother and a daughter, to an Al Roker-produced documentary that explores the current landscape and challenges for Black farmlands in the film Gaining Ground (2023), this series aims to celebrate our past, reclaim often overlooked aspects of our existence, and inspire an imaginative journey towards a luminous future in cinema-making.”

“Having the opportunity to be a part of Black Lens and program for such a monumental year is exciting! Black Lens has captivated audiences with notable films and stories where audience members can relate, empathize, or simply reminisce in nostalgia—and have been able to do that for 10 years? That’s no easy feat. It’s amazing!” said Community Programming Coordinator Deiva Motley. “For Black History Month 2024, the programming is focused on reclaiming our stories, exploring our identities, and looking to the future. Marquise and I hope to make the Black Lens audience that has shown such excellent support for the last decade proud of what we can offer in February.”

Milwaukee Film’s 2024 Black History Month series features original artwork produced by Liv Burks. “What color and vibrancy my blackness holds,” said Liv Burks, in regards to the importance of Black History Month. “This artwork serves as a celebration of blackness, highlighting the multifaceted nature of identity and the joy that comes from embracing one’s heritage. The use of lively colors and fun shapes evokes a sense of energy symbolizing the resilience and strength of black individuals and communities.”

Burks continues, “I love to paint blackness in an abstract way so the viewer is able to find their own story, their own inspiration and their beauty in blackness. There is a celebration within us. Happy Black History Month.”

Black History Month Films:

• RENAISSANCE: A FILM BY BEYONCÉ – OPENING NIGHT FILM – 2/1/24
• THE 50 – 2/3/24
• BOOMERANG w/ Post Screening Retrospective Discussion – 2/8/24
• TREASURED HEIRLOOMS – Black Lens Shorts Program – 2/10/24
• NANNY w/ Post Screening Retrospective Discussion – 2/15/24
• INVISIBLE BEAUTY – 2/17/24
• GIRL – 2/20/24
• KNOW YOUR PLACE – 2/24/24
• GAINING GROUND: THE FIGHT FOR BLACK LAND – CLOSING NIGHT FILM 2/29/24

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.