Milwaukee Film’s sixth annual Black History Month celebration will showcase film screenings curated by its Black Lens program throughout February.
“From our opening night presentation of Beyoncé’s concert film Renaissance, 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, 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, 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,” Black Lens Programmer Marquise Mays said in a press release.
It’s time to pick your Milwaukee favorites for the year!
Milwaukee Film’s 2024 Black History Month series features original artwork produced by Milwaukee-based artist Liv Burks.
“This artwork serves as a celebration of blackness, highlighting the multifaceted nature of identity and the joy that comes from embracing one’s heritage,” Burks said. “The use of lively colors and fun shapes evokes a sense of energy symbolizing the resilience and strength of Black individuals and communities. 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.”
Black History Month Film Lineup:
- Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé – Feb. 1 (opening night film)
- The 50 – Feb. 3
- Boomerang – Feb. 8 (with post-screening retrospective discussion)
- “Treasured Heirlooms” – Feb. 10 (Black Lens Shorts Program)
- Nanny – Feb. 15 (with post-screening retrospective discussion)
- Invisible Beauty – Feb. 17
- Girl – Feb. 20
- Know Your Place – Feb. 24
- Gaining Ground: The Fight for Black Land – Feb. 29 (closing night film)
