SAN ANTONIO, TX – The San Antonio Black International Film Festival (SABIFF) is returning for its sixth year for a festival set to run October 4th - October 6th 2024. This year's theme focuses on health and wellness titled: * reFocus * reCharge * reFresh, with a special spotlight on Texas Black film Creatives. The festival is condensed to three-days this year to accomplish internal structuring aligned with the theme. SABIFF 2024 will take place live at established popular venues in District II, which include: The Carver Community Cultural Center, The Little Carver Theater, The Carver Library. We welcome Tanks Pizza, Tony G’s Soul Food restaurant, and the Aiden Hotel which is also the festival’s host hotel. This hybrid Festival’s detailed information, film previews, tickets and schedules can be obtained at www.sabiff.tv.
Coined as SABIFF’s ‘Black Friday’, 10/4th kicks-off with a school enrichment day with a student field trip that entails film-related panels, workshops and shorts designed to expose students to Black industry professionals, and offer workshops, short film screenings, and film forums led this year by local Texas the industry professionals that share practical information to compliment learning outside of the classroom that connect to the wellness theme. Participant ‘reel talk’ interviews will also stream to virtual audiences during the festival as well. SABIFF 2024 allows for new relationships and opportunities between filmmakers, students and aspiring film Creatives. The evening continues with a networking happy-hour, and a directors panel.
October 5th is designated as SABIFF’s ‘Soul Saturday’. This day exhibits the heart & soul of the festival with a diverse mix of narratives, documentaries, shorts, student films, and music videos from Open Call film selections, showcased simultaneously on 2-screens on Hackberry Street’s Big & Little Carvers. Empowering workshops by Texas Creatives at the Carver Library range from: acting reimagined, -production dream to reality, to -developing humor in scripting; all intrinsic to wellness. The evening cools down with a family-friendly community night of Cinema Under The Stars and an evening market bustling with a park-load of wellness activities, DJ music, health information tables, vendors and food trucks. The SA premiere of the romantic comedy; “THE BEAUTIFUL STRUGGLE” by native Texas filmmaker’ Rock White, who will present his indie film in the beautifully renovated Lockwood-Dignowity Park. SA Comedian Clifton Simmons will host this festive free event open to the public. It is recommended that the Community brings their blankets and lawn chairs to enjoy a fun filled evening from 7 - 11 pm.
In partnership with Tony G’s Soul Food restaurant is ‘Sunday Glory’ SABIFF 2024’s awards brunch on October 6th. This closing day recognizes filmmakers, films, and presents a new local Ubuntu Community Award, inspired by the South African Zulu philosophy on Huminism paraphrased as “I Am Because We Are.” “For our sixth year, our inaugural award focuses on wellness through educational and artistic work in youth development, said SABIFF founder/Director, Ada M. Babineaux.
SABIFF 2024 grant support has been provided by: SA Film Commission, H-E-B, and San Antonio Area Foundation. Also included is a mini-Walmart Source for Good Community Grant, as well as community donations.
For interviews with SABIFF Founder/Director, Texas filmmakers or Creative participants, as well as additional information; see press contact above. Film schedules, activities, venues, tickets, guest participants and more can be found at www.sabiff.tv. Follow #SABIFF on social media platforms as well.