Reel Sisters of the Diaspora Film Festival & Lecture Series, the first Oscar Qualifying film festival dedicated to women filmmakers, has announced its 28th anniversary lineup, featuring a diverse slate of films exploring themes of healing, love, and community activism. The four-week festival will include a special awards ceremony co-presented with the Brooklyn Academy of Music, honoring trailblazing documentary filmmaker Samantha Knowles, director of Harlem Ice (Disney+). The festival will showcase films across genres including comedy, science fiction, drama, and documentary.
Reel Sisters has also announced a new partnership with 651 Arts, offering a full day of screenings on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025. In celebration of its 28th anniversary, cinephiles can purchase All Access Passes and tickets at reelsisters.org. Ticket prices are $12 ($8 for seniors/students), with a "Bring a Pal" discount of $6.50 for two or more tickets.
"We are proud to join our presenting partners 651 Arts, the Brooklyn Academy of Music and Center For Fiction in bringing world class films by women of color to Brooklyn," said Reel Sisters Founder Carolyn A. Butts. "From Harlem to Brooklyn, we're bringing families together to honor our stories during a time when our communities need to unite in power and faith."
Film enthusiasts can enjoy an array of enriching events including an awards ceremony, film premieres, a virtual showcase, and a special script reading co-presented with BRIC Media on Oct. 29th. The Reel Sisters Virtual Showcase will stream online from Oct. 25, 2025 through Nov. 10, 2025.
Festival highlights include the trailblazer award ceremony for Samantha Knowles on Oct. 22 at BAM, where award-winning documentary filmmaker Stacey Holman will present the award, and Peabody award-winning filmmaker Yoruba Richen will lead a conversation. Notable festival films include Camille A. Brown: Giant Steps, following the 4-time Tony-nominated choreographer; Boil the Cabbage, exploring the history of the banjo; Nannies of New York, on Afro-Caribbean domestic workers' rights; Plenum, an experimental reconstruction of the 1995 Black Nations/Queer Nations Conference; You Are Not Alone, addressing Black maternal mortality in the Bronx; and Men of Courage, on men's roles in ending violence against women.
The virtual showcase includes 117 Years of Movie Bullsh*t, a comedic time-travel narrative; Dark Skin Bruises Differently, a drama about a teacher defending a peculiar student; Shallow End, following a young woman after rehab; and Barrel Children: The Families Windrush Left Behind, a documentary on Caribbean youngsters who migrated to Britain.
Founded in 1997 by African Voices magazine and LIU Brooklyn Campus, Reel Sisters is among the first film festivals dedicated to supporting women of color filmmakers, celebrating both veterans and rising stars. The festival is supported by Councilmembers Crystal Hudson, Farah Louis and Yusef Salaam, West Harlem Development Corp., New York State Council on the Arts, the Brooklyn Arts Council, and private donors.
