While the star cast of The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-Eat And Battle Night will make their glittering premieres in Hollywood and New York respectively in the coming weeks, as it comes time to show those films to the public for the first time, which is far from the typical red carpet locations — a performing arts center in Martha's Vineyard.
That's where actors like Sanaa LathanUzo Aduba, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor and Mekhi Phifer — the stars of The Supremes — together with Battle Night's Taraji P. Henson and Abbott Elementary SchoolSheryl Lee Ralph and others attended the Martha's Vineyard African American Film Festival earlier this month, a sign of the prominence and importance of the film festival as it celebrated its 22nd edition.
The MVAAF has become a major destination for Black projects of all kinds, from documentaries like Netflix's Daughters and CNN Films' Luther to Natasha Rothwell's new Hulu comedy How to Die Alone. Colman Domingo's prison drama Sing, sing kicked off the festival, which ended on August 11 with Battle Nightthe Will Packer Peacock series starring Samuel L. Jackson, Kevin Hart and more about a real-life robbery that took place around a Muhammad Ali comeback fight. Henson, Chloe Bailey and Don Cheadle were among the stars of the project who came to the festival to support it.
They all also posed for The Hollywood Reporter's photo studio for portraits by photographers Katherine and Mariel Tyler, also known as The Tyler Twins.View more photos here.)
“We are thrilled to witness the growth of our film festival into a dynamic space that honors and celebrates Black culture through the art of film,” festival founders Floyd and Stephanie Rance said in a statement to THR“This year's festival was a shining example of what can be achieved when we come together to create positive change.”
Three films were awarded main prizes at the festival: Albanywega drama starring Renee Elise Goldsberry and Lynn Whitfield, won Best Feature Film; Rebellious girlsabout girls growing up during the civil rights movement, best short film, while A king like meabout the Black Zulu club in New Orleans, won the award for best documentary.