SHREVEPORT, La. — The third annual CineNoir: Black Voices in Film festival will return to downtown Shreveport from Feb. 27 through March 5, closing out Black History Month with a weeklong celebration of Black filmmakers and storytelling.
The event is presented by Robinson Film Center in partnership with Mahogani Media and will take place at the Robinson Film Center.
Organizers said the festival continues its mission of amplifying Black voices and showcasing stories from across the African Diaspora, while fostering dialogue and appreciation for Black artistry in cinema.
“CineNoir is a unique event for our city. It’s not just a festival. It’s a celebration of culture, creativity, and community,” said Kristi Woodard of Mahogani Media, who co-curates the festival. “We are excited to return for our third year, and provide a platform for Black filmmakers to share their work and their knowledge, that we hope will inspire, educate and entertain our audiences.”
A key component of this year’s programming is the Black Filmmaker Symposium scheduled for Feb. 28 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. The free, all-ages panel will feature Black professionals working in various roles within the film industry. Panelists will discuss their career paths and answer audience questions.
The festival will also spotlight regional talent during its Indie Shorts Block on Feb. 28. The program includes short films by local filmmakers, including Shreveport native Mark Bonner, the first Black filmmaker to win the Louisiana Film Prize. Bonner will screen his latest short film, “Rear Desert.”
On March 1 at 2 p.m., the festival will present a screening of the short documentary “North Louisiana Rising,” which follows activists Breka Peoples and Omari Ho-Sang and chronicles their efforts to confront injustice. A question-and-answer session will follow the screening.
In addition to independent and regional films, CineNoir will feature several studio-produced titles throughout the week, including Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins on Feb. 27, The Best Man on March 1, Boyz n the Hood on March 3 and Moonlight on March 4. Q&A sessions with filmmakers are scheduled to follow most screenings.
Tickets are available at the Robinson Film Center box office and online at robinsonfilmcenter.org/cinenoir.
Robinson Film Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organization that operates two theaters in downtown Shreveport and provides film programming, media literacy education and industry outreach initiatives across the region.