Huntington Beach Cultural Cinema Showcase returns, highlighting Black films

The Huntington Beach Cultural Cinema Showcase returns this weekend with a group of international and domestic films from and inspired by Africans, African American and Black filmmakers.

The virtual event starts on Friday at 6 p.m. and continues through Sunday, when there will be a live question-and-answer panel from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.

The showcase is free, but registration is required at eventbrite.com/e/hb-cultural-cinema-showcase-black-history-month-heritage-cycle-tickets-137837374297. Prior to a viewer’s selected screenings, a link will be sent that will allow them to watch the films included within the viewing block

This month’s Cultural Cinema Showcase is held in February in honor of Black History Month. The Huntington Beach Human Relations Task Force also holds showcases each year in honor of Asian Pacific Heritage Month (May), National Hispanic-Latinx Heritage Month (Sept. 15 to Oct. 15) and Native American-First Nations Heritage Month (November).

The films, many of which are 10 minutes or less, include categories like narrative, documentary, animation, web/new media/experimental and super shorts. The international films viewing block debuts Friday at 6 p.m., with domestic films on Saturday at 6 p.m. and high commendation films on Sunday starting at 11 a.m.

“The showcase is a great opportunity to use the arts as a bridge to promote human dignity and facilitate engaging conversations in Huntington Beach and worldwide,” said Vashia “V.C.” Rhone, human relations task force chair. “We’re thrilled to see many local and international viewers have registered. We’re also honored to welcome Academy Award honoree Charles Burnett to our panel discussion as we celebrate the contributions of African Americans during Black History Month and fulfill our mission to celebrate diversity through education and understanding.”

Burnett, who was awarded with an honorary Governors Award Oscar in 2017, will be on the panel to discuss “After the LockDown: Black Hollywood,” an episode of the nine-part docuseries that he directed.

The Zoom filmmaker panel includes people like Stacey Larkins, who directed “Jabari Keating”; Jose Guerrero, the director of “Komi’s Blue Joy”; Aisha Rison, the director of “Girls Like Me: A self/love story” and Julie Boehm, director of “Ureka.”

For a list of films and guests for the panel, visit the Huntington Beach Cultural Cinema Showcase website.

Support our coverage by becoming a digital subscriber.