The Chicago Film Symposium

Uplifting Black and brown filmmakers in Chicago

Three people standing in front of a backdrop with the word 'Sinners' repeated multiple times. They are smiling and appear to be at an event. The person on the left is a man with glasses, a beard, and a styled hairstyle, wearing a navy jacket and white shirt. The person in the middle is a woman with long braided hair, wearing glasses, a patterned jacket, and holding a phone. The person on the right is a woman with short hair, wearing sunglasses, a tan top, and blue pants with a green belt.

Who We Are

A collaboration between Black Women Directors x Black Film Club Chicago

Black Women Directors was founded in 2015 by Danielle A. Scruggs as a digital archive to highlight and celebrate the work of Black women and nonbinary filmmakers.

Black Film Club Chicago was founded in 2020 by Troy Martin and Chinyere “Chi” Achebe to provide a safe space for showcasing and amplifying work, contributing to community-building experiences for Black storytellers, and fostering meaningful connections with diverse audiences.

Our mission is to amplify diverse stories from Chicago’s Black and brown filmmakers through impactful films, insightful panels, and community connections that foster inspiration and meaningful dialogue.

What People Are Saying

“It’s exciting to see all of this come together and to have a space where we can all see each other’s work and ask each other questions.”

— Filmmaker Ahlaam Delange

“I just feel like there’s so much untapped potential [in Chicago], and I just refuse to believe that you have to build in California or New York.”

— Filmmaker Regina Hoyles

Press