CINCINNATI — Over 70 attendees celebrated Black History Month with the Library, watching films and listening to a Q&A from four local Black filmmakers at the CHPL Black Film Series.
On Thursday, February 27, the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library hosted its second installment of the Black Film Series at the Forest Park Branch. Attendees watched award-winning films, met the filmmakers, networked, and heard from Black Film Series partner 2Phresh Productions.
This event closed out the Library’s celebration of Black History Month and coincided with the film festival and award season. The series encourages Cincinnati and Hamilton County residents to enjoy films and meet award-winning African American filmmakers, cultivating creativity and enjoyment with the Library.
This event featured award-winning films by:
- Dev Thompson — 1+5+4 (2022) & Brown Boy (2024)
- Brown Boy, Cindependent Film Festival Founder Award Winner
- Silas Tibbs — Attrition (2023)
- Attrition, ArtsWave Film Grant recipient
- Alicia Redmond — Willows(2023)
- Willows, Waco Family and Faith International Film Festival Best Short Film
- Vernard Fields — Jumper Guy (2021)
- Jumper Guy, FrightFilm Competition Best Screamplay winner
After the film screening, all four filmmakers participated in a Q&A panel hosted by tt stern-enzi, a Film Journalist and the Artistic Director of the Over-the-Rhine International Film Festival. The panel delighted the audience with insights about the film industry. They shared their creative process and appreciation for the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library and the resources it provides for local creators, including the Forest Park Branch’s MakerSpace.
“Do yourself a hugefavor and go check out the MakerSpace,” filmmaker Vernard Fields recommended to the audience. “When I say, ‘Library resources,’ it blows my mind to think about the types of things you can make here and be creative.”
The next Black Film Series installment will take place in June 2025.
“We were thrilled to bring a community of film lovers together at the newly renovated Forest Park Branch Library,” said Eva Jane Romaine Coombe Director Paula Brehm-Heeger. “It is great to provide an adequate space that showcases and highlights creativity and discussion where attendees can engage with four talented storytellers.”
To learn more about the Black Film Series partner, 2Phresh Productions, visit 2phreshpro.com. To see upcoming Library events, visit CHPL.org/events.