African American Women in Cinema Celebrates 25 Years of Empowering Women Filmmakers

Source: Montez Harris | AAWIC

The African American Women in Cinema (AAWIC) organization celebrated a major milestone with its 25th Annual AAWIC Film Festival, held from May 15–17, 2025, at LaGuardia Community College in New York City. This landmark event honored a quarter-century of elevating the voices and creative works of women filmmakers of color. The festival opened with a red-carpet screening of To Live and Die and Live, starring Skye P. Marshall of CBS’s Matlock, who was presented with the prestigious AAWIC Trailblazer Award for her contributions to the film and television industry. Set in Detroit, the featured film follows a successful Hollywood director returning home to confront personal demons and family wounds.

In addition to Marshall, the festival honored Allison McGevna, Senior Vice President of iOne Digital, and renowned film producer Cheryl Hill with the AAWIC Pioneer Award, recognizing their impactful leadership in media and entertainment. The festival featured a powerful lineup of films, including Pa’Lante by Karisma Jay, Superman Doesn’t Steal, Akwaaba the Awakening, and Fighting Giants. These films tackled themes such as cultural identity, personal trauma, historical injustice, and the global Black experience.

Complementing the film screenings were a series of educational panels and workshops focused on screenwriting, navigating the politics of Black women in film, production strategies, and securing financing for independent projects. These sessions provided invaluable insight for both emerging and established creatives, reinforcing AAWIC’s dedication to professional growth and industry access.

In response to the demand for broader accessibility, this year’s festival adopted a hybrid format, offering both in-person and virtual experiences to reach a global audience. Sponsored by major media partners including iOne Digital, NBCUniversal, A&E Network, and Ponce Bank, the festival reflected a strong commitment to collaboration, diversity, and the continued advancement of Black women in cinema. For more information and future events, AAWIC encourages visitors to explore their official website at aawic.org.