Balloon Man , starring Bill Costen and written and directed by Chantal Potter , is one of the featured films at the festival .

The fourth Rhode Island Black Film Festival is back to amplify the voices and visions of people of color in the film industry . It also aims to inspire local college and high school students of color to consider careers in film . Ann-Allison Clanton , founder of RIBFF and owner of Ann Clanton Communications , brings together eighteen feature , short and documentary films for the virtual event from April 22 to 25 . A $ 35 ticket includes a T-shirt and grants virtual access to all films throughout the four-day event , including the 2020 RIBFF Film of the Year Balloon Man , which will be virtually screened live with an online discussion with award-winning director Chantal Potter . The festival will launch on Thursday , April 22 , at 5:30 p . m . with a virtual discussion with Rose Weaver and leading Black actors in the state , including Joe Wilson Jr . and Jackie Davis from Trinity Repertory Company and Ricardo Pitts- Wiley from Mixed Magic Theatre . Some of the films screened include Mama Africa ( La Leyenda ) from Finland / Germany / South Africa ; Three Blades from Paris ; and Sky Blossoms , directed by Richard Liu , an MSNBC reporter and news anchor for MSNBC and NBC News . “ I think the film festival provides a much-needed distraction right now ,” Clanton says . “ We are providing so much content , participants don ’ t have to leave their homes , and they can also use this opportunity to discuss issues that are so relevant and of concern , such as health , racial and social justice equity , and the extraordinary economic disparity .” ribff . org — JAMIE COELHO

PHOTOGRAPH ( THIS PAGE ): COURTESY OF RIBFF ; ( OPPOSITE ): ILLUSTRATION / GETTY IMAGES .

14 RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY l APRIL 2021