Sacramento’s Oak Park neighborhood this week is hosting a five-day Black film festival, an event its organizers hope to turn into annual tradition.

The festival begins today at the Guild Theater at 2828 35th Ave. and includes more than a dozen short films, feature-length movies and documentaries that tell a variety of stories through a Black lens.

Some of the featured films include biopics on historical figures like Mahalia Jackson, Harold Washington, Ann Gregory, and Marcus Garvey.

St. Hope President and CEO, Cassandra Jennings wants all goers to understand the beauty in cinema and appreciate the work that filmmakers of African descent have dedicated to their craft.

“We didn’t want to miss the opportunity for that breadth of Black excellence to come to Sacramento,” said Jennings. “Part of our mission at St. Hope is to lift up the Black cultural experience in history.”

The event is for adults, ages 18 and up. Tickets start at $10 for single shows and cost up to $50 for a VIP package that provides full access to all screenings each day.

There will be discussions and panel events with special guests from directors, writers, producers, actors and actresses. Audiences will have an opportunity to participate in question and answer sessions.

Jennings said the event gives a space for Black creators to tell their own stories.

“There’s really an underrepresented group of Black Filmmakers telling Black stories or any stories, it’s usually somebody else telling our story, or their version,” said Jennings.

Her future goals are to have the work of local filmmakers showcased at the next Oak Park Black Film Festival.

She wants upcoming and aspiring Black filmmakers in the city, and surrounding regions, to attend and network with other creators in the community from the film industry.

Additionally, Jennings said she hopes this event brings more business and foot traffic to the Black businesses in the historical 40 Acres and surrounding establishments such as Fixins, Old Soul Coffee, Slim and Husky’s, Oak Park Brewery and Underground Books.

“We try to support Black businesses because they need our support and they need other people’s support in order to thrive,” said Jennings. Wine and beer from Black breweries and wineries available at the film festival.

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