Michelle Obama, Spike Lee, and others set to appear at Martha's Vineyard African American Film Festival
A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday.
Enter Email
Sign Up
'When people see you working hard and doing good things, particularly for the community, they will pitch in,' Floyd Rance said. 'That's for all races, creeds, and colors, sexes and genders. They'll pitch in. That's at the core of this festival — people have pitched in.'
Advertisement
This year's lineup includes many notable guests. Michelle Obama's appearance will involve recording a live episode of her podcast
Advertisement
On Aug. 1, Spike Lee will present scenes from his upcoming film 'Highest 2 Lowest,' which stars Denzel Washington and A$AP Rocky and comes out on Aug. 22. Stars LaChanze, John Douglas Thompson, and Ilfenesh Hadera will join Lee for a discussion of the film's production and themes.
Actress, singer, and TV show host Jennifer Hudson will be present on Aug. 5, for a discussion and audience Q&A about her experiences making 'The Jennifer Hudson Show.'PEOPLE Magazine editor Janine Rubenstein will moderate the event.
Many in the festival's lineup are returning guests.
'With Mr. Lee, there is a bit of a connection — I used to be employed by him for a long time. I've worked with him on various different projects,' Rance said. 'Fortunately, he returns and he supports, and we definitely appreciate all his support. And he spreads positive word of mouth.'
Comedian Dave Chapelle will present 'Dave Chappelle: Live in Real Life' on Aug. 8, a documentary that captured the comedian's socially distanced live shows at cornfields in Ohio during the pandemic. The film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2021.
The festival's closing film, 'Seen & Heard Part 2,' will be followed by a panel with executive producer Issa Rae ('Insecure'), directors Giselle Bailey and Phil Bertelsen, and producer Montrel McKay. The film is the second half of a two-part documentary exploring the impact of Black creatives in the TV industry, and features interviews from Oprah Winfrey, Tyler Perry, and others.
Advertisement
The festival explores Black issues beyond the film sphere. On Aug. 7, Representative Ayanna Pressley will join Texas Representative Jasmine Crockett and the Rev. Al Sharpton for a fireside chat about 'the power of joy as a political act, cultural anchor, and driving force behind justice, storytelling, and community transformation,' according to the festival's website.
'It's really about support. It's about filmmakers supporting each other and us supporting filmmakers,' Rance said. 'Birds of a feather should flock together.'
'A Portrait of the American Dream: Telling the Story of Oak Bluffs,' a documentary about the town's history as a vacation destination for the Black community, will be screened on Aug. 8. The documentary is co-produced by Ralph Lauren, which recently released a
'That's why we do it — to salute filmmakers of color," Tavares-Rance said. 'What's great about our festival is that it's morphed into more of this multicultural activation, where we have more LGBTQ content, Latino filmmakers, Asian filmmakers, more women, so everyone's being welcomed at the table to showcase their talents and their films.'
MARTHA'S VINEYARD AFRICAN AMERICAN FILM FESTIVAL
July 31-Aug. 9. Martha's Vineyard Performing Arts Center, 100 Edgartown Road, Oak Bluffs.
Ryan Yau can be reached at
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Los Angeles Times
2 hours ago
- Los Angeles Times
Robert Wilson, visionary playwright, director and visual artist, dies at 83
Robert Wilson, a leader in avant-garde theater who collaborated with Philip Glass, David Byrne and Lady Gaga over his six-decade career, has died. He was 83. The 'Einstein on the Beach' director died Thursday at his home in Water Mill, N.Y., after a 'brief but acute illness,' according to his website. 'While facing his diagnosis with clear eyes and determination, he still felt compelled to keep working and creating right up until the very end,' the statement reads. 'His works for the stage, on paper, sculptures and video portraits, as well as the Watermill Center, will endure as Robert Wilson's artistic legacy.' Wilson was born on Oct. 4, 1941, in Waco, Texas, to a conservative Southern Baptist family. He struggled with a speech impediment and learning disabilities as a child but was aided by his ballet teacher, Byrd Hoffman. 'She heard me stutter, and she told me, 'You should take more time to speak. You should speak slowly,' ' he told the Observer in 2015. 'She said one word over a long period of time. She said go home and try it. I did. Within six weeks, I had overcome the stuttering.' In 1968, Wilson opened an experimental theater workshop named after his mentor: the Byrd Hoffman School of Byrds. He created the Byrd Hoffman Water Mill Foundation in 1969, under which he established the Watermill Center in 1992. In his early 20s, Wilson moved to Brooklyn, N.Y., where he studied interior design and architecture at the Pratt Institute. Later, he joined the recreation department of Goldwater Memorial Hospital, where he brought dance to catatonic polio patients with iron lungs. 'Because the patients were largely paralyzed, the work he was doing with them was more mental than physical,' wrote his former colleague Robyn Brentano in Frieze. 'With his unconventional frankness and tenderness, he drew out people's hidden qualities.' Wilson started teaching movement classes in Summit, N.J., while he wrote his early plays. One day in 1968, he witnessed a white police officer about to strike a deaf, mute Black boy, Raymond Andrews, while walking down the street. Wilson came to Andrews' defense, appeared in court on his behalf and eventually adopted him. Together, Andrews and Wilson created 'Deafman Glance,' a seven-hour 'silent opera,' which premiered in 1970 in Iowa City, Iowa. 'The world of a deaf child opened up to us like a wordless mouth. For more than four hours, we went to inhabit this universe where, in the absence of words, of sounds, 60 people had no words except to move,' wrote French Surrealist Louis Aragon after the 1971 Paris premiere. 'I never saw anything more beautiful in the world since I was born. Never, never has any play come anywhere near this one, because it is at once life awake and the life of closed eyes, the confusion between everyday life and the life of each night, reality mingles with dream, all that's inexplicable in the life of deaf man.' In 1973, Glass attended a showing of Wilson's 'The Life and Times of Joseph Stalin,' which ran for 12 hours from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The two artists, united by their interest in experimenting with time and space in theater, soon teamed up to create 'Einstein on the Beach,' which premiered in 1976 in Avignon, France. 'We worked first with the time — four hours — and how we were going to divide it up,' Glass told the Guardian in 2012. 'I discovered that Bob thinks with a pencil and paper; everything emerged as drawings. I composed music to these, and then Bob began staging it.' Wilson and Glass partnered again to create 'the CIVIL warS: a tree is best measured when it is down,' which also featured music from Talking Heads frontman Byrne, for the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. The project, meant to span 12 hours, was ultimately never completed due to funding problems. In 1995, Wilson shared his concerns about arts funding in the U.S. with The Times. 'The government should assume leadership,' Wilson told Times contributor Jan Breslauer. 'By giving the leadership to the private sector in a capitalistic society, we're going to measure the value of art by how many products we can sell. We need to have a cultural policy [instead]. There has to be a balance between government and the private sector. 'One of the few things that will remain of this time is what artists are doing,' Wilson says. 'They are the journal and the diary of our time.' In addition to his stage work, Wilson created drawings, sculptures, furniture and installations, which he showed at the Paula Cooper Gallery in New York beginning in 1975. In 2004, Wilson produced a series of video portraits featuring Brad Pitt, Winona Ryder, Renée Fleming and Alan Cumming. He would return to the medium again in 2013 with Lady Gaga as his subject. One of Wilson's last projects was an installation commissioned by Salone del Mobile in April 2025. Centering on Michelangelo's Rondanini Pietà at Milan's Castello Sforzesco, the project explored the Virgin Mary's pain following Christ's death with a combination of music, light and sculpture. 'I'm creating my own vision of the artist's unfinished masterpiece, torn between a feeling of reverential awe and profound admiration,' he told Wallpaper. Wilson is survived by Andrews; his sister, Suzanne; and his niece, Lori Lambert.
Los Angeles Times
4 hours ago
- Los Angeles Times
New ‘Project Runway' judge Law Roach shares his thoughts on criticism, plus what to stream this weekend
Welcome to Screen Gab, the newsletter for everyone who likes a dramatic comeback. Remember when Heidi Klum drilled into our reality TV heads that, in fashion, one day you're in, and the next day you're out? Well, even she knows the past can come back in style. After a 16-season run on 'Project Runway' as host and judge, Klum departed the fashion competition series in 2018 and, along with the show's original mentor Tim Gunn, went on to create 'Making the Cut,' their version of a fashion tournament for Prime Video that ran for three seasons. (Model Karlie Kloss assumed Klum's 'Project Runway' duties in subsequent seasons.) Now, as 'Project Runway' launches its 21st season, moving homes yet again (to Freeform from Bravo), Klum brings the nostalgia factor to the show's revamping, which includes the addition of super stylist Law Roach to the judges panel. Roach stopped by Guest Spot to discuss joining the ranks of the long-running reality competition. Also in this week's Screen Gab, our streaming recommendations include an illuminating documentary that explains how 'The Ed Sullivan Show' amplified Black music and culture, and a collection of '90s films that defined an era through their soundtracks. Must-read stories you might have missed For Jenna Ortega, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Luis Guzmán, 'Wednesday' proves 'weird is beautiful': The actors return for Season 2 of Netflix's hit YA series, which brings Gomez and Morticia Addams into focus. 'Chief of War' centers Hawaiian history and a warrior's story: Co-creator Jason Momoa stars as the late 18th century warrior Ka'iana in a story set at the intersection of the Hawaiian island kingdoms and the arrival of European colonists. Go behind the scenes with the 'Alien: Earth' cast at Comic-Con 2025: Watch our exclusive follow-along with the cast of FX's 'Alien: Earth' cast at San Diego Comic-Con as they sign autographs, visit the show's immersive activation and more. As AI changes how movies are made, Hollywood crews ask: What's left for us?: AI is supplying powerful new tools at a fraction of the cost, forcing below-the-line artists to wonder if the future of filmmaking has a place for them. Recommendations from the film and TV experts at The Times 'Sunday Best: The Untold Story of Ed Sullivan' (Netflix) Ed Sullivan was so famous, such an institution in his time, that his name became the text of a number in the musical 'Bye Bye, Birdie.' It's been half a century since 'The Ed Sullivan Show' ended its 24-season run, but Sullivan, who gave Elvis Presley a platform and introduced the Beatles to America, will be seen as long as they continue to matter, which is to say, forever. The 'Untold' in Sacha Jenkins' affecting documentary is the show's history with the many Black artists it presented to an audience of many millions, through years in which television networks bowed to the bigotry of what it called the Southern audience. Yet even had you taken Black acts on 'Sullivan' for granted, the extent of the host's progressivism might come as surprise. Those sharing memories include the late Harry Belafonte, Smokey Robinson and the Temptations' Otis Williams; seen in performance are Stevie Wonder, Jackie Wilson, Bo Diddley, James Brown, Nina Simone, Mahalia Jackson and the Jackson 5, in all their youthful glory. — Robert Lloyd '90s Soundtrack Movies (Criterion Channel) Now they exist as relics: banged-up soundtrack cassettes that slid around in the passenger side of everyone's cars. But we all listened to them and in many cases, they ended up being more memorable than the films themselves. A lot of good was done when acts like U2, Talking Heads, Depeche Mode and Nick Cave lent their drawing power to director Wim Wenders' mystifying 1991 sci-fi art thinker 'Until the End of the World.' The songs were an adventure (though I couldn't quote you a single line from the script). More substantially, Jim Jarmusch introduced his fan base to Wu-Tang Clan's RZA, who contributed a superb head-bobbing soundtrack to 1999's 'Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai,' proving there was plenty of crossover between Soho and Shaolin. David Lynch, always plugged in musically, drew from David Bowie's underrated 'Outside' album for the white-line opening credits of 1997's 'Lost Highway.' And even when Bowie wasn't game — as with the bio-in-all-but-name 'Velvet Goldmine' — an inventive glam-saturated soundtrack could carry the day. Criterion's new series is programming you can play in the background and still enjoy. — Joshua Rothkopf A weekly chat with actors, writers, directors and more about what they're working on — and what they're watching As one of Hollywood's biggest stylists and image architects, Law Roach has bolstered the fashion profile of stars like Zendaya, Hunter Schafer and Anya Taylor-Joy and set the tone for every red carpet he's touched with his viral styling choices. Now, he's bringing his unparalleled fashion sense to the judge's panel of 'Project Runway.' The new season premiered Thursday on Freeform with two episodes; it will air weekly and also stream on Hulu and Disney+. Roach stopped by Screen Gab to discuss his feelings on constructive criticism, the fictional character he'd like to style and what he's watching. — Yvonne Villarreal As a creative in the fashion world, is 'Project Runway' a show you watched at any point over its run? What value did you see in it and how do you hope your involvement elevates the show? Yes, I watched it religiously, of course. The season that Christian won is hands down still my favorite. I think it gave me an inside look at an industry that I was craving to be a part of. I think my real-world experience and passion will come through not only to the viewers but also to the contestants. You bring a bold and direct feedback style to the judges panel from the start. How do you prefer to receive feedback on your work and when do you trust it? Criticism is a part of every job. I think it is important to hear it and if it fits you or can help you grow, take it in, and learn from it, but if it doesn't, ignore it. As a stylist and image architect, which fictional character of TV or film — past or present — would you most like to create a fashion profile for? Jessica Rabbit because we only got to see her in one look! What's your go-to 'comfort watch,' the film or TV show you return to again and again? 'Top Chef' [Peacock] or any cooking competition show. I love food and witnessing the thought that goes into making the food.
CNBC
4 hours ago
- CNBC
Why Black entrepreneurs flock to Martha's Vineyard every August
Martha's Vineyard has long been a summer vacation destination for Black families, but August in the Massachusetts beach community is becoming an important hub for Black entrepreneurs, investors and financial firms, too. "I would say the magic of it is really about introducing your network to someone else's network," said Calvin Butts, founder of East Chop Capital, a private equity firm named after a neighborhood on the island. "We found great success raising capital there, we've had our portfolio companies speak as well, we've done very, very well with deal flow." A wide range of companies including Disney, Cisco, Goldman Sachs, McDonald's, Google, Ford, Mckinsey and CNBC parent company Comcast are hosting or sponsoring business-focused events on the Vineyard this month. The Black Economic Alliance is hosting an event called "The Gathering," bringing together corporate leaders to discuss ways to help increase the opportunities for Black employees and companies. "The Vineyard is a spot to capture an audience who wants to have an intellectual and financial conversation about how to uplift Black culture," said Melissa Bradley, general partner of the BEA Venture Fund. Martha's Vineyard became a popular vacation destination for Black families over a century ago with the opening of the first hotel that allowed Black visitors, Shearer Cottage, in 1912. Since then, Black families have bought homes and created a community centered around the town of Oak Bluffs and Inkwell Beach, a name that is a nod to the segregation on the island in the past. This year, clothing brand Ralph Lauren released its Oak Bluffs collection looking to recognize and capitalize on the history and prestige of the island that hosts visitors like Michelle and Barack Obama, Oprah Winfrey and Spike Lee. Eden Bridgeman Sklenar, CEO of Ebony Magazine, is hosting an event with the founders of Black-owned spirit brand Uncle Nearest and said she sees the vineyard as a way to bring the history and the future of the magazine to life for its target audience. "For EBONY, being present on the Vineyard in August is both strategic and personal," Sklenar said in a statement. "It's an opportunity to connect with a powerful cross-section of our community, deepen meaningful relationships, and position the brand not just as a cultural icon, but as a modern business driving impact, visibility, and growth." Donae Burston, founder of La Fête du Rosé, said he also sees tapping into the culture of the Martha's Vineyard community as an organic way to grow sales among a consumer base that aligns with his marketing as a luxury brand. "For us it would mean so much to have the acceptance of people in Martha's Vineyard," said Burston. "Being able to go to Martha's Vineyard and focus on [high-net-worth] individuals from all over the world who appreciate wine — It's visibility, it's helping them become evangelists to go back home and spread the gospel." For four generations, Erin Goldson and her family have spent summers in Martha's Vineyard. This year she is launching a new event called the "Vineyard Icon Awards," sponsored by Diageo and Estee Lauder. The honorees are business and political leaders who are helping to shape August on Martha's Vineyard as a place where culture and commerce meet. "Over the last five or so years, a lot of companies are realizing that there is a wealth of successful, accomplished, driven Black professionals, who decide to come to the vineyard in August," Goldson said. "You can come to the vineyard for rest and relaxation," she said. "But every year here there is also a growing legacy, where Black ambition and aspiration are celebrated in a very unique way."
