CultureWorks is dedicated to supporting initiatives that bring arts and cultural experiences to the community. Last year, CultureWorks was thrilled to support the Afrikana Film Festival, a vibrant 4-day celebration from September 14-18, 2023, activating numerous arts and culture venues throughout Richmond.

about Afrikana Film Festival

Mission: Afrikana is dedicated to using high-quality, well-crafted stories to elevate Black culture. Through Black creative expression, we are building a community rooted in lasting connections across the diaspora.

Enjoli Moon founded Afrikana in 2014. She is the Assistant Curator of Film and Public Programs at the Institute for Contemporary Art and co-creator of The JXN Project.She strives to curate high vibration spaces that center Blackness and the fullness of our experience, globally and here in Richmond.

How the Festival Was Carried Out

The Afrikana Film Festival, held from September 14-18, 2023, featured diverse activities, including short film screenings hosted at galleries in the Arts District. Afrikana also hosted the Taste of Liberation Dinner at The Valentine, featuring the culinary expertise of Chef BJ Dennis, and organized a dynamic youth program at Art 180.

The festival events were held at prominent venues across the city:
ICA
The Valentine
Candela
1708
Elegba Folklore Society
ADA
Buna Kurrs
The Black History Museum
Common House
Special Programs and Events

One of the festival's standout programs was Sawubona, which explored the connections between the US South/Richmond and South Africa. Afrikana hosted award-winning filmmakers Milisuthando Bongela and Sifiso Khaleli from Johannesburg, who shared their works and stories with our community. Additionally, they premiered Ninki Nanka, a short film produced as part of our Script-to-Screen residency.

outcomes and impact

Afrikana is particularly proud of its partnerships with community organizations in the tri-cities, which have helped host another successful youth program at Art 180. This program has seen sustained growth, reaching capacity for the second year in a row with youth from Richmond, Hopewell, Petersburg, and surrounding counties. The film screenings, talk-backs, and workshops were heavily engaged, with overwhelmingly positive participant feedback.

One especially exciting metric is the growth in Richmond-based filmmakers. Afrikana Film Festival’s inaugural multi-day fest in 2016 saw only 4 submissions from the Richmond region, but this number has grown to over 50 submissions from Virginia in 2023. This rate of growth in filmmaking from Black creatives in the region underscores the importance of representation and the vital role that spaces like Afrikana play in nurturing talent.

Conclusion

The Afrikana Film Festival is a shining example of how support for creative initiatives can lead to meaningful connections, personal growth, and community enrichment. CultureWorks is proud to be part of this journey and look forward to continuing our support for initiatives that celebrate diversity, creativity, and cultural exchange.