Reel Sisters Film Festival Celebrates 28 Years of Women Filmmakers with Focus on Healing and Community

The Reel Sisters of the Diaspora Film Festival & Lecture Series, the first Oscar Qualifying film festival devoted to women filmmakers, launches its 28th anniversary season with a powerful lineup focusing on themes of healing, love, and community activism. This four-week festival represents a critical platform for amplifying underrepresented voices in cinema at a time when diverse storytelling remains essential for cultural understanding and social progress.

The festival's importance extends beyond entertainment, serving as a vital space for addressing pressing social issues through the female lens. Films like "You Are Not Alone" confront the maternal health crisis affecting Black women, who face pregnancy-related mortality rates three times higher than white women nationally, with rates reaching nine times higher in communities like the Bronx. This documentary captures women navigating pregnancy while advocating for systemic change, highlighting healthcare disparities that demand public attention.

Another significant work, "Nannies of New York," provides uncensored accounts of Afro-Caribbean women working as domestic workers for wealthy white families in NYC, exploring the stigma associated with their work and their fight for rights. The festival also features "Men of Courage," which documents Black and Latino men engaging in conversations about ending violence against women, representing crucial community-based solutions to systemic problems.

The festival includes a special awards ceremony co-presented with the Brooklyn Academy of Music honoring documentary filmmaker Samantha Knowles, director of "Harlem Ice" on Disney+. Knowles' recognition underscores the festival's commitment to celebrating established artists while nurturing emerging talent. The event will feature a conversation with Peabody award-winning filmmaker Yoruba Richen about the power of the female perspective in storytelling.

New partnerships enhance this year's programming, including a full day of screenings at 651 Arts on October 25, 2025. The festival continues its tradition of accessibility with virtual streaming options from October 25 through November 10, 2025, allowing broader audience reach. Ticket information and scheduling details are available at https://www.reelsisters.org.

Notable films span multiple genres, including "Camille A. Brown: Giant Steps," exploring African Diasporic dance, and "Boil the Cabbage," which uncovers the complex history of the banjo through historical research. The virtual showcase features works like "117 Years of Movie Bullsh*t," a time-travel narrative examining Hollywood's historical treatment of Black characters, and "Dark Skin Bruises Differently," addressing educational biases and racial perceptions.

Founded in 1997 by African Voices magazine and LIU Brooklyn Campus, Reel Sisters has consistently provided essential visibility for women of color filmmakers in an industry where their representation remains disproportionately low. The festival's enduring legacy demonstrates the growing demand for diverse narratives and the importance of creating sustainable platforms for marginalized voices in cinema.