On Friday, May 17, and Saturday, May 18, the Black Association of Documentary Filmmakers, West (BADWest) is hosting its 17th annual signature event, Day of Black Docs, a daylong celebration of documentaries that highlight the Black experience through film screenings, panel discussions and Q&As with filmmakers. 

Day of Black Docs takes place on Saturday, May 18, from noon to 6 p.m., at the American Film Institute campus in Los Feliz. Hosted by veteran film critic and journalist Tim Cogshell, the event will showcase three feature-length documentaries and a short. They are powerful stories of resilience and determination — a family’s journey to find love amidst the challenges of the U.S. prison system (Women on the Outside); the experience of the first Black woman on a NASCAR pit crew (Over the Wall); an intimate father-son bike ride from St. Louis to Chicago, captured cinema verité style (Bike Vessel); and the story chronicling the life of the iconic musical performer, Luther Vandross (Luther: Never Too Much). 

This year, there is also an opening night event, New Voices, New Faces, taking place on Friday, May 17, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., at Film Independent — an evening filled with powerful stories, innovative perspectives, and exciting new and emerging Black filmmakers. OWN Programming Director Kai Bowe will moderate a panel that includes  Moses Bwayo (Bobi Wine: The People’s President), Krystal Tingle (Over the Wall), Elizabeth Gray Bayne (Chocolate Milk: The Documentary) and Majiye Uchibeke (I Am More Dangerous Dead).

Here’s the screening schedule for Saturday:

  • noon: BADWest Welcome Remarks 
  • 12:05 pm: Women on the Outside screening
  • 1:30 pm: Over the Wall (short) screening, followed by a Q&A with Kiara C. Jones, writer/producer of Women on the Outside, and Kristal Tingle, director of Over the Wall
  • 2:05 pm: Bike Vessel screening, followed by a Q&A with Eric D. Seals, director of Bike Vessel
  • BREAK
  • 4:15 pm: Luther: Never Too Much screening, followed by a Q&A with Leah Smith, producer of Luther: Never Too Much.      

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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