The inaugural Black Europe Film Festival of Minneapolis/Saint Paul (BEFF MSP) will debut in the Twin Cities from January 30 to February 2, 2025, with screenings at the Main Cinema, the Minneapolis Institute of Art, Capri Theatre, and the Cedar Cultural Center.
“At the heart of the festival is our mission to celebrate Black artistic excellence and amplify voices that challenge dominant narratives of race, migration and belonging,” said BEFF MSP founder and curator Lorenzo Fabbri.
The festival honors and celebrates Afro-European cinema across 24 countries and aims to provide a platform for Europe’s leading Afro-diasporic filmmakers. It will feature various films, from documentaries to fiction films, and shorts, offering a variety of filmmakers to showcase their work that, for Black filmmakers, is underrepresented across the globe.
Black filmmakers continue to confront the legacies of racism, colonialism and displacement, infusing their work with creativity and resilience. Fabbri says it is important to highlight these filmmakers’ efforts to challenge stereotypes and dominant narratives, offering fresh perspectives on Black European identity and the lived experiences of Black people in Europe.
“Minnesota, with its vibrant Afro-descendant scene, is the ideal host for the African Europe Film Festival,” according to BEFF’s press release. “The Twin Cities’ deep connections to African communities across Europe, and its prominence as a hub for the global African diaspora, make this location uniquely compelling.
“The killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis and the protests that followed not only heightened African consciousness across Europe but also ignited a moment of global reckoning and solidarity. By hosting our festival here, we aim to amplify the ongoing dialogue between Minnesota’s African communities and the global African diaspora, creating an event deeply rooted in the state’s rich African histories, resonating far beyond its borders.”
The festival will include opportunities to connect with the creators through masterclasses, filmmaker encounters, film production workshops, lectures, and artist residencies. Fabbri says these offerings will provide opportunities for engaged learning and celebrate Black joy across diverse communities.
BEFF MSP is supported by a grant from the University of Minnesota Imagine Fund. For more information, email the organizers at beffmsp@gmail.com or follow the festival on Instagram @blackeuropefilmfestival.