We’re proud to announce that Vici Howard, founder of Black & Brown Femme Films (BBFF), has been featured in a moving new TEDx Talk titled “Called To Create” — now available on YouTube.

In her talk, presented at TEDxColumbiaCollegeChicago, Vici shares her deeply personal journey of discovering and embracing her creative power despite fear, doubt, and distraction. From her early fascination with storytelling — watching 70s Blaxploitation films with her father and dreaming of the Oscars — to facing skepticism from her family, Vici’s story is one of resilience, passion, and purpose.

A turning point came when a neighbor’s Broadway success reignited her own creative fire. That spark led her back to her true calling — filmmaking. In 2022, she wrote a script that became a finalist at the Urban World Film Festival, followed by the creation of The Singles and eventually, the founding of BBFF.

“Our creativity isn’t just talent — it’s a calling,” Howard says. “When we listen to that inner voice, we create not only art, but community, healing, and transformation.”

About Vici Howard & BBFF

Vici Howard, a 1990 alumna of Columbia College Chicago, is a cultural producer, artistic activist, and community builder. She founded Black & Brown Femme Films (BBFF) — a nonprofit dedicated to uplifting Black and Brown femmes, including filmmakers and artists of all genders who embrace the feminine perspective.

What began as a submission-free film festival has evolved into a movement of artistic activism, including The Vibe: Exhibition Celebrating Women of Color, a pop-up museum, and a 3-Day Poetry Festival spotlighting Black and Brown femme poets. Through these initiatives, Vici creates spaces where marginalized voices are not just included — but celebrated.

Her work centers joy, healing, and representation, using film, poetry, and exhibitions as tools to challenge harmful narratives and build bridges across communities.

🎥 Watch the full TEDx Talk:
👉 Called To Create | Vici Howard | TEDxColumbiaCollegeChicago