BBFF’26 is a nonprofit, submission-free independent film festival taking place July 24–25, 2026, at the Logan Center for the Arts in Chicago.
The festival features film screenings, filmmaker Q&As, and networking opportunities centered on identity, community, and creative storytelling.
Logan Center for the Arts
915 E. 60th St., Chicago, IL 60637, USA
July 24th–25th, 2026
(Friday–Saturday)
Official Selections
Black & Brown Femme Film Festival 2026
The Black Brown Femme Film Festival 2026 proudly presents 42 original films from around the world, each created by visionary femme filmmakers of color.
This year’s Official Selections highlight bold artistic voices that challenge convention, uplift marginalized stories, and expand the possibilities of film. From intimate personal narratives to experimental visual works, the BBFF’26 lineup reflects the heart, creativity, and power of this year’s festival programming.
Spanning documentary, animation, horror, comedy, drama, and more, each film was selected for its distinct approach to storytelling, craft, and cultural impact. Across two days, audiences will experience stories rooted in migration, identity, gender, mental health, ancestry, resilience, queerness, and community.
Browse the full list of Official Selections, watch trailers, and learn more about the featured filmmakers.
Block 1 : RELEASE / IDENTITY / TRANSFORMATION
An opening-night block exploring experimentation, artistic identity, humor, transformation, and visual storytelling through documentary, narrative, and experimental cinema.
Spark!
Life of a Lighter, looks through all the different hands...
Corporate Catfish
At the height of the job search grind, creative professional...
Aurora Sol Entries
Aurora Sol is a Concept, a freedom. A Righteousness. And...
Tabula Rasa
Quinn, a struggling painter, battles her own self-doubt—manifested as Booey,...
Block 2 : INTIMACY / LOVE / EMOTIONAL FRACTURE
A relationship-centered block exploring intimacy, longing, vulnerability, queer identity, grief, heartbreak, and emotional connection.
Sweet Nothings
When polar opposite best friends get into a fight days...
Mahal
MAHAL is inspired by the director’s parents’ love story and...
Connecting Flights
When Dad comes home from work early, Ruth finally has...
Cry Laugh Love Lie
After her long-distance boyfriend misses his flight, under the suspicion...
ABOUT BEFORE (Mas o menos antes)
(Shortfilm, Mexico 2025; thesis project, directorial debut) Yolanda is a...
Purgatory
Zena, a usually confident queer woman with an anxiety-induced supernatural...
Block 3 : MOTHERHOOD / SURVIVAL / BECOMING
An emotionally grounded closing block centered around motherhood, care, identity, survival, healing, mental health, and transformation.
The Shower
A woman’s grief turns a baby shower into a test...
Orí
Orí is a documentary short that explores Black motherhood, spiritual...
Shelf Life
Grazi, nursing assistant in an emergency room, where urgency and...
Ambivalence
While waiting to be called for her appointment in a...
Keep Him Safe
An older sister and younger brother are having a meal...
DE-BUGGED
LOGLINE A woman’s “perfect relationship” begins to unravel when the...
Matti
A teenage girl in New York City is learning how...
Block 4 : IDENTITY / COURAGE / SELF-DEFINITION
A block centered around resilience, self-definition, family, autonomy, queerness, healing, and becoming.
NKANYEZI
At its heart, NKANYEZI is an intimate story about a...
Neutral Buoyancy
Xiao-Yu (“Buzz”) is a wannabe-astronaut training to escape his oppressive,...
Fist at Grace
Fist at Grace follows a restless, low ranking high school...
To Move in My Mother’s Prayers
A rebellious, nonbinary teenager wrestles with their hardworking single mom...
Boldly Bald
Boldly Bald highlights the lives of four bald Zimbabwean women...
Sonia Honey
On a single, transformative day, a middle-aged actress navigates the...
Block 5 : EXPERIMENTAL / SPIRITUAL / INNER WORLDS
A visually immersive block exploring spirituality, memory, ancestry, embodiment, experimentation, healing, and transformation.
Behind These Pretty Things
A film about a woman who comes to terms with...
Compost
A screendance regarding the regenerative politics for living together in...
Elena Tito, Memoirs of the Clay
A journey through the life and work of Elena Tito,...
Moksha
After a dream of being lost and searching, Yangjin releases...
Primitive
In the future, humans become overly dependent on AI to...
The Stolen Mind
When a young woman wakes up in the back of...
Block 6 : DESIRE / CHAOS / DISRUPTION
A late-day block exploring sexuality, absurdity, rebellion, emotional disruption, humor, liberation, and desire.
Aimee Comes First
Based on an embarrassing true story, AIMEE COMES FIRST is...
“24 HOURS A MAN”
What would women do if they could be a man...
Jeanne Dieldoman
Fifty years after Chantal Akerman’s Jeanne Dielman peeled potatoes in...
I Knew You Were Trouble
Jenny and Fiona, two 16-year-old girls, break into their classmate...
Heat Wave
La Mona is willing to make any sacrifice to guarantee...
Block 7 : RESISTANCE / MEMORY / TRUTH
A closing block centered around memory, resistance, displacement, labor, grief, truth-telling, and cultural preservation.
Gloria
Living alone and struggling with her memory, an elderly Chinese...
Mexica(n)
“Mexica[n]” is a heartfelt short film that follows Querida, a...
Al Maram
“Maram” a mother and journalist, she was forced to be...
Fermenting Our Place
“Fermenting Our Place,” is a ten-minute short film following Bri...
Experience the magic of the Black & Brown Femme Film Festival 2026 — a powerful two-day celebration of women of color in film.
Held at the Logan Center for the Arts in Chicago, BBFF 2026 will feature 43 groundbreaking films spanning animation, documentary, drama, and more. Join us for a weekend of bold storytelling, community, and cultural connection. Find more details and purchase tickets below.
Accessibility and Community First
The Black & Brown Femme Film Festival is proud to prioritize accessibility. We offer discounted tickets for students, seniors, and EBT card holders, ensuring that all community members can experience the magic of The Black & Brown Femme Film Festival 2026. The Logan Center is fully ADA-compliant, with wheelchair access, gender-inclusive restrooms, and assistive listening devices available by request. Volunteers will also be available on-site to support guest needs and questions.
Beyond the Screen: Events & Artist Conversations
In addition to film screenings, The Black & Brown Femme Film Festival 2026 will feature panel discussions, artist talks, and community mixers. These intimate sessions offer audiences the chance to connect directly with filmmakers, explore behind-the-scenes insights, and delve deeper into the creative process behind each selection. It’s more than a film festival — it’s a cultural experience rooted in dialogue, inspiration, and shared imagination.
Why BBFF Matters
Since its founding, Black & Brown Femme Films has championed the stories of women of color in independent film. BBFF is more than an annual event — it’s a movement to challenge the industry, celebrate diverse creators, and create space for healing, transformation, and joy through cinema. Whether you’re a returning guest or a first-time attendee, BBFF 2026 promises a meaningful, unforgettable experience.
Support Our Mission
BBFF is a nonprofit organization powered by artists, organizers, and community support. If you believe in amplifying the voices of women of color in film, please consider making a donation to help us grow and thrive. Every contribution directly supports our programming, filmmakers, and future initiatives. — There are many ways to get involved: you can support us by volunteering, becoming a sponsor, or sharing our work with your networks. We also welcome inquiries about career opportunities, internships, and collaborative roles. If you’re passionate about film, equity, and cultural storytelling, BBFF may be the right place to grow with purpose.
Streaming Platform Coming Soon
We’re thrilled to announce the upcoming launch of the BBFF Streaming Platform — a new way to support and watch films from women of color year-round. The platform will showcase past favorites and exclusive digital premieres, further expanding access to our mission. The official announcement will take place during the festival weekend. Stay tuned — the platform is launching soon! Sign up for updates and future announcements!
Questions or Suggestions?
We welcome your feedback. Whether you’re a filmmaker, attendee, or supporter, please don’t hesitate to reach out with questions, ideas, or inquiries. Visit our [Contact Us] page or email us directly at contact@bbffilms.org to get in touch.