- This event has passed.
Awards Gala: Virginia Black Film Festival
February 21 @ 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Virginia Black Film Festival: AWARDS GALA
Saturday, February 21
Red Carpet – 5pm
Gala – 6 pm
MORE INFO & TICKETS.
This is the culminating event of the Virginia Black Film Festival (VBFF), a star-studded event with live entertainment, celebrity guests, and awards for filmmakers in multiple categories. Theme: “Black Excellence; Past, Present, & Future” as part of the city’s celebration of Black History Month and VA250. MORE INFO & TICKETS.
More about the The Virginia Black Film Festival – events at Kimball Theatre
Thu, Feb 19 – Sun, Feb 22, 2026
The Virginia Black Film Festival marks its third year in partnership with Visit Williamsburg. The festival will showcase dozens of films in competition, along with accomplished guest speakers, celebrity appearances, and a Gala Awards Show. The event is designed to increase visibility and access for Black filmmakers and Black entrepreneurs—both within the community and among one another.
Awards Gala / Concert – 5pm Photo Ops / 6pm Awards
MORE INFO & TICKETS.
PANEL DISCUSSION
MORE INFO & TICKETS.
ALL SCREENINGS PASS – This ticket type provides access to all of the film screenings in the festival!
Panel Discussions are sold separately.
MORE INFO & TICKETS.
ALL PANELS PASS – This ticket type provides access to all panel discussions and celebrity Q&A.
MORE INFO & TICKETS.
4-DAY VIP PASS – This ticket provides access to all events taking place at the Kimball Theatre, including film screenings, panel discussions, and celebrity Q&A.
MORE INFO & TICKETS.
Here is the lists of movies, shorts and workshops. Tickets for all of these can be found by visiting HERE
Thursday, February 19th
Kimball Theatre
| Start Time | Title | Type | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| SCREENING BLOCK #1 | |||
| 10:00am | Announcements | 5m | |
| 10:05am | THE EMPTY SEAT | SHORT | 2m 7s |
| 10:07am | EN ROUTE | SHORT | 1m 20s |
| 10:08am | THE SPIRIT WE MOVE WITH | SHORT | 19m 53s |
| 10:28am | ATTACHED | SHORT | 15m 10s |
| 10:43am | BLACK BEYOND BORDERS | WEB SERIES | 15m 28s |
| 10:59am | IN SYNC | SHORT | 25m 12s |
| 11:24am | LIVING MOMENTS | SHORT | 11m 9s |
| 11:35am | MAKING THEIR POINTE | SHORT | 53m 14s |
| 12:28pm | Break (Q&A in Lobby) | 10m | |
| SCREENING BLOCK #2 | |||
| 12:40pm | CUTOFF | SHORT | 8m 33s |
| 12:48pm | WHITEFACE | SHORT | 14m 59s |
| 1:03pm | TO BE A BROKEN BLACK LOVER | SHORT | 9m 38s |
| 1:12pm | THE BUNNYMAN CHRONICLES | SHORT | 9m |
| 1:21pm | TOLL | SHORT | 9m 51s |
| 1:31pm | THE REMARKABLE STORY OF JAMES APOSTLE FIELDS | SHORT | 21m 41s |
| 1:52pm | YOUNG TOUSSAINT | SHORT | 9m |
| 2:01pm | MEET THE FRIENDS | SHORT | 14m 30s |
| 2:15pm | COLOR IS NOT A CRIME | SHORT | 10m |
| 2:25pm | CONNECTION | SHORT | 21m 37s |
| 2:46pm | THE LOVED AND THE HEARTLESS | WEB SERIES | 6m |
| 2:52pm | Break (Q&A in Lobby) | 10m | |
| FEATURES AND DISCUSSIONS | |||
| 3:02pm | EIGHT NOTES TO HEAVEN | FEATURE | 1h 20m |
| 4:22pm | Break (Q&A in Lobby) | 10m | |
| 4:32pm | I SUCK AT DATING | FEATURE | 1h 37m 43s |
| 6:09pm | Break (Q&A in Lobby) | 5m | |
| 6:12pm | FILMING IN VIRGINIA | Q&A | – |
| 6:50pm | Break | 10m | |
| 7:00pm | HISTORY HALF TOLD IS UNTOLD W/ Q&A | Q&A | 50m |
Friday, February 20th
Kimball Theatre
| Start Time | Title | Type | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| SCREENING BLOCK #3 | |||
| 10:00am | DING DONG DITCH | TRAILER | 2m 32s |
| 10:02am | BUDDY | SHORT | 12m 14s |
| 10:14am | HOOPS AND HEARTS | SHORT | 9m 38s |
| 10:23am | HOTTER IN JULY | SHORT | 36m |
| 10:58am | SAMSARA | SHORT | 21m 54s |
| 11:20am | CAN YOU STAND THE RAIN | FEATURE | 1h 32m 46s |
| 12:52pm | Break (Q&A in Lobby) | 8m | |
| FEATURES & PANELS | |||
| 1:00pm | THE BLOOD OF SALTVILLE | FEATURE | 1h 39m |
| 2:39pm | Break (Q&A in Lobby) | 10m | |
| 2:49pm | KARMA IN HEELS | FEATURE | 2h 18m |
| 5:07pm | Break (Q&A in Lobby) | 10m | |
| 5:17pm | ILL FIND YOU | FEATURE | 1h 33m |
| 6:50pm | Break (Q&A in Lobby) | 10m | |
| 7:00pm | RISE OF THE LEGION w/ Q&A | Q&A | 60m 45s |
Saturday, February 21st
Kimball Theatre
| Start Time | Title | Type | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10:00am | FILM DISTRIBUTION W/ BRYAN G THOMPSON | MASTERCLASS | 50m |
| 10:50am | Break | 10m | |
| 11:00am | SCREEN COMBAT W/ BAM JOHNSON | MASTERCLASS | 50m |
| 11:50am | Break | 10m | |
| 12:00pm | DISPLACED FROM THE BIRTHPLACE OF AMERICA W/ Q&A | Q&A | 26m 48s |
| 12:50pm | Break | 10m | |
| 1:00pm | ENTERTAINMENT LAW W/ KIRT T SCHRODER | MASTERCLASS | 50m |
| 1:50pm | Break | 10m | |
| 2:00pm | ACTING FOR FILM W/ ANTONIO CHARITY | MASTERCLASS | 50m |
| 2:50pm | Break | 10m | |
| 3:00pm | FOOD FOR THE SOUL W / Q&A | SHORT | 17m 38s |
| 3:50pm | Break | 10m | |
| 4:00pm | CELEBRITY GUEST – DAPHNE MAXWELL REID | Q & A | 50m |
| 4:50pm | Break | 10m | |
| 5:00pm | AWARDS GALA RECEPTION | GALA | 3h |
Sunday, February 22nd
Kimball Theatre
| Start Time | Title | Type | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| SCREENING BLOCK #4 (HAMPTON ROADS SELECTION) | |||
| 10:00am | REMEDY | SHORT | 12m 15s |
| 10:12am | LONELY MEN | SHORT | 11m 38s |
| 10:23am | THE KENNEL | SHORT | 11m 28s |
| 10:34am | LOYAL JUSTICE | SHORT | 50m 28s |
| 11:24am | TOWN OF A GHOST | SHORT | 10m |
| 11:34am | COUNT DOWN TO LOVE | SHORT | 10m |
| 11:44am | GENERATIONAL FLIP | SHORT | 10m |
| 11:54am | I JUST CARE | SHORT | 10m |
| 12:04pm | CHURCHFOLK | FEATURE | 2h 5m |
| 2:09pm | Break (Q&A in Lobby) | 10m | |
| FEATURES | |||
| 2:19pm | SNOOZE YOU LOSE | FEATURE | 1h 49m 49s |
| 4:08pm | Break (Q&A in Lobby) | 5m | |
| 4:13pm | WHO IS BOO? THE BLACK ARCHITECT OF THE AM. DREAM | FEATURE | 1h 58m 49s |
| 6:18pm | Break (Q&A in Lobby) | 5m | |
| 6:23pm | A NIGHT OF ARTISTIC RENEWAL | SHORT | 30 |
