Diaspora Festival of Black and Independent Film

The Diaspora Festival of Black and Independent Film is an annual event held at the Sonja Haynes Stone Center for Research in Black Cultures and Histories at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Since the inception of the festival format in 2004 -- it started out as a popular film series -- the Diaspora Festival has been spotlighting films from all corners of the African diaspora. Many screenings are North Carolina premieres and feature commentary and appearances by filmmakers and local scholars. All screenings are free and open to the public and will take place at the Stone Center (150 South Rd, Chapel Hill).

*** 2024 Special Category Submissions: Black Queer Films ***
The 2024 Diaspora Festival of Black and Independent Film will feature Black Queer works in a special screening on October 22nd. We encourage filmmakers working in all genres that explore the intersections of Blackness and Queerness to submit works for consideration for this showcase. The showcase is one of several leadup events to the 25th anniversary of the Black Queer Studies conference hosted by UNC April 4-6, 2025, at the Sonja Haynes Stone Center.