The 4th Annual Oak Park Black Film Festival returns October 7–12, 2025 at the historic Guild Theater in Sacramento — and your Premiere Pass is the key to experiencing it all.

Premiere Pass Includes:

Early admission to the entire six-day film festival

Access to all post-reception events

Six days of powerful storytelling, visionary filmmakers, and vibrant community connections

Please note: Premiere Pass does not include reserved seating; all seating is open.

After August 22, Premiere Passes increase from $100 to $125 — don’t wait!

Event Schedule

Tuesday, October 7 (5pm)

Mr. Advocate – Stacie McClamm (Director)

In an urban elementary school obsessed with test scores, a former corporate worker turned teacher clashes with his rigid principal as he fights to implement afternoon recess, believing unstructured play is key to improving both student well-being and academic performance.

Picture Perfect – Xavier Smalls (Director)

Picture Perfect is a short film that explores the complexities of troubled relationships. Frank, a man deeply affected by past trauma, turns to painting as a way to cope with his anger. He creates a portrait of the woman he plans to propose to, only to uncover a devastating secret that turns his world upside down.

Love is Blind – Parnielle Walker (Director)

In the bustling heart of Los Angeles, where dating is already a challenge, Chris—a cautious germaphobe—reluctantly agrees to a blind date set up by his best friend Bobby’s no-nonsense fiancée. To his surprise, his date is drop-dead gorgeous, and for a moment, he thinks he’s hit the jackpot. But what starts as a promising evening quickly spirals into chaos.

Moses – Fran Guajarro (Director)

In San Francisco, a man enduring homelessness for two decades connects with passersby to be seen among the invisible, a skill he learned from a promising music career cut short in the 70s, and one that will ultimately transform his life.

Happy Birthday MikeMike – Mohammad Gorjestan & BJ McBride (Director)

‘Happy Birthday MikeMike’ is a film from the 1-800 Happy Birthday project, documenting Michael Brown’s 10th heavenly birthday party organized by his mother Lezley McSpadden on May 20, 2024.

Withered – Alana Smith (Director)

When a clairvoyant on the run from the government steals a highly valued photo, he uses his supernatural abilities to find his family before a lunar eclipse erases everything in his memory.

 

wednesday, october 8 (5pm)

She Runs the World (Feature Documentary) – Allyson Felix (Film Subject)

The ReWrite (Short Film) – Terry Dawson (Director)

Knocking on Doors (Short Documentary) - (Louis Bryant)

 

thursday, october 9 (5pm)

Proceed and Be Bold (Feature Documentary) – Amos Kennedy Jr. (Film Subject)

Soul of the City (Short Film) – Roger Melvin (Director)

Ways to Fly (Short Film) – Kirby Marshall-Collins (Director)

The Ohio, Texas Remix (Short Film) – Ya’Ke Smith (Director)

Untold Secrets: The Flip Side (Short Film) - Dwayne Ricardo Brown (Director)

 

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10 (5PM)

Love Offside (Feature Film) – Dale S. Lewis (Director)

Can You Stand the Rain (Feature Film) – Eden Marryshow (Director)

 

saturday, october 11 (5pm)

Jules (Short Film) – Tiffany M. Abney (Director)

Zeke (Short Film) – Kerry Codett (Director)

Platanero (Short Film) – Juan Frank Hernandez (Director)

The Late Night Creep (Feature Film) – Jamal Dedeaux (Director

Goodnight, My Love (Short Film) – Chyna Robinson

Black Voices from the Ivory Tower (Short Documentary) – Khalid White (Director)

 

sunday, october 12 (1pm)

Shaka Senghor: How to Be Free

Wait Until Tomorrow (Feature Film) – Osato Dixon (Director)

Outdoor School (Feature Film) – Ime Nyong Etuk (Director)

Awards Presentation