About:

Established in 2022, The Oak Park Black Film Festival is a celebration of African-American stories and history through cinema showcasing independent features, documentaries and short films by African-American filmmakers.  

The 4th annual event will take place at the historic Guild Theater in Oak Park, Sacramento October 7-12, 2025. 

The Oak Park Black Film Festival was born from a spark of inspiration when Founder Kevin Johnson attended the Martha’s Vineyard African-American Film Festival (MVAFF), he knew he had to bring that same magic back to Sacramento. Moved by the powerful stories, visionary filmmakers, and vibrant celebration of Black culture, he set out to create a festival that would shine just as brightly in the heart of Oak Park.

And Sacramento showed up! Each year, the Festival has drawn massive crowds, with screenings selling out nearly every day. The energy, the love, the community—it’s electric.

Get ready—because we can’t wait to see you at the next Oak Park Black Film Festival!

Reviews:

“This is a gem of a film festival. I had the honor of screening my film “Superman Doesn’t Steal”. Excellent communication & hospitality. They truly believe in taking care of the filmmakers and the community comes out to support. It was a full house of enthusiastic audience members, an incredible line up of films and the film festival staff were so warm and weloming. I also felt a true sense of community and connection. A wonderful experience. It was my firt time in Oak Park but I plan to come back. It was a truly lovely time. I wish I could have stayed for the entire week. Thank you so much for screening my film.”

— Tamika Lamison (December 2024)

“Can’t say enough good things about the Oak Park Black Film Festival and it’s still in it’s infancy (only 3yrs old)!

Founded & hosted nightly by ex-Mayor and ex-NBA’r Kevin Johnson this 5-night celebration of Black Film & Culture takes place in the Oak Park neighborhood of Sacramento with the historic and beautifully renovated Guild Theater as its epicenter.

Our short film featured on the opening night to a sold-out theater of vibrant, sophisticated, art patrons. Sound was quality, image was great and the films curated around our short were top-notch.

The Q&A that followed was expertly moderated by the local ABC-affiliate and the screenings spilled into a VIP reception at a black-owned restaurant next door. The Festival takes care of its filmmakers and is well supported by its Sponsors.

Thank you to Nicole, Brandy, Elesia and all the volunteers for your gracious and thoughtful hospitality. Thank you Kindra and Tuanja for your worldly and exquisite programming. And of course, a big thank you to Mr Kevin Johnson for having us. We hope to make it a tradition!”

–Christian Loubek (October 2024)

”

The Oak Park Black Film Festival in Sacramento, California, is truly a gem in the film festival circuit, epitomizing how festivals should be run. As filmmakers, presenting our film TIME II: Unfinished Business to an audience so receptive and appreciative was an incredible experience. The festival treated us with unmatched class, making us feel valued from the moment we arrived.
Everything was meticulously organized, from the thoughtfully curated programming to the strategic screening times. The audience was incredible, radiating enthusiasm and support – they cheered, engaged, and stayed behind for meaningful discussions after the screenings. It felt like a celebration of creativity and diversity, with a palpable sense of community.

The warmth and hospitality extended by the festival organizers were remarkable, elevating the experience to something memorable and heartfelt. Fellow filmmakers and attendees shared the same sentiments, which made the atmosphere even more electrifying.

I wholeheartedly recommend the Oak Park Black Film Festival to anyone passionate about film. It’s a masterclass in how a festival should operate – truly the festival of festivals. Whether you’re a filmmaker or a film enthusiast, this event is an unmissable opportunity to connect with a vibrant community that celebrates Black cinema in all its glory.”

–Fox Rich (October 2024)