Virginia Black Film Festival celebrates culture, diversity in Williamsburg

The four-day festival features screenings, panels, and cultural programming highlighting Black voices from across Virginia.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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The Virginia Black Film Festival is making its Williamsburg debut this week, bringing a four-day celebration of film, culture and community to the Kimball Theatre. The festival features a robust lineup of screenings, industry panels, fireside chats and cultural programming that highlights Black voices from across Virginia and beyond. Guests include martial arts champion Willie 'The Bam' Johnson, actor Antonio Charity, and actor Marcus Scribner of 'black-ish'. Actress Daphne Maxwell Reid, known for her role as Aunt Viv on 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air', is this year's Lifetime Achievement Award recipient.

Why it matters

The festival's move to Williamsburg aligns with Virginia's 250th anniversary celebration and the city's efforts to recognize Black History Month. Festival founder Bryan Thompson, a William & Mary Law School graduate, hopes the festival will bring people of all backgrounds together through the shared human emotions conveyed in the art of filmmaking.

The details

The Virginia Black Film Festival will feature a variety of programming, including features, shorts, narratives and documentaries, as well as masterclasses and a Black history tour presented by Williamsburg-based The Village Initiative. Panels and classes will cover topics such as filming in Virginia, film distribution, entertainment law and film acting. This year's theme is 'Black Excellence: Past, Present, & Future'.

  • The festival is scheduled for February 19-22, 2026.
  • The festival was previously held around Juneteenth in Hampton, but was moved to Williamsburg due to scheduling conflicts and an outreach effort from Williamsburg leaders.

The players

Bryan Thompson

The founder of the Virginia Black Film Festival, who is also a William & Mary Law School graduate and the creator of the Miami Web Series Festival.

Daphne Maxwell Reid

Actress known for her role as Aunt Viv on 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air', and this year's Lifetime Achievement Award recipient.

Sesha Joi Moon

Virginia's chief diversity officer and director of diversity, equity and inclusion, who will be the keynote speaker at the festival.

Willie 'The Bam' Johnson

Martial arts champion and author, who is a guest at the festival.

Antonio Charity

Actor and Surry County native, who is a guest at the festival.

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What they’re saying

“Hopefully, the 250th (anniversary) will recognize the contributions of Black people in America, in the building of America.”

— Daphne Maxwell Reid, Actress

“Sometimes I feel as though the ancestors are speaking through me, and that they pulled me to Williamsburg specifically so that these messages can come across.”

— Bryan Thompson, Festival Founder

“To have the film festival come here and to complete not just the history from the early centuries, but also the contemporary history means an awful lot.”

— Connie Matthews Harshaw, President, Let Freedom Ring Foundation

What’s next

The festival will continue its four-day run in Williamsburg, featuring screenings, panels, and cultural programming that highlight Black voices and stories.

The takeaway

The Virginia Black Film Festival's move to Williamsburg during the state's 250th anniversary celebration underscores the importance of recognizing and celebrating the contributions of Black people in America's history and culture. The festival's diverse programming and focus on community engagement aim to bring people together through the shared experiences conveyed in film.