Oak Park Festival Provides Black Filmmakers A Too Rare Showcase

By Madelaine Church | Special to The OBSERVERThe third annual Oak Park Black Film Festival played on the big screen at the historic Guild Theater in Oak Park last week.The six-day festival, running from Oct. 8-13, featured a diverse lineup of films from aspiring Black filmmakers, actors, and creatives. More than 20 films premiered, showcasing documentaries, short films, and independent films.Black filmmakers are often misrepresented in the film industry. British film magazine Screen Daily conducted a survey from 2018-2021, which revealed only 1% of films at major festivals were directed by Black filmmakers.Related: Oak Park Second Annual Black Film Festival Crosses LinesThe Oak Park Black Film Festival provided a platform for their work in a theater setting. Each film, through its tributes, conveyed stories and perspectives on African American culture, inviting audiences to witness and celebrate Black success in cinema.Freddy Howard, one of 10 founders of the Oakland International Black Film Festival, said she was on hand Sunday because film festivals are an important outlet to expose the Black community to other communities. “I think you can show that films can be made by Black people. This is my third time coming here and it’s gotten better,” Howard said.The festival...