2023 festival to feature about 98 films, art exhibits, a technology expo, live music, spoken word poetry slam, a hackathon, and master classes and workshops
DENTON, TEXAS – As one of the Southwest’s most successful events, the Denton Black Film Festival today announced that tickets and passes are now available for its entertaining and engaging list of activities taking place, in person – January 25th – 29th, 2023, and virtually January 29-February 6, 2023
The festival will feature about 98 films, three art exhibits, a technology expo, live music, a spoken word poetry slam, a hackathon, and master classes, workshops, and panels to help creatives hone their craft.
“Every year, we have tried to take the festival to a higher level,” said Harry Eaddy, one of the festival’s founders and directors. “This year, we’re offering great films, great entertainment, and community engagement in a way we’ve never done before.”
To support DBFF’s success, The Village Giving Circle at Texas Women’s Foundation issued a $5,000 grant as part of its efforts “to honor, sustain and expand the legacy of African American women’s philanthropy by funding organizations and initiatives that positively impact the African American community in North Texas”. Additionally, Panavision will continue its support of providing $20,000 camera packages each for Best Narrative and Documentary films.
This year’s festival has an exciting variety of films of which eight will feature Texas Stories, but with broad appeal tapping into the “Black Experience.” At the Technology Education and Culture (TEC) Expo, there will be a special screening of “Yankho,” a VR 360-film experience about a Malawian mother whose dreams for her daughter are altered by the challenges of rural poverty.
This year’s featured music performing artist is Sy Smith, a widely acclaimed and long renowned as the “Queen of Underground Soul” for her edgy, progressive mix of funk, neo-soul, and R&B. She will perform at 8 p.m., January. 26th at TWU Margo Jones Performing Arts Theater.
Comedienne Angelia Walker will bring her wit and humor at 7 p.m., January 27th at the Patterson-Appleton Arts Center, 400 E Hickory St., Denton, TX.
The TEC Expo, taking place at the Denton Civic Center, 321 East McKinney St., Denton, TX, opens with a reception on Thursday, January 26th at 5:30 pm and runs from January 27th through January 28th. The expo will highlight the next generation of technology & innovation in Film, AI, VR, XR, and immersive technologies along with a special appearance by Miss Black Texas Aryana Bosh. Participating exhibitors include companies Peterbilt, UNT, TWU, NCTC, AMP Creative, Orant Charities, EarthX, Texas Film Commission, and the City of Denton.
One of the newest community engagement elements of the festival is the DFW Metro NAACP Youth Hackathon hosting 150-200 students in collaboration with the NAACP DFW Branch. Students will get a chance to learn more the diverse career opportunities in technology, and provide an engaging experience immersed in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics.
Go to DentonBFF.com to review the pass and ticket options. There are four types of passes:
- VIP ALL EXPERIENCE PASS(everything the festival has to offer, except- Special Workshops & Panels w/Fees)
- FILM ONLY EXPERIENCE PASS: ACCESS to ALL IN-PERSON and VIRTUAL FILM SCREENINGS
- VIRTUAL ONLY EXPERIENCE PASS (ACCESS to ALL VIRTUAL FILM SCREENINGS AND EVENTS: Exceptions: Films with geographic restrictions and/or audience caps)
- FIVE BLOCK FILM PASS (Five (5) Individual in Person and Virtual Film screening blocks of your choice- Exceptions: Films with geographic restrictions and audience caps).
Contact us at dentonbff@gmail.com or call (469) 573-0799 with your questions.
For ongoing updates about DBFF, go to DentonBFF.com and follow the festival on social: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.
About the Denton Black Film Festival
The Denton Black Film Festival is an annual cultural event, featuring the works of emerging filmmakers, creatives from around the country, and talented college students, musicians, artists, and spoken word poets. Held each January, thousands attend the celebration of storytelling in various art forms, which takes place in venues in Denton, Texas.
