The Black Europe Film Festival (BEFF) is a celebration of Afrodescendant cinema, returning to the Twin Cities from February 19–22. Rooted in community collaboration and a commitment to inclusive storytelling, the festival showcases documentaries, narrative films, and shorts by today’s most compelling Black diasporic filmmakers, with a special focus on Afro-European artists.
This year’s selections move across genres and geographies—science fiction, documentary, family drama, biopic—each offering a distinct window into the range and diversity of the Black diaspora. These films guide us through landscapes of Blackness seldom depicted on screen, from African coastlines to European neighborhoods, and even, unexpectedly, to Brooklyn.
What binds them is our festival theme, Afro-Pasts, Afro-Futures. While the films take us to many places (including, this year, a detour to Spike Lee’s Brooklyn), they all explore the need to “return home”—whether physically, from the diaspora back to Africa, or metaphorically, through memories, stories, and histories that shape personal and collective Black identity.
The BEFF Travelling Showcase allows universities and cultural institutions to host a portion of the festival on their own campus or venue. We offer a series of curated film programs—organized thematically or geographically—that can be adapted to different audiences, formats, and budgets.
Each showcase can include screenings, discussions, masterclasses, and virtual or in-person visits from BEFF filmmakers and guests.
Coming soon
Thank you to our sponsors and partners. They play a vital role in making the festival a success. Their support helps us bring this event to life and create opportunities for filmmakers and attendees.
