By Y’Anad Burrell

On June 1, the acclaimed Los Angeles-based Indie Night Film Festival arrived at the Kabuki Theater in San Francisco.

San Francisco native Dave Brown, Founder and CEO of the Indie Night Film Festival, has a vision for the film industry that is squarely focused on promoting the many talented producers, actors, and designers contributing to this billion-dollar industry.  The festival has been running for 12 years and it’s only up from here, he says.

A weekly celebration of cinematic artistry designed to elevate emerging talent while providing a platform for networking and collaboration, entrepreneur Dave Brown created Indie Night to bridge gaps within the filmmaking community by fostering connections between like-minded individuals worldwide. The Indie Film Festival currently has over 450 film submissions worldwide, and its cinematic vault only continues to grow.

The festival showcased over 10 short films and trailers, and featured Faces of the “City: Fighting for the Soul of America,” produced by veteran actor Tisha Campbell.  This film is about the vibrancy and legacy of San Francisco. The festival also previewed “When It Reigns,” a trailer by Oakland’s burgeoning filmmaker Jamaica René.

Indie films have not just challenged traditional cinematic norms; they’ve shattered them. These films offer unique storytelling perspectives and push creative boundaries in truly inspiring ways. With their smaller budgets and independent spirit, they often tackle unconventional subjects and portray diverse characters, providing a refreshing alternative to mainstream cinema. As a result, indie films have resonated with audiences seeking an escape from formulaic blockbusters and are increasingly celebrated for their authenticity and originality.

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Organizers say the mission of Indie Night is to elevate the craft of independent artists and creators. It also provides a venue for them to showcase their work, network, and exchange information with new and established creatives. It creates a community that values and supports independent art.

For more about the Indie Night Film Festival, visit www.indienightfilmfestival.com.

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By Carla Thomas

The Oakland International Film Festival hosted a screening of “Outlaw Posse” at the Grand Lake Theatre on Monday. Special guests included director/actor Mario Van Peebles and his co-star, Oakland native Scytorya Rhodes. The film is Peebles’ second western, the first being ‘Posse,’ 13 years ago. Filmmaker Van Peebles shared his passion for independent artistry and producing projects with his son, Mandela, who also starred in the film, along with Whoopi Goldberg and Cedric the Entertainer. Next week, The Post will publish an in-depth interview featuring Peebles’ reflections on his work, future projects, and continuing his father’s legacy and Rhodes on her grandfather, a real-life cowboy.

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By Terri Schlichenmeyer, The Bookworm Sez

The person on the screen looks just like you.

And that’s important. Once was a time when you rarely saw a Black face in entertainment unless you were specifically looking for one — which is why these great books on Black entertainers are so essential to read.

First of all, elegance almost oozes from “Lena Horne: Goddess Reclaimed” by Donald Bogle. The gorgeous book is part of the Turner Classic Movie Library.

Bogle begins his narrative in the spring of 1993 when “a radiant Lena Horne entered the famous MGM recording soundstage for the first time in nearly 40 years.” She was there to shoot footage for a compilation movie on entertainment and, Bogle says, it was “a bittersweet experience.”

From there, he takes readers through the briefest of childhood biographies before getting to the good stuff: Horne’s career that began in Harlem. It was the Great Depression and competition for the best positions at the Cotton Club was fierce. Despite the fact that the Club had other beautiful women onstage, it was Horne who “caught the eye of just about everyone who saw her.”

Filled with everything you want to know about Lena Horne — her life, loves, and many of her contemporaries — “Lena Horne: Goddess Reclaimed” is comprehensive and wide. It’s one of those books you’ll want to keep on your coffee table to browse and show off. Bonus: carefully chosen photos enhance what you’ll read.

If the small screen is more your thing and you want to remember how far television’s come over the decades, then you’ll want “Black TV” by Bethonie Butler.

Ask any TV viewer about their favorite show or series, and if it’s got a full cast of Black actors, you’ll probably find it in this heavy volume. Comedies, dramas, even variety series have their own chapters; Flip Wilson, Redd Foxx, Arsenio Hall, Diahann Carroll, they’re all in here.

With this book on your lap, you’ll take a trip to the Soul Train studio and visit the Huxtable living room. Remember how “In Living Color” skewered almost everything? Remember the night James Evans of “Good Times” died? Which “Sister, Sister” twin was your favorite? Is the new version of “The Wonder Years” realistic enough for Black audiences?

This book is absolutely packed with insider information, memories, stars, guest stars, and lots of pictures to nudge your nostalgia and send you looking for something to binge-watch on repeat or to catch new. It’s a great book to share with generations who missed seeing these shows live. Or just sit and read “Black TV” and let that be tonight’s entertainment.

If these books on Black entertainment aren’t enough for you, then be sure to look around for more. Bogle has several other biographical volumes on the shelves.

You’ll find books about and by Black stars, books about specific movies and TV shows, retrospectives that will take you way back, and more behind-the-scenes peeks of your favorite series. Your bookseller or librarian will be able to put these books in your hand because they’re good like that.

And so are these books.

“Lena Horne: Goddess Reclaimed” by Donald Bogle, c.2023, Running Press, $35.00, 264 pages

“Black TV: Five Decades of Groundbreaking Television from Soul Train to Black-ish and Beyond” by Bethonie Butler, c.2023, Black Dog & Levanthal, $35.00, 287 pages

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