The Harlem International Film Festival (Hi) announced the 2022 edition of the film festival will take place on May 5-8. The first NYC-based film festival to successfully return to in-person/in-theater screenings this year, the next event will once again be a hybrid presentation, with the enthusiastic appearances by world-class filmmakers and local personalities in Harlem and greater New York City that Hi has become famous for. The film festival also announced its Call for Entries with an Early Bird Deadline set for November 19.
Once again, the Harlem International Film Festival will celebrate world cinema and showcase local filmmakers and screenwriters with its signature style. The film festival has been noted for its ability to find and highlight films that have not been retread from other film festivals and stay true to its programming sensibility. The marriage of Little Africa to El Barrio, Jazz to Dance, History to Art and cinema born from one of the world’s most vibrant artistic communities guide the direction of the film festival year-in and year-out.
Harlem International Film Festival Program Director Nasri Zacharia said, “We pride ourselves in the ability to find films that will introduce people throughout the state of New York and the film community at large to the unique blend of global cinema and local films that we have built a reputation celebrating for more than a decade and a half now. We take our position as part of Harlem and New York City’s film and arts community seriously, and we look forward to a full return to in-person/in-theater screenings and events in 2022, even as we continue to utilize the virtual space to give our films a wider platform throughout the rest of the state as well.”
Another key aspect of the film festival that will be duplicated in 2022 will be the robust and impressive jury comprised of film scholars, film industry veterans, filmmakers, and actors. Among the jury members for the 2021 edition included; Vernon Reid (Grammy-Winning Founder of the Iconic Band Living Colour); Paul Eckstein(Writer/Producer of the EPIX series Godfather of Harlem); Christine Swanson (Director of NAACP Image Award-winning The Clark Sisters: The First Ladies of Gospel); Jamal Joseph (professor and former chair of the Columbia University film division); Allison Vanore (Emmy winning producer, After Forever); Indrani Kopal (award-winning filmmaker & professor and a past winner of the festival’s Mira Nair Award); Moon Molson (award-winning filmmaker and film professor); and Frank Yan (Co-Director of the CineCina Film Festival).
This year’s edition of the Harlem International Film Festival marked a big return to theaters with an Opening Night gala double triple feature presentation at the AMC Magic Johnson 9 complete with red carpet entrances including appearances by former Congressman Charles Rangel, Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, the iconic Lisa Lisa, and Barry Shabaka Henley. The event emphatically kicked off the film festival, whose virtual component was quickly expanded to run an additional week due to the enthusiasm of the film festival’s audiences.
AWARDS CATEGORIES
Best Film
Best World Film
Best Documentary
Best World Documentary
Best Animation
Best Experimental
Best Short
Best Documentary Short
Best Youth Film
Best Music Video
Best Webisode
Audience Award
New York Vision Award
Harlem Spotlight Award
Screenplay Awards
Mira Nair Award for Rising Female Filmmaker
Best Director
Best Documentary Director
Best Cinematography
Best Editing
Best Actor
Best Actress
SUBMISSION DEADLINES
- Early Bird: November 19, 2021
- Regular: December 17, 2021
- Late: January 7, 2022
- Extended: January 21, 2021
ABOUT THE HARLEM INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
Celebrating the art of cinema in the home of the Harlem Renaissance, The Harlem International Film Festival (Hi) inspires and entertains by honoring dynamic films by anyone about anything under the sun. Conceived from the belief that we all have unique experiences and perspectives to share, the Festival actively seeks and exhibits fresh work. Hi is committed to exemplifying the eminence that Harlem represents and is dedicated to bringing attention to the finest filmmakers from Harlem to Hong Kong and back again.
