Noir Film or Film Noir

So where do you suppose one of the oldest and largest Black Film Festival is held each year?

Hollywood? New York City? Maybe way over there on the French Riviera, in Cannes?

Give up? The answer is right here in beautiful, downtown San Diego!

Launched 12 years ago as the Noir Film Festival, with the presentation of three films, the festival will run this year from January 30 to February 2 and will feature more than 100 films!

The San Diego Black Film Festival—as it is now known—started off in a hotel room in the Gaslamp area. The organizers changed the name shortly after it was launched because they were afraid folks would confuse “Noir Film” with “Film Noir,” those wonderful, old Hollywood crime movies with Humphrey Bogart, Robert Mitchum or Edward G. Robinson.

Festival organizers have adopted the motto: “Spotlight on African American and African Diaspora Cinema.”

The festival will kick off at 6 pm Thursday, January 30 with a reception in the Reading Theater, on the corner of 5^th and G. The opening centerpiece film will start showing at 7:30 pm.

This year’s opening film will be Tula The Revolt, a 100-minute film from the Netherlands/Netherlands Antilles, directed by Jeroen Leinders and starring Danny Glover and Obi Abili. The film recounts a slave revolt led by Tula, which frees the slaves on the island of Curacao.

Flicks from all corners of the filmmaking world will be featured during this year’s festival..

There will be evening films the next day, Friday, then films all day long on Saturday, ending with an awards dinner and gala starting at 8pm at the nearby Hard Rock Hotel.

Saturday will also feature panel discussions, filmmakers Meet and Greet and a Red Carpet Arrivals and Reception just before the Awards Dinner.

There will be a closing brunch on Sunday at 9:30 am, with closing films shown from 11am to 2pm.

The box office this year will be located at the Reading Theater, at 701 5^th Avenue. Horton Plaza offers three hours free parking with validation, but you can also take the trolley or bus instead—especially if you plan to hang around for more than three hours. That way, you can catch several films or maybe even get an autograph or two from some of the famous movie stars who are sure to show up for the festival.