In an age where even the smallest infraction can become a capital offense, driving a couple of blocks can seem like The Hunger Games for a Black person.

Dmitri is a pizza guy who would rather smoke weed and suffer for his art, but his mom and his girl won’t stop nagging him to get a real job. When he’s offered a gig mouthing off to tourists behind the wheel of a Hollywood “star tour” bus, it looks like everyone might get what they want. Trouble is, our man can’t seem to step out the door to get to the interview without endless complications: busted radiators, simple weed scores gone sideways and LAPD cruisers seemingly everywhere. Dmitri’s skill at going unnoticed by cops is honed by painful experiences growing up Black in L.A., but even his keen survival instincts won’t save him from the week from hell.

The post ‘Driving While Black’ – Coming Soon appeared first on Films of Color.

Fences is based on the play of the same name by August Wilson, also starring Denzel Washington and Viola Davis in Tony Award-winning roles. It follows a Black family trying to navigate race relations in the 1950s. The film version looks to be just as good. There is already talk of Oscar buzz, and after watching the trailer, the buzz is well-deserved. Take a look at the trailer and see for yourself.

Cast:

• Denzel Washington – Troy Maxson
• Viola Davis – Rose Maxson
• Stephen McKinley Henderson – Jim Bono
• Jovan Adepo – Cory Maxson
• Russell Hornsby – Lyons Maxson
• Mykelti Williamson – Gabriel Maxson
• Saniyya Sidney – Raynell Maxson

Crew:

• Director – Denzel Washington
• Writer – August Wilson

Fences opens in theaters December 25, 2016. Get tickets here.

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With Halloween out the way and Thanksgiving being an unmarketable placeholder holiday, the Christmas season is finally here. And what better way to celebrate than with a Christmas film. What better one than Almost Christmas? It has an all-star cast and is sure to keep the laughs coming.

Synopsis:

Almost Christmas tells the festive story of a beloved patriarch who asks his family for one gift this holiday season: to get along. If they can honor that wish and spend five days under the same roof without killing one another, it will be a Christmas miracle.

Cast:

• Kimberly Elise – Cheryl Meyers
• Omar Epps – Malachi
• Danny Glover – Walter
• Romany Malco – Christian
• Mo’Nique – Aunt May
• Nicole Ari Parker – Sonya
• J. B. Smoove – Lonnie
• Gabrielle Union – Rachel
• Keri Hilson – Jasmine
• Jessie Usher – Evan

Crew:

• Director/Writer – David E. Talbert
• Producer – Will Packer

Almost Christmas will be released in theaters November 11, 2016. Tickets are available here.

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Queen of Katwe has been anticipated since we learned that Lupita Nyong’o and David Oyelowo would be teaming up. It is based on The Queen of Katwe: A Story of Life, Chess, and One Extraordinary Girl’s Dream of Becoming a Grandmaster by Tim Crothers. It tells the story of Phiona Mutesi, a chess prodigy from Katwe, Uganda.

Synopsis:

Queen of Katwe is the colorful true story of a young girl selling corn on the streets of rural Uganda whose world rapidly changes when she is introduced to the game of chess, and, as a result of the support she receives from her family and community, is instilled with the confidence and determination she needs to pursue her dream of becoming an international chess champion.

For 10-year-old Phiona Mutesi and her family, life in the impoverished slum of Katwe in Kampala, Uganda, is a constant struggle. Her mother, Harriet, is fiercely determined to take care of her family and works tirelessly selling vegetables in the market to make sure her children are fed and have a roof over their heads. When Phiona meets Robert Katende, a soccer player turned missionary who teaches local children chess, she is captivated. Chess requires a good deal of concentration, strategic thinking and risk taking, all skills which are applicable in everyday life, and Katende hopes to empower youth with the game. Phiona is impressed by the intelligence and wit the game requires and immediately shows potential. Recognizing Phiona’s natural aptitude for chess and the fighting spirit she’s inherited from her mother, Katende begins to mentor her, but Harriet is reluctant to provide any encouragement, not wanting to see her daughter disappointed. As Phiona begins to succeed in local chess competitions, Katende teaches her to read and write in order to pursue schooling. She quickly advances through the ranks in tournaments, but breaks away from her family to focus on her own life. Her mother eventually realizes that Phiona has a chance to excel and teams up with Katende to help her fulfill her extraordinary potential, escape a life of poverty and save her family.

Cast:

• Madina Nalwanga – Phiona Mutesi
• David Oyelowo – Robert Katende
• Lupita Nyong’o – Nakku Harriet
• Martin Kabanza – Mugabi Brian
• Taryn Kyaze – Night
• Ivan Jacobo – Young Richard

Queen of Katwe is out in theaters. Tickets are available here.

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Everyone loves a good love story, and one of the most famous ones of all time is that of President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. You may be familiar with the story of their first date, but now you can see it imagined on the big screen with Southside with You. Take a look at the trailer and get ready to take an intimate look at that historic moment.

Synopsis:

Inspired by Barack and Michelle Obama’s first date, Southside With You recounts the eventful summer day in 1989 when a charming young law associate named Barack Obama tries to woo reluctant attorney Michelle Robinson during a daylong date that takes them from the Art Institute of Chicago to a screening of Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing to a sweet first kiss outside of a Baskin-Robbins ice-cream parlor.

Cast:

• Parker Sawyers – Barack Obama
• Tika Sumpter – Michelle Robinson
• Vanessa Bell Calloway – Marian Robinson
• Phillip Edward Van Lear – Fraser C. Robinson
• Taylar Fondren – Janice

Southside with You will be released in theaters August 26, 2016. Tickets are available here.

The post ‘Southside with You’ Official Trailer appeared first on Films of Color.

Moonlight explores the three stages of life for a young Black man (childhood, adolescence, and adulthood) in Miami as he wrestles with his sexuality. While dealing with the harsh experiences of life, he finds love and a better understanding of himself. The film is based on In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue by Tarell Alvin McCraney.

Cast:

• Trevante Rhodes – Chiron
• André Holland – Kevin
• Ashton Sanders – Teen Chiron
• Jharrel Jerome – Teen Kevin
• Mahershala Ali – Juan
• Janelle Monáe
• Naomie Harris

Crew:

• Director/Writer – Barry Jenkins

Moonlight premieres in theaters October 21, 2016.

The post ‘Moonlight’ Official Trailer appeared first on Films of Color.

Black women are generally the unsung heroes in any field. Why would space exploration be any different? Hidden Figures tells the story of three Black women (played by three talented women) who played key parts in the Space Race. The film is based on the book of the same name by Margot Lee Shetterly.

Synopsis:

Hidden Figures is the incredible untold story of Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughn, and Mary Jackson, brilliant African-American women working at NASA, who served as the brains behind one of the greatest operations in history: the launch of astronaut John Glenn into orbit, a stunning achievement that restored the nation’s confidence, turned around the Space Race, and galvanized the world. The visionary trio crossed all gender and race lines to inspire generations to dream big.

Cast:

• Taraji P. Henson – Katherine Johnson
• Octavia Spencer – Dorothy Vaughan
• Janelle Monáe – Mary Jackson
• Kevin Costner – Al Harrison
• Kirsten Dunst – Vivian Jackson
• Mahershala Ali – Jim Johnson

Hidden Figures is scheduled to be released in theaters on January 13, 2017. Tickets are available here.

The post ‘Hidden Figures’ Official Trailer appeared first on Films of Color.

If you’re a Tyler Perry/Madea fan, you’re in luck. Perry has a new Madea film coming this fall: Boo! A Madea Halloween. It had its origin in Chris Rock’s Top Five, where a Madea Halloween film was mentioned as a gag. Lionsgate then decided Perry should make it a real film. Apparently it was shot in six days.

We can’t imagine anything scaring Madea. You’ll get shot trying to roll up on her. If anything, she’s the one going around scaring people. Will you be watching the latest Madea installment, or will Madea have to terrorize alone?

Synopsis:

Madea winds up in the middle of mayhem when she spends a haunted Halloween fending off killers, paranormal poltergeists, ghosts, ghouls and zombies while keeping a watchful eye on a group of misbehaving teens.

Cast:

• Tyler Perry – Mabel “Madea” Simmons/Brian Simmons/Joe Simmons
• Diamond White – Tiffany Simmons
• Bella Thorne – Rain
• Cassi Davis – Aunt Bam
• Patrice Lovely – Hattie
• Andre Hall – Quinton

Crew:

• Director/Writer/Producer – Tyler Perry
• Producer – Ozzie Areu
• Producer – Will Areu

Boo! A Madea Halloween premieres in theaters October 21, 2016. Tickets are available here.

The post ‘Boo! A Madea Halloween’ Trailer appeared first on Films of Color.

It’s been a while, but we have a new independent film for you. This one features a cop on a mission of revenge. Check out the trailer and be on the lookout for its release.

Synopsis:

Hell has no fury… like a woman scorned. When a special detective loses her partner in an attempted bust, she vows to get revenge for her partner’s death.

Cast:

• Sindy Nurse
• Tennyson Harris
• Christine Guerra
• Elliott Lyles

Crew:

• Director/Writer/Producer – Chico DeNegro
• Director/Producer – Skinny Corleone
• Director/Producer – Jiro Preston

Rogue is coming soon. Follow it on Facebook for updates.

The post ‘Rogue’ Trailer appeared first on Films of Color.

We had previously stated that Lupita Nyong’o and Michael B. Jordan would be joining the cast of Black Panther, but now we got a couple of updates courtesy of San Diego Comic-Con. Danai Gurira will be joining Black Panther as the head of the Dora Milaje, Okoye. Nyong’o’s and Jordan’s roles were also revealed. Nyong’o will be playing Nakia, while Jordan is playing the villain Erik Killmonger. And of course, Chadwick Boseman is playing T’Challa.

The film is still too far away from my tastes, but these updates are keeping me satisfied. I can’t wait until they start shooting so we can get some set photos. We already got a glimpse of Wakanda in Captain America: Civil War, and it was awesome. Until then, we’ll just have to watch Luke Cage.

Black Panther is scheduled to be released in February 2018

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