New Negress Film Society

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Philadelphia, PA
New Negress Film Society

A collective of Black women & non-binary filmmakers. We are fundraising! Please support the Black Women’s Film Conference: https://gofund.me/9b5b99f8

History
The New Negress Film Society catalyzed in response to our first film screening in Brooklyn entitled, I Am A Negress of Noteworthy Talent, which featured short films from our group of emerging black female artists. The wild success of the first screening showed us that despite our lack of support in the wider industry, there is a community eager to hear our voices. We then went on to form t

he NNFS. Support
The scope of our art, political thought, and process is diverse in nature. We recognize the importance of our collective strength as marginalized artists in the film industry. Core members of the NNFS hold creative space to workshop ongoing film projects, fundraise, and gain visibility for our own work. Exhibition
We regularly exhibit quality works by both emerging and established black cis- and trans- women filmmakers around the world through our website and screening events. It is our priority to provide opportunities to highlight quality works by black women artists. Additionally, we organize theme-based film screenings for new audiences. Consciousness-Raising
The NNFS was originally formed out of a need to create community in an industry where black female voices and stories are often suppressed. We therefore aim to raise awareness and understanding of our challenges within the film world. This ranges from interesting behind-the-scenes media, to reflective vlogs, to artist spotlights showcasing their recent successes. We also regularly interview black women who work in the filmmaking community to highlight their unique stories.

01/28/2026

We’re so proud of New Negress Film Society member, Contessa Gayles () who has been nominated for x2 NAACP Image Awards for her celebrated documentary visual album Songs from the Hole ():

Outstanding Directing in a Documentary (Television or Film) & Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Motion Picture)

You can vote for her in the Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Motion Picture) category, open through Feb 13th, here:
https://vote.naacpimageawards.net/categories/496a8159-d94d-49bc-a441-08de2c5a3e90/entrants

1) Click on “VOTE” under Contessa Gayles/ Songs from the Hole
2) Scroll up to the top of the page and click on “ALL CATEGORIES”
3) Scroll all the way down to the bottom of the Categories page and click “SUBMIT” + follow the prompt to enter your email address.

🔗 in bio!

07/31/2025

✨ BlackStar kicks off today! We’re so proud to celebrate three New Negress Film Society members showing their work at the festival this weekend:

Friday, August 1 – Axel by Stefani Saintonge
Saturday, August 2 – The Debutantes by Contessa Gayle
Sunday, August 3 – Bloodlines, Mississippi by Crystal Kayiza

07/25/2025

BlackStar Festival kicks off next week in Philly! ✨ We’re proud to partner on Orison Shorts, a program of experimental films by Black women filmmakers.

Join us in celebrating cinema for liberation – and use code NEWNEGRESS15 for 15% off tickets!

06/25/2025

📽️ TONIGHT!

Join us for FREE screenings of a tender, bold collection of short films from members of The New Negress Film Society! 🫂 These works explore many shades of Black girlhood — tracing coming-of-age moments, quiet revolutions, powerful expression and rich interior worlds. 🌍

🎤 Afterwards, stay for a panel with the directors!

🎟️ Claim your free tickets using the link in our bio!

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/newark-black-film-festival-new-negress-film-society-shorts-tickets-1289607614089

02/13/2025

✨🎬✨ Introducing the Newest Members of New Negress Film Society! ✨🎬✨

We are thrilled to welcome an extraordinary group of filmmakers into our collective: Anaiis Cisco, Contessa Gayles, Faren Humes, Crystal Kayiza, Loira Limbal, Michelle Marrion, and Nikkia Moulterie.

We invite you to learn more about their work through the link in our bio and celebrate this moment with us!

✨🌕✨

06/21/2024

Tonight ✨✨🎥
・・・
Curated a short film program with some of my favs 💗

Black Cinema: /blak sin-nuh-muh/ (verb)
Collaboration & Community as Process

Friday, June 21st
Doors open at 7p

Come for the films, stay for the conversation

01/12/2024

・・・
The world is watching. The International Court of Justice will have hearings this week on South Africa’s case accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza.

Here’s a cheat sheet for those of you who want to know the main arguments in South Africa’s genocide case against Israel but don’t want to read the whole legal brief. (Though you absolutely should read the whole thing.)

Apologies that this is too much text to put in the caption for accessibility — if you’d like a plaintext version, please DM.

Link to South Africa legal brief in bio.

UPDATE: see next post for part 2, summary of section on statements of genocidal intent in the legal brief.

11/16/2023

Film Quarterly webinar:
Film Collectives and the New Negress Film Society

In the ten years since its founding in 2013, the New Negress Film Society (NNFS) has supported the voices of Black women and non-binary filmmakers by radically reimagining the process of cultural production. In Film Quarterly’s Fall issue (linked in bio), Samantha Sheppard considers the genesis and evolution of this groundbreaking film collective in light of the challenges that impact Black women’s filmmaking. This webinar continues the discussion, examining what it means to operate on the margins of mainstream routes for Black cinema, along with how Black feminist community engenders collectivizing.

Webinar panelists include current NNFS members Stefani Saintonge and Yvonne Michelle Shirley, along with NNFS founding member Kumi James, NNFS former member Chanelle Aponte Pearson, and writer and scholar Samantha Sheppard (Cornell University). Moderated by FQ editor-in-chief Rebecca Prime.

Join us today on Zoom Thursday, November 16th at 12pm ET. Register with link in bio.

11/03/2023

The Arab Film and Media Institute's Palestinian Voices highlights a selection of films that showcase the history, culture and people of Palestine.

One of the featured films, “Stitching Palestine” directed by Carol Mansour is a profile of 12 Palestinian women from around the world and their moving life stories, all connected by the enduring thread of the ancient art of embroidery. This film is linked in our bio.

See below for more details reposted from
🖤

At the Arab Film and Media Institute (AFMI) we seek to continually change the narrative, share our stories, and foster understanding of our common humanity through art and storytelling. In this dire time, we want to share a selection of films that showcase the history, culture and people of Palestine.

Our hope is that this free program, entitled Palestinian Voices, can be a resource to provide insight into the current situation unfolding in Gaza and the people being affected.

Palestinian Voices will run through the entire month of November. You can watch most of the films in this series online and from anywhere in the world. A few titles are limited to viewers in the United States.

🎬

10/31/2023

In solidarity with Palestine and rooted in our Black feminist principles, we stand against all forms of oppression. Reading list materials are linked in bio and reposted from 🖤🇵🇸

📣 We, who believe in freedom, we as Black feminists who believe in freedom –– freedom from white supremacy, patriarchy, capitalism, transphobia, queerphobia, ableism, and other oppressions –– unabashedly believe in and stand in solidarity for a free Palestine.

We created a reading list that offers a brief primer on the radical Black feminist political mandate, which is solidarity with Palestine.

🔗: Link in bio.

Address

300 S Broad St
Philadelphia, PA
19102

Website

https://www.eventbrite.com/o/the-new-negress-film-society-30942913733

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