20th Annual Harlem Int'l Film Festival Opens with Screenplay Showdown

The 20th Annual Harlem International Film Festival (Hi) is set to open at 7pm on Wednesday September 17 with an emphasis on local talent and Harlem's cultural legacy.

The five-day festival includes a partnership with the Nomadic Archivists Project (NAP) and is supported by the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment.

“At a time when cultural institutions of color face unprecedented challenges, this initiative stands as a powerful affirmation of the enduring value, resilience, and brilliance of Black and Brown creative expression," Harlem International Film Festival program director Nasri Zacharia said.

Events will take place at City College’s Aaron Davis Hall and feature a block of short movies made by Harlem-based filmmakers or that were filmed in the neighborhood.

Tony-winning actress Kara Young, award-winning documentarian Stanley Nelson, and Grammy winning musician Vernon Reid are set to be honored with the Renaissance Award.

Stanley Nelson after receiving an award at the Harlem International Film Festival on Sept. 17, 2025

Reid is known for the rock band "Living Colour" and for co-founding the "Black Rock Coalition" in 1985 while Young is known for winning the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play for her performances in "Purlie Victorious" and "Purpose" in 2024 and 2025, respectively.

Nelson is a former Made in NY award recipient

"His unwavering dedication to the preservation of civil rights history aligns perfectly with the mission and spirit of the Harlem International Film Festival," NYC Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment commissioner Pat Swinney Kaufman said about Nelson.

Filmmaker Stanley Nelson will receive an award on Opening Night.

The five-day event starts on Sept. 17 at 4:30pm with a contest for finalists in the feature-length screenplay competition in which ten pages will be read by New York actors.

Finalists among the 90-page Screenplay Showdown contest include Black Macbeth, Homes For Colored People, Rabbit’s Foot Saloon, Robbery of an Essence, The Devil’s Creed, and The Elephant and the Donkey. There is also a short screenplay competition in which winners will be announced on the website at the end of the festival.

Vernon Reid after receiving an award at the Harlem International Film Festival on Sept. 17, 2025

Tickets for the 4:30pm Screenplay Showdown are complimentary and opening night tickets are on sale on EventBrite for a nominal fee.

The festival's full schedule includes 20 short films, 99 narrative features, 10 documentaries, and various other projects, including music videos and screenplay awards.

The first three days will be hosted at Aaron Davis Hall at City College, Leonard Davis Center for the Performing Arts on 129 Convent Avenue at West 135th Street with weekend screenings taking place at Maysles Documentary Center at 343 Malcolm X Boulevard.

Musician Vernon Reid will receive an award on Opening Night.

Past jurors have included filmmaker Julie Dash and "Law and Order" actress S. Epatha Merkerson. This year’s jury will be disclosed upon the festival's closing on September 21.

For more information on panels and screenings, visit the Harlem International Film Festival website.