LightReel Film Festival

The LightReel Film Festival is Washington, DC's premier multicultural film festival, celebrating bold storytelling from across the African diaspora and around the world while connecting emerging and established filmmakers with audiences, industry leaders, and one another.

Founded by the Foundation for the Augmentation of African-Americans in Film (FAAAF), LightReel was created to elevate underrepresented voices, preserve cinematic legacy, and foster the next generation of storytellers through exhibition, education, and professional development.

Held annually in the Nation's Capital, the festival presents an exciting lineup of narrative features, documentaries, short films, student works, animation, and experimental cinema alongside filmmaker conversations, industry panels, networking events, educational workshops, and cultural experiences that celebrate the power of film to inspire dialogue and build community.

LightReel is more than a screening event. It is a platform where filmmakers gain meaningful exposure to audiences, critics, distributors, programmers, journalists, and fellow creators. Through initiatives such as LightReel Discovery, the Producers Institute, and year-round LightReel Presents programming, the festival continues to support filmmakers well beyond festival weekend.

Our programming embraces stories that reflect the richness of the global Black experience while welcoming exceptional films from every culture that expand perspectives, challenge assumptions, and celebrate our shared humanity.

Filmmakers selected for LightReel become part of a growing creative community committed to artistic excellence, collaboration, and cultural impact. Every official selection receives dedicated promotion across the festival's digital platforms and is invited to participate in Q&As, networking opportunities, and educational programming designed to maximize visibility and professional connections.

The 8th Annual LightReel Film Festival will take place June 3-5, 2027, throughout Washington, DC's vibrant Union Market District, transforming multiple venues into a dynamic hub for cinema, conversation, and celebration.

Whether you are premiering your first short film or your latest feature, LightReel offers an intimate, filmmaker-focused experience where stories matter, audiences engage, and careers grow.

From the District to the Diaspora, LightReel celebrates the stories that connect us all.