2nd Annual Reel Black Film Fest
Friday, Feb. 20 - Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026
The Gem Theater & American Jazz Museum
General admission is free with required registration.
Join Kansas City PBS in honoring the vibrant culture, history and creativity of Black Kansas City through the power of film.
This year’s festival will feature non-fiction shorts and features, conversations, an opening and closing reception, a Black-owned marketplace, filmmaker lounge and the announcement of four awards.
The weekend kicks off Friday night with a VIP opening reception (ticket required) and wraps up with an after-party hosted by Vine Street Brewing Co. On Saturday, the celebration continues with a full day of film screenings and conversations, ending with a closing reception at the American Jazz Museum. Full details below!
DAY 1: Friday, Feb. 20, 2026 | |
|---|---|
| 4-5 p.m. | VIP Opening Reception | Gem Theater (TICKETS REQUIRED) |
| 5-8 p.m. | Black-owned Marketplace | Gem Theater Lobby |
| 6-7:30 p.m. | Aunt Sister: The Legacy of Sarah Rector (Premiere & Conversation) | Gem Theater |
| 8 p.m. | Reel Black on Tap (Networking Mixer) | Vine Street Brewing Co. |
DAY 2: Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026 | |
|---|---|
| 10 a.m.-7 p.m. | Black-owned Marketplace | Gem Theater Lobby |
| 11:15 a.m.-2:15 p.m. | Official Selection Screenings | Gem Theater |
| 2:15-2:45 p.m. | 30 minute intermission |
| 2:45-3:30 p.m. | Local Pulse, National Impact: Building Creative Pipelines (Conversation) | Gem Theater |
| 3:35-4 p.m. | Hoops, Hopes & Dreams (Special Screening) |
| 4-4:30 p.m. | Special Performance Oscar Dupree (Live Music) | Gem Theater Lobby |
| 4:35-6:45 p.m. | The Heroic True-Life Adventure of Alvin Brooks (Special Screening & Conversation) | Gem Theater |
| 7-10 p.m. | Closing Reception & Awards Ceremony | American Jazz Museum |
Black-Owned Marketplace Featured Vendors
Friday, Feb. 20 |
|---|
| Anita Easterwood | anitaeasterwood.com |
| Zhane Clay | zhaneclay.com |
| Deep Rooted Clothing | beacons.ai/deeprooted1 |
| Squeeze the Day with Zay | squeezethedaywithzay.com |
| Hot 103 Jamz | kprs.com |
| Author Karen Riffle | "A Name Worth Millions" |
| Fem the Future | femthefuture.org |
| Next Paige Foundation | nextpaigefoundation.org |
Saturday, Feb. 21 |
|---|
| Anita Easterwood | anitaeasterwood.com |
| Zhane Clay | zhaneclay.com |
| Deep Rooted Clothing | beacons.ai/deeprooted1 |
| Squeeze the Day with Zay | squeezethedaywithzay.com |
| Bessie Loops | bessieloops.com |
| River Young | Local Artist |
| Fem the Future | femthefuture.org |
| Next Paige Foundation | nextpaigefoundation.org |
The 2026 Reel Black Film Festival Premiere Event
Aunt Sister: The Legacy of Sarah Rector (Feature) | Director: Jacob Handy
Aunt Sister: The Legacy of Sarah Rector chronicles the captivating story of an 11-year-old Black girl from Oklahoma who transformed into one of history's wealthiest Black figures. Through stunning reenactments and intimate conversations, the docudrama follows her extraordinary journey from the unexpected oil boom on her family's land to her rise to prominence in Kansas City. Based on the memories and perspectives of her descendants and the insight of a local historian, the film delves into Rector's resilience, philanthropy and enduring legacy. Learn more about Aunt Sister: The Legacy of Sarah Rector.
The 2026 Reel Black Film Festival Special Screenings
The Heroic True-Life Adventures of Alvin Brooks (Feature)|Director: Kevin Willmott
Based on Brooks’ 2021 memoir, "Binding Us Together: A Civil Rights Activist", The Heroic True-Life Adventures of Alvin Brooks reflects on a lifetime of community and public service. The 93-year old has long been a stalwart of the Kansas City community. The film explores his time as a police officer, detective, mayor pro tem of Kansas City, and founder of the AdHoc Group Against Crime.
Hoops, Hopes & Dreams (Feature)|Director: Glenn Kaino
Hoops, Hopes & Dreams uncovers the untold story of how Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and a team of civil rights activists utilized basketball courts to engage young voters.
2026 Reel B lack Film Fest Official Selection
The 2026 Reel Black Film Festival Official Selection
| Director: Brad Bailey | Her Fight, His Name: The Story of Gwen Carr and Eric Garner (Feature)- Filmed over six years, Her Fight, His Name: The Story of Gwen Carr and Eric Garner follows Gwen Carr as she seeks justice for her son, marking the 10th anniversary of his death. |
| Director: Ken Williams | The Restore Fellowship Documentary (Feature)-The Restore Fellowship Documentary follows five system-impacted individuals from Chicago on a transformative journey to Benin, West Africa. |
| Director: Nateya Taylor | Something in the Water (Short)- Something in the Water features five water justice advocates as they discuss how Milwaukee’s Black communities are disproportionately affected by lead poisoning and the path toward equitable change. |
| Director: Shawn Antoine II | For Those That Lived There (Short)- Set within the gentrified remains of Chicago’s Cabrini-Green, For Those That Lived There traces displaced Black legacies and emerging migrant narratives. |
| Director: Kin Marie | Everything Is Everything (Short)- Everything Is Everything is a conversational documentary exploring the heartfelt commemorations of Juneteenth by Chicago natives during the summer of 2024. |
| Director: Israel Barnes | 4 (Short)- 4 is an experimental short film observing an African-American family over the Fourth of July weekend, capturing moments of intimacy and reflection. |
| Director: Israel Barnes | We Use Our Hands to Fight (Short) - We Use Our Hands to Fight is a cinematic exploration that redefines fighting as a spiritual act, using internal gifts to confront unseen battles. |
| Director: Gee Horton | Be Home Before the Streetlights (Short) In Be Home Before the Streetlights, artist Gee Horton embarks on a visually symbolic journey to reconcile with his father and trace a path of generational healing. |
| Director: Ace Lovelace | O (Short)- O follows a group of men confronting oppression, exposing how silence, restraint and power shape identity. |
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Become a Sponsor
The Reel Black Film Festival is a vibrant showcase of Black filmmakers, stories and experiences that deserve to be seen and celebrated. To learn more about how your organization can be part of this important celebration through Sponsorship, contact Gina Holt, Senior Corporate Relations Manager at gholt@kansascitypbs.org.
Volunteer
If you would like to be a part of The Reel Black Film Festival or other Kansas City PBS events, visit kansascitypbs.org/support/volunteer/.
