Roxbury International Film Festival

June 18^th- July 2^nd, 2026

The 2026 Roxbury International Film Festival opened with a befitting tribute to the World Cup being held in Massachusetts with the documentary The Clyde Best Story, about the first Black soccer player from Bermuda. Clyde Best became world-renowned despite the racism and abuse he endured. He remained quiet and respectful, leaving a lasting legacy for Black football/soccer players worldwide.

This was just the beginning of more than 150 films presented during the Roxbury International Film Festival's 28th year, and this journalist was in on the screenings. There were so many films to see, each touching a different emotion.

The Town That Chose to Thrive was another film that stood out. It told the story of the people of Allensworth and their resistance to a system that had failed them. The community was decimated by water contaminated with arsenic, along with the removal of land and the challenges of sustaining the town. Through the community's fight for survival, the Allensworth Renovation Center was created as a place for healing, while solar energy and sustainable food production became part of its vision for the future.

A Peculiar Freedom explored the history of Black people in New England from 1750 through the 1900s, focusing on free Black communities in the 18th and 19th centuries. The film centered around five families, the realities of white racism, and the opportunities available to Black people as they built their lives and communities.

Another film, Enslaved African, drew from folklore to honor emancipated people, paying homage to those who carried their culture forward and preserved it for generations to come.

Then there were films that confronted trauma and sexual abuse. His Name Is Eku told the story of a young Black boy struggling to express his feelings romantically because of the trauma of sexual abuse he experienced as a youth. That trauma remained with him into the present, shaping how he understood himself and his relationships.

Another film that brought my heart to tears was Jamarcus Rose and the Five Bullet Holes. It was the story of a young Black boy being raised by his grandmother, who was determined to keep him safe from the streets and give him a good life. Jamarcus was partnered with a mentor, a big brother figure who recognized his talent for basketball and introduced him to the MLB Project. His life was cut short one night while he waited at the court for his mentor. While waiting, Jamarcus was killed by five bullets.

The Baltimore Barber brought the community and the love of youth into focus. The community barber believes in the future of the young people who sit in his chair. His duty goes beyond cutting hair; he prepares them with wisdom, guidance, and encouragement for the lives ahead of them.

Until Further Notice speaks about displacement and what it means to be removed from the life you have built. It delves into the hope and dream of a trans-African salon owner in Boston seeking asylum in the United States. When her request is denied, she must immediately report for deportation. The film captures her final hours as she closes her business and prepares to say a final goodbye to the life she has known.

These films are only a snippet of the many I reviewed and felt I should share with you. Each film offered its own story, its own struggle, and its own perspective on life, community, history, and survival.

For 28 years, the Roxbury International Film Festival has gifted us with films for us, by us, and about us. It continues to give voice to stories that deserve to be seen, heard, and remembered.