EVENTS
More dates and programming coming soon!
MAHOGANY IN THE PARK
One of our signature events, Mahogany in the Park, takes place on August 2 in Washington Park, the same neighborhood where Billy Dee Williams’ character runs for alderman in the film. The outdoor screening is presented in partnership with the Chicago Park District and The DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center, one of the oldest African American museums in the country. It is part of the Chicago Park District’s Night Out in the Parks series, which brings free cultural events to neighborhood parks across the city, amplifying Chicago’s vibrant artistic communities and ensuring equitable access to the arts for all. Attendees are encouraged to arrive in full ‘70s glam—wide lapels, flowing fabrics, high drama—in celebration of the era’s boldness, beauty, and political edge. Enjoy live DJ sets, sponsored beverages, photo opportunities, and food for purchase from local vendors. Feel free to personal bring food, chairs, blankets, and other beverages and get comfortable for a night in community. For more information, visit Nights Out in the Park.
Washington (George) Park | Event begins at 6:00p | Film Screening at 8:00p
Free and open to the public | RSVP below
BLACK HARVEST PRESENTS: MAHOGANY AT 50 — ON STYLE, MEMORY, AND MEANING
Presented as part of the city-wide, 50th anniversary of the film MAHOGANY, this short film program explores Black aesthetics, culture, and legacy through experimental and poetic storytelling, the selections reflecting on Black iconography, fashion, interiority, and diasporic creativity. Each film offers a unique lens on how we hold memory, mark identity, and move through the world in ways that are rooted, vibrant, and visionary. With directors from Chicago and beyond, the program honors a lineage of cultural production that is both timeless and of-the-moment. Together, these films trace a tapestry of beauty, ritual, style, and presence. Programmed by Black Harvest Film Festival Curator jada-amina, and presented in collaboration with the Mahogany at 50 Committee’s Black Fashion Film Series.
Tickets | $14.50. Purchase here.
We are delighted to screen the following films during this event:
TETHER – Dir. kelechi agwuncha
WEDDING – Dir. Kenechi Ugochukwu Ekekezie
CHICAGO STYLE – Dir. Ayana Contreras
HOOP DREAMS – Dir. Kasey Elise Walker
THOSE THAT LIVED THERE - Dir. Shawn Antoine II
GLITTER AIN’T GOLD - Dir. Christian Nolan Jones
A note of support: This year, Black Harvest Film Festival will celebrate its 31st anniversary. With funding being eliminated for arts and culture institutions around the U.S., it is imperative that we uplift organizations and initiatives that continue to provide vital platforms for celebrating Black stories, artistry, and voices. As friends of the festival, we encourage you to consider making a direct donation.