The Philly Tribune

Ten films by Black creatives to look for at Sundance Film Festival 2026

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by

Kathia Woods

01.13.26

The 2026 Sundance Film Festival, which runs from Jan. 22-Feb. 1, marks the last time the festival will be held in Park City, Utah, before moving to Boulder, Colorado. As expected, it will still show a wide range of independent films, but there are fewer Black fiction directors in the main competition sections this year than in past years. Still, the festival has many intriguing projects with Black actors and actresses in front of and behind the camera.

These 10 movies show how diverse and deep Black storytelling can be on one of the most popular movie festival platforms. They include powerful documentaries that tell stories about parts of American history that have never been told before, character studies that are very personal, and classic movies that people love that are coming back to theaters.

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