From a film on Black feminist Audre Lorde, Charles Uwagbai’s migrant drama to a documentary on singer Teddy Pendergrass, the African Diaspora International Film Festival (ADIFF) will screen several noteworthy films from Africa, America and Europe.
A self-described “black, lesbian, mother, warrior, poet,” Audre Lorde, who was born in New York City to West Indian immigrants, dedicated her life to addressing injustices of racism, sexism, classism and homophobia. Directors Ada Gay Griffin and Michelle Parkerson share her struggles around race, gender, and sexuality in the documentary in the 90 minute “Audrey Lorde: A Litany for Survival.”
Nigerian-Canadian filmmaker Charles Uwagbai, whose 2023 drama “The Wall Street Boy” received the Africa Movie Academy Award, is also back with a new film. “Finding Odera” follows Olisa Obi, a Nigerian whose journey to reunite with an old flame becomes a deeper quest for self-discovery.
Other noteworthy films screening include Director Frederikke Aspöck’s satirical drama “Empire” which explores the complex friendship between two women of color—a free woman and her enslaved housekeeper and is set in 1848 on the Caribbean island of St. Croix. “The Last Meal,” Maryse Legagneur’s drama about a Haitian immigrant trying to reconnect with his estranged daughter.
With “Blueprint for My People,” a poignant documentary short film which explores the African-American experience and “The Disappearance of Miss Scott,” a feature documentary on Trinidadian-born jazz virtuoso Hazel Scott, this year’s program highlights stories of resilience, cultural memory, and music.
Returning to its Chicago home for its 23rd annual edition, ADIFF will take place June 5–7, 2026.
