When filmmakers Alex Chew and Ryan Darbonne founded their nonprofit Black Auteur Film Festival, their goal was to elevate and preserve a wide breadth of Black voices in cinema. That means showcasing pieces in the Black film canon that “challenge monolithic narratives and reflect the richness of the diaspora,” which obvi includes 1987 satire Hollywood Shuffle. Kickoff film to BAFF’s repertory series with AFS, the comedy follows lead/director Robert Townsend as an aspiring actor navigating the racial stereotypes abundant in American film, TV, and entertainment at large. In addition to their screening, BAFF also adds a post-film discussion panel with local Black actors relaying their own experiences – how they differ and how they line up with Townsend’s autobiographical odyssey. – James Scott
