October9-16 2025

2025 Lineup

Buy Pass

News

About

Media

Support

Submissions

Accessibility

Opportunities

Land Acknowledgement

Search

Archive

Contact Us

info@buffalofilm.org

Social

FilmFreeway

Eventive

Eventbrite

Wikipedia

Join Our Mailing List

© 2025 Buffalo International Film Festival

BIFF Shorts: Racial Justice in ViewBIFF Shorts: Racial Justice in View

BIFF Shorts: Racial Justice in View

Saturday, October 12, 2024

11:45 AM - 2:00 PM

Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center

Venue Website ⟶

View on Facebook
Free Event

Evocative shorts exploring racial and social justice issues. 115 minutes.


“Interception: Jayne Kennedy • American Sportscaster”

Safiya Songhai, 15 minutes, USA, Western New York Premiere

The tumultuous story of Jayne Kennedy, the first Black woman to boldly tackle the racial lines of American sportscasting.


"Addressing racial injustice"

Dewitt Lee (Dir), 3 minutes, USA, Western New York Premiere

Director Dewitt Lee in attendance.

St Brian Clothiers was forged out of the racist and deadly terrorist attack on May 14th at Tops Supermarket in Buffalo, NY. Dewitt Lee, founder of St Brian Clothiers began providing free suits to men to attend the funerals of the deceased and it began a men's improvement movement MENistry, that has been featured on the news over 30 times and has expanded across the country.


"How to Sue the Klan"

John Beder (Dir), 35 minutes, USA, Western New York Premiere

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT AWARD WINNER (DOMESTIC)

Black women and a young Black civil rights lawyer successfully take on America’s first hate group, the Ku Klux Klan in this award winning short.


"Tehran is Ours"

Hamideh Azimi (Dir), 6 minutes, USA, Western New York Premiere

Director Hamideh Azimi in attendance.

A girl joins protests on the city streets and refuses to be silenced in the face of state sponsored violence in this experimental political drama.


"I Am Ready, Warden"

Smriti Mundhra (Dir), 37 minutes, USA, Western New York Premiere

In the days leading up to his execution, Texas death row prisoner John Henry Ramirez seeks redemption from his victim’s son. Director Smriti Mundhra is a BIFF 2019 (St. Louis Superman) alumni.

Many thanks to the folks at The Film Collaborative.


“A timeline of UB's pro-Palestine protests and police backlash”

Dominick Joseph Matarese (Dir), 18 minutes, USA, World Premiere

University at Buffalo Spectrum editor Dominick Joseph Matarese documents the events which took place on May 1 and May 3, 2024 on the University’s North Campus as protestors clashed with police.

  • Still from Interception: Jayne Kennedy • American Sportscaster

    Still from Interception: Jayne Kennedy • American Sportscaster

    Directed by: Safiya Songhai

  • Still from Addressing racial injustice

    Still from Addressing racial injustice

    Directed by: Dewitt Lee

  • Video from How to Sue the Klan

    Directed by: John Beder

    Still from How to Sue the Klan

    Still from How to Sue the Klan

    Directed by: John Beder

  • Still from Tehran is Ours

    Still from Tehran is Ours

    Directed by: Hamideh Azimi

  • Still from I Am Ready, Warden

    Still from I Am Ready, Warden

    Directed by: Smriti Mundhra

  • Still from A timeline of UB's pro-Palestine protests and police backlash

    Still from A timeline of UB's pro-Palestine protests and police backlash

    Directed by: Dominick Joseph Matarese

Saturday, October 12, 2024

11:45 AM - 2:00 PM

Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center

Venue Website ⟶

View on Facebook
Free Event

You May Also Like...

Homegrown

Homegrown

10:00 PM
October 16, 2024
North Park Theatre

A verité portrait of a fractured America, offering an unprecedented look at right-wing activists as they search for purpose and power.

Read more
Skeet

Skeet

2:15 PM - 4:15 PM
Saturday, October 12, 2024
Buffalo Toronto Public Media

Fresh out of prison, Billy Skinner returns to his transformed low-income neighborhood.

Read more
A Picture to Remember

A Picture to Remember

12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Monday, October 14, 2024
North Park Theatre

Three generations of Ukrainian women – the director, her mother, and her grandmother – experience loss as they live through the war.

Read more