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Black Film Wire becomes JIFF's first African/diaspora media partner ahead of the festival's January 2027 edition, its first-ever partnership in India. Black Film Wire officially joins JIFF 2026. Black Film Wire Becomes JIFF 2027's Official Media Partner, Bridging African Cinema and One of the World's Fastest-Growing Film Markets. Partnership marks BFW's first collaboration in India, connecting African and diaspora storytelling with Bollywood's booming industry. JAIPUR, INDIA

Nollywood has lost one of its defining voices Veteran Nigerian actor and film executive Oludotun Baiyewu Jacobs, popularly known as Olu Jacobs, has died at the age of 84. His family announced his passing on September 16, 2026, describing him as “The Lion of Lufodo” and asking the public and media to respect the family’s privacy. For more than five decades, Jacobs built a career that stretched across theatre, British television, international cinema and Nigerian film. He was n

API and Black Film Wire join The Diasporadical Initiative's Africa Fest Barbados 2026, bringing Cameroon's Oscar-submitted film Half Heaven , plus a celebrity-studded live Q&A to Barbados this October. African Pictures International and Black Film Wire officially join Africa Fest Barbados 2026. African Pictures International and Black Film Wire Join Africa Fest Barbados 2026 as Official Film and Media Partners Cameroon's Oscar submission Half Heaven headlines Friday screening

The 17th edition of SVAFF will run October 8–11 in San Jose, bringing together narrative features, documentaries, shorts and animation from across Africa and its diaspora, with a strong showing from Nigerian filmmakers. The Silicon Valley African Film Festivall (SVAFF) will return to San Jose from October 8 to 11 for its 17th edition, bringing 76 films from 33 countries to the Historic Hoover Theater. This year's programme spans narrative and documentary features and shorts,

With categories spanning film, television, and music, the Image Awards formally recognizes African storytelling for the first time in its 59-year history, and BET's broadcast partnership means the world will be watching. By Y. Marie Kiven Kyla Pratt at the 56th NAACP Images Award Source: Instagram The NAACP Images Award have never had a dedicated home for African film, television, or music. until now. For the 58th ceremony, the organization has introduced ten new African c

On August 21, the marketing icon who built Ghana's Year of Return campaign became the story herself, marrying Keely Watson in a 1,000-guest Akan ceremony in Accra with the Asantehene, Tiwa Savage, and half of RHOBH in the room. By Kiven Yefon | Black Film Wire Inside ‘RHOBH’ Star Bozoma Saint John’s ‘Sacred’ Wedding to Keely Watson in Ghana Boz didn't just get married. She staged a homecoming, and she put it on television. On Friday, August 21, Bozoma Saint John, the market

Nearly a decade after the two companies first partnered in 2017, Shonda Rhimes and longtime producing partner Betsy Beers have renewed their partnership with Netflix, promising more of the stories that have made Shondaland a global force. Credit: Shondaland.com The partnership has already produced some of Netflix's most recognisable titles, from Bridgerton and its growing universe to Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, Inventing Anna and The Residence. Netflix's current slat

Sasha Calle is adding another major studio project to her growing filmography, joining Jamie Foxx in Deadlocked, the upcoming action thriller from Amazon MGM Studios. Calle, known for The Flash and Netflix’s The Rip, has been cast in a major role opposite Foxx in the feature, which is directed by Indian filmmaker Nikhil Nagesh Bhat. The casting marks another significant step in Calle’s increasingly international career. Calle at the 2024 Toronto Internationa

DEK: Dolly Parton wrote the song. Whitney Houston made it a phenomenon. And when the royalties came in, Parton quietly poured millions back into a Black neighborhood in Nashville, a story Black Film Wire wants to make sure isn't lost in the wave of tributes. 2020 | Picture by Irving Penn Dolly Parton (9 to 5, Steel Magnolias) was more than a country music icon. She was a songwriter, actress, author, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and storyteller whose influence reached far bey

The five-time Grammy winner was honored in the Recording category on August 18, with Willem Dafoe, Djimon Hounsou, and Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. among those on hand to celebrate her. By Kiven Marie, Black Film Wire Angélique Kidjo unveils her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, August 18, 2026, joined by Willem Dafoe, Harvey Mason Jr. and Djimon Hounsou. | IMAGE: APM WORLD MAG Angélique Kidjo (Remain in Light, Djin Djin) has made Hollywood history. On Tuesday, A

Hayden Panettiere, the actor known for Heroes, Nashville, Remember the Titans and the Scream franchise, has died at 36. PHOTO CREDIT|Getty Images Hayden Panettiere, the actor whose career spanned more than three decades, has died at the age of 36. Panettiere’s death was confirmed by her representative in a statement issued on behalf of her family. She died on Sunday, August 16. Her father, Skip Panettiere, described her as “an incredible light” who brought

Maya Boyd joins Marvel Studios’ highly anticipated X-Men reboot as Ororo Munroe, taking on the mantle of Storm in the next chapter of the mutant franchise. Maya Boyd has been cast as Storm in Marvel Studios’ upcoming X-Men reboot, bringing the young actor into one of Marvel’s most recognisable mutant franchises. The casting was announced at D23, where Marvel confirmed Boyd as the latest actor to take on the role of Ororo Munroe, the mutant superhero better known as Storm. The

Spider-Man: Brand New Day has shattered the all-time Thursday preview record with an estimated $72 million, surpassing Avengers: Endgame. The historic opening also extends Zendaya's remarkable run as one of Hollywood's most bankable Black stars. Spider-Man: Brand New Day has shattered the all-time Thursday preview record with an estimated $72 million, surpassing Avengers: Endgame. The historic opening also extends Zendaya's remarkable run as one of Hollywood's most bankable B

Watch The Trailer A day after the trailer dropped, the author said she left her own film's set "hyperventilating and sobbing" and is still being antagonized behind the scenes. She still won't say by whom. By Kiven Marie Mahershala Ali stars as Latif in YOUR MOTHER YOUR MOTHER YOUR MOTHER, from Amazon MGM Studios. Photo Credit: Jaclyn Martinez Orion Pictures and Amazon MGM Studios have released the first trailer for "Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother," an action-drama starr

Marvel Studios has officially cancelled Wonder Man, ending the Disney+ series after a single season despite an earlier renewal. The series starred Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Simon Williams, a struggling actor who gains superhuman abilities and is drawn into the world of superheroes while navigating Hollywood. Created by Andrew Guest and developed with filmmaker Destin Daniel Cretton, Wonder Man distinguished itself from much of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's streaming slate th

TRADE JOURNAL EXCLUSIVE | INDUSTRY NEWS & PRODUCTION A year after Black Film Wire called Georgia the new creative capital, the follow-up numbers are in, an 83% surge in independent film is quietly changing who gets to make movies in the state, and Tyler Perry Studios keeps building one of the most concrete Black-ownership stories in American production. Here's what's actually new. Written and directed by Atlanta native and Morehouse alum David Fortune, the independent film "C

The first teaser for Children of Blood and Bone has arrived, unveiling Richard Mofe-Damijo and Ayra Starr in the fantasy epic while confirming Tems' growing creative role through her music for the film. First-look images from Children of Blood and Bone offer a new glimpse at Richard Mofe-Damijo and Ayra Starr in the upcoming fantasy epic. The first teaser for Children of Blood and Bone has been unveiled, offering audiences their clearest look yet at Richard Mofe-Damijo and Ay

Colman Domingo is in talks to co-write an original live-action feature centred on Princess Tiana, expanding the world of Disney's The Princess and the Frog. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Domingo will write the project alongside Tony-nominated playwright and director Robert O'Hara. The film is described as an original story inspired by the 2009 animated classic rather than a shot-for-shot live-action remake. Deals for both creatives are still being finalised. The develo

A day after the trailer dropped, the author said she left her own film's set "hyperventilating and sobbing" and is still being antagonized behind the scenes. She still won't say by whom. Tomi Adeyemi with 'Children of Blood and Bone'.Credit : Sam Vibes Three weeks ago, we asked what Tomi Adeyemi's decision to publicly disown Paramount's "Children of Blood and Bone" adaptation meant for Black fantasy's next decade. This week, she answered a question we didn't ask: how bad it a

Regina Hall joins Dwayne Johnson, Theo Leber, Alicia Silverstone, and Tim Heidecker in Benny Safdie's "Lizard Music," the live-action/CGI hybrid adaptation now in production at United Artists and Amazon MGM Studios. By Kiven Marie Regina Hall and Dwayne JohnsonDerek Blanks/Huy Doan Regina Hall has joined Dwayne Johnson in Amazon MGM Studios' and United Artists' live-action/CGI hybrid film "Lizard Music," from director Benny Safdie, Deadline first reported. Theo Leber, Alicia