See a collection of shorts by filmmakers near and far that highlight the Black experience in all its different facets, including the World Premiere of HULI. Total runtime: 108 min. 

Lineup

The Color of Space: Charlie Bolden
Directed by Jori Kates. 2023. USA. 20 min.
This riveting inaugural episode of The Color of Space dives deep into the extraordinary life of Charlie Bolden, a man whose journey took him from the deep-rooted segregation of the American South to the limitless expanse of outer space and, ultimately, to the helm of NASA as its first Black administrator.

We Were Meant To
Directed by Tari Wariebi. 2023. USA. 27 min.
In a world where Black men have wings and their first flight is a rite of passage, Akil must defy fears, insecurities, and societal barriers while discovering his perfect launch into manhood.

Skate Champ
Produced by Lauren Kawana. 2022. USA. 17 min.
In 2019, inline speed skater Leticia Detrow won the national gold medal for her age group. She also happened to be the only deaf skater. This documentary follows the story of 14-year-old Leticia, who was born in Uganda and adopted into an American family. Striving for excellence in everything she does, Leticia navigates skating, family and coming of age in a hearing world.

Birthing a Nation: The Resistance of Mary Gaffney
Directed by Nazenet Habtezghi. 2023. USA. 19 min.
Birthing a Nation uncovers the story of forced reproduction in the antebellum South and reveals the agency of Mary Gaffney, an enslaved woman who took control of her body and fertility. Her 1930s interview and voices from Black women scholars underscore the significance of this historic context.

No Longer Unknown
Produced by Brooke Herbert. 2022. USA. 12 min.
Poet and activist Hannah Drake uses her writing to explore the history of racism in her hometown, Louisville, Kentucky—an American city that remains highly segregated. Following the wrongful police killing of Breonna Taylor, a young Black woman living in Louisville, Hannah reflects on what freedom and equality look like for Black Americans today. She vows to keep using her art as activism to ensure the history of slavery and its impact on society is always known.

HULI
Directed by Daniel Croix. 2024. Hawaiʻi. 13 min.
After a Black biracial boxer flees from New York to Hawaiʻi, a friendship with his native Hawaiian coach expands his awareness of identity, purpose, and power. Created on the island of Oʻahu. World Premiere.