Black Europe Film Festival of Minneapolis/St. Paul
Capri Partner

The Black Europe Film Festival of Minneapolis/Saint Paul (BEFF MSP) is a celebration of Afro-European cinema debuting in the Twin Cities from January 30 to February 2, 2025.

The Capri welcomes BEFF to North Minneapolis with screenings and a reception on Saturday, February 1. (Film descriptions below.)

Special Addition! Derrick B. Harden, the lead actor and co-director of The Black Sea will be joining us at the festival! Following the 7:30 screening of his much-buzzed-about film (see, for example, this interview with Don Lemon), Derrick will participate in a Q&A session.

	2:00: Girl (including a virtual Q&A with director Adura Onashile)
	4:30: Short Film Program: Black Youth in Motion (6 shorts)
	6:30: Reception featuring soul food from one of North Minneapolis’ hottest, new restaurants, Tap In.
	7:30: The Black Sea (including Q&A with lead actor and co-director, Derrick B. Harden)

2:00 / Girl (2023, Minnesota Premiere) + Post-screening Q&A with Director Adura Onashile
Eleven-year-old Ama and her mother, Grace, find comfort in the fragile yet insular world they’ve meticulously built together. However, as Ama’s curiosity and desire for growth begin to challenge the boundaries of their secluded life, Grace is forced to confront a past she’s long tried to bury.

Following the screening, Girl‘s director, Adura Onashile, will join us virtually from the UK for an engaging conversation about her moving film and her creative journey.

4:30 / Black Youth in Motion (Free Short Film Program) + Post-screening Q&A

Black youth in Europe are going places—moving at their own pace (Run Like We), finding love and joy where others see only stereotypes (Essex Girls),  uncovering roots in family archives or on the streets of Dublin (Villa Madjo and Pediment), harnessing their superpowers to stand up to bullies (Blackwool), and riding through the mysteries of a Finnish night (The Night Stop).

This short film program celebrating the vibrant and diverse stories of global Black youth is free to all, and will be followed by a virtual Q&A with the directors and talents of these films.

7:30 / The Black Sea (2024, Minnesota Premiere) + Post-screening Q&A with lead actor and co-director, Derrick B. Harden
Khalid, a charismatic big dreamer from Brooklyn, gets stuck in a small town in Bulgaria after chasing an opportunity for money that goes wrong. Being the only Black guy in the town, he quickly becomes the center of the village’s attention. His New York City street bop is all he has to survive. In his pursuit to get home he finds connections he never expected, finding love, community, and a way to make his dreams come unexpectedly true.

Tickets available at capri.simpletix.com.  Each screening requires a ticket (with the exception of the Short Film Program at 4:30).

$5 students • $8 MSP Film Members and Northsiders (zips 55411, 55412, 55430 — special rate for Capri screenings only) • $10 general public.

Additional screenings will be held at the Main Cinema, the Minneapolis Institute of Art, and the Cedar Cultural Center.

BEFF MSP showcases documentaries, narrative films, and shorts by Europe’s most renowned Black filmmakers. Rooted in principles of community co-planning and anti-racist organizing, the festival offers a unique platform for Afropean artists to share their stories, foster connections within the global Black diaspora, and engage with the international film community. The festival experience is enriched by visiting filmmakers, workshops, and masterclasses, making BEFF MSP a must-attend event.

For more information: beffmsp.org and @blackeuropefilmfestival