The Power of Independent Voices

The Black Film Festival: Short Film Series returned to the Bay Street Theater in Sag Harbor this month, filling the space with artistry, reflection, and community spirit. Presented by the Bridgehampton Child Care & Recreational Center (The Center) in partnership with Black Public Media , the Suffolk County Office of Minority Health, The Witness Project, and JoLa Films, Inc., the program celebrated the power of independent filmmaking through five remarkable shorts — Spare Me, Midnight Oil, Sweet Samara, An Extra Day to Be Black, and Black Folk Don’t…Swim.

Even with forecasts warning of an impending nor’easter, the theater was filled with enthusiastic attendees. Their presence underscored the deep commitment to community and the importance of supporting local film festivals, which not only showcase extraordinary independent talent but also create spaces where neighbors gather to reflect, connect, and see their experiences represented on screen.

Bonnie Cannon, executive director of The Center and the festival’s founder, opened the evening by welcoming guests. I then shared BPM’s nearly 50-year legacy of amplifying stories of the global Black experience. A brief BPM video showcased the organization’s mission to support visionary storytellers who challenge, celebrate, and connect communities through film.

Showcasing Independent Voices

Most of the screenings were followed by conversations with the filmmakers virtually.

Haitian-American filmmaker Wilderly “Will” Mauricette (Spare Me) talked about symbolism, storytelling, and how his heritage shapes his cinematic voice.

Bilal Motley’s film, Midnight Oil, sparked a candid discussion about environmental justice, loyalty, and the courage to turn the camera on oneself.

Sweet Samara’s  producer, Chris Gauthier, and writer, Casey Rocheteau, engaged in a moving discussion about honoring ancestral labor, blending poetry with realism, and reclaiming Black and Indigenous relationships to the land.

During the intermission/reception, guests enjoyed delicious soul food and lively conversation, transforming the lobby into a warm gathering place. The break gave neighbors, artists, and community members a chance to connect, reflect on the films, and celebrate shared stories — a reminder of how art builds bridges beyond the screen.

Celebrating Storytelling and Culture 

The program concluded with Adesuwa Watson (director, Suffolk County Office of Minority Health) introducing two additional shorts from BPM’s acclaimed AfroPoP Digital Shorts series — An Extra Day to Be Black by Nonso Christian Ugbode, featuring Michael Paul Britto, and Black Folk Don’t…Swim by Angela Tucker.

Leslie Fields-Cruz, executive director of BPM, followed the screenings by sharing the history of AfroPoP and its mission to spotlight global Black stories, connecting these films to BPM’s broader legacy of cultural storytelling.

Cannon closed the program by showing a video highlighting The Center’s community-based services and introducing Nikki Stewart (director of The Witness Project), who delivered a powerful breast-cancer-awareness message, and by thanking additional festival committee members, Crystal Brown and Smiley Guirand for their part in the execution of the film fest. 

The event ended with heartfelt expressions of gratitude, warm conversation, and applause — a fitting close to an evening that celebrated the enduring power of Black independent film on the East End.