This year’s San Antonio Black International Film Festival (SABIFF) invites a world of filmmaking to San Antonio, with entries and guests from Australia, Brazil, Cameroon, Egypt, Gambia, Germany, Jamaica, Kenya, Paris, South Africa, Trinidad, and Uganda.
SABIFF executive director Ada Babino used to work in the airline industry and said her travels taught her much about other cultures. Since the pandemic has impeded people’s ability to travel, it’s doubly important “to bring all of these people and what they’re doing to the fold, it really broadens people’s perspective,” she said.
The annual film festival focused on Black filmmakers will run Oct. 6-9, with a slate of screenings and free events at multiple locations including the Carver Community Cultural Center and Carver Library, St. Philip’s College, the Magik Theatre, Elsewhere Garden Bar and Kitchen and Mark’s Outing.
The theme for the 2022 festival is Animation in Black, and two pioneering Black filmmakers will be honored. At the red carpet opening night ceremony at the Carver Center, the third annual Ankh Achievement Award will be presented to acclaimed Disney animation artist Bruce W. Smith. A screening of an episode from Smith’s The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder reboot series and a conversation with Smith will follow.
Entertainer Robin LaVerne Wilson, better known as Dragonfly, will lead a question-and-answer session with Smith, followed by an evening mixer at the Elsewhere outdoor bar on the Museum Reach portion of the San Antonio River.
Family and kid-friendly events and workshops are scheduled all day Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with a mix of virtual and in-person presentations including industry experts advising on careers and advanced animation techniques, and a make-your-own-animation instructional session with animator T.J. Green.
Details on guests, panel discussions and workshops are available on the SABIFF website, under the “Schedules” tab.
Amid a full schedule of workshops and panel discussions, 58 films-in-competition will be on view at St. Philip’s College Friday and Saturday. These screenings, featuring animation shorts, music videos, and student films, are ticketed events with prices ranging from $15 to $50, and virtual and in-person options.
During Saturday night’s closing festivities in the courtyard of St. Philip’s College, Disney’s 87-year-old first Black animator will be recognized with the screening of the documentary film Floyd Norman: An Animated Life, the centerpiece of a “cinema under the stars” evening program hosted by comedian Clifton Simmons.
The festival wraps Sunday with a morning meet-up at the Magik Theatre to celebrate the in-competition filmmakers, with an onstage panel discussion on representation of the African diaspora in animation, followed by an awards presentation for competition winners.
Ahead of the festival’s opening night, Babino praised animation for its imagination-inspiring qualities.
“It’s such a magical world, you can create anything through animation. People always think animation is silly and cartoons, but it can be empowering,” she said. “You can create your own world, you can do anything.”
