Black Alphabet

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Black Alphabet

The premiere black focused LGBT arts organization based in Chicago with national programming. For more information, contact [email protected]

Black Alphabet is a 501c3 organization symbolizing the unity and sexual diversity in the Black community; affirming and celebrating the existing and emerging ways people self-identify in our community. Our mission is to empower the Black LGBTQ/SGL community and celebrate our achievements and foster our future through the medium of film.

10/27/2026

That's a wrap on Black Alphabet Film Festival Chicago 2026. 🚇

Three days. 22 Black LGBTQ+ films. One community showing up for itself.

Friday we opened at the Jamii Center in Bronzeville. Saturday we filled AMC Roosevelt Collection 16, and Rapbrarian played to a sold-out house. Sunday we slowed down for Made Free to Rest, our closing event with Gender F*cked Productions.

Congratulations to this year's winners:
🏆 Best Documentary: We Keep Us Safe: Qween Jean
🏆 Best Feature Film: Rapbrarian: Reading Came First
🏆 Best Short Film (tie): Contact and Two Black Boys in Paradise

Thank you to every filmmaker, volunteer and audience member, and to our partners: ADODI Chicago, AIDS Foundation Chicago, AIDS Healthcare Foundation, BLACC, Black Gay Table Talk, Center on Halsted, Gender F*cked Productions and SWERV Magazine.

Made Visible. Made Free. See you next year, Chicago.

blackalphabet.org

10/16/2026

Doors open tonight at 7, Chicago.

After Cincinnati and South Florida, the Black Alphabet Film Festival comes home this weekend. It's three days of Black LGBTQ+ film and community, and all are welcome.

FRIDAY, OCT. 16 · Opening Reception
7–10 PM at the Jamii Center for Arts & Media, 3850 S Indiana Ave
A night of flavor, laughter and connection to open the festival.

SATURDAY, OCT. 17 · 22 films in one day
Six screening blocks starting at 12:10 PM at AMC Roosevelt Collection 16, 1011 S Delano Ct
Free or pay what you can

SUNDAY, OCT. 18 · Made Free to Rest
11 AM–2 PM at the Jamii Center, with Gender F*cked Productions
A chance to rest and relax in community.

Tickets and RSVP: blackalphabet.org/events

Who are you bringing? Tag them below.

Thank you to our sponsors and partners: AIDS Foundation Chicago, AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Black Leadership AIDS Crisis Coalition, Black Gay Table Talk, Center on Halsted, Gender F*cked Productions and SWERV Magazine.

Made Visible. Made Free.

10/14/2026

🚇 Stop 6 of 6: BETWEEN THE LINES · 5:32 PM

Last stop: Rapbrarian: Reading Came First. Roy Kinsey is a rapper and librarian from the West Side, and this is his story. Swipe to meet him 👉

📍 AMC Roosevelt Collection 16
🗓 Saturday, October 17
🎟 RSVP at the link in bio

22 films. One Saturday. All are welcome.

10/14/2026

🚇 Stop 5 of 6: BEYOND THIS WORLD · 4:30 PM

Four films about love, sound and sanctuary. Swipe for trailers and posters 👉

📍 AMC Roosevelt Collection 16
🗓 Saturday, October 17
🎟 RSVP at the link in bio

Next stop: Between the Lines, 5:32 PM

10/14/2026

🚇 Stop 4 of 6: BACK TO OURSELVES · 3:05 PM

Four films about finding your way home to yourself. Swipe for trailers 👉

📍 AMC Roosevelt Collection 16
🗓 Saturday, October 17
🎟 RSVP at the link in bio

Next stop: Beyond This World, 4:30 PM

10/13/2026

🚇 Stop 3 of 6: WANTING OUT LOUD · 1:56 PM

Four films about desire and saying what you want out loud. Swipe for trailers 👉

📍 AMC Roosevelt Collection 16
🗓 Saturday, October 17
🎟 RSVP at the link in bio

Next stop: Back to Ourselves, 3:05 PM

10/13/2026

🚇 Stop 2 of 6: IN FRAME · 1:23 PM

Four films about who we see and who sees us. Swipe for the trailer and posters 👉

📍 AMC Roosevelt Collection 16
🗓 Saturday, October 17
🎟 RSVP at the link in bio

Next stop: Wanting Out Loud, 1:56 PM

10/13/2026

🚇 Stop 1 of 6: CARRIED FORWARD · 12:10 PM

Our Green Line pulls out at noon with five films about what we inherit and what we choose to carry:

▶ Southern Sonshine, dir. Kevin Dapree Anderson
▶ We Keep Us Safe – QWEEN JEAN, dir. Shawn Angela Batey
▶ The After, dir. Elias K. Mayfield-Brown
▶ S*x in Colour: Kinky and Loving It Part 1, dir. David Weathersby
▶ Beyond The Doors of Club 708, dir. Malachi "Seven" King

Swipe for trailers and posters 👉

📍 AMC Roosevelt Collection 16, 1011 S Delano Ct E
🗓 Saturday, October 17 · first film at 12:10 PM
🎟 RSVP at the link in our bio

Black LGBTQ+ stories. All are welcome. Next stop: In Frame at 1:23 PM.

10/12/2026

A rapper. A librarian. Same person. 🚇 And his film is the last stop on our Green Line.

This Saturday, ride with us through 22 Black LGBTQ+ films across six programs, from Carried Forward at 12:10 PM to Rapbrarian: Reading Came First at 5:32 PM.

📍 AMC Roosevelt Collection 16, 1011 S Delano Ct E
🗓 Saturday, October 17 · first film at 12:10 PM

Bring your friends, your family, your mom. All are welcome.
🎟 RSVP: https://www.blackalphabet.org/event-details/black-alphabet-film-festival-2026

As seen on WGN Daytime Chicago 📺

09/26/2026

🚨 LINEUP 🚨

The Treehouse was formed out of the desire to create a safe space for folks to chill, leave their work at home, and share space with people just existing. We need spaces like these now more than ever.

The next 3 Mondays, I’ll be @ the Jamii Center in starting @ 7pm, kicking off this month’s series with an homage to q***r artists.

BYOB. BYOF. Let’s vibe. 🎧🏡

worksbywillow.com/treehouse

Address

201 S. Ashland Avenue
Chicago, IL
60607

Website

http://blackalphabet.org/, https://lnk.bio/BlackAlphabet

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