cinéSPEAK

cinéSPEAK bringing the under-represented and eclectic to the forefront of the Philadelphia cinema scene
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We are a Philadelphia-based cinema and film publication that engages diverse audiences through our globally-minded contemporary and repertory independent film programming; creating space and centering the stories of individuals and communities that are often underrepresented in mainstream cinema. We promote community togetherness and global understanding by engaging film enthusiasts while cultivat

ing the next generation of discerning moviegoers; encouraging people to demand social justice both on-screen and throughout society

cinéSPEAK is an independent charitable 501(c)(3).

We loved sharing the second annual Under the Stars Zine with you all! ✨🎬⁠⁠This special edition of the cinéSPEAK Journal ...
07/21/2026

We loved sharing the second annual Under the Stars Zine with you all! ✨🎬⁠
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This special edition of the cinéSPEAK Journal celebrated this year’s festival through the voices of local writers, featuring four original articles by local journalists and film critics of color reflecting on the films, stories, and themes that brought us together during Under the Stars.⁠
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A huge thank you to everyone who picked up a copy, read the articles, and chatted with us throughout the festival! 💛⁠
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Thanks to the generous support of Critical Minded, we were able to offer printed copies of the zine for FREE throughout the festival.⁠
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Missed the zine? You can still read all four articles anytime on the cinéSPEAK website: https://cinespeak.org/journal/

Meet us at the 15th annual BlackStar Film Festival this August 6-9 in Philadelphia or tune-in online around the globe! B...
07/19/2026

Meet us at the 15th annual BlackStar Film Festival this August 6-9 in Philadelphia or tune-in online around the globe! BlackStar is celebrating this milestone with a powerful program of films from Black, Brown, and Indigenous artists, panels, and of course, parties.✊🏿🎉⁠
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On August 6th, Blackstar will be screening Intradependence, a series of short films for collective action, at 2:30PM in the Kimmel Center's Perelman Theater. Shorts include The Seeds We Carry (dir. Patterson), Authors of the Estate (dir. Cissé, and Philly Rumba (dirs. Beatriz & Cisneros). Intradependence is followed by a screening of Lexie Bean and Logan Rozos' film What Will I Become?, at 4pm in the Suzanne Roberts Theatre. Don't miss the opportunity to enjoy this art in community. 🎞️❤️‍🔥⁠
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Get your all access or virtual pass: blackstarprojects.org/festival⁠
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Use the code "screeningpartner15" on checkout for 15% off ticket prices.🎟️

🎥🌱 Catch Seeds under the summer sky on July 30 with cinéSPEAK, Get Fresh Daily, and Black Earth Agriculture Hub—one nigh...
07/18/2026

🎥🌱 Catch Seeds under the summer sky on July 30 with cinéSPEAK, Get Fresh Daily, and Black Earth Agriculture Hub—one night only. ✨⁠
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⏰ Event Flow:⁠
Doors at 6:30 PM⁠
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Garden Party at 6:30 - 8:00 PM—Enjoy music, food and drinks from local vendors (pay-as-you-go)⁠
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Pre-Screening Conversation at 7:45 PM—presented by Black Earth Agriculture and Get Fresh Daily ⁠
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Intermission at 8:30 PM⁠
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Film at 8:45 - 10:50 PM⁠
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Seeds is a meditative film which uses lyrical black and white imagery to examine the decline of generational black farmers and the significance of owning land. This screening is brought to you in partnership with the Black Earth Agriculture Hub, the flagship initiative of Nriife Roots Collective to be a catalyst for the holistic betterment of the African diasporic community, and Get Fresh Daily, a mission-driven organization that provides healthy living education through culturally relevant programs that focus on the Black community.👩🏿‍🌾🌾⁠
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cinéSPEAK is proud to be a partner of the 2nd annual national tour of The Popcorn List, a program offering sneak-preview screening events for cutting-edge releases without wide distribution. The films—all by first-time feature filmmakers, several of whom are women and people of color—have previously premiered at SXSW, Sundance, Venice, BFI Flare and True/False. 🍿🎬⁠
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Snag your tickets: https://cinespeak.eventive.org/schedule/6a05ef7c6f415212541c6e08

💫 That’s a wrap on Under the Stars 2026!⁠⁠🌳 Over four incredible Fridays, we gathered under the stars at Clark Park for ...
07/17/2026

💫 That’s a wrap on Under the Stars 2026!⁠
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🌳 Over four incredible Fridays, we gathered under the stars at Clark Park for films, music, conversation, and community. Thank you to everyone who joined us, brought your chairs and blankets, danced with us, watched films with us, and helped make this year’s festival so special. We loved spending these evenings together with our West Philly community! 💖⁠
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❤️‍🔥 This year’s festival explored the theme of community resilience, celebrating the ways individuals and communities come together to resist, adapt, organize, and care for one another in the face of systemic challenges. We’re so grateful to all of the filmmakers, artists, musicians, DJs, community organizations, and special guests who shared their work and energy with us throughout the festival.⁠
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💖 Under the Stars would not be possible without the generous support of our incredible sponsors and partners. An extra-special thank you to our Gold Sponsors: Critical Minded, Leeway Foundation, People's Media Fund, and WHYY. We’re also deeply grateful to our Silver Sponsor, Gender Justice Fund, and our Bronze Sponsors: Dahlak Paradise, Drexel Writer's Room, Mariposa Food Co-op, Two Locals Brewing Company, and Visit Philly. Thank you to all of our community, media, and advocacy partners who helped us bring this festival to life!⁠
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✨ As we look ahead to the future of Under the Stars, we need your support to keep free, community-centered cinema thriving in Philadelphia. If you enjoyed the festival and believe in what we’re building, please consider making a donation to cinéSPEAK via the link in our bio. Every contribution helps us continue bringing independent films, local artists, and joyful community gatherings to our city. ❤️‍🔥⁠
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Thank you for spending your evenings with us and for continuing to show up for independent film and community-centered cinema. We can't wait to gather with you again! 🌃🌳⁠
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📣 Don’t touch that dial—more incredible art, film, and community joy are coming your way from cinéSPEAK soon!⁠
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🔗 Learn more about upcoming screenings and support our work: https://cinespeak.org/
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📸 Photos from week 4 of Under The Stars. Photos by Naomieh Jovin

We’ve been nominated for Metro Philly's Best Film Festival! YOU can help cinéSPEAK’s Under the Stars Festival win!🏆✨⁠⁠Me...
07/16/2026

We’ve been nominated for Metro Philly's Best Film Festival! YOU can help cinéSPEAK’s Under the Stars Festival win!🏆✨⁠
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Metro Philly’s Best of Philly nominations let residents show some love to the places and people that make the Philly area special. By voting for your favorite local events in each category, you can give your favorites the spotlight they deserve.❤️‍🔥🎆⁠

Votes refresh, so you can come back and show the love each and every day! We couldn’t do Under the Stars without our wonderful community; thank you for your continued enthusiasm and support. You all make us feel like the Best in Philly.🌃🎉⁠
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Vote for our Under the Stars film festival now through August 31 at 12pm EST: https://metrophillysbest.com/ #/gallery/549214510/

Next Friday! Don’t miss Palestine 36 Studio 34 🎞️🇵🇸 Film, community, and solidarity with Philly Palestine Coalition & ci...
07/16/2026

Next Friday! Don’t miss Palestine 36 Studio 34 🎞️🇵🇸 Film, community, and solidarity with Philly Palestine Coalition & cinéSPEAK.⁠
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Through the story of Yusuf, a young Palestinian navigating a rapidly changing world, Anna Maria Jacir's award-winning Palestine 36 explores a pivotal moment in Palestinian history and the forces that continue to shape the region today.🫒🍉⁠
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Event Flow:⁠
Doors: 7:00 PM⁠
Film: 7:30 PM⁠
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Tickets are available on a $10–$30 sliding scale, with 100% of Philly Palestine Coalition and cinéSPEAK's share of ticket sales supporting mutual aid efforts in Sudan and Palestine. No one turned away for lack of funds.🎟️🇸🇩 🇵🇸⁠
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Come gather in community for an evening of film, learning, and solidarity.❤️‍🔥🌃⁠
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🎟️ Get your tickets: https://cinespeak.eventive.org/schedule/6a04ad91ab165e9f93e60dc1

*Accessibility note: Studio 34 is located up one flight of stairs and is not wheelchair accessible.

🏳️‍⚧️✨ Join cinéSPEAK on August 20 for She’s the He—a joyful, affirming transfeminine coming-of-age story that celebrat...
07/15/2026

🏳️‍⚧️✨ Join cinéSPEAK on August 20 for She’s the He—a joyful, affirming transfeminine coming-of-age story that celebrates becoming yourself. 🍿⁠
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She’s the He! is a Q***r coming of age comedy about two friends graduating high school. Ethan and Alex pose as trans women to dodge rumors of being gay. It's all a joke until Ethan realizes: she really is trans. Navigating changing friendship dynamics, coming out, and the intricacies of Q***r identity, She’s the He! laughs at gender constructs and shows what it means to come of age as a trans woman. ❤️‍🔥🎞️⁠
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Two back-to-back screenings at Vox Populi at 7:00 PM and at 9:15 PM!⁠
The screening followed by a brief talk with special guests. Interested? Buy your tickets here: https://cinespeak.org/cinema/

Check out the new Philly Profile “Process Over Product: How Shavon Norris Reimagines the Future of Filmmaking ” by David...
07/14/2026

Check out the new Philly Profile “Process Over Product: How Shavon Norris Reimagines the Future of Filmmaking ” by David A. Gaines! 📝🍚
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cinéSPEAK Philly Cultural Critics Fellow David A. Gaines spoke with local healing-focused creative worker Shavon Norris in her beautiful South Philly home. She shares her thoughts on trauma-informed pedagogy, autonomy on film and theater sets, and wielding power responsibly.
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🔗 Read the full article: https://cinespeak.org/2026/07/14/process-over-product-how-shavon-norris-reimagines-the-future-of-filmmaking/

🚨 TONIGHT! 🚨 Join us at Two Locals Brewing Company for a free screening of Spike Lee's Crooklyn! 🎬💜⁠⁠If you've been look...
07/13/2026

🚨 TONIGHT! 🚨 Join us at Two Locals Brewing Company for a free screening of Spike Lee's Crooklyn! 🎬💜⁠
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If you've been looking for the perfect Monday night plan, we've got you covered:⁠
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🍻 Happy Hour starts at 5 PM⁠
🎥 Crooklyn begins at 7 PM⁠
🍿 Free popcorn courtesy of cinéSPEAK⁠
🥡 BYO dinner or order delivery⁠
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A love letter to Black family life, childhood, and 1970s Brooklyn, Crooklyn remains one of Spike Lee's most moving and personal films.⁠
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Bring a friend, grab a drink, and settle in for a great movie and conversation. See you tonight! ✨⁠
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📍 Two Locals Brewing Company⁠
🎟️ Free admission⁠
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RSVP: https://cinespeak.eventive.org/schedule/6a16f9b8b94123950ecaa48d

🏀✨ Think Space Jam for the next generation: join us this July at the Lawn UCity Square for a family-friendly movie night...
07/09/2026

🏀✨ Think Space Jam for the next generation: join us this July at the Lawn UCity Square for a family-friendly movie night under the stars. 🎞️☀️⁠
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Come check out Tyree Dillihay’s GOAT on July 17th! A small goat with big dreams gets a once-in-a-lifetime shot to join the pros and play roarball, a high-intensity, co-ed, full-contact sport dominated by the fastest, fiercest animals in the world. Will this goat become the GOAT? Come find out!🐐⁠
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Event flow:⁠
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5-7PM: Happy hour at uCity Square Beer Garden🍺 ⁠
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8:00PM: Family friendly music at the Lawn 🎶 ⁠
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9:00 PM: Film screening! 🎉⁠
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Don’t miss our screenings of two Pixar Animation favorites, Elio on August 14th and Hoppers on September 11th!🛸🦫⁠
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cinéSPEAK is proud to participate in this paid partnership with UCity Square. If you’d like to learn more about hiring cinéSPEAK to put on film screenings, including curating the screenings and managing the productions, please reach out to us!✉️⁠
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To get tickets and learn more: https://cinespeak.eventive.org/schedule/6a21a71b05b0c29569e2f08f

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