Since its inception in 1993, the African Diaspora International Film Festival (ADIFF) has been dedicated to showcasing films that explore the human experience of people of color from around the world, with a special focus on people from Africa, the African Diaspora, and Indigenous peoples. ADIFF was born out of a necessity to fill the void left by mainstream media’s underrepresentation of people of color, including those from Latin America. As founders, we recognized the urgent need to provide a platform for voices that are often ignored or marginalized.
In Latino cinema, people easily identifiable as of African descent are rarely seen on the screen. From the start, the festival has placed a special emphasis on Latino films, highlighting the rich and diverse stories from Latin America, particularly those centering on Indigenous and African descendant peoples. We’ve showcased films from three major producers of Latin American cinema – Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina – in the African Diaspora International Film Festival with titles like Marighella (Brazil), Black Mexicans (Mexico), and Tango Negro: The African Roots of Tango (Argentina/Uruguay).
One of the highlights of ADIFF NY 2024 is Power Alley (Levante), a Brazilian film directed by Lillah Halla. It’s gotten international acclaim and is being distributed in the USA by ArtMattan Films, the film distribution arm of ArtMattan Productions. Set in São Paulo, Power Alley follows Sofia, a spirited Afro-Brazilian queer teen volleyball player whose life takes a dramatic turn when she faces an unwanted pregnancy. The film explores themes of autonomy, identity, and the fight against systemic conservatism.
ADIFF will host the NYC premiere of Power Alley on December 5, 2024, at Cinema Village. The screening will be followed by a Q&A session with the director, Lillah Halla, providing audiences with an opportunity to engage directly with the creative mind behind the film. After its presentation at the festival, Power Alley will have a theatrical release in New York and LA starting on December 6.
The African Diaspora International Film Festival, held in New York, Chicago, Washington D.C., and Paris, France, offers a unique opportunity to discover films that might otherwise never be screened in these cities.
ADIFF NY 2024 has a selection of 65 films from 32 countries – including half US or NY premieres – and offers a robust and culturally relevant program. Screenings will be held online with the ADIFF Mini Virtual Festival at nyadiff.org and in New York at Teachers College, The Forum at Columbia University, Leonard Nimoy Thalia Theatre, and Cinema Village from November 29 to December 15, 2024. We invite everyone to join in and discover powerful and diverse films.
See you at the festival!
Reinaldo Barroso-Spech, Ed.D. and Diarah N’Daw-Spech, MBA
Co-Directors of the African Diaspora International Film Festival (ADIFF)
Co-Founders, ArtMattan Films
