Fulton County District 5 Commissioner Marvin S. Arrington, Jr., commemorates Black History Month by inviting residents to view films featuring African American actors, producers, and directors, and filmmakers. The Opening Reception, which kicks off the 2024 Black History Film Festival, will be held Friday, February 23, 2024, in downtown Atlanta.
 
Registered attendees will enjoy a reception and view film screenings from 3 p.m. until 9 p.m. in the Government Center’s Assembly Hall located at 141 Pryor Street SW., where the following films will be screened:
 
• Return to Your Corner
• Fight For Black Lives
• Now and Forever
• Legacy of Lee Flowers
• Black History Man
• Inception: Jayne Kennedy Story
• Mabel
• Healer: The Dr. Joycelyn Elders Story 
 
The 2024 Black History Film Festival continues Saturday, February 24 with more films at various locations throughout the county.  The following films will screen from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the South Annex:
 
• A Race in The Sun
• The Lincoln School
• His Truth is Marching On
• Educators to Africa
• Black Girl in The Ring
• Black Uniform
• Storming Caesars Palace Return to Your Corner
 
To RSVP for showings at the South Annex, all guests must visit http://tinyurl.com/BHFF0224
 
Additional films will screen from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the following Fulton County Libraries:
 
Adams Park Library
• The Little Mermaid
• Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
 
Alpharetta Branch Library
• The Little Mermaid (2023)
• Spiderman Across the Spider-Verse (2023)
 
College Park Library
• The Little Mermaid (2023)
• Woman King
 
Hapeville Branch Library
• East Lake Meadows: A Public Housing Story
• The Woman King
 
Kirkwood Branch Library
• East Lake Meadows: A Public Housing Story
• Southern Rites
 
Mechanicsville Library
• Southern Rites
• Zora Neale Hurston: Claiming A Space
 
Winners of the 2023 Write 2 Rise Scholarship Competition and the 2024 Black History Film Festival Student Film and Essay Competitions will also be announced during the Opening Reception. The topic of this year’s BHFF Student Film and Essay Competition is ‘Why My Unsung Hero Should Be Celebrated During Black History Month’.
 
Fulton County high school students are invited to either submit a 1,500-word essay or short film no longer than 60-minutes highlighting an African American who has made a significant contribution to black progress and American History.
 
All submissions are due by Friday, February 16 and collectively $2000 in prizes will be shared among the winners during the Opening Reception on February 23.
 
Although the reception and film festival are free, seating is limited. Guests must RSVP for the Opening Reception. To RSVP for the Opening Reception, all guests must visit http://tinyurl.com/BHFF2024. Complimentary parking and shuttle service will be provided from the Fulton County Juvenile Court, located at 395 Pryor St SW., to the Government Center from 5 p.m. - 10 p.m. on Friday, February 23.
 
Those seeking more information on this event can reach the office of District 5 Commissioner Marvin S. Arrington Jr. at www.FultonCommission5.com.