Screening Black Excellence: Taylor Freeman Talks the 23rd Annual Seattle Black Film Festival
In a recent episode of We Live In Color, host Deaunte Damper sat down with Taylor Freeman, the program manager for the historic Seattle Black Film Festival, to discuss the festival's return this weekend and the importance of supporting Black art.
The Importance of Authentic Representation
Freeman and Damper delved into the state of Black and queer visibility in film. Freeman emphasized the need for "stories of joy" rather than narratives solely focused on trauma, shame, or internalized homophobia. She highlighted the film Bottoms as a refreshing example where Black queer characters were allowed to be funny, confident, and central to the story.
The 23rd Annual Seattle Black Film Festival
As the program manager, Freeman is now at the helm of the largest and longest-running Black film festival in the Pacific Northwest. She described the festival as a platform for:
Showcasing local talent: Giving Pacific Northwest filmmakers a chance to enter the festival circuit and seek distribution.
Connecting the diaspora: Screening international works, such as films about Black singers in the Netherlands or life in Brazil, to explore the global Black experience.
Fostering community: Utilizing Seattle’s LANGSTON as a "home base" where the community can interact deeply with Black arts and culture.11
Join the Celebration
The festival is scheduled to run from April 30th through May 3rd at LANGSTON. Damper, who will be hosting the red carpet and the wrap party, joined Freeman in a call to action for the community to support these underground films and meet the filmmakers.
Freeman’s message to aspiring artists and the community at large was straight to the point: "Just start. Let go of that perfection and then you'll kind of find what you're looking for along the way,” she said.
Get your tickets to the 23rd annual Seattle Black Film Festival here.
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