Briaan L. Barron, SBFF marketing director, said in a recent interview that fest organizers focused on making the festival “feel like a homecoming and a celebration not only of Black film and filmmakers across the globe, but really the creators in our backyard who don’t always have a platform to showcase their work.” This year, LANGSTON is activating the entire building for the festival, hosting screenings in the theater space at LHPAI, and also in the Grand Hall. Additionally, there will be purple popcorn, a house music party, and other events inspired by the short films block. (Many films featured over the weekend will be available to stream online the week after the festival ends.)