The American Film Institute (AFI) and Universal Pictures are collaborating on a week-long AFI Movie Club event called “Black Stories Matter.” This event celebrates the diverse and unique narratives from celebrated Black films. It follows a recent AFI/Universal collaboration honoring Do The Right Thing and Academy Award®-winning director Spike Lee.
Several black films like BlacKKKlansman, Get Out, Girls Trip, Loving, and Straight Out Of Compton will be offered for free Aug. 24-30 on Amazon, Apple, Charter, Comcast, Cox, Dish, FandangoNOW, Redbox, Verizon, and Vudu.
In the months after the George Floyd tragedy, networks and studios have made various films and television series featuring Black stories, Black characters, and Black stories available for free. So this weeklong event launched by AFI and Universal is continuing to push for their voices to be heard.
Additionally, the enhanced AFI Movie Club content will feature new interviews with composer Terence Blanchard (BLACKKKLANSMAN), Malcolm D. Lee (GIRLS TRIP), cinematographer and AFI Alum Matthew Libatique (STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON), Ruth Negga (LOVING), writer Tracy Oliver (GIRLS TRIP), Ron Stallworth (BLACKKKLANSMAN) and more. The interviews allow for a more encompassing understanding of these films and their overall impact on the Black culture.
“For decades, Universal has supported thought-provoking stories and powerful perspectives that have served to enlighten, enrich and entertain,” said Donna Langley, Chairman, Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, and AFI Trustee. “Through this partnership with AFI, we are proud to further shine a light on these distinctly important works that continue to so poignantly amplify today’s conversation.”
“The mission of AFI and the AFI Movie Club has always been to educate and inspire audiences – and to drive culture forward,” said Bob Gazzale, President and CEO of the American Film Institute. “We are thrilled to expand our partnership with Universal and to further the conversation about stories that are culturally and nationally significant.”
