ADIFF opens Nov. 27 with world premiere, Oscar submissions and 70-plus films

The 34th African Diaspora International Film Festival runs Nov. 27-Dec. 13 in New York with more than 70 films, including a world premiere opening night title, three national Oscar submissions and a slate of international and diaspora-focused programming. Screenings will take place in person at Columbia University venues and Cinema Village, with a virtual lineup available nationwide.

Why it matters: - ADIFF is using its 34th edition to spotlight films from Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe and the United States. - The festival continues to give New York audiences access to independent and internationally acclaimed films that can be overlooked by mainstream distribution. - This year’s lineup includes award contenders, community screenings and a national virtual option.

What happened: - The 34th African Diaspora International Film Festival runs Nov. 27-Dec. 13, 2026. - The festival opens with the world premiere of John Johnson Reporting, directed by Brian Calfano and narrated by Whoopi Goldberg. - Screenings will be held at Teachers College, Columbia University, Cinema Village and The Forum at Columbia University. - A virtual selection will be available nationwide.

The details: - The Opening Night Gala on Nov. 28 will feature John Johnson Reporting, a documentary about pioneering New York television journalist John Johnson. - The screening will be followed by a conversation with John Johnson and the filmmakers, moderated by NBC 4 New York anchor David Ushery. - Three films in the lineup were submitted by their countries for the 2027 Academy Awards Best International Feature Film category: Morocco’s Strawberries, Rwanda’s Ben' Imana and the Dominican Republic’s Melodrama. - Marie Madeleine, directed by Haitian filmmaker Gessica Généus, screens Dec. 5 and 6 after stops at Cannes and Toronto and a Gold Hugo win at the Chicago International Film Festival. - ArtMattan Films has acquired Marie Madeleine for U.S. distribution. - The Ghost of Hing King Estate, the final feature by Sir Horace Ové, gets its U.S. premiere Dec. 12 as the Spotlight on Trinidad & Tobago gala presentation. - Actor Michael Cherrie will attend a post-screening conversation for The Ghost of Hing King Estate. - The Brazilian documentary Aqui Não Entra Luz (No Sunshine In Here) is the Dec. 4 centerpiece presentation, followed by a filmmaker conversation and reception. - The Dec. 11 Finding Your Laughter Gala combines cinema, live comedy and a reception. - The Dec. 13 closing night presentation is the New York premiere of Montmartre, starring Jesse Williams and Ito Aghayere. - Themed programming includes Cuisine, Culture & Cinema, with films exploring food, migration, family and cultural memory. - Films in that strand include Tazzeka, The Last Meal and Soul Food Junkies. - Moroccan titles in the festival include Strawberries, The Heir of Secrets and Goundafa.

Between the lines: - ADIFF is positioning itself as both a cultural showcase and a discovery platform for films that connect identity, history and contemporary life. - The emphasis on Oscar submissions, gala screenings and audience events suggests the festival is leaning into prestige titles while keeping a strong community focus. - The mix of in-person and virtual access broadens the festival’s reach beyond New York.

What’s next: - Festivalgoers will vote for the ADIFF Public Award for Best Film Directed by a Woman of Color. - The competing films include Only Rebels Win, Strawberries, Ben' Imana and The Foolishness of God, among others. - The ADIFF School Program will offer free screenings of The Great Debaters, Kirikou and the Sorceress and Kipkemboi (The Wall Street Boy). - The Senior Program will feature a free screening of Sidney Poitier’s A Warm December at The Forum at Columbia University. - ADIFF will also run a Mini Virtual Festival from Nov. 27-Dec. 13 with 11 films streaming across the United States and its territories. - Individual tickets are $15, All-Access Passes are $300, and Fan Passes and Virtual Festival Passes are $60. - The full program and tickets are available at the festival website.

The bottom line: - ADIFF’s 34th edition pairs world premieres and Oscar hopefuls with community programming and broad access, aiming to extend the festival’s reach well beyond the theater.