Nashville’s International Black Film Festival has evolved into one of the year’s finest cinematic celebrations, spotlighting independent Black cinema nationally and globally and bringing to town key figures in the industry for panels and seminars. But as IBFF prepares for its 20th anniversary, founder Hazel Joyner Smith says there’s still plenty of work to do in the quest to provide opportunity and access to the entertainment world for aspiring performers, writers, directors and producers.

International Black Film Festival

Oct. 1-5 at Belmont University, the Hutton Hotel and more

ibffevents.com

“Longevity isn’t really something that I’ve thought about,” Smith tells the Scene . “In the beginning I just had a keen interest in film and television, but didn’t know any of the key people.

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