• Celebrity
    • OTE – Meagan Good
    • Daniel Kaluuya Digital Cover
    • Digital Cover Method Man
    • Digital Cover Zazie
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
    • If Not For My Girls
  • Fashion
    • ESSENCE Fashion House 2022
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Best In Black Beauty 2023
    • ESSENCE Hair Awards 2022
    • AVEENO Skin Health Startup Accelerator
    • Beauty News
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weave
    • 4C
  • Love
    • Love & Sex News
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • Black History Month
    • ESSENCE Gift Guide 2022
    • ESSENCE + smartwater Live Well Challenge
    • Build Your Legacy 2022
    • Dream & Plan with Confidence Prudential
    • AMEX Platinum Travel
    • Homecoming Season 2022
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
  • News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Sponsors Recognition Page 2022
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Video
  • Festival
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Fest Videos
  • Events
    • 2023 Wellness House
    • 2023 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2023 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Girls United Summit
    • 2022 ESSENCE Fashion House
    • 2022 Homecoming Season
    • She Got Now
    • Dear Black Men
    • I Am Speaking
    • Power Tools
  • Studios
  • Girls United

WHERE BLACK CULTURE, COMMUNITY AND CONSCIOUSNESS MEET

Sign up for ESSENCE Newsletters the keep the Black women at the forefront of conversation.

Your email is required.
Your email is in invalid format.
Confirm email is required.
Email did not match.
Select the newsletters you'd like to receive:
Please select at least one option.
By clicking Subscribe Now, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Skip to content
SUBSCRIBE
  • MAGAZINE
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Celebrity
    • OTE – Meagan Good
    • Daniel Kaluuya Digital Cover
    • Digital Cover Method Man
    • Digital Cover Zazie
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
      • Paint The Polls Black
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
    • If Not For My Girls
  • Fashion
    • ESSENCE Fashion House 2022
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Best In Black Beauty 2023
    • ESSENCE Hair Awards 2022
    • AVEENO Skin Health Startup Accelerator
    • Beauty News
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weave
    • 4C
  • Love
    • Love & Sex News
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • Black History Month
    • ESSENCE Gift Guide 2022
    • ESSENCE + smartwater Live Well Challenge
    • Build Your Legacy 2022
    • Dream & Plan with Confidence Prudential
    • AMEX Platinum Travel
    • Homecoming Season 2022
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
  • News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Sponsors Recognition Page 2022
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Video
  • Festival
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Fest Videos
  • Events
    • 2023 Wellness House
    • 2023 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2023 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Girls United Summit
    • 2022 ESSENCE Fashion House
    • 2022 Homecoming Season
    • She Got Now
    • Dear Black Men
    • I Am Speaking
    • Power Tools
  • Studios
  • Girls United
Home · News

5 Films At Sundance That Will Get You Talking

These films starring Black creators tackle social issues with fresh perspectives.
5 Films At Sundance That Will Get You Talking
By Jameelah Nasheed · Updated January 27, 2023

As this year’s Sundance Film Festival continues its annual 10-day run, which began January 19, it’s especially exciting to witness its films which spotlight storytelling from new voices and folks with fresh perspectives.

From shorts and features to documentaries, this year consists of an impressive lineup of films from and starring Black creators. Many of which reflect some of the most pervasive issues and topics of today.

Film can be a powerful platform for change — as it serves as a unique medium to inform and influence thought, understanding, and, of course, conversation.

These five Sundance films will get you talking:

01
SLAM

Explores the inequity of the criminal justice system 

This film initially premiered at the 1998 Sundance Film Festival, but it still resonates today.

Co-writer, Saul Williams, stars in this project that highlights the racist criminal justice system that, too often, causes destruction in the lives of Black and brown Americans. Additionally, inmates and non-professional actors help this story come to life, as many of the roles were portrayed by them.

When Ray (Williams), a talented poet, is incarcerated in D.C. for petty drug possession, his poetry becomes a lifeline as he navigates his sentence and builds an impactful relationship with writing class teacher, Lauren (Sonja Sohn).

In honor of the 25th anniversary of “SLAM” this winner of the 1998 Sundance Grand Jury Prize has been restored and screened at this year’s festival. “Slam not only showcased the work of pioneering artists and poets like Saul Williams, Sonja Sohn, Beau Sia, Liza Jesse Peterson and others,” said John Nein, Senior Programmer & Director of Strategic Initiatives at Sundance Institute, “it also inspired untold numbers of younger poets and contributed to the criminal justice reform movement of the 1990s.”

5 Films At Sundance That Will Get You Talking
A still from SLAM by Marc Levin, an official selection of the Collection at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute
02
The Stroll

The transgender women of color who created the history of NYC’s meatpacking district 

In this documentary, the origin story of New York City’s Meatpacking District is told by the transgender women of color who created it.

Through the telling of this story, directors Kristen Lovell and Zackary Drucker, are also shedding light on the employment discrimination faced by these women that oftentimes led them to sex work for survival and the heavy policing and violence they faced.

Additionally, “The Stroll” explores the role that gentrification played in the construction of the present-day neighborhood and how that has impacted these women.

“The Stroll” will air on HBO and HBO Max later this year.

5 Films At Sundance That Will Get You Talking
A still from The Stroll by Kristen Lovell and Zackary Drucker, an official selection of the U.S. Documentary Competition at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute.
03
A Thousand and One

Redemption and the lasting impact of poverty and crime

Teyana Taylor stars in this film that tells an all-too-realistic story of a woman trying to build a life for herself and her child while facing a gentrifying city plagued by racist politics and policies.

Produced by Lena Waithe and written and directed by A.V. Rockwell, this film is a testament to the complicated and challenging choices people are forced to make in response to a world that can make survival an extreme challenge. It also looks at the role that family can, and oftentimes does, play in providing solid ground. “A Thousdand and One”  will open in theaters on March 31.

5 Films At Sundance That Will Get You Talking
Teyana Taylor and Aaron Kingsley appear in a still from A Thousand and One by A.V. Rockwell, an official selection of the U.S. Dramatic Competition at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Focus Features
04
To Live and Die and Live

Drugs and Black mental health

The ways mental health challenges can wreak havoc are on full display in this film by Qasim Basir.

Starring Amin Joseph, Skye P. Marshall, Cory Hardrict, and Omari Hardwick, this film introduces audiences to Muhammad (Joseph), a film director who returns home to Detroit for his stepfather’s funeral. He is consumed by the effects of drug addiction and intoxication of love, all while dealing with the pressures of providing for family and friends.

This film is sure to encourage audiences to continue crucial conversations on mental health care in the Black community.

5 Films At Sundance That Will Get You Talking
Amin Joseph and Skye P. Marshall appear in To Live and Die and Live by Qasim Basir, an official selection of the NEXT section at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute. All photos are copyrighted and may be used by the press only for the purpose of news or editorial coverage of Sundance Institute programs. Photos must be accompanied by a credit to the photographer and/or ‘Courtesy of Sundance Institute.’ Unauthorized use, alteration, reproduction or sale of logos and/or photos is strictly prohibited.
05
Earth Mama

Young mother navigating the challenges of life, the foster care system, and adoption

Erika Alexander and Bokeem Woodbine star in this film alongside newcomer Tia Nomore.

The story of Gia (Nomore), a pregnant single mother whose two children are in foster care, is told in A24-backed “Earth Mama” by filmmaker and former Olympian, Savanah Leaf.

Gia, who works at a Bay Area portrait studio (a job that doesn’t provide the financial support needed), hopes to get her children out of foster care while fearing her unborn baby will be taken from her. As she faces the challenges of trying to make ends meet and satisfy court orders, she considers putting her child up for adoption — with hopes to give her baby a better future.

5 Films At Sundance That Will Get You Talking
A still from Earth Mama by Savanah Leaf, an official selection of the U.S. Documentary Competition at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute

TOPICS:  Black Creators Sundance Film Festival
COMPANY INFORMATION
  • Our Company
  • Customer Service
  • Essence Ventures
  • Change Your Address
  • Contact Us
  • Job Opportunities
  • Internships
  • Media Kit
  • tag
SUBSCRIBE
  • Newsletters
  • Give a Gift of ESSENCE
  • Magazine Tablet Edition
FOLLOW US
MORE ON ESSENCE
  • Home
  • Love
  • Celebrity
  • Beauty
  • Hair
  • Fashion
  • ESSENCE festival

ESSENCE.com is part of ESSENCE Communications, Inc.

Essence may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.

©2023 ESSENCE Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Essence.com Advertising Terms

Get The ESSENCE Newsletter and
Special Offers delivered to your inbox

By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Get The ESSENCE Magazine
by subscribing below
subscribe now