The hottest ticket in Black independent cinema is back. The 18th Annual Urbanworld Film Festival, which will descend on New York City from September 17-21, just announced its lineup for this year, and the program boasts back-to-back screenings of films featuring the best Black talent from around the globe.
Gina Prince-Bythewood's Beyond the Lights will open the festival. Starring Danny Glover, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Nate Parker and others, the drama is about a young musician on the brink of stardom who struggles with the pressure of her newfound success. 
Other highlights of the program include Sundance standout Difret, an Ethiopian film executive produced by Angelina Jolie, a 30th anniversary sing-a-long of Prince's Purple Rain and short films from Frances Bodomo and Moon Molsen.
Click here for a complete listing of films screening at this year's festival and to stay on top of new additions to the Urbanworld Film Festival program.
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(Photo: Suzanne Tenner/Blackbird Productions, LLC)