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July 11th, 2026

IBE Film Festival

The 2026 Indiana Black Expo Film Festival, A Century of Making: Celebrating a 100 Years of Recognizing our History is a powerful fusion of culture, creativity, and stories that move us forward. A Century of Making is a powerful celebration of African American cinema that honors the depth, creativity, and cultural impact of Black storytelling. This dynamic film festival experience brings together emerging and established filmmakers whose work reflects the richness of the Black experience, past, present, and future. From thought-provoking documentaries to captivating narratives, each film invites audiences to engage, reflect, and connect through authentic voices and lived experiences.

Rooted in the spirit of Indiana Black Expo, A Century of Making highlights stories that inspire, challenge, and uplift while creating space for dialogue, discovery, and artistic expression. This is more than a festival, it’s a tribute to the power of story, the beauty of culture, and the enduring soul of Black cinema. A Century of Making: Celebrating a 100 Years of Recognizing our History will be held at the IBE Headquarters.

This year we are partnering with the Alzheimer’s Association to screen Unforgettable, a powerful and culturally resonant story of a family navigating Alzheimer’s, the production opens the door for meaningful conversations about brain health, caregiving, and the importance of early detection.

Time: 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (Doors open at 10:30 a.m.)
Cost: Free
Location: Indiana Black Expo, Bldg.3 – 601 N. Shortridge Rd. Indianapolis Indiana 46219
Contributor: Indy Arts Council, Penrod Society, Arthur Jordan Foundation, Allen Whitehill Clowes Foundation, Noyes Foundation

woman in red skirt standing in front of camera and interviewer

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This Year's Films

BLACK BOYS DON'T CRY

Screening Time: 11:05 a.m.  Runtime: 18 minutes  

Directed By: Madison Ledyard-King
Written By: William Hunter-Reay, Kamodjia and Glenn A. Robinson IV

Black Boys Don’t Cry is a short drama film that explores the emotional struggles many Black men face when societal expectations discourage them from expressing vulnerability. The story follows a young Black man who suppresses his feelings while navigating personal challenges, highlighting the impact of toxic masculinity, emotional isolation, and the pressure to appear strong at all times. The film encourages conversations about mental health, healing, and the importance of creating spaces where Black men and boys can openly express their emotions.

ONE MONTH IS NOT ENOUGH

Screening Time: 11:25 a.m.  Runtime: 40 minutes

Directed By: Weatherhouse Company and IBE PAA Program

One Month Not Enough shines a powerful, in-depth spotlight on the rich but often overlooked legacy of Black Hoosiers. Far beyond the confines of February observance, the film unfolds across Indiana— from civic leaders to entrepreneurs, artists, and everyday pioneers—demonstrating how African Americans have shaped the state’s identity at every turn.

 

By revealing these layered and expansive narratives, the documentary makes clear that Black history in Indiana is deeper and more integral than a month can contain. It’s about struggle and resistance—but also about community, innovation, and enduring impact.

GETTING WINS: A STORY ABOUT CO-GOVERNANCE

Screening Time: 12:10 p.m.  Runtime: 40 minutes

Director: Jordan Johnson

Executive Producers: Erica Perry & Mike Floss

Getting Wins follows the work of the Southern Movement Committee (SMC), a grassroots organizing force rooted in Nashville and across Tennessee. The documentary explores how Black residents are building collective power through initiatives like the Black Nashville Assembly, where community members come together to name their priorities and demand accountability from local leadership.

 

From fighting for the Varsity Spending Plan to expanding outreach around politics and social justice, the film highlights how SMC creates spaces where Black voices shape the future of their city. It also follows the organization’s work with young people, building community-driven forms of safety in response to gun violence and training the next generation of leaders to organize and transform their communities.

This showing will be followed by a Discussion Panel

Moderator: Mike Floss

Panelists:

  • Jordan Johnson, Director, Getting Wins
  • Erica Perry – Executive Director, Southern Movement Committee

Panel Discussion: 12:55 PM Panel Duration: 30 Minutes

THE CANDY LADY

Showing Time: 1:30 p.m. Runtime: 12 minutes

Directed & Written By: Monique Morton Derouselle

Produced By: Brandon Taylor, Wicken Taylor, Chris Jones, Kyle Derouselle and Monqiue Morton Derouselle

The Candy Lady is an award-winning Afro-fantasy comedy short film that follows Debra, a beloved neighborhood candy lady whose ordinary day takes an unexpected turn when she awakens a magical typewriter. As the stories she writes begin coming to life, Debra finds herself navigating a series of hilarious and imaginative adventures. Celebrating community, creativity, and Black cultural traditions, the film is a heartwarming tribute to the neighborhood “candy ladies” who have long been cherished figures in communities across the country.

MADE FOR MORE

Screening Time: 1:45 p.m.  Runtime: 13 minutes

Produced By: Dr. Elijah Frazier

Made for More is a powerful storytelling, the film explores themes of identity, perseverance, faith, and self-discovery, reminding audiences that they are capable of achieving more than the limitations placed upon them. Made for More serves as a motivational call to embrace one’s purpose, overcome obstacles, and pursue a life of impact and meaning.

 

Serenity has every reason to give up on life. After her parents leave her, she’s forced to stay with her Grandmother, whose lifestyle and mindset are one of settling and doing just enough not to lose. Even with those odds, she can’t help but feel there’s more she’s made for. She runs away, and her journey begins.

EXPANDING THE IMPACT: UNFORGETTABLE

Screening Time: 2:10 p.m.  Runtime: 90 Minutes

Building on this momentum, the Alzheimer’s Association, in partnership with G. Davis Productions, has adapted Unforgettable into a film to expand its reach and deepen its impact nationwide. Through a powerful and culturally resonant story of a family navigating Alzheimer’s, the production opens the door for meaningful conversations about brain health, caregiving, and the importance of early detection.

These screenings will serve as a platform to:

  • Increase awareness of Alzheimer’s and other dementias
  • Educate audiences about early detection and diagnosis
  • Encourage participation in clinical trials
  • Foster community dialogue and connection

The transition from stage to screen ensures that Unforgettable can meet people where they are, extending beyond theater spaces and into communities across the country.

This showing will be followed by a Discussion Panel

Moderator: Beverly Berry – Director, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Alzheimer’s Association

 

Panelists:

  • Garrett Davis – Director, Writer of the Unforgettable film
  • Greg Porter – Indiana House Representative
  • Virginia Caine, MD- Director & Chief Medical Officer of the MCPHD
  • Sophia Wang, MD –Associate Professor of Psychiatry, IU School of Medicine

Panel Discussion: 3:45 PM