The 27^th annual African Diaspora International Film Festival (ADIFF), featuring 59 films from filmmakers around the world, will run in New York City from November 29^th through December 15^th.

On opening night, Teachers College, which will screen many of the films, will air “Ali’s Comeback: The Untold Story,” about the breaking of boxing’s blacklist against the late champion who said “no” to war and racism. The film will air on November 29^th at 7 pm and again at TC on Wednesday, December 4^th at 8:30 p.m.

On Saturday, Dec 7^th, at 8:00 pm, TC will also screen “Marighella,” about one of Brazil’s most divisive historical figures, the Afro-Brazilian poet and politician Carlos Marighella. Currently censored in Brazil, the film is directed by Wagner Moura – Brazil’s most famous actor, who is making his directorial debut, and who will attend the screening and participate in a discussion afterward.

TC will screen “Marighella,” about the Afro-Brazilian poet and politician Carlos Marighella. Currently censored in Brazil, the film is directed by Wagner Moura – Brazil’s most famous actor, who is making his directorial debut, and who will attend the screening and participate in a discussion afterwards.

And on Saturday, November 30^th at 8:30 p.m. and Saturday, December 14^th at 7 p.m., TC will screen “Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool,” a documentary about the horn player, bandleader and innovator that explores archival photos and home movies shot by Davis and his colleagues and Davis’s manuscripts and original paintings, and features interviews with musicians Jimmy Cobb, Lee Konitz, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Ron Carter, Carlos Santana, The Roots, and Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Other ADIFF screening venues this year are MIST Harlem and Cinema Village, both in Manhattan. [Click here for a full listing of ADIFF 2019 screenings.]

ADIFF’s mission is to present its films to diverse audiences, redesign the Black cinema experience, and strengthen the role of African and African descent directors in contemporary world cinema. The festival was founded in 1993 and continues to be directed by the husband-wife team of Reinaldo Barroso-Spech, an educator in foreign languages and Black Literature who has taught at Teachers College, and Diarah N’Daw-Spech, a financial consultant and university budget manager who previously worked at TC.

ADIFF is co-sponsored by the Office of the Vice President for Diversity & Community Affairs.