It’s the summer of “Blaxploitation, Baby!,” the latest festival hosted by Film Forum.
The indie theater announced the upcoming festival which will take place August 16 through August 22. The program celebrates the early ‘70s genre of Black cinema, and features films wth iconic movie stars Pam Grier, Richard Roundtree, Ron O’Neal, Tamara Dobson, Jim Brown, Vonetta McGee, Fred Williamson, Isaac Hayes, and more.
“Blaxploitation, Baby!” is dedicated to author and pioneering film historian Donald Bogle, who collaborated on Film Forum’s first Blaxploitation festival in 1995. Bogle credited Melvin Van Peebles’ filmography for helping to establish the genre. “Blaxploitation, Baby!” additionally ranges from works from directors such as Ossie Davis, Gordon Parks, and Gordon Parks Jr.
As well as the screenings, the festival will include the sales of critic and historian Odie Henderson’s “Black Caesars and Foxy Cleopatras: A History of Blaxploitation” and Donald Bogle’s acclaimed TCM book “Hollywood Black” at concessions. “Hollywood Black” is part of a four-part documentary series by director Justin Simien, premiering August 11 on MGM+.
Check out the full “Blaxploitation, Baby!” lineup below.
COTTON COMES TO HARLEM
U.S., 1970
Directed by Ossie Davis
With Godfrey Cambridge, Raymond St. Jacques, Calvin Lockhart, Redd Foxx, Judy Pace
Approx. 97 min. 35mm
Friday, Aug 16 at 12:30
Wednesday, Aug 21 at 6:45
SUPER FLY
U.S., 1972
Directed by Gordon Parks Jr.
With Ron O’Neal, Carl Lee, Sheila Frazier
Music by Curtis Mayfield
Approx. 96 min. 35mm.
Friday, August 16 at 2:40
Saturday, August 17 at 4:30
Thursday, August 22 at 4:40
SHEBA, BABY
U.S., 1975
Directed by William Girdler
With Pam Grier, Austin Stoker, D’Uville Martin
Approx. 91 min. 35mm.
Friday, August 16 at 4:45
Sunday, August 18 at 12:30
Monday, August 19 at 2:30
FOXY BROWN
U.S., 1974
Directed by Jack Hill
With Pam Grier, Kathryn Loder, Antonio Fargas
Approx. 92 min. DCP.
Friday, August 16 at 6:45 – Introduced by Odie Henderson, author of Black Caesars and Foxy Cleopatras
Sunday, August 18 at 6:30
Wednesday, August 21 at 4:45
COFFY
U.S., 1972
Directed by Jack Hill
With Pam Grier, Booker Bradshaw, Robert DoQui, Sid Haig
Approx. 90 min. DCP.
Friday, August 16 at 8:50
Sunday, August 18 at 4:30
Monday, August 19 at 4:30
TRUCK TURNER
U.S., 1974
Directed by Jonathan Kaplan
With Isaac Hayes, Yaphet Kotto, Annazette Chase, Nichelle Nichols,
Approx. 91 min. 35mm.
Saturday, August 17 at 12:30
Tuesday, August 20 at 4:30
CLEOPATRA JONES
U.S., 1973
Directed by Jack Starrett
With Shelley Winters, Tamara Dobson, Antonio Fargas, Bernie Casey
Approx. 89 min. 35mm.
Saturday, August 17 at 2:30
Monday, August 19 at 8:30
SHAFT
U.S., 1971
Directed by Gordon Parks
Starring Richard Roundtree, Moses Gunn, Gwenn Mitchell
Music by Isaac Hayes
Approx. 100 min. DCP.
Saturday, August 17 at 6:40
Thursday, August 22 at 2:30
BLACULA
U.S., 1972
Directed by William Crain
Starring William Marshall, Vonetta McGee, Denise Nicholas, Thalmus Rasulala
Screenplay by Joan Torres and Raymond Koenig
Approx. 93 min. 35mm.
Saturday, August 17 at 8:50
Thursday, August 22 at 12:30
FRIDAY FOSTER
U.S., 1975
Directed by Arthur Marks
Starring Pam Grier, Yaphet Kotto, Carl Weathers, Godfrey Cambridge, Thalmus Rasulala, Eartha Kitt
Approx. 90 min. 35mm.
Sunday, August 18 at 2:30
Monday, August 19 at 12:30
BLACK CAESAR
U.S., 1973
Directed by Larry Cohen
With Fred Williamson, Gloria Hendry, Julius Harris, D’Urville Martin
Approx. 87 min. 35mm.
Sunday, August 18 at 8:30
Thursday, August 22 at 6:45 – Introduced by author and film critic Odie Henderson
THOMASINE AND BUSHROD
U.S., 1974
Directed by Gordon Parks Jr.
With Max Julien, Vonetta McGee, Juanita Moore
Approx. 95 min. 35mm.
Monday, August 19 at 6:30
Tuesday, August 20 at 12:15
SWEET SWEETBACK’S BAADASSSSS SONG
U.S., 1971
Directed by Melvin Van Peebles
With Melvin Van Peebles
Approx. 97 min. DCP.
Tuesday, August 20 at 2:15
Wednesday, August 21 at 9:00
TRICK BABY
U.S, 1972
Directed by Larry Yust
Based on the novel by Iceberg Slim
With Kiel Martin, Mel Stewart, Vernee Watson-Johnson
Approx. 89 min. 35mm.
Tuesday, August 20 at 6:30
WILLIE DYNAMITE
U.S., 1974
Directed by Gilbert Moses
With Roscoe Orman, Diana Sands, Thalmus Rasulala, Juanita Brown
Approx. 102 min. 35mm.
Tuesday, August 20 at 8:30 – Introduced by author and film critic Odie Henderson
Wednesday, August 21 at 2:30
SLAUGHTER
U.S., 1972
Directed by Jack Starrett
With Jim Brown, Stella Stevens, Rip Torn
Music by Billy Preston
Approx. 92 min. 35mm.
Wednesday, August 21 at 12:30
Thursday, August 22 at 8:45
