Questlove and Elegance Bratton are two of the directors highlighted for 2025 Sundance Film Festival‘s Features and Episodic lineup, with films staring André Holland, Nicole Beharie, DeWanda Wise also set.
The lineup includes 93 selected films, chosen from near 16,000 submissions. Some of the highlighted works include films by Black filmmakers about various Black experiences, including the ones below, courtesy of the Sundance Film Festival.
Select list of Sundance Film Festival 2025 films
BLKNWS: Terms & Conditions – Preeminent West African curator and scholar Funmilayo Akechukwu’s magnum opus, The Resonance Field, leads her to the heart of the Atlantic Ocean, drawing a journalist into a journey that shatters her understanding of consciousness and time. Cast: Shaunette Renée Wilson, Kaneza Schaal, Hope Giselle, Peter Hernandez, Penny Johnson Jerald, Zora Casebere
How to Build a Library — Two intrepid Nairobi women decide to transform what used to be a whites-only library until 1958 into a vibrant cultural hub. Along the way, they must navigate local politics, raise millions for the rebuild, and confront the lingering ghosts of Kenya’s colonial past.
Khartoum – Forced to leave Sudan for East Africa following the outbreak of war, five citizens of Khartoum — a civil servant, a tea lady, a resistance committee volunteer, and two young bottle collectors — reenact their stories of survival and freedom through dreams, revolution, and civil war.
Love, Brooklyn – Three longtime Brooklynites navigate careers, love, loss, and friendship against the rapidly changing landscape of their beloved city. Cast: André Holland, Nicole Beharie, DeWanda Wise, Roy Wood Jr., Cassandra Freeman, Cadence Reese
Move Ya Body: The Birth of House –– Out of the underground dance clubs on the South Side of Chicago, a group of friends turn a new sound into a global movement.
Ricky — Newly released after being locked up in his teens, 30-year-old Ricky navigates the challenging realities of life post-incarceration, and the complexity of gaining independence for the first time as an adult. Cast: Stephan James, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Titus Welliver, Maliq Johnson, Imani Lewis, Andrene Ward-Hammond
Seeds — An exploration of Black generational farmers in the American South reveals the fragility of legacy and the significance of owning land.
SLY LIVES! (aka The Burden of Black Genius) –– An examination of the life and legacy of Sly & The Family Stone — the groundbreaking band led by the charismatic and enigmatic Sly Stone — captures the band’s rise, reign, and subsequent fadeout while shedding light on the unseen burden that comes with success for Black artists in America.
Black Filmmakers at Sundance 2025
Filmmakers showcasing work include Questlove, aka Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson (SLY LIVES! (aka The Burden of Black Genius)). Anas Saeed (Khartoum), Bratton (Move Ya Body: The Birth of House), Brittany Shyne (Seeds), Kahilil Joseph (BLKNWS: Terms & Conditions), Ibrahim Snoopy Ahmad, Rawia Alhag and Timeea Mohamed Ahmed (Khartoum), Maia Lekow (How to Build a Library), Mark Anthony Green (Opus), Rachael Abigail Holder (Love, Brooklyn) and Rashad Frett (Ricky).
Robert Redford, Hollywood star and Sundance Institute Founder and President, said in a statement how the festival continues to hold true to its mission to uplift necessary stories.
The Sundance Film Festival remains steadfast in its commitment to elevating unique and urgent voices in independent storytelling,” he said. “Audiences can expect a 2025 program that showcases varied and vibrant filmmaking globally.”
Sundance’s board, including the institute’s acting CEO Amanda Kelso, festival and public programming director Eugene Hernandez and director of programming Kim Yutani, also commented on how 2025’s festival shines a light on what Redford described as “unique and urgent voices.”
“The Festival is our most significant public program as an Institute and builds on the artist support work
we do year-round as a nonprofit that seeks to make meaningful storytelling accessible and sustainable,” said Kelso. “Our curation speaks to the breadth and depth of filmmaking today, and the work of the artists selected showcases the potential for storytelling to drive change through open dialogue while engaging audiences.”
“For nearly a year our team has been preparing for today, the moment when we can finally reveal the
filmmakers who, in a few short weeks, we’ll present at the 2025 edition of the Sundance Film Festival,” added Hernandez. “This year’s program is ready to meet our audiences, the industry, and the wider culture in a moment of many global questions. The works our artists will debut at our upcoming Festival will spark conversation and invite connection. We’re excited to be sharing these moments of discovery together with our communities soon and thankful to our artists for entrusting us with their stories.”
“This year’s program presents stories that confront many critical issues of our time, encouraging us to look both inward and outward. As always, we’re excited to introduce audiences to new voices, alongside new work from some familiar names,” said Yutani. “Audiences at the Festival can not only look forward to engaging with the unexpected, but also to be entertained, challenged, and deeply moved by this year’s films.”
The 2025 Sundance Film Festival stars Jan. 23 and runs through Feb. 2 in person at Park City in Salt Lake City, Utah. Films will be available online starting Jan. 30 through Feb. 2.
View the full lineup here.
The post Sundance 2025 Titles Include Films With André Holland, Nicole Beharie, DeWanda Wise, Ayo Edebiri And More appeared first on Blavity.
