Have you ever met someone who felt like instant family? Like you just hit it off and conversation flowed–to where you felt like you and them were from the same soul-tribe?
Even though he’s been in Hollywood for over 40 years, even though he could probably call up just about any big name you can think of in the industry, working with him to make NOIR FEST happen has been a testament to his humility, kindness and commitment to community.
In case you don’t know, Warrington Hudlin was behind House Party, Boomerang, Bebe’s Kids and so much more. These projects created seismic shifts in how Hollywood interacted with Black storytelling.
What’s more critical about his role in the industry is the films and filmmakers he has given access to.
In 1991, eight Black directors covered The New York Times Magazine. Warrington Hudlin, Reginald Hudlin, Ernest Dickerson, Mario Van Peebles, Spike Lee, Matty Rich, John Singleton, and Charles Lane.
Black Filmmaker Foundation, which Mr. Hudlin co-founded in 1978, helped spurn the careers of Spike Lee, Will Packer and of course his own brother, Reginald Hudlin.
Infrastructure for the Future
But he's not just critical to Black film history. Hudlin continues to drive storytelling, skills-building and distribution through his Virtual Reality and Metaverse projects.
In order to facilitate more good Black stories getting to us, we have to understand what it takes for a story to make it to us. We have to understand what it takes to bypass the systems that work so hard to limit our access to Liberating stories.
Say what you will about Hollywood, this industry and the Black folks who fight within it are the reason for the vast majority of Black content the planet has accessed in the last century. But of course, independent paths, systems and distribution channels are critical.
To know that Warrington Hudlin played a pivotal role in building Black Hollywood–on the wings of his mentors like Melvin Van Peebles and Harry Belafonte–and that he will share his journey and vision for the future with us at NOIR FEST, is such a profound gift.
To get to introduce him to Kunle Afolayan for the first time, and to the current Yale student body, now this is what dreams–and New Worlds–are made of.
Empowering the Black Cinematic Imagination
Two cultural architects from some of the biggest storytelling markets in the world, meeting for the first time, rubbing minds–at Harvard/Yale.
In a time when Black genius and Black history is on the “chopping block”, it is absolutely critical for us to come together across distinct corners of the Black globe–in the spirit of Ubuntu–to further distribute the stories that Liberate us from within.
If you’re a storyteller, a dreamer, an organizer…if you hope for Liberated Black futures, then Warrington Hudlin is a man you need to meet. This is a space you need to be in.
Join us for a fireside conversation with Warrington Hudlin at the Harvard/Yale Media Mixer on Nov 21. See other NOIR FEST events here.
With gratitude and excitement to be in community soon,
Olori Lolade
PS: Use code LFG for half off all NOIR FEST tix (on Luma) through Saturday 11/8.
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