Experience the Heart & Soul of #SABIFF2026
at OUR Films In Competition
Films in Competition Showcases are the heart and soul of our film festival—and SABIFF 2026 is no exception. Our Official Selections have been carefully judged and thoughtfully curated into Film Blocks featuring either a compelling feature film or a collection of short films grouped into approximately 90-minute screening experiences.
Throughout Black Friday (October 2) and Soul Saturday (October 3), film blocks will screen simultaneously across three venues in San Antonio -- (at the Carver Community Cultural Center, the Lil' Carver Civic Center (on same campus), and the StayBridge Suites meeting room), offering audiences an extraordinary journey through powerful stories from the United States, West Africa, East Africa, the Caribbean, Europe, Iran, and beyond. Together, these films celebrate the richness, diversity, and global experiences of people of African descent.
Browse the trailers, read the film synopses under the FILM SCREENING menu, and begin planning
your festival journey. Because many
Film Blocks screen simultaneously—and each screening is presented one time only--
we encourage you to review the schedule in advance and map out the films you don't want to miss.
Visiting Filmmakers will speak after their films screen.
Whether you're joining us in person or through our Video On Demand (VOD) platform, prepare to laugh,
learn, reflect, and be inspired by creative Black independent cinema from around the world.
Throughout Black Friday (October 2) and Soul Saturday (October 3), film blocks will screen simultaneously across three venues in San Antonio -- (at the Carver Community Cultural Center, the Lil' Carver Civic Center (on same campus), and the StayBridge Suites meeting room), offering audiences an extraordinary journey through powerful stories from the United States, West Africa, East Africa, the Caribbean, Europe, Iran, and beyond. Together, these films celebrate the richness, diversity, and global experiences of people of African descent.
Browse the trailers, read the film synopses under the FILM SCREENING menu, and begin planning
your festival journey. Because many
Film Blocks screen simultaneously—and each screening is presented one time only--
we encourage you to review the schedule in advance and map out the films you don't want to miss.
Visiting Filmmakers will speak after their films screen.
Whether you're joining us in person or through our Video On Demand (VOD) platform, prepare to laugh,
learn, reflect, and be inspired by creative Black independent cinema from around the world.
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Films-In-Competition Official selections were announced on July 12, and selected films and filmmaker information will soon be featured on our website and curated into 1.5 days of festival programming. We were thrilled to see such a diverse and inspiring range of films and can't wait to share them with our audience. Thank you to all the filmmakers who chose to submit to #SABIFF2026. We are truly honored. While we wish we could showcase every film submitted, our programming team made it through the difficult task of selecting this year's Official Films in Competition. |
97 Films Submitted. 16 Countries. Eight Years Strong. Making a film is no small feat. It takes vision, determination, collaboration, financing, perseverance—and a whole lot of faith. As the San Antonio Black International Film Festival celebrates its eighth year, SABIFF continues to grow as a leading destination for independent Black cinema in San Antonio, Texas. This year, we received 97 film submissions representing 16 countries across six competition categories—a powerful reminder that, even in challenging times, storytellers around the world continue to create films that inspire, challenge, entertain, preserve culture, and connect us through our shared humanity. |
Thank You to All Filmmakers! We extend our sincere gratitude to every filmmaker who submitted to SABIFF 2026.
We know the tremendous dedication it takes to create a film, and we are honored that you entrusted us with your work.
With limited screening hours, we were unable to program many exceptional films. This reflects our capacity—not the quality of your storytelling. We extend heartfelt thanks to every filmmaker for sharing your creativity, passion, and voice with us.
We hope to welcome you back to SABIFF in the future. Congratulations to our Official Selections! (see below)
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Filmmaker information, bios, credits, film trailers and more can be found under the Film Screening menu.
Welcome to #SABIFF2026!
Enjoy the experience... and let the stories stay with you long after the credits roll.
