Gina Prince-Bythewood and Thuso Mbedu to Preview ‘Children of Blood and Bone’ at Martha’s Vineyard African American…

“Children of Blood and Bone” filmmaker Gina Prince-Bythewood and star Thuso Mbedu will preview the fantasy epic on opening night of the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival.

Exclusive footage from the Paramount Pictures film — set in the fictional mystical kingdom of Orisha and starring Mbedu as Zélie, a young woman who embarks on a perilous quest to reclaim the magic violently stolen from her people — will screen as the kickoff to the 24th annual MVAAFF on Aug. 7. Following the special presentation, Prince-Bythewood and Mbedu will participate in a Color of Conversation panel.

“For twenty-four years, MVAAFF has been a place where groundbreaking stories are introduced to an audience that truly understands their cultural significance,” said MVAAFF founders Floyd and Stephanie Rance. “To open this festival with ‘Children of Blood and Bone’ — a film rooted in imagination, heritage, and Black excellence — and to have Gina and Thuso with us at the festival is an extraordinary moment for our community. We’re honored that Paramount Pictures has chosen Martha’s Vineyard as one of the first places audiences will experience what we believe will become one of the defining films of this generation.”

The movie, based on the No. 1 best-selling novel by Tomi Adeyemi, features an all-star cast, including Damson Idris, Amandla Stenberg, Tosin Cole, Cynthia Erivo, Lashana Lynch, Zackary Momoh, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Regina King, Idris Elba and Viola Davis. “Children of Blood and Bone” is slated for a nationwide theatrical and IMAX release on Jan. 15, 2027.

MVAAFF, an Oscar-qualifying film festival, has become one of the nation’s leading showcases for Black storytelling. This year’s edition will take place from Aug. 7-15 at the Martha’s Vineyard Performing Arts Center in Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts. ESPN 30 for 30 returns as the presenting sponsor of the festival, with New York Magazine’s The Cut as the official media partner.

“ESPN 30 for 30 is proud to continue sponsoring the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival,” said ESPN Storytelling Studio’s Brian M. Lockhart. “The MVAAFF shares our mission of supporting unique filmmaking voices that need to be heard more than ever, and it remains one of the most inspiring sources of storytelling anywhere.”

Additional screenings include the Netflix documentaries “The Baddest Speechwriter of All” and “Jean-Michel Basquiat,” which explore the legacies of Clarence B. Jones and Jean-Michel Basquiat, respectively; Roku Originals’ docuseries “Gamechangers: Mother/Athlete,” directed by Christine Turner and featuring WNBA trailblazer Sheryl Swoopes; and the independent features “Black is Beautiful: The Kwame Brathwaite Story” and “Romare Bearden: A Life in Collage.” The opening weekend lineup also features “Soul Patrol,” the documentary about the untold story of the Vietnam War’s first Black special ops team, with a discussion moderated by Henry Louis ‘Skip’ Gates, Jr. and Secretary John Kerry. Then, the Storyteller’s Lab will host a special screening of “Route 187,” from Tyler Perry Studios and executive producer Mark Swinton, to bring HBCU students together with industry leaders and the wider storytelling community.

For the full schedule and more information about screenings and panels, including programming at the Vineyard Lounge, visit the festival’s website.