The San Antonio Black International Film Festival (SABIFF) 2026 will take place from October 1-4, featuring over 50 films from multiple countries, workshops, awards, and free community events across San Antonio. The festival includes in-person and virtual programming, highlighting Black cinema, culture, and storytelling under the theme #HistoryUpRising.
- SABIFF 2026 runs October 1-4 with films from the U.S., Ghana, Nigeria, Canada, France, Jamaica, and more.
- The festival features 19 filmmakers, filmmaker conversations, workshops, networking events, and awards.
- Opening Night showcases the documentary The Eyes of Ghana, executive produced by Barack and Michelle Obama.
- Workshops include a PlotWeaver AI session on filmmaking and cultural storytelling led by Oluwole Fagbohun.
- The festival concludes with free community events including a Wrap Day Celebration and Cinema Under the Stars outdoor screening.
SABIFF 2026 Will Bring Black Filmmakers, International Cinema, Workshops, Networking, Awards and Free Community Events to San Antonio Oct. 1-4
The San Antonio Black International Film Festival returns this fall for its eighth year, bringing several days of Black cinema, culture and community programming to venues across San Antonio’s East Side.
SABIFF 2026 returns Oct. 1-4 under the theme #HistoryUpRising, with films from the United States, Ghana, Nigeria, Canada, France, Jamaica and other countries. Organizers say this year’s festival will welcome 19 filmmakers and feature more than 50 films, along with filmmaker conversations, workshops, networking events, awards and free community programming.
Check out the SABIFF 2026 event schedule below, with ticket information and event links.
Thursday, Oct. 1: SABIFF Pre-Fest Reception
SABIFF Pre-Fest Happy Hour
When: Thursday, Oct. 1 | 6 to 8:30 p.m. | Where: Tryst Kitchen + Cocktails, 1915 Broadway St., Suite 111
SABIFF begins its eighth-year celebration with an evening of soul food, music, spoken word, a DJ, giveaways and live painting. San Antonio poet, vocalist and former Poet Laureate Andrea “Vocab” Sanderson is among the featured artists.
Admission is listed at $10, and free garage parking is available. Get tickets and festival passes here.
Friday, Oct. 2: Day One — Black Friday
#HistoryUpRising Student Matinee
When: Friday, Oct. 2 | 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. | Where: Carver Community Cultural Center, 226 N. Hackberry St.
Students can take part in a special #HistoryUpRising matinee featuring short films, a Black film history discussion, a Culture Travels presentation and programming involving PlotWeaver AI. The matinee is free for participating students and invited schools, with access also available to qualifying festival passholders and film creatives. Learn more about the School Matinee here.
Friday Film Showcases
When: Friday, Oct. 2 | Various Times | Where: Carver Community Cultural Center, Little Carver Civic Center and Staybridge Suites
Friday begins the festival’s Films in Competition showcases, featuring independent documentary, narrative and short films from the United States and around the world. Screenings are organized into film blocks, with some filmmakers expected to participate in post-screening conversations with audiences.
Single film-block tickets are listed at $10, with discounted admission for students and seniors. View ticket options here.
For the SABIFF Day 1 film schedule, CLICK HERE.
San Antonio Black History Bus Tour
When: Friday, Oct. 2 | 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. | Where: Meets outside the Carver Community Cultural Center, 226 N. Hackberry St.
Festivalgoers can step outside the theater for a guided San Antonio Black history bus tour. Advance ticket purchase is required, and the tour is not included with standard festival passes. Find tour and ticket information here.
Opening Night: The Eyes of Ghana
When: Friday, Oct. 2 | 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. | Where: Bethel AME Beasley-Brown Community Center, 225 N. Swiss St.
SABIFF’s Opening Night centers on The Eyes of Ghana, the documentary from Oscar-winning director Ben Proudfoot and Higher Ground Productions. Former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama are among the film’s executive producers.
The film follows 93-year-old filmmaker Chris Hesse as he works to preserve and repatriate footage documenting Ghana’s independence era. The evening will also include a West African-inspired reception, food, music, fashion and film.
Find Opening Night details and tickets here.
Saturday, Oct. 3: Day Two — Soul Saturday
Soul Saturday Films in Competition
When: Saturday, Oct. 3 | 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. | Where: Carver Community Cultural Center and Little Carver Civic Center, 226 N. Hackberry St.
SABIFF’s second full day is dedicated largely to Films in Competition, with screenings running across the Carver and Little Carver. The festival selections include stories from the United States, Africa, the Caribbean, Europe and beyond. See the festival schedule and ticket options here.
For the SABIFF Day 2 film schedule, CLICK HERE.
PlotWeaver AI Workshop
When: Saturday, Oct. 3 | Noon to 2:30 p.m. | Where: VelocityTX, 1305 E. Houston St.
London-based, Nigerian-born PlotWeaver AI founder and CEO Oluwole Fagbohun will lead an interactive workshop on AI, filmmaking and cultural storytelling.
The session will explore ways filmmakers can use emerging technology and language tools to broaden the reach of their work. Workshop tickets are listed at $10. Get workshop tickets here.
SABIFF Filmmaker & Ubuntu Community Awards Gala
When: Saturday, Oct. 3 | 8 to 11:30 p.m. | Where: Bethel AME Beasley-Brown Community Center, 225 N. Swiss St.
SABIFF will recognize its 2026 award-winning filmmakers along with San Antonio community history-makers during its annual awards celebration.
This year’s Ubuntu Community Award honorees include Nettie Hinton, Charles William, Mario Salas and MelanEyes founders Aundar Maat and Born Logic. The evening includes an awards ceremony, catered dinner, live entertainment and a DJ set. Find gala tickets and festival passes here.
Sunday, Oct. 4: Sunday Glory
Free Wrap Day Celebration
When: Sunday, Oct. 4 | 5 to 7:30 p.m. | Where: VelocityTX, 1305 E. Houston St.
SABIFF closes its eighth year with a free community Wrap Day Celebration featuring a live DJ, food trucks, local vendors and opportunities to meet filmmakers and other festival guests.
Families are encouraged to bring chairs and blankets. Admission is free, with RSVP requested. View the Cinema Under the Stars flyer and event information here.
Cinema Under the Stars: Best of Show
When: Sunday, Oct. 4 | 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. | Where: VelocityTX, 1305 E. Houston St.
As night falls, SABIFF will turn VelocityTX into an outdoor theater for its free Cinema Under the Stars, featuring a showcase of the festival’s Best of Show winning films.
Food trucks and vendors will remain on site as the festival celebrates its final night. Guests should bring lawn chairs or blankets. View event details and RSVP information here.
Virtual SABIFF 2026
When: Oct. 2-4 | Where: Online
SABIFF will again operate as a hybrid festival, giving viewers outside San Antonio access to select films, video-on-demand programming, filmmaker interviews and other digital content. See virtual access and more details about the festival here.
Tickets, Passes and More Information
SABIFF offers individual screening tickets, one-day passes, all-access passes, gala admission and virtual viewing options. The Sunday Wrap Day Celebration and Cinema Under the Stars are free with RSVP.
Visit SABIFF 2026 Tickets and RSVPs for tickets, passes and free-event registration, or SABIFF 2026 Events for the official festival schedule.
SABIFF runs Oct. 1-4, 2026, with the main festival programming taking place Oct. 2-4 at venues across San Antonio. Visit their website sabiff.tv.
