Date/Time
Date(s) - 02/11/2026
5:00 pm
Location
Krannert Center for the Performing Arts
Categories
Kahlil Joseph: director, writer, producer
BLKNWS is an Afro-futurist film that braids fictional and historical characters in a stunning cinematic experience spanning 247 years across land and sea. Directed by Kahlil Joseph, who is most known for making the companion film to Beyonce’s album “Lemonade” and for his collaborations with Kendrick Lamar, “BLKNWS” was edited by Oscar-winning editor Paul Rogers (“Everything Everywhere All at Once”), shot by cinematographer Bradford Young (“Selma”), and co-directed by MacArthur award winning Garrett Bradley (“Time”). “BLKNWS” premiered at Sundance this year and was ranked “Best of Festival” by Metacritic. Featured at nearly every major film festival in the country, it was nominated for Best Documentary Feature by the Gotham Film Awards and was released nationally on November 28th, 2025.
Rich Spirit Studios has granted The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign an exclusive screening to be followed by a Q&A with Joseph, producer Onye Onyanwu, along with lead screenwriters Madebo Fatunde and Irvin Hunt.
This special presentation is free, but registration is required.
View the trailer Here!
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