Film Forum

A 17-film festival, including 7 new restorations, of work by the prolific independent director whose pioneering explorations of contemporary Black life paved the way for generations.

“Micheaux [1884–1951] heralded a new idea: that Black movies could be for the mass Black audience... He also left behind his own sweeping legend.”
– Donald Bogle

This series is dedicated to the memory of author, filmmaker and historian Pearl Bowser (1931–2023), early champion of rediscovering Micheaux’s work.

The films of Oscar Micheaux are released by Kino Lorber, in partnership with the Library of Congress. This series is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.

Series consultants: Ina Archer and Bret Wood.

Reviews

"Rich pictures that traverse genres (melodramas, musicals, and cappers), complex politics (miscegenation, passing, and racial uplift), and a bevy of incredible Black talent (Paul Robeson, Edna Mae Harris, Juano Hernandez, Robert Earl Jones, and more)...ripe for rediscovery."
– Robert Daniels, RogerEbert.com

Films in this Series