About Us

Reel Sisters of the Diaspora Film Festival & Lecture Series is the first Academy Qualifying Film Festival for narrative shorts devoted to women of color! The festival’s status is a game changer for women’s access to Oscar consideration in the Live Action Shorts category. Reel Sisters’ Academy qualifying status gives women of color a path to the Oscar consideration list and opens the door for all women directors. It is a milestone for women directors who rarely get nominated by the Academy Awards for Oscar worthy films.  

Reel Sisters is the first Brooklyn-based festival devoted to supporting films produced, directed and written by women of color. Since 1997, the festival has been enriching the city with over 3,000 films by women of African, Caribbean, Latino, Asian, Indian and Native American descent. Reel Sisters attracts film lovers from across the nation and globe including California, Chicago, Florida to as far away as Britain, India and Nigeria. 

Each year, we screen an average of 40-58 films depending on the professional workshops we offer. Reel Sisters is presented by African Voices magazine.

Reel Sisters honors industry professionals with the Reel Sisters Hattie McDaniel Pioneer Award and the Reel Sisters Trailblazer Award. Past honorees: Sandra Guzmán, Leslie Harris, Nana Camille Yarbrough, JT Takagi, Terence Nance, Tamara Tunie, Vinie Burrows, Jessica Williams, Neema Barnette, Julie Dash, Issa Rae, Cathy Hughes (TV One), Naturi Naughton, Vinie Burrows, Tamara Tunie, Michelle Materre, Pearl Bowser, Mable Haddock, Margot B., Mahen Bonnetti, Irene Cara, Shola Lynch, Lonette McKee, Ebony Jo-Ann, Moikgantsi Kgama and power couple Tim and Daphne Reid.