Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee commends the Oakland International Film Festival – RUNNING NOW, Sept. 10-20

by Jackie Wright, Wright Enterprises

The Oakland International Film Festival (OIFF) celebrates its 23rd edition Sept. 10–20, 2025, uniting filmmakers, artists and audiences for 11 days of premieres, documentaries, shorts, panels and red-carpet events. With the theme “Promoting the Planet Through Film,” OIFF continues its legacy as a platform for truth-telling, cultural exchange and community empowerment.

“Congratulations to David Roach for his excellent work uplifting Oakland with the stories of people and filmmakers from around the world,” said Barbara Lee, Mayor, City of Oakland. “For 23 years, the Oakland International Film Festival has made Oakland proud and given people globally to see the richness of Oakland and its positive achievements.”

Kicking off at the historic Grand Lake Theater and continuing at Northeastern University (formerly Mills College) and Geoffrey’s Inner Circle, the festival embodies the vibrancy of Oakland — its food, music, art and cultural richness — what organizers call “The Oakperience.” More than just a film festival, OIFF showcases how cinema can build bridges across communities and cultures.

Opening films that inspire change

• “From Here/From There” (“De Aquí/De Allá”) – The powerful documentary following attorney Luis Cortes Romero, a DACA recipient, as he becomes the first undocumented immigrant to argue before the U.S. Supreme Court. (https://youtu.be/ZhZ-VGwoJfs?si=TFflhpuCpEPwWaV3)
• “Beyond the Headlines: The NABJ Journey” – Directed by James Franklin Blue III, chronicling 50 years of the National Association of Black Journalists and its fight for representation and truth in media. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysGpKXvGX4k)

Other feature premieres include “Seppuku: The Sun Goes Down” by Yuji Kakizaki (https://www.youtube.com/shorts/wf1XQfe5Yg0), Chanho Lee’s debut “Water Lilies” and Miguel Duran’s “Adventure Tom” (https://youtu.be/vMsfBFZAWso?si=Hzoia_wWUdBMzFMu). Locally-rooted stories such as “The Bear of Manzanita” — about Steph Curry’s funding of an Oakland basketball court (https://youtu.be/3o4985DEeEA?si=S2Hs9MzgcDtqKM1Z) — highlight the “Made in Oakland” spirit. From across the Bay, filmmaker Kevin Epps of the San Francisco BayView newspaper tells the story of James Richards’ activism in San Francisco’s Hunters Point in “If We Don’t Work.”

More than film: The Oakperience

OIFF is more than screenings — it is a cultural movement. Attendees will enjoy:

• Panels & Workshops with journalists, filmmakers and cultural leaders. A panel following NABJ’s “Beyond the Headlines” documentary will include members of the National Association of Black Journalists, Filmmaker Franklin Blue III; NABJ Founder Allison Davis; USA Today National Correspondent Terry Collins; Former KRON 4 Anchor Pam Moore (inducted into the NABJ’s Hall of Fame earlier this month); and KCBS Radio Former Anchor and Past President of NABJ Bob Butler.
• Mentorship & Networking connecting rising filmmakers with film industry veterans is an annual element of the festival and has included stars such as Mario Van Peebles, Terri J. Vaughn. Shabaka Henley, Roger Guenveur Smith, Cecil Brown, the late D’Wayne Wiggins of Tony! Toni! Toné!, the late Sam Greenlee, and other local and international celebrities.
• Community Engagement year-round, reinforcing Oakland as a hub of creativity and resilience. With a mission of utilizing film as a tool to improve the Oakland community and beyond, the 23rd Oakland International Film Festival in collaboration with Alameda County Public Health and A Safe Place will host a FREE film screening of the documentary film “Crime After Crime” directed by Yoav Potash and the short film; “Grieving Brothers” by JereMiah McGhee. The screening & Panel discussion will be at the Jeannik Méquet Littlefield Concert Hall of Northeastern University (Formerly Mills College) on Saturday, Sept. 13 at 2:30 p.m.

Oakland on the global stage

“Each year, the Oakland International Film Festival reflects the heartbeat of Oakland and the global community,” said David Roach, Co-Founder and Executive Director of OIFF. “This year’s theme, Promoting the Planet Through Film, challenges us to see stories not just as entertainment, but as catalysts for justice, healing and unity. The “Oakperience” goes beyond filmmaking in Oakland. It’s about Oakland’s soul and life through the arts and the everyday pursuit of joy as we work, play and learn. And we’re proud to share the “Oakperience” with the world.”

By celebrating independent and underrepresented filmmakers worldwide, OIFF not only uplifts diverse voices but also strengthens Oakland’s reputation as a destination for the arts, tourism and innovation. For 23 years, the festival has reframed Oakland’s story as one of creativity, truth-telling, and resilience — an enduring showcase of what it means to be Made in Oakland.

Festival Dates: Sept. 10–20, 2025

Venues: Grand Lake Theater, Northeastern University (formerly Mills College), Geoffrey’s Inner Circle and other local businesses.

Schedule & Tickets: www.oiff.org. Follow the festival on Instagram @Oiff and on Facebook Oakland International Film Festival. #OIFF2025

Jackie Wright, President of Wright Enterprises, can be reached at wrightnow.biz@gmail.com. 

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Source: https://sfbayview.com/2025/09/oakland-mayor-barbara-lee-commends-the-oakland-international-film-festival-running-now-sept-10-20/