Underground Arts is Hosting “United We Heal Film Festival” in Celebration of Juneteenth
Local filmmaker, Ebony Roberts will host her inaugural United We Heal Film Festival on June 20, 2022 at Underground Arts on 1200 Callowhill Street. This will be a night of screening social justice-themed short films, solidarity and healing. Roberts scoured the Philadelphia area and found dynamic filmmakers of color to share their art.
The festival will feature short film screenings, filmmaker discussions and mental health advice from psychologist and president of the Pennsylvania Psychological Foundation, Dr. Williametta Simmons. Her expertise has been seen on ESSENCE Live, TV One and more. The festival’s goal is to use art to move Black & Brown people closer to healing the wounds that have been casted by systemic racism.
“I wanted to start a festival that gives a platform to filmmakers that are often overlooked and are making positive changes in their communities through film,” said Roberts. “When I directed my short film, United We Heal, all I wanted was to provide comfort and hope to Black people in America. Now that we’ve turned it into a festival, I hope we can grow each year and make a global impact. I’d like to be part of a movement that gives spaces to Black & Brown artists to
operate freely, tell their stories. I want us to be a bridge to resources and needs in our communities.”
The United We Heal Film Festival started as a short film of the same name, which was first screened in 2021. Moved by the social unrest of 2020, Roberts turned her frustrations of racism in America to art. United We Heal is a journey to Black freedom, shifting the focus from trauma to hope. It has been screened at Comcast, QVC and Temple Health. See line-up below:
