Philly Music Scene: The Past Informs the Present at the BlackStar Film Festival 2026

What a delight to discover that there are three music documentaries directed or co-directed by women at this year’s BlackStar Film Festival. The 15th Festival takes place from August 6-9th, 2026 in Philadelphia. One of the most prominent festivals to showcase Black, Brown, and Indigenous Voices, this welcoming festival is a celebration of storytelling both local, national, and International. I want to highlight three short documentaries that showcase Philadelphia’s music stories, from rumba to jazz to hip hop.

The BlackStar Film Festival has both virtual and in-person screenings. I highly recommend checking out the program online. And if you’re interested in these films, there are short interviews on the film’s pages that provide a background on the films. The festival is always a good time. There are parties, panels, yoga and a bazaar with health and wellness programs offered. Everyone is welcome.

Philly Rumba

I knew nothing of Philly Rumba and loved the community spirit and joyfulness of this well-made documentary. If you enjoy African drumming, Cuban rhythms, or house parties where all generations are welcome, you’re sure to enjoy Philly Rumba. Rating: 3 1/2 out 5

Philly Rumba is a short documentary about a group of African American men in Philadelphia who gravitated toward Cuban Rumba as an expression of their African roots during the Civil Rights and Pan African Eras. 50 years later, they continue to play Rumba together, proving that music can create community and solidarity in difficult times.

Rumba is not just a musical style; it’s a means of gathering. Afterall, rumba means “party” in Spanish. Several percussionists can play rumba at a time, and audience members also participate by singing the chorus and dancing. Rumba is meant to bring people together, to express joy, anger and everything in between.

Most of the rumba you’ll hear in this documentary is not rumba in its pure form but Philly rumba. Fifty years ago, musicians in Philly — African American, Latin American and others — were inspired to form groups like Little Afrika and the Rumba Brothers when they first heard the addictive rhythms of rumba. They replicated the sounds, wrote their own lyrics in English, and sometimes played with no vocals at all. As time went on, formal elements of rumba such as specific rhythms, traditional songs and instruments like the clave rightfully found their way into the music.

As time goes on, the mainstay of rumba musicians are becoming elders. While there is a new generation picking up the baton, this film documents the folklore of this tradition in order to preserve local history and pass it down to future generations.

Showing – select to order tickets:

Thu, Aug 6th, 2:30 PM @ Perelman Theater @ Kimmel

• Year:2026
• Runtime:25 minutes
• Language:English, Spanglish, Spanish
• Director:Melissa Beatriz, Andrés Cisneros
• Screenwriter:Melissa Beatriz, Andrés Cisneros
• Producer:Melissa Beatriz, Lila Yomtoob
• Executive Producer:Actívate Media
• Cinematographer:Aidan Un, Ty Burdenski
• Editor:Gabriela Cavanagh

The Philadelphia Sensei: Lovett Hines

My favorite of the three films, The Philadelphia Sensei was also an educating short. This polished documentary uses a lovely painting of the musician and educator, Lovett Hines, to illuminate the talented performers he influenced. One small drawback for those who aren’t immersed in the history of the Philly music scene, there’s not a lot of background on Hines. The film showcases his proteges but gives only a brief introduction to the legend. Rating 4 1/2 out of 5.

For decades, Philadelphia music educator Lovett Hines quietly shaped generations of artists from behind the scenes, nurturing creativity, discipline, individuality and community through music education. Now at 80 years old, his influence continues to ripple across stages, classrooms and cultures through the students and mentees whose lives he helped transform.

Blending intimate conversation, performance, archival elements and reflections from acclaimed artists including Christian McBride, Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, Bilal and Robert Glasper, The Philadelphia Sensei: Lovett Hines explores the enduring impact of a Black mentor whose classroom became a launching ground for artistic excellence, self-discovery and cultural legacy.

At its heart, the film is a meditation on mentorship, lineage, and the often unseen, architects behind transformative art.

Showing – select to order tickets:

Sun, Aug 9th, 4:30 PM @ Perelman Theater @ Kimmel

• Year:2025
• Runtime:22 minutes
• Language: English
• Director/Producer:Donn Thompson Morelli (“Donn T”)
• Cast:Christian McBride, Lovett Hines, Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, Joey DeFrancesco, J. Michael Harrison, Brooke DeFrancesco, Bilal Oliver, Robert Glasper, Derrick Hodge, Justin Faulkner, Immanuel Wilkins
• Cinematographer:Tom Contarino/Y48 Studios, Whitney Thomas
• Editor:Tom Contarino/Y48 Studios, Mark Miller/Y48 Studios, Assistant Editor – Ben Mester
• Animator:Jeff Manning (Graphic Artist)
• Sound Design:Voiceover Engineer – Jake Morelli

Scene Not Heard: Women in Philadelphia Hip Hop

Seven years before founding the BlackStar Film Festival, Maori Karmael Holmes, directed a music documentary. With a 2K restoration, the 2005 film is having a retrospective screening as part of a shorts program and Holmes will have a panel discussion at the festival. The film has a rough-around-the-edges feel, like a college film project. Scene Not Heard: Women in Philadephia Hip Hop interviews not only aspiring hip hop artists but also looks at the culture of beatbox dancers and graffiti artists. An interesting look at a slice of Philadelphia culture, and even if the film is a little long at 45 minutes, it’s full of heart. Rating 3 out of 5.

Philadelphia is often referred to as the mecca for American soul music. However, its contributions have been overlooked despite its mass proliferation of artists, many of whom have made landmark contributions as MCs, graffiti artists, dancers and most notably as DJs. Native talents such as Will Smith, The Roots and Eve have become international pop stars and made great strides domestically and internationally, but somehow “the Illadelph” still doesn’t get the same kind of props as a city like Los Angeles or even Atlanta. Despite all of this, the City of Brotherly Love has continued to churn out some of the most innovative hip hop artists of the current generation. Perhaps one of the most unique aspects to the scene is the abundance of powerful female voices it has produced as artists, promoters and writers.

In this debut featurette, director and producer Maori Karmael Holmes seeks to tell the story of these women — the legends, the famed and the ingénues — as they struggle to succeed in a male-dominated industry in a city that has been left behind in the national consciousness. Scene Not Heard features interviews with some of the originators of hip hop such as Lady B, Schoolly D and Rennie Harris, with vanguards chiming in including Bahamadia and Ursula Rucker, and presents current talents such as the Jazzyfatnastees, Ms. Jade and Lady Alma and emerging talents such as Versus, Keen of Subliminal Orphans and Michele Byrd-McPhee of Montäzh, as well as scholars, critics and local promoters.

Spotlight Conversation: Scene Not Heard: With Dyana Williams, Maori Karmael Holmes, Mercedes “Merce” Martinez and Tina Morton; moderated by Deesha Dyer. Saturday, August 8, 2026 @ 2:00 PM
The Daily Jawn Stage @ Kimmel

Showings – select to order tickets:

Fri, Aug 7th, 4:30 PM @ Suzanne Roberts Theatre

• Year:2005
• Runtime:45 minutes
• Language:English
• Country:United States
• Director/Producer:Maori Karmael Holmes
• Co-Producer:Araeia Robinson, Deirdre May, Roxanne Lawson
• Cast:Bahamadia, Dyana Williams, Irize Refined Earth, James Peterson, Kamilah Clarke, Lady Alma, Lady B, Mercedes Martinez, Michele Byrd-McPhee, Monie Love, Ms. Jade, Rennie Harris, Schoolly-D, Sheena Lester, Stacey Wilson, Tracey Moore, Ursula Rucker, Walidah Imarisha
• Cinematographer:Maori Karmael Holmes, Deirdre May, Tina Morton
• Editor:Maori Karmael Holmes, S. Christian Rozier, Rob Patterson
• Composer:Sonny James (James “Statik” Peterson)
• Sound Design:Rodney Whittenberg