Vici Howard of Black and Brown Femme Films embodies the ideal description of doing her heart’s work. Her passion behind it is what drives her to exemplify overcoming adversities and clearing the path for others who follow behind her. She opened her nonprofit organization as a platform for those in filmmaking productions to showcase their art free of charge for others to enjoy. Ms. Vici understood the hardships of investing hundreds of dollars in submitting films to companies and not being chosen as a filmmaker to debut the films she created. So, her idea became a reality. To help women of color avoid the obstacles they had to overcome so that they have a place to speak through their art.
As art has no form and can be expressed in various ways, Black and Brown Femme Films ensures that art is free and fully expressive. It sets a tone that no matter what, there will always be a place where artists feel comfortable and are free to be themselves. Her organization thrives on a Tyler Perry quote: “Don’t wait for a seat at the table; build the table,” and she did exactly that.
“BBFF is dedicated to creating a network of collaboration, bringing together brilliant and creative minds. Our aim is to cultivate a collective space where the seeds of each artist’s vision can grow into something real and impactful.” – Vici Howard.
This year’s film festival in July was a melting pot of artists from around the city, out of state, and even out of the country. Seeing the seats being filled with faces, intrigued by each and every film, showed how creativity is what brings people together, no matter their demographic or ethnicity. The filmmaker’s Q&A allowed the audience to be further let into the minds of the creatives after watching their films. They were able to have immersive conversations with each other and gain insight into their process. They were able to leave with connections that could lead to possible film collaborations. This is a vital aspect that Vici hopes for with all her festivals.
As stated by Ms. Howard, “We are a sanctuary for women of color artists, providing a space for growth, empowerment, and creative exploration. At BBFF, our mission is to help women discover their true purpose, free from society’s expectations of sacrifice and conformity.” In this world, women have to be able to open the box that society places them in and climb out of it to see what else is out there. It takes a lot of courage to do things that are out of the norm, and it feels good to do so because it makes the soul of the individual feel free and fulfilling to oneself. Some women have a hard time understanding themselves because the world can be too loud and it can distract them from thriving in ways that they may not see just yet. So Vici wanted to eliminate that issue as best she knew how.
VIBE, being the second chapter of the organization, is the fundraising portion that allows the annual festivities to take place. From exhibitions to film festivals and speakeasy, Ms. Howard does not stop to celebrate black and brown women. She was able to connect with a vast number of women in the city as well as out, and even connect with well-known film festivals around the city of Chicago. Vici Howard has created a niche and continues to thrive within it each and every time there is a Black and Brown Femme Films production for the city of Chicago to enjoy. With three 2025 events on the schedule, Vici is aiming for higher heights to help bring more awareness of the work she puts in to keep this idea fueling for years to come.
By Ray | Ray, a writer and multifaceted creator from Chicago, uses her abilities to be able to open the world of words to those who want to enter into her world of creativity. The ink of the pen runs through her veins which allows her to flow with the sentences she writes.
