The fight for justice, equality, and an end to systemic racism in the United States and around the globe is a community-led movement. For this reason, we wanted to turn the conversation over to our community to hear about the films from which you are currently drawing inspiration, wisdom, insight, and empathy. As part of our ongoing series of online community conversations, we put out a call on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook to share the films you would recommend to the world right now, and the response was overwhelming.

Composed of contributions submitted from all over the world, this list of vital films features multidimensional portraits of the Black experience throughout history, as well as cinema of resistance, activism, and revolution. Selections include work from prominent filmmakers and incredible artists who were overlooked or underappreciated in their time, including Khalik Allah, Lizzie Borden, Charles Burnett, Ryan Coogler, Djibril Diop Mambéty, Cheryl Dunye, Ava DuVernay, Bill Gunn, William Greaves, Steve James, Barry Jenkins, Spike Lee, Mike Leigh, Steve McQueen, Raoul Peck, Jordan Peele, Dee Rees, Ousmane Sembène, and more.

Thanks to everyone who contributed to this important and timely conversation. If you’re interested in further exploring this topic, check out our series of filmmaker masterclasses on race and Black history. A growing list of essential films featuring Black voices have also been made available for free, thanks to distributors across the country. These can be accessed via this Twitter thread, which will be updated as more selections become available.

Although our theaters are currently closed, our Virtual Cinema and Media Center remain open 24/7. Stay connected to Film at Lincoln Center by joining our online community on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook, and don’t miss a thing by subscribing to the weekly newsletter.

From Joslyn Barnes, producer and friend of FLC:

STRONG ISLAND, Yance Ford
HALE COUNTY THIS MORNING, THIS EVENING, RaMell Ross
THE TIME THAT REMAINS, Elia Suleiman
DIVINE INTERVENTION, Elia Suleiman
SAMBIZANGA, Sarah Maldoror
TREE OF BLOOD, Flora Gomes
BLACK POWER MIXTAPE 1967-1975, Göran Hugo Olsson
CONCERNING VIOLENCE, Göran Hugo Olsson
THE BATTLE OF CHILE, Parts I-III, Patricio Guzman
IN THE YEAR OF THE PIG, Emile de Antonio
I AM NOT YOUR NEGRO, Raoul Peck
LUMUMBA: DEATH OF A PROPHET, Raoul Peck

Watch Agnès Varda discuss Black Panthers at FLC.

Watch Raoul Peck discuss I Am Not Your Negro at FLC.

Watch Dee Rees & cast discuss Mudbound at FLC.

Watch Ryan Coogler discuss Fruitvale Station at FLC.

Go inside the New York Film Festival premiere of If Beale Street Could Talk.

Watch Boots Riley and Questlove discuss Sorry to Bother You at FLC.

Watch Laverne Cox, Sean Baker, & Mya Taylor discuss Tangerine at FLC.

Watch Barry Jenkins discuss Moonlight at FLC.

Watch a panel on 13th at FLC.

Watch Steve McQueen discuss 12 Years a Slave at FLC.

Watch Roberto Minervini & subjects discuss What You Gonna Do When the World’s on Fire? at FLC.

Watch Spike Lee discuss BlacKkKlansman at FLC.

Watch Pedro Costa discuss Vitalina Varela at FLC.

If you are also in the need of some cinematic solace, check out our community corner round-up of the best comfort movies here.

Do you have more suggestions to add to the list? Share with us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, and stay tuned for more conversations on cinema.