February 2021 marked the launch of Amplifying Voices, a new digital space that will recognize and celebrate diverse voices throughout the year. Timed to the start of Black History Month, we’re proud to have the inaugural spotlight in this series as a month-long celebration of the extraordinary Black filmmakers and artists who have helped shape cinema and the broader cultural landscape.

As part of our recurring “Community Corner” online series, we asked the Film at Lincoln Center community to share their favorite documentaries exploring Black history. Many were quick to note the iconic Hoop Dreams by Steve James and Paris is Burning by Jennie Livingston. A variety of documentaries were mentioned that focus on Black artists and important figures such as James Baldwin in Raoul Peck’s I am Not Your Negro and Terence Dixon’s Meeting the Man: James Baldwin in Paris, Nina Simone in Liz Garbus’ What Happened, Miss Simone?, and Fred Hampton in Howard Alk and Mike Gray’s The Murder of Fred Hampton (which is available to watch free here). Thank you to everyone who joined the conversation via Instagram and Twitter.

This ongoing series is a part of our Community Corner, which brings movie lovers together in a digital space for community and conversation. 

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, Facebook, or Letterboxd, and don’t miss a thing by subscribing to the weekly newsletter.

 

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.