Black Film Club Collective provides safe space for Chicagoans to enjoy cultural stories

Akinola Davies Jr.’s “My Father’s Shadow” is a 2025 family drama that blurs the boundaries of joy and grief, politics and personal relationships, dreams and reality.

Set in Lagos, Nigeria, against the backdrop of the controversial 1993 presidential election, it is also a celebration of cultural experience.

Many of the dozens of Black viewers who attended an early-February showing at the Gene Siskel Film Center said the movie resonated with them because it reflected their lived experiences. From America to Nigeria to Cameroon, their backgrounds represented the diversity of the African diaspora. After the credits rolled, they remained in the theater to share those details, along with their thoughts about the plot, characters, dialogue and cinematography.

As part of the Black Film Club Collective, they are used to such rich discussions. Led by Chinyere Achebe and Troy Martin, the organization hosts regular viewings and other events in theaters, coffee shops, barber shops, art galleries and other nontraditional venues. It has also partnered with institutions to develop archival projects, present a local film symposium and curate audiences for major events, such as an early Chicago premiere of “Sinners” that included a panel featuring director Ryan Coogler, blues musician Buddy Guy and composer Ludwig Göransson.

Even as the group’s footprint continues to grow, it remains committed to its goal of building community around Black film.

“I love hearing other people's perspectives,” said Tayo Jaiye, 31, of Uptown, who attended the screening of “My Father’s Shadow.” 

“There's some observations that I have that other people are sometimes blown away by, and there are other things that they notice that I would not have noticed. That’s just part of the whole communal aspect of watching, digesting, ruminating and enjoying the whole experience.”

Before meeting and becoming friends, Achebe and Martin were separately hosting movie meetups at their homes. They officially launched the Chicago Black Film Club Collective in 2021 with a showing of John Singleton’s “Higher Learning” at a friend's loft. They have gone on to screen everything from Theodore Witcher’s classic 1997 Chicago film “Love Jones” to 2023 Senegalese film “Banel & Adama.” Attracting an average of 40 attendees, each event maintains an intimate and welcoming environment; Achebe and Martin also partner with local vendors to offer food and beverages.

“The film club always feels like a living room, with a recognizable feeling of comfort where people can actually feel open to express themselves and just have a good time,” said Martin, 37, of East Garfield Park. “It’s made up of the cinephile as much as it is the person that casually goes to a film, but the fact that we are so focused on Black storytelling sets us apart.”

That emphasis on Black culture interests Ajibade Fashola, who also attended the screening of “My Father’s Shadow.”

“The type of films that we get to enjoy and the safety of that space is what keeps people coming back,” said Fashola, 35, of the South Loop. “It’s a place where we know that the film is going to be something that’s particularly poignant to Black people, but also is going to allow for discourse with, ideally, like-minded individuals.”

The club also attracts a crowd of artists, including writers, photographers and filmmakers. When their organization was invited to bring members to the “Sinners” premiere at Regal City North in April, Achebe and Martin realized they were providing important opportunities for Black creatives. Achebe was especially thrilled when an up-and-coming director was able to meet Coogler at the event.

“It feels like we have a responsibility to ensure that we provide spaces for people to have access to folks who are doing great things,” said Achebe, 48, of Austin. “We were like, ‘Oh, we get to influence who sits at the table.’”

That also means creating platforms for directors to show their work. For the past two years, the club has collaborated with the Black Women Directors digital archive to host the Chicago Film Symposium, which spotlights Black and brown filmmakers. Participants have gone on to show at the Black Harvest Film Festival, XL Film Festival and others.

“We have been giving voice to a community that a lot of people didn’t know about, and now the momentum is picking up because we’re seeing them in different festivals,” Achebe said.

The club is partnering with the School of the Art institute of Chicago and local businesses on “Making Meaning,” an archival project that aims to document Black life on the West Side. They are in the beginning stages of planning an exhibit featuring photos and heirlooms, as well as a documentary.

Larger initiatives aside, the club will continue to engage its audience with consistent events between festivals — a service Martin said was missing in the city.

“I think that’s why we’ve had so much success, because we’ve just held that space in the middle.”