About Us

"Pulling Focus: Honoring The Timeless Legacy of Black Cinema

The Quad Cities' 'Pulling Focus' Film Festival of The Black Diaspora, founded by Gaye Shannon Burnett and Jonathan Burnett, is committed to empowering and inspiring Black filmmakers. The festival showcases cinematic stories made by and about people of African Descent, fostering an appreciation for Black culture and creating awareness of the Black experience.

2025 Festival Lineup

About The Festival

The Pulling Focus African American Film Festival of the Quad Cities will be held from June 5th to June 8th, 2025. Now in its third year, the Festival showcases short films by local, regional, national, and international filmmakers representing the Black Diaspora. It features screening events, panel discussions, an "Open Competition" Showcase, and the "Reel Impact" category, highlighting films with a strong social message. Pulling Focus will conclude with an awards ceremony honoring the Festival's filmmakers. The films offer a profound glimpse into the diverse Black experience globally, fostering dialogue and connection within the Quad Cities community.

Saturday evening features distinguished filmmaker David Fortune, named one of Variety’s 2025 Directors to Watch and recipient of the AT&T Untold Stories Award, which provided a $1 million grant to direct his debut feature, Color Book.

In addition to these honors, David is also a 2025 NAACP Image Awards nominee for Outstanding Breakthrough Creative. RSVP Recommended.

Reception: 5:30 PM
Film Screening: 6:45 PM
Q&A with the Filmmaker: 8:20 PM

Don’t miss this special opportunity to celebrate the art of filmmaking. We look forward to seeing you at The Last Picture House!

Pulling Focus bridges gaps between communities through cinema, emphasizing commonalities and promoting understanding, empathy, and shared aspirations. We are thrilled with the overwhelming response and are grateful for the support and participation from funders, community partners, filmmakers, judges, and audiences alike.

We are excited to build upon this success and improve the Festival in 2025. We remain committed to showcasing compelling films that highlight the diverse tapestry of the Black experience and fostering understanding, empathy, and shared aspirations within our community.

With the continued support of our dedicated team and the enthusiasm of our audience, we are confident that the Pulling Focus African American Film Festival will grow in its impact and reach new heights in the years to come.