Morehouse College Human Rights Film Festival Announces 11 Early Selections as It Returns for Eighth Year

Morehouse College has announced its early official selections for the 8th Annual Morehouse College Human Rights Film Festival (MCHRFF), which will take place September 22–26, 2026, on the College's campus. This year's lineup features an accomplished group of filmmakers, including award-winning directors, emerging voices, and internationally recognized storytellers whose work has been showcased at leading film festivals worldwide. The selected films explore a broad range of human rights issues, including racial justice, faith, immigration, public health, LGBTQ+ rights, gender equality, historical memory, and personal resilience. Festival badges are now available at morehousehumanrightsfilmfestival.com.

“This year’s festival continues Morehouse’s commitment to using film as a catalyst for dialogue, education, and social change while amplifying stories and voices that are often underrepresented in mainstream media,” said Kara Walker, executive director of the Morehouse College Human Rights Film Festival. “Each selected film offers a unique perspective on the human experience and invites audiences into conversations that are essential for creating a more just and equitable world.”

The 2026 MCHRFF early selections include:

 Capriccio | Directed by Kiah Clingman

Two strangers meet in a cozy bookstore where music and dance become a shared language, sparking an unexpected romance.

 Cereal | Directed by Avyance Ervin

A short film about a young man navigating grief while struggling to remain present for himself and the people who matter most.

 Chicken Ghetto | Directed by Sangsun Choi

Mable, a teenager living in the Banda slum of Kampala, Uganda, finds joy in singing on the streets while grappling with questions about faith and why she, alone in her family, lives with sickle cell disease.

 Free Joan Little | Directed by Yoruba Richen

A documentary on Joan Little, the first U.S. woman acquitted after using deadly force to resist sexual assault.

 HIM+ | Directed by Creed Smith

Chris, a young Black man newly diagnosed with HIV, discovers resilience through faith and community.

 She Dared to Dream: Ayanna Pressley | Directed by Abby Ginzberg

The documentary follows Ayanna Pressley, the first Black woman elected to Congress from Massachusetts, amid mounting civil liberty challenges.

 Sister Salad Days | Directed by Adesola Thomas

A realm-traveling, asexual double-dutcher and her friends must stop her forced marriage and rescue her sister.

 The Dads | Directed by Luchina Fisher

Fathers of transgender and gender-expansive children confront an increasingly hostile climate and must choose to stay or leave their country.

 The Making of Taylor Square | Directed by Caroline Josey Karoki

Guided by Gullah Geechee storyteller Sistah Patt Gunn, a coalition of advocates works to rename a historic Savannah square once dedicated to pro-slavery politician John C. Calhoun in honor of Susie King Taylor, a Civil War nurse, educator, and formerly enslaved woman.

 The Sight Unseen | Directed by Shawn Antoine II

A girl in 1971 Bronx sees a glowing cross, shaping her faith; fifty years later, she revisits the mystery.

 You No Mashallah! | Directed by Juanfer Andrés and Laura VagoA young undocumented food delivery driver in Europe faces a life-changing decision in just 24 hours.

Additional official selections will be announced in the coming weeks and the complete festival schedule will be announced early August. Filmmakers, students, alumni, and community members are encouraged to visit morehousefilmfest.com or follow @MorehouseFilmFest on social media for the latest festival updates, ticket information, and programming announcements.