ADIFF Presents Transcultural Dialogues Film Series April 24–26, 2026 at Teachers College, Columbia University

When a person leaves a country, it's often because dialogue has broken down. Upon arrival elsewhere, a new kind of dialogue begins...

NEW YORK, NY, UNITED STATES, April 13, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- The African Diaspora International Film Festival (ADIFF) presents the Transcultural Dialogues Film Series, a curated three-day program at Teachers College, Columbia University.

When a person leaves a country, it is often because dialogue has broken down. Upon arrival elsewhere, a new kind of dialogue begins—between cultures, between people, and within oneself. The films in this series trace these movements across borders and experiences, reflecting on migration, identity, and belonging.

Thematic Programming Highlights

Navigating Unfamiliar Spaces
The series opens with films that examine the legal and emotional weight of entering a new society. In "Naomi’s Journey", a woman travels from Peru to Germany seeking justice for her sister within an unfamiliar legal system. "A Poet of the River" follows a North Korean defector in South Korea as she attempts to rebuild her life while navigating isolation and distance from family. In "Silent Legacy", a Burkinabé dancer returns home from Finland, moving between two worlds as he confronts questions of responsibility, inequality, and belonging.

African Americans in Europe: From Jazz to the Front Lines
A special Saturday afternoon program focuses on the intersection of race, war, exile, and artistic freedom. "Black Paris: African Americans in the City of Light" traces the presence of creatives like Josephine Baker and James Baldwin from WWI to the 1960s, revealing how they shaped Parisian culture while navigating race across borders. "Invisible Heroes: African Americans in the Spanish Civil War" uncovers the overlooked history of 85 African Americans who joined the International Brigades to fight fascism abroad, connecting their struggle to the fight for civil rights at home. Followed by a Zoom Q&A with co-producer Mireia Sentis.

Legacies of Resistance and Visibility
"Angels on Diamond Street" observes a church community in Philadelphia supporting an undocumented Mexican family. Remaining Native follows Ku Stevens, a 17-year-old Native American runner and member of the Yerington Paiute Tribe, connecting his present to his great-grandfather’s past.
Visibility and Identity in the Americas

"The Invisible Color: Black Cubans in Miami" explores the history of Afro-Cuban exiles from the 1959 Revolution to today, revealing how identity is negotiated in communities frequently rendered invisible in both Cuban and American narratives. Screening will be followed by a Panel Discussion: “Black Migration, Identity, and Visibility” with Abraham Paulos (Black Alliance for Just Immigration – BAJI) and Dr. Reinaldo B. Spech (ADIFF Co-Director), moderated by Diarah N’Daw-Spech


Transcultural Sound: The Language of Rhythm
The series concludes with music as a space of exchange. The Transcultural Sound Program brings together short films including Candombe, Afrissippi, and Tambu, where rhythm carries memory across the African diaspora. Followed by a Filmmaker Q&A with Laurie Lambert, director of Tambu

Event Information

What: ADIFF Transcultural Dialogues Film Series
When: April 24–26, 2026
Where: Teachers College, Columbia University, 525 W 120th St, New York, NY (Room 408 Zankel)
Tickets: www.nyadiff.org
Special Package: “African Americans in Europe” (Saturday) – $20 for both films; individual tickets $15 / $13; All Access Pass: $45

About ADIFF
Founded in 1993, the African Diaspora International Film Festival presents films that explore the human experience of people of color, with a particular focus on people of African descent and Indigenous communities.

TRANSCULTURAL DIALOGUES FILM SERIES AT A GLANCE

Friday, April 24 – Room 408 Zankel

6:00 PM – Naomi’s Journey (Peru / Germany)
8:00 PM – A Poet of the River (South Korea)

Saturday, April 25 – Room 408 Zankel

African Americans in Europe
1:00 PM – Black Paris: African Americans in the City of Light (USA / France)
2:30 PM – Invisible Heroes: African Americans in the Spanish Civil War (USA / Spain) + Zoom Q&A with co-producer Mireia Sentis
4:30 PM – Angels on Diamond Street (USA)
6:30 PM – The Invisible Color: Black Cubans in Miami (USA)
Followed by Panel Discussion: Black Migration, Identity, and Visibility
with Abraham Paulos (Black Alliance for Just Immigration – BAJI) and Dr. Reinaldo B. Spech (ADIFF Co-Director). Moderated by Diarah N’Daw-Spech.

Sunday, April 26 – Room 408 Zankel

1:00 PM – Remaining Native (USA)
3:00 PM – Sneak Preview: Silent Legacy (Finland / Burkina Faso)
5:00 PM – Transcultural Sound Program (Music Shorts):
Candombe (Uruguay) + Afrissippi (USA) + Tambu (Jamaica)
Followed by Q&A with Laurie Lambert (director of Tambu, Fordham University)

Diarah N'Daw-Spech
African Diaspora International Film Festival
+1 2128641760
email us here
Visit us on social media:
Instagram
Facebook
YouTube

"Black Paris: African Americans in the City of Light" Trailer

Legal Disclaimer:

EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.