The Black, Bold & Brilliant (BBB) series focuses on authentic and nuanced representation through film critique and discussions led by Black Utahns.
Black, Bold & Brilliant is back with another season of films that will cinematically uplift, empower, and expand your horizons. Our first film, Assembly, is a queer afro futurist documentary about building better worlds offered as part of the Utah Queer Film Festival. The next title, Bring Them Home, is presented in honor of Native American Heritage Month and centers Native activists reclaiming their culture through returning Buffalo to their ancestral lands. The last film, Beyond the Mix, tells the story of audio’s overlooked heroes, the engineer. Go behind the scenes with audio engineers and listen to them tell the stories about the music that moves your world.
RSVP now to learn more!
“Black, Bold & Brilliant is a safe space that allows us to explore, celebrate, and speak to our culture. This project allows us to lift up our joy and celebrate our stories through film.“
– community member
Meet the BBB Programming Team
Russell Roots, Program Manager
Russell is the Utah Film Center’s Director of Film Exhibition. They also previously served as Board Secretary for Amplify Utah, a non-profit journalistic incubator amplifying underrepresented voices in Utah. Russell has experience in music journalism and has also been a radio DJ. Their focus is on the intersections of marginalized groups in cinema, media literacy, and the rise of white nationalism in the United States.
Aja Washington, Host and Lead Programmer
Aja Washington is a Black feminist social worker who grew up in Southern California. She has been a community co-host on KRCL’s RadioACTive and works on various activism projects in Salt Lake City. Aja holds a degree in Television, Film, and Media Studies focused on using media as a tool to liberate, explore, and critique our society.
Risshan Leak, Co-Host and Associate Programmer
Risshan is a Husband, Father, Friend, and Activist. What started as an opportunity to buck the system, turned into a healthy obsession with helping those around him, whether it was a kind word, a helping hand, or as an ally in the face of injustice. Risshan’s passion has taken him to all parts of the world, and most recently, it allowed him to become a part of KRCL’s RadioACTive team. If anyone wants to get in some “good trouble”, you have a friend in him.
Upcoming Events
Assembly
Assembly follows visionary artist Rashaad Newsome as he transforms a historic military facility into a Black queer utopia, blending art, AI, and performance. Through stunning visuals and deeply personal performances, Assembly captures the transformative power of creativity as a fractured community comes together to find strength, solidarity, and liberation.
Black, Bold & Brilliant, Utah Queer Film Festival
Sat, October 25, 2025 at 3:30 pm
In Person | Jeanné Wagner Theatre
Bring Them Home
Bring Them Home tells the story of a small group of Blackfoot people and their mission to establish the first wild buffalo herd on their ancestral territory since the species’ near-extinction a century ago.
This event is presented in honor of Native American Heritage Month.
Black, Bold & Brilliant
Wed, November 5, 2025 at 7:00 pm
In Person | Utah Film Center
Beyond the Mix
Beyond the Mix showcases a diverse array of genres and influences, highlighting the global reach of contemporary music. The cast reflects this diversity, with seasoned professionals and fresh talent sharing their unique perspectives on the industry.
Black, Bold & Brilliant
Wed, December 10, 2025 at 7:00 pm
In Person | Utah Film Center
Black, Bold & Brilliant screenings are presented with support by:
BBB, as part of our free film programming, is supported by the Lawrence T. and Janet T. Dee Foundation.
