ONCE UPON A TIME IN HARLEM

Part of IDFA 2026 – The Stories We Carry, curated by Black Soil Film Festival

Once Upon a Time in Harlem offers a remarkable journey into the cultural and intellectual world of the Harlem Renaissance, one of the most influential movements in African American history.

Through extraordinary archival footage, the documentary brings together the voices, memories and experiences of the artists, writers, musicians and intellectuals who helped redefine Black identity and cultural expression in twentieth-century America.

More than a historical portrait, the film captures a generation that used art, literature, music and political thought to challenge racial boundaries and create new possibilities for Black self-representation. Harlem became more than a neighbourhood: it was a cultural movement, a meeting place for radical ideas and a symbol of Black creativity, pride and self-determination.

By allowing these cultural pioneers to reflect on their own lives and contributions, Once Upon a Time in Harlem offers a rare opportunity to experience history through the voices of those who lived it.

As part of The Stories We Carry, Black Soil presents this documentary as a powerful reflection on cultural memory, artistic resistance and the importance of preserving Black intellectual and creative legacies for future generations.

Introduction by Sharrif Simmons

The screening will be introduced by poet, artist and cultural activist Sharrif Simmons, whose work explores Black cultural expression, identity and the enduring influence of African American artistic and political movements.