Martha's Vineyard film fest returns with Black star power, bold storytelling and cultural legacy

This combination of photos shows Jennifer Hudson, left, Michelle Obama, center, and Issa Rae. (AP Photo)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — No matter the time on Martha's Vineyard, a shimmering glow will be powered by the star presence of Black filmmakers, actors and tastemakers like Issa Rae, Mara Brock Akil and Michelle Obama who are shaping culture on their own terms.

For two-plus decades, the has been a cultural reunion, a summer sanctuary and a safe haven where some of the industry's most influential voices converge in Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts. This week marks the return of the 23rd annual nine-day celebration, which kicks off Friday with a stacked slate that includes appearances from singer-actor and Hall of Fame basketball player Dwyane Wade, screenings like 's “Highest 2 Lowest†and intimate conversations with figures such as the .

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