‘Children of Blood and Bone’ Preview to Open MVAAFF Lineup

“Children of Blood and Bone” filmmaker Gina Prince-Bythewood and star Thuso Mbedu will preview the fantasy epic on opening night of the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival.

Exclusive footage from the Paramount Pictures film — set in the fictional mystical kingdom of Orisha and which stars Mbedu as Zélie, a young woman who embarks on a perilous quest to reclaim the magic violently stolen from her people — will screen as the kickoff to the 24th annual MVAAFF on August 7. Following the special presentation, Prince-Bythewood and Mbedu will participate in a Color of Conversation panel.

“For twenty-four years, MVAAFF has been a place where groundbreaking stories are introduced to an audience that truly understands their cultural significance,” said MVAAFF founders Floyd and Stephanie Rance. “To open this festival with ‘Children of Blood and Bone’ — a film rooted in imagination, heritage, and Black excellence — and to have Gina and Thuso with us at the festival is an extraordinary moment for our community. We’re honored that Paramount Pictures has chosen Martha’s Vineyard as one of the first places audiences will experience what we believe will become one of the defining films of this generation.”

The movie, based on the No. 1 best-selling novel by Tomi Adeyemi, features an all-star cast, including Damson Idris, Amandla Stenberg, Tosin Cole, Cynthia Erivo, Lashana Lynch, Zackary Momoh, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Regina King, Idris Elba and Viola Davis. “Children of Blood and Bone” is slated for a nationwide theatrical and IMAX release on January 15, 2027.

MVAAFF, an Oscar-qualifying film festival, has become one of the nation’s leading showcases for Black storytelling. This year’s edition will take place from August 7-15 at the Martha’s Vineyard Performing Arts Center in Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts. ESPN 30 for 30 returns as the presenting sponsor of the festival, with New York Magazine’s…