Black Table
World Premiere

Black Table

Spotlight Documentary
Feature | United States | 93 MINUTES | English
Documentary, Politics, Black & African American Diaspora Stories, Expressions of Black Freedom

The Commons Dining Hall is undoubtedly one of the images that comes to mind when one thinks of Yale College—a place to eat, hang out and mix. For the Yale students of the 1990s, a group of heavy tables hastily pushed together in the dining hall became known as the Black Table. 


The class of 1997 was the largest class of Black students at Yale in the 1990s, and with them came a new generation of students who would navigate the hallowed halls of the Ivy League institution and confront the many ways it was not fully prepared for them. With that in mind, the Black Table became their refuge, an attempt to carve out space of their own. Directors John James and Bill Mack construct a thoughtful documentary that tells the story of these students through the story of this table, a created environment that provided an outlet for scholars who were learning who they were in the context of a university that often failed to see them. Through a series of interviews and visits to the campus for reunions, the film is an open time capsule whose insights resonate today as the country now grapples with the effect of the Supreme Court's decision to abolish affirmative action.––Faridah Gbadamosi


Cast & Credits
Directed by
John Antonio James and Bill Mack
Director
John Antonio James, Bill Mack
Executive Producer (Main Credit)
Luis Miranda, Sam Pollard, Geeta Gandbhir
Producer
Katie Taber, John Antonio James, Bill Mack
Screenwriter
John Antonio James, Bill Mack
Cinematographer
Derek Wiesehahn
Editor
Brett Mason, Vito DeCandia
Composer
Joshua Mosley
Executive Producer
Luis A. Miranda, Michael Stolper, Sam Pollard, Geeta Gandbhir, Alisa Payne
Cast
Imani Perry, Wesley Morris, Sheldon Gilbert, Aimee Allen, Patricia J. Williams, Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum, Neal Katyal

Contacts
Print Source
Andre Danylevich
Fifth Season
Beverly Hills, CA 90212
Phone: 310 498 3069
adanylevich@fifthseason.com
US Sales Contact
Blake Levin
Fifth Season
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Phone: 310 860 4817
blevin@fifthseason.com
International Sales Contact
Jennifer Ebell
Fifth Season
Beverly Hills, CA 90212
Phone: 310 922 8626
JEbell@fifthseason.com
Press Contact
Alex Cutler
Sunshine Sachs Morgan & Lylis
New York, NY 10016
Phone: 917 717 0601
blacktable@ssmandl.com
* Rush Tickets available at venue except for
Beacon Theatre
Rush will be offered when advanced tickets for a screening or event are no longer available at venues other than Beacon Theatre.
The Rush system functions as a standby line that will form at the venue approximately one hour prior to scheduled start time. Admittance is based on availability and will begin roughly 10 minutes prior to program start time. Rush Tickets are the same price as advance tickets and are payable upon entry.

 

Part of the Expressions of Black Freedom programming, sponsored by:

 

Newsletter

Subscribe for festival news, exclusive offers, programming updates, and more!
Get Festival Updates

Tribeca Festival Partners

Presenting Partner
Signature Partners
Presenting Partner
Signature Partners
Presenting Partner
Signature Partners
Presenting Partner
Supporters
Presenting Partner
Friends of the Festival
Presenting Partner
Media Friends of the Festival
Presenting Partner
Media Friends of the Festival
Presenting Partner
Industry Partners
See all partners