For the past twenty-two years, Martha’s Vineyard has been home to the exceedingly popular Martha’s Vineyard African-American Film Festival, all thanks to entertainment power couple Stephanie Tavares-Rance and Floyd Rance. Each year, known and emerging filmmakers, movie buffs, and industry professionals come together during the first two weeks of August to watch, discuss, and revel over dozens and dozens of films. This year proves to be no exception. 

The Rances, who split their time between Denver, Colorado, and the Island, recently caught up with Martha’s Vineyard Magazine to spill secrets on which stars are expected to make an appearance this year, what it’s like to plan an event attended by more than 2,000 people, and why it’s always important to have a plan B. 

The film festival takes place August 2 through August 10. For tickets and showtimes, visit mvaaff.com. An edited transcript follows.

Martha’s Vineyard Magazine: Twenty-two years ago, the two of you co-founded the Martha’s Vineyard African-American Film Festival (MVAAFF). What prompted you to start the festival? Did you feel there was something missing within the current festival scene?

Stephanie Tavares-Rance: This was something that wasn’t on our vision board at all. My husband was working on a film in Barbados and I went to hang out with him. I wanted to do some events there, so I connected with the tourism authority in New York City...[and I pitched three ideas]. One was a bike tour around Barbados – those were popular back then. One was a concert, because I come from the music industry. And the third idea was a film festival. They picked the film festival. I said, “Sure, I can do this, no problem!” But I had no idea what I was doing. 

I figured it out. I put out an ad for Black filmmakers at Yahoo, and we had ten films coming in. I thought, “Wow, this is really something…” There is and was a big need for representation for filmmakers of color. It’s always important to see yourself and have representation, so we are really excited that we started this activation. 

Then, 9/11 happened and Barbados pulled out. But we had ten films and two sponsors; we had to do it. We said, “Let’s do it on Martha’s Vineyard,” because Floyd had many connections there. So, Martha’s Vineyard was actually plan B. Most people don’t know that, but it turned out to be the right plan. 

MVM: In the beginning, the festival took place in a conference room at the Mansion House in Vineyard Haven. Now, it sells out the Performing Arts Center (PAC) in Oak Bluffs. Aside from requiring a bigger venue, how has the festival changed? 

Floyd Rance: Social media has been huge. It has impacted the festival’s growth tremendously. Technology has also impacted the festival in terms of how it’s changed. The festival started with VHS, then we moved to DVDs. I was basically the DVD DJ (laughs). 

As technology happens and changes, we catch up. It is one of the more underrated impacts of the festival and the festival’s growth.  

MVM: Stephanie, you mentioned your background is in the music industry. You also have a background in magazines and PR/marketing. You once said that you had never been to a film festival until you co-founded this one. Can you talk about how all these moving parts came together to make this work?

ST-R: We did pseudo-events in New York prior to all this. We did ski trips to Vermont; that was sort of the beginning of what we were doing. And we used to show a film on the bus ride to Vermont, so it’s interesting how film was kind of planted in. 

Honestly, I never knew we would be here twenty-two years later. It was something that I thought would be a really great idea. I thought it would be impactful. Once we saw the responses from filmmakers and other people, I thought, “Wow, we have really got something here.” Plus, all the connections we have had within the entertainment industry made it easier to get big filmmakers and big sponsors to come. 

We think of Martha’s Vineyard as a haven – a happy place, as we like to call it – for Black folks. We have all this great history rooted with Martha’s Vineyard. We would hold the festival and people would come and fall in love with the Island. We are really happy we’ve able to expose different entities to Martha’s Vineyard and what it has to offer. 

MVM: The festival is now known for big-name attendees, including Spike Lee and Tyler Perry, as well as big-name sponsors, such as Netflix and HBO. What’s your secret to making the festival stand out amidst a sea of summer of events?

ST-R: That’s an interesting question. With us doing the film festival, we kind of opened the door for all these activations to exist on Martha’s Vineyard. I know we attract a certain caliber of folks from an attendee standpoint and sponsor standpoint, and it makes people interested and proud to be part of it. 

We are exposing people to Martha’s Vineyard for what it stands for and what it’s about, the history of this Island, and how it relates to people of color from a sponsor standpoint. Sponsors want to be intentional in how they interact with our audience. And, of course, having the Obamas open up your festival one year doesn’t hurt.

MVM: Yes, let’s talk about that! Two years ago, Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson brought out surprise guests Barack and Michelle Obama to discuss Descendant, the festival’s opening night film. The film was backed by the Obama’s production company, Higher Ground. What did that moment mean to you?

ST-R: It was surreal; it was really a surreal moment. We knew about it for a couple of months, but we couldn’t say anything. All the work that happens in the background for the president or a past president to come to [an event] is a lot. We held onto this secret. Then, when it happened, it was this moment that was sort of…magical. 

They are such amazing people. Michelle is really tall. Barack is so kind. When he hugs you, he takes you in. We had this really great moment with them for twenty minutes backstage in the green room. Barack was talking to my husband and I’m talking to Michelle, and then Barack comes and gives me a hug. It was just so nice. 

We didn’t know they were going to talk for twenty minutes each about the festival. The fact that they knew about us…it was special. It was a moment we will never forget. They are just great people and we are still in touch with their people…. It was an honor. 

MVM: What can you tell us about this year’s festival? Are there any films or topics you are especially excited to showcase?

FR: In terms of the independent films this year, we have a lot of phenomenal documentaries, and they are all on par with each other. There is one entitled Daughters that is all the rave. We have a great documentary on voting called Dying to Vote.

We always have outstanding independent films, great short films, and phenomenal feature films. And, of course, studio films. The studio content is always outstanding, and we are still collecting and gathering.

ST-R: We also have the cast of Abbott Elementary coming on August 3. We’re bringing Quinta Brunson and Sheryl Lee Ralph, and we’re really excited about that. There’s also a really amazing documentary on Luther Vandross and a conversation with Dawn Porter, the Island documentarian. We are really excited for Dawn. Cynthia Erivo from Wicked is coming, and we will show exclusive clips from Wicked. [The film is] not done yet, so it’ll be the first sneak peek. There’s no strike, so yay! People can come!

MVM: How did the SAG-AFTRA strike last year effect the festival?

ST-R: The great thing that happened is that, because of the strike, the festival became only about the art, the film. Instead of actors, we had choreographers and authors in place. It was fantastic to see that perspective. Folks did not miss a beat and were pleased with our lineup – it was about the art.

MVM: How far in advance do you begin planning each festival?

ST-R: This year we had over 800 submissions that we narrowed to sixty or sixty-five films. It takes a year to pull all this off, so we are in that stretch right now. We are trying to land that plane. 

MVM: You’re also hosting a dinner highlighting African American cuisine. 

ST-R: The Harbor View Hotel [in Edgartown] is hosting it. Bernard Chiu is an amazing owner and a wonderful partner to this event. Pat Neely from Down Home with the Neelys from the Food Network is going to come make some dishes on August 4. 

MVM: You’ve been longtime seasonal residents of the Vineyard. When you’re not watching movies or running your film festival, what are some fun things you like to do on the Island?

ST-R: Oh, gosh. We were just talking about that this morning! Being here is such a game changer for us. We love being able to just come and really be a part of the community and just chill.