Rehoboth Beach Black American Film Festival 2027, Delaware

An Off-Season Beach Town's Boldest Black Cinema Weekend

Rehoboth Beach in February is a different animal than Rehoboth Beach in July. The boardwalk fudge shops are shuttered, the crowds are gone, and the Atlantic wind has a bite to it — but for one cozy winter weekend, this small Delaware beach town becomes a genuine destination for Black cinema. The Rehoboth Beach Black American Film Festival is the sister event of the long-running Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Festival, presented by the Rehoboth Beach Film Society in partnership with the Southern Delaware Alliance for Racial Justice (SDARJ). It's not a huge, sprawling affair — it's an intimate, community-rooted weekend of screenings, discussion, and appreciation for Black storytelling on film, in a town most travelers only associate with summer. That contrast is exactly what makes it worth the trip.

Event at a Glance

• Event: Rehoboth Beach Black American Film Festival (7th Annual in 2026; entering its 8th year in 2027)
• Location: Cinema Art Theater, Lewes/Rehoboth Beach, DE
• When: Expected February 2027 — exact dates TBA at publication. The 2026 edition ran February 20–22; the festival has run every February (with one pandemic-year pause) since it began. Check rehobothfilm.com closer to the date for confirmed 2027 dates.
• Price: Individual tickets from $5 (12 and under) to $12 (general admission); VIP festival passes run $90–$100
• Main Audience: Black cinema lovers, indie film fans, Mid-Atlantic diaspora travelers, off-season beach-town explorers
• Travel Vibe: Intimate, unhurried, small-town coastal charm with a real sense of community

History and Mission

The festival has become a fixture of the Rehoboth Beach Film Society's calendar, reaching its 7th annual edition in February 2026. It exists as a standalone sister event to the Society's better-known Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Festival — built specifically to spotlight Black voices in film rather than folding them into a general slate. Organizers describe the mission as showcasing award-winning feature films and documentaries that celebrate the trailblazing work of Black artists in shaping American culture, while deepening awareness of Black experiences and using film as a way to explore both the differences and the common ground across communities. The partnership with SDARJ isn't incidental branding — a portion of VIP pass proceeds is donated directly to the organization, tying the festival's cultural programming to ongoing racial justice work in southern Delaware.

What Actually Happens

The festival runs as a compact, three-day weekend of screenings at the Cinema Art Theater, a small independent movie house that gives the whole event a neighborhood-theater feel rather than a red-carpet one. Recent editions have programmed roughly seven films across the weekend, screening back-to-back from around noon to 7 p.m., with a mix of acclaimed features and documentaries. Past selections have included Judas and the Black Messiah, Queen & Slim, Alice, Sarah's Oil, A Portrait of a Postman, Love Brooklyn, and Return to Hockessin No. 107C — a mix of major studio releases and smaller independent and documentary work with strong regional and historical ties. Expect post-screening conversation, a community-driven crowd, and a program built around films that reward one another when watched in sequence over a weekend, rather than a single stand-alone premiere.

Where to Stay in Rehoboth Beach

February is deep off-season on the Delaware shore, which works in your favor. Boardwalk-adjacent hotels and downtown Rehoboth inns run a fraction of their summer rates, and you'll actually get a quiet, walkable town instead of a packed one. Staying in downtown Rehoboth Beach puts you close to restaurants that stay open year-round and an easy short drive to the Cinema Art Theater in Lewes, about 15–20 minutes away. If you'd rather be closer to the venue itself, Lewes has its own small selection of inns and B&Bs with an even quieter, historic-town feel. Either way, book ahead — some seasonal properties close for winter, so confirm a place is open before you commit.

Getting There

Rehoboth Beach doesn't have its own commercial airport, so plan around a regional gateway and a drive. Philadelphia International (PHL) and Baltimore/Washington International (BWI) are both roughly two to two-and-a-half hours away by car, and Salisbury Regional Airport (SBY) in nearby Maryland offers a shorter regional-carrier option for some travelers. Driving is the most common approach — Route 1 runs straight into Rehoboth Beach and connects easily to Lewes and the Cinema Art Theater. Since this is a February event, build in a little weather cushion: coastal Delaware winters are mild by New England standards, but a nor'easter or icy morning isn't out of the question, so check forecasts before a long drive.

Who This Festival Is For

This one's for the traveler who wants substance over spectacle — Black film devotees who want thoughtful programming instead of a sprawling festival circuit, indie and documentary fans, Mid-Atlantic and DMV-area travelers looking for an easy weekend trip, and anyone who likes the idea of a sleepy beach town having a genuine cultural moment in the dead of winter. It's also a natural fit for anyone already interested in the Southern Delaware Alliance for Racial Justice's work, since the festival doubles as a fundraiser and community touchpoint for that organization.

BTN Insider Tips

Watch rehobothfilm.com for the official 2027 announcement. Dates and lineup typically post a few weeks ahead of the festival, so don't lock in travel until they're confirmed.

Grab a VIP pass if you're coming from out of town. At $90–$100 for the full slate plus priority seating, it beats paying per-ticket if you're planning to catch more than a couple of films — and part of it supports SDARJ directly.

Pack for a cold beach town, not a warm one. February on the Delaware coast means real coats, not windbreakers — the wind off the Atlantic is sharper than inland winter weather.

Make it a food weekend too. Rehoboth's year-round restaurant scene is a real draw in the off-season, with far shorter waits than summer crowds allow.

Plan Your Trip

The Rehoboth Beach Black American Film Festival is proof that you don't need a massive crowd or a red carpet to make a film festival matter — just a strong lineup, a real mission, and a town willing to show up for it in the middle of winter. Watch for the official 2027 dates, book your VIP pass early, and pair the festival weekend with a quiet, off-season stay on the Delaware shore.

*Some links on this page are affiliate links — BTN may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.