24th Annual
ImageNation
Outdoors
August 3–September 27
2026
Film & Music Festival
About:
ImageNation Outdoors Film and Music Festival 2026 is a FREE, citywide series presented with HARLEM WEEK, running August 3–September 27 across New York City.
This year’s featured events include a screening and conversation on Toni Cade Bambara, a Family Film Night featuring the movie Michael, a Soul Train Tribute honoring Prince, a Black Anime K-Con preview with new Wu-Tang Clan film, the East River Plaza Rooftop Drive-In Cinema w/ public seating featuring Zootopia 2, the Gerald Barclay Residency, and a special Sun Ra: Do the Impossible screening in partnership with the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival.
Afterparties:
ImageNation is thrilled to partner with the Harlem Heritage Tourism & Cultural Center to host the official after-parties for the ImageNation Outdoors Film & Music Festival 2026 during HARLEM WEEK. While main festival screenings remain FREE, these late-night gatherings serve as the ultimate cultural hub to keep the celebration going with live DJs, music videos, food, drinks, and networking with filmmakers and special guests.
From the Prince Tribute and Wu-Tang / Anime Preview to WHCR's 30th Anniversary, the Gerald Barclay Residency, an AFRO-PUNK book signing, and a Sun Ra Afrofuturist lounge, advance tickets start at $15–$20.
Festival Dates:
Monday, August 3rd at 6PM
The Toni Cade Bambara School Of Organizing
The Lee C. Bollinger Forum | 601 W 125th St, New York, NY
Wednesday, August 5th at 6PM
Michael
Police Athletic League (PAL) Harlem Center | 441 Manhattan Avenue, New York, NY
Thursday, August 6th at 7PM
Mr. Nelson On The Northside: The Untold Story Of Prince
The Dwyer Cultural Center | 258 Saint Nicholas Avenue, New York, NY
Saturday, August 8th at 6PM
Wu-Tang Experience: Live at Red Rocks Amphitheatre
The Dwyer Cultural Center | 258 Saint Nicholas Avenue, New York, NY
Sunday, August 9th at 12PM
Zootopia 2
East River Plaza | 517 East 117th St, NYC
Wednesday, August 12th at 4PM
THE GERALD BARCLAY RESIDENCY SHOOTING THE CLAN MASTER CLASS
Wu-Tang Experience: Live at Red Rocks Amphitheatre
The Lee C. Bollinger Forum | 601 W 125th St, NYC
Saturday, August 15th at 7PM
Afro-Punk
Great Lawn of St Nicholas Park | 135th and St. Nicolas Ave., New York, NY
Wednesday, August 23rd at 12PM
Sun Ra: Do the Impossible
Studio Museum in Harlem | 144 West 125th Street, New York, NY
Monday, August 3rd at 6PM
Film: The Toni Cade Bambara School Of Organizing
Location: The Lee C. Bollinger Forum | 601 W 125th St, New York, NY
Toni Cade Bambara (1939–1995) was a writer, documentary filmmaker, and activist whose groundbreaking works helped define the Black Arts and feminist movements. Her life’s work continues to shape contemporary thought on art, education, and liberation. Through archival footage and personal testimonies from the likes of Louis Massiah, Sonia Sanchez, and Bambara’s friend, editor, and champion, Toni Morrison, TCB - The Toni Cade Bambara School of Organizing offers a tonic for today’s woes and a lesson in joyousness for today’s challenges The event requires RSVP but seating is limited so first come first served.
This free screening of TCB - The Toni Cade Bambara School of Organizing will feature a post screening panel discussion with panelists Louis Massiah, co-director of the film and Firelight Media's President and CEO, Loira Limbal.
This screening and conversation are made possible by the MacArthur Foundation, West Harlem Development Corporation, Firelight Media, ImageNation and HARLEM WEEK.
Wednesday, August 5th at 6PM
Film: Michael
Location: Police Athletic League (PAL) Harlem Center | 441 Manhattan Avenue, New York, NY
This event features a special HARLEM WEEK family screening of the hit film Michael, a biographical drama directed by Antoine Fuqua that follows Michael Jackson’s journey from his early years with the Jackson 5 to his rise as a global music icon. The film explores his creativity, ambition, iconic performances, and complex family relationships while celebrating the legacy of one of the most influential entertainers in history.
Directed by Antoine Fuqua. Starring Jaafar Jackson, Nia Long, and Colman Domingo
Thursday, August 6th at 7PM
Film: Mr. Nelson on the Northside: the untold story of Prince
Location: The Dwyer Cultural Center | 258 Saint Nicholas Avenue, New York, NY
Mr. Nelson on the Northside: the untold story of Prince is a music documentary directed by Daniel D'Or that chronicles the early life and formative years of the legendary musician Prince Rogers Nelson. The film explores how the culture, civil unrest, and supportive community of North Minneapolis permanently shaped his musical genius and work ethicBeyond local voices, the project includes reflections and stories from music icons who were either influenced by or worked closely with Prince, including Chaka Khan, Chuck D of Public Enemy, and Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top. The film is the Grand Winner of The CANNES 75th World Film Festival.
Purchase tickets for The Prince Tribute After Party: Purple Rain Lounge here.
Saturday, August 8th at 6PM
Film: Wu-Tang Experience: Live at Red Rocks Amphitheatre
Location: The Dwyer Cultural Center | 258 Saint Nicholas Avenue, New York, NY
Wu-Tang Experience: Live at Red Rocks Amphitheatre is a concert documentary and film. It captures the legendary hip-hop collective's monumental 2021 performance at Colorado's Red Rocks Amphitheatre. Directed by RZA and Gerald K. Barclay,the film showcases the group backed by the 60-piece Colorado Symphony Orchestra for a first-of-its-kind musical fusion. A sneak peek of the coming BLACK ANIME K-CON (BAKC) festival coming in 2027. The BLACK ANIME K-CON Preview will feature an outdoor screening of Wu-Tang Experience: Live at Red Rocks Amphitheatre, introduction of CEREAL BOX, Hip Hop’s newest tribe featuring the groups KEENGDOM & DIZORAR, K-Pop Dancers, DJ’s and lovers of the mix of Black in Asian culture.
Purchase tickets for The Wu-Tang Experience After Party here.
Saturday, August 8th at 6PM
Film: Zootopia 2
Location: East River Plaza | 517 East 117th St, NYC
Presented by East River Plaza, this official HARLEM WEEK Event is also part of the ImageNation Outdoors Film and Music Festival with support from Uptown Grand Central. The event will feature face painting, AI photo booth, dancing and family games with a special screening of the new Disney film ZOOTOPIA 2.
Zootopia 2 won Outstanding Animated Motion Picture at the NAACP Image Awards,alongside a character voice-over win for Quinta Brunson. The story follows police officers Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde tracking a slippery pit viper named Gary through hidden reptilian parts of the city while uncovering a major corporate conspiracy tied to Zootopia's founding families.
Wednesday, August 12th at 4PM
THE GERALD BARCLAY RESIDENCY
Film: Wu-Tang Experience: Live at Red Rocks Amphitheatre
Location: The Lee C. Bollinger Forum | 601 W 125th St, NYC
THE GERALD BARCLAY RESIDENCY This free, full-day residency, celebrates the work and legacy of acclaimed filmmaker Gerald K. Barclay through screenings, artist conversations. ,The centerpiece of the program will be the Shooting the Clan Master Class and feature another spacial performance from CEREAL BOX, Hip Hop’s newest tribe featuring the groups KEENGDOM & DIZORAR followed by an encore screening of Wu-Tang Experience: Live at Red Rocks Amphitheater. Program producer by ImageNationin partnership with African American Women In Cinema and HAREM WEEK. The event requires RSVP but seating is limited so first come first served.
Purchase tickets for Gerald Barclay Residency After Party here.
Saturday, August 15th at 7PM
Film: Afro-Punk
Location: Great Lawn of St Nicholas Park | 135th and St. Nicolas Ave., New York, NY
Directed by James Spooner, Afro-Punk documented a generation of Black punks and artists whose voices reshaped cultural boundaries. The newly restored Afro-Punk focuses on the lives of four African Americans dedicated to the punk rock lifestyle. The documentary tackles several universal topics around Black identity: interracial dating, marginalization, the double consciousness of Black Americans, and notions of what it means to be Black. The film features Ralph Darden, Matt Davis, Maya Glick, Mariko Jones, Moe Mitchell, Bejay Rose and Tamar-kali.
This special HARELM WEEK event launches the ImageNation Afro-Punk Film and Book Tour—a nationwide and international tour featuring the restored documentary and James Spooner's memoir, It Starts with Anger: A Punk Beginning. An AFROPUNK Ending, complete with screenings and live panel discussions.
Purchase tickets for Afro-Punk / It Starts With Anger After Party and Book Signing here.
Wednesday, August 23rd at 12PM
Film: Sun Ra: Do The Impossible
Location: Studio Museum in Harlem | 144 West 125th Street, New York, NY
Sun Ra: Do the Impossible is a documentary profiling the legendary jazz composer, philosopher, and “Godfather of Afrofuturism”, Sun Ra. Directed by Christine Turner, the 84-minute film follows his journey from a segregated Alabama upbringing to pioneering a cosmic, interstellar brand of free-form jazz. The documentary tracks the life of Herman Poole Blount, an autodidact who legally changed his name to Sun Ra. The film highlights his role as a foundational architect of Afrofuturism, an artistic and cultural movement that blends Black history, science fiction, and ancient Egyptian mythology.
Charlie Parker Jazz Festival Ancillary Event
Presented by ImageNation in partnership with SummerStage, Jazz Foundation of America & NYC Parks Arts, Culture & Fun
Purchase tickets for Sun Ra: Do The Impossible After Party here.
About ImageNation
Founded in 1997 by Moikgantsi Kgama (Founder & President Emeritus), and current led by Gregory Gates (Executive Producer), ImageNation is a Harlem-based cultural organization dedicated to film, music, and community storytelling centered on the global Black experience.
Programming includes ImageNation Outdoors, Cocktails & Sōl Cinema, and screenings and festivals presented at The Apollo Theater, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Lincoln Center, MASS MoCA, and cultural institutions throughout the United States and internationally. ImageNation has produced events for more than one million attendees worldwide and has featured artists and cultural leaders including Spike Lee, Ava DuVernay, Lee Daniels, Stanley Nelson, Ruby Dee, Erykah Badu, Chuck D, Raoul Peck, and India.Arie. ImageNation is a founding partner in AFFRM, a national film distribution collective, founded by Ava DuVernay.
ImageNation is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York Legislature and by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council and by the Howard Gilman Foundation.