The United We Heal Film Festival returns for its fifth year with a two-day celebration of Black film, music, and community at Underground Arts on June 18 and 19. Tickets are available now for both the Pre-Game music event on Wednesday, June 18, and the Film Festival with After-Party on Juneteenth, Thursday, June 19. Founded by filmmaker Ebony Roberts after the social unrest of 2020, the United We Heal Film Festival has grown from a single short film screening into one of the most important platforms in Philadelphia for amplifying marginalized filmmakers and artists working at the intersection of social change and creative expression.

The Two-Day Format of the United We Heal Film Festival

The United We Heal Film Festival opens on Wednesday, June 18, with the Pre-Game — a music celebration featuring a performance by Jungle Pussy that sets the tone for the festival’s energy and ethos. The main event on Juneteenth, June 19, begins with the Film Festival at 5 p.m., hosted by Deante Kyle, followed by the After Party at 10 p.m. headlined by DJ Diamond Kuts with WoahNelliee and Queen Yaszy B opening. The jury for the 2026 festival includes Sean Charles of the ALLBLK Network and Vanessa Chandler of the City of Philadelphia. The official film lineup will be announced on May 15.

United We Heal Film Festival, Five Years Strong

United We Heal began as a short film created by Ebony Roberts in 2020, born directly from the frustrations of racism in America following the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. The film is a journey to Black freedom that shifts the focus from trauma to hope, and it has been screened on Comcast, QVC, and Temple Health. Roberts founded the United We Heal Film Festival in 2021 to extend that vision beyond a single work — creating a platform where filmmakers and artists from marginalized communities could share their stories, build connections, and use creativity as a vehicle for social change and collective healing.

Five years in, the United We Heal Film Festival has established itself as more than a screening event. It is a cultural anchor that connects Black filmmakers, musicians, and community members in a city with deep artistic roots and a long history of using creative expression to address systemic inequality. The decision to hold the main festival on Juneteenth is not a marketing choice — it is a statement about when and why this work matters most. The combination of film, live music, and community gathering in a single venue creates the kind of immersive cultural experience that isolated screenings or concerts cannot replicate on their own.

If you attended last year’s United We Heal Film Festival, the fifth-anniversary edition builds on that foundation with an expanded Pre-Game night and a jury that reflects the festival’s growing credibility within the industry. If this is your first time hearing about it, the May 15 lineup announcement is the date to watch.

The United We Heal Film Festival takes place June 18 and 19 at Underground Arts, 1200 Callowhill Street, Philadelphia. The Pre-Game music event on June 18 begins at 8 p.m. The Film Festival on June 19 starts at 5 p.m. with the After Party at 10 p.m. Tickets are available now at unitedwehealfilmfestival.com.

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Allan Lane

Philadelphia born and bred, Allan Lane is the Publisher and Editor in Chief of digital magazines. He launched his first publication, SportBikes Inc Magazine in 2010, followed by dosage MAGAZINE in 2019. Recently, Allan launched his third online publication, Club For Man. As a journalist, Allan covers fashion, lifestyle, culture, art, and motorcycles.

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