Mara Brock Akil is bringing art to life at this year’s Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival (MVAAFF) with a special screening and conversation around her Netflix series Forever. On August 3, attendees will experience episode five of the coming-of-age story, fittingly titled “The Vineyard,” during a Color of Conversation event that blends fiction with place-based cultural celebration.
Set against the picturesque backdrop of Oak Bluffs on Martha’s Vineyard, where the festival takes place, the episode follows Keisha (played by Lovie Simone) and Chloe (played by Ali Gallo) as they escape to the Vineyard on a personal mission, while Justin (Michael Cooper Jr.), emotionally withdrawn after heartbreak, must decide whether to open himself up again. It’s a story of connection, vulnerability, and healing—and it now returns to the exact setting where it was filmed.
The episode also explores themes of Blackness, family, and fatherhood in fullness and wholeness. A heartfelt moment comes when Justin’s father, played by Wood Harris, offers his son advice about love, encouraging him not to let Keisha slip away while she’s still on the island. Later, the family gathers for a spirited, lighthearted debate about the value and legacy of HBCUs—a moment rooted in Black love, generational perspective, and the joy of simply being in each other’s company. These scenes showcase the multifaceted nature of Black family life: thoughtful, loving, funny, and deeply rooted in tradition.
Episode five of Forever is, in many ways, a love letter to Martha’s Vineyard—honoring Black family, tradition, wealth, love, and generational wisdom. By screening “The Vineyard” in the place that inspired and shaped it, MVAAFF becomes more than just a film festival—it becomes an immersive experience in storytelling.
Following the screening, Akil will participate in a Color of Conversation, MVAAFF’s signature post-screening dialogue series that brings creators, cast, and creatives face-to-face with their audiences. These conversations go beyond Q&As—they are cultural deep dives that explore the creative intent, social resonance, and behind-the-scenes vision that shape the work.
Known for groundbreaking television such as Girlfriends, Being Mary Jane, and The Game, Akil’s latest work in Forever continues her tradition of telling emotionally rich, culturally specific stories that showcase Black life in all its layered beauty. Bringing this story to life in Oak Bluffs—with the same energy, scenery, and symbolism as the show—blurs the lines between reel and real, allowing audiences to not just watch the episode, but feel it in the very space it was inspired by.
MVAAFF’s screening of “The Vineyard” episode of Forever is more than a festival highlight. It’s a testament to the power of location in storytelling and the resonance that comes from art returning home.
The Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival runs August 1-9, 2025. For more on screenings and Color of Conversation events, visit MVAAFF.com.