The Run&Shoot Filmworks Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival (MVAAFF), also known as”The Summer’s Finest Film Festival”, will return to Oaks Bluff for its 19th year August 6 – 14, 2021.

The MVAAFF is a nine-day event that showcases the works of independent and established African-American filmmakers.

See the full 2021 itinerary here.

Tickets are now on sale for each event. All screenings and events will take place at the Martha’s Vineyard Performing Arts Center, located at 100 Edgartown Vineyard Haven Road in Oaks Bluff.

According to their website, the MVAAFF has screened and promoted some of the most outstanding and emerging Feature, Documentary and Short films produced by and starring African Americans from across the world. 

Ryan Belmore is the Publisher of What'sUpNewp. 
Belmore has been involved with What’sUpNewp since shortly after its launch in 2012, proudly leading it to be named Best Local News Blog in Rhode Island by Rhode Island Monthly readers in 2018, 2019, and 2020 and an honorable mention in the Common Good Awards in 2021.

Born and raised in Rhode Island, Belmore graduated from Coventry High School and the Community College of Rhode Island. In addition to living in Newport for 10 years, he has lived in Portsmouth, Coventry, Providence, Smithfield, Burrillville, and East Greenwich.

Belmore currently serves as Vice President of the Board Of Directors for Fort Adams Trust and on the Board of Directors for Potter League For Animals. He previously served on the Board of Lucy's Hearth and the Arts & Cultural Alliance for Newport County.

Belmore and his wife, Jen, currently live in Alexandria, Virginia, a move they made in 2021. Read more about that here - https://whatsupnewp.com/2021/09/letter-from-the-publisher-some-personal-news/

Belmore visits Newport every couple of weeks to support the 12+ paid contributors What'sUpNewp has on the ground across Rhode Island, a place he called home for 39 years.

Belmore is a member of Local Independent Online News (LION) Publishers, Society of Professional Journalists, and the North American Snowsports Journalists Association.

In 2020, Belmore was named Member of the Year by LION and won the Arts & Cultural Alliance of Newport County's Dominque Award.
Belmore can be contacted at ryan@whatsupnewp.com and 401-662-1653.