Amazing Grace: YorubaWorlds Film Screening + Conversation at Newark Symphony Hall
Amazing Grace: YorubaWorlds
Film Screening, Cultural Marketplace and Community Conversation
Presented by the Newark Black Film Festival and HarlemCLX
Saturday, October 10, 2026
2:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Newark Symphony Hall | 1020 Broad St, Newark, NJ 07102
During Newark Arts Festival Week
Reserve your FREE ticket today: newarksymphonyhall.org/
Watch Trailer: https://youtu.be/
Website: amazinggraceyw.film
Join the Newark Black Film Festival and HarlemCLX for an immersive Saturday afternoon celebrating the extraordinary journey of Yoruba culture across continents, generations and communities.
More than a film screening, this special Newark presentation will bring together cinema, conversation, art, music, food and fellowship for a vibrant celebration of African heritage and community pride. Guests will explore a cultural marketplace featuring local artists, artisans, designers, authors and community businesses while enjoying food trucks and culinary offerings inspired by the African Diaspora.
At the center of the experience is a screening of the award-winning documentary Amazing Grace: YorubaWorlds, directed and produced by Raynald Leconte. The film follows Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka on an extraordinary cultural journey across Africa, Brazil, the Caribbean and the wider African Diaspora.
Yoruba culture is a “river that never rests.” Through spirituality, music, art, language and identity, the film reveals how Yoruba civilization crossed oceans, survived generations and continues to influence contemporary culture around the world. The 66-minute documentary also explores the profound impact of Yoruba traditions on Afro-Brazilian history and the broader cultural landscape of the African Diaspora.
Following the screening, guests will experience a dynamic conversation with the filmmakers, cultural leaders, artists and special guests exploring the film’s themes, the preservation of African traditions and the ways culture continues to connect communities across geography and generations.
Amazing Grace: YorubaWorlds received the Programmers’ Award for Best Feature Documentary at the Pan African Film & Arts Festival in Los Angeles. Its international festival journey has also included the Marché du Film at Cannes, the AFRICA USA International Film Festival, the Madrid Film Awards, the Africa International Film Festival, the Mostra Internacional de Cinema de São Paulo and other leading international festivals.
About the Newark Black Film Festival
Founded in 1974, the Newark Black Film Festival is the longest-running Black film festival in the United States. For more than five decades, the festival has served as an important platform for Black filmmakers, actors and storytellers whose work explores the depth, diversity and complexity of the Black experience.
Through thought-provoking films, filmmaker conversations, panel discussions and community gatherings, the Newark Black Film Festival connects audiences with stories that challenge, inspire and contribute to cultural understanding. Its enduring legacy reflects a deep commitment to preserving Black cinematic history while supporting the evolving voices shaping the future of film.
About HarlemCLX
HarlemCLX is a culture, lifestyle and community engagement platform that creates meaningful connections among artists, cultural institutions, businesses, residents and visitors. Rooted in Harlem and inspired by the richness of the African Diaspora, HarlemCLX develops experiences that celebrate creativity, elevate community voices and expand access to arts and culture.
Through cultural programming, storytelling, strategic partnerships and audience development, HarlemCLX brings people together around shared experiences that strengthen community pride and create opportunities for collaboration. Guided by the principles “Create, Connect & Collaborate” and “Community Is Our SuperPOWER,” HarlemCLX believes that culture is an essential force for building healthy, vibrant and economically empowered communities.
About Raynald Leconte
Raynald Leconte is an award-winning film director, producer and media entrepreneur based in New York City. Through his work with the United Nations, he has lived in Africa, Europe and South America, experiences that have shaped his global approach to storytelling.
Leconte successfully launched three media companies: Krysp Imaging Solutions, where he helped propel pop artist Peter Max into the digital age; Screeny Media; and Syndicated Radio Shows, where he produced Live from San Francisco: It’s Barbara Rodgers.
His first major film, In the Eye of the Spiral, narrated by Annie Lennox with music by Brian Eno, received the Best Documentary Feature Award at BAFF in 2014. His 2018 documentary, Real Maravilloso, introduced audiences to Cuba’s “marvelous realism” literary movement and earned Best Feature Documentary honors at multiple film festivals.
About Richard E. Pelzer II
Richard E. Pelzer II is the Executive Producer of Amazing Grace: YorubaWorlds and the Founder and Executive Producer of HarlemCLX. A Harlem resident since 1995, he is a cultural producer, community engagement strategist and arts advocate dedicated to creating platforms that connect culture, commerce and community.
Pelzer also serves as Managing Partner and General Manager of the Harlem Fine Arts Show and represents Harlem on the NYCxDESIGN Festival Steering Committee. His work centers on audience development, cultural storytelling, partnership building and expanding opportunities for artists and creative communities. Guided by the belief that “Community Is Our SuperPOWER,” he continues to champion projects that celebrate Black culture, preserve cultural history and build meaningful connections across generations.
Come experience an unforgettable afternoon of film, food, culture and conversation as Newark gathers to celebrate the global legacy of Yoruba civilization and the pride, creativity and resilience of our communities.
