The Director’s Cut Celebrates Black Film Preservation and the Film’s Historic Blu-Ray Release

Academy Award-nominated actress Margaret Avery (The Color Purple) and acclaimed actor Julius Tennon (The Woman King) will reunite with fellow cast members and members of the creative team for the first-ever Atlanta screening of Riverbend: The Director’s Cut on Saturday, August 15, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. at Atlanta’s historic Plaza Theatre 1049 Ponce De Leon NE Atlanta, GA 30306

The Setting

Set in rural Georgia during the Civil Rights era, “Riverbend” follows three Black Vietnam veterans who help residents of a small Southern town organize against a violent, racist sheriff. Although the story takes place in Georgia, the film has never before been screened in Atlanta.

Following a limited theatrical release and VHS distribution, Riverbend disappeared from public view for decades. The recent recovery of the film’s original 35mm picture and sound elements made possible a stunning, director-approved 6K restoration, bringing this overlooked landmark of Black independent cinema back to audiences for the first time in generations.

The restoration also highlights one of the final leading performances by the late actor and martial artist Steve James, whose powerful work anchors the film.

IndieWire praised the film, writing:

“Screenwriter Samuel Vance evokes Vietnam-era America with rich textures and evocative dialogue that anchor the movie in reality, and the uniformly excellent performances (including one from The Color Purple Oscar nominee Margaret Avery) give the movie even more depth and resonance.”

Following the screening, audiences will enjoy a special conversation with participating cast members, filmmakers, and members of the restoration team.

Scheduled Guests:
Margaret Avery
Julius Tennon
Alex Morris
Vanessa Tate Goodrich
Marcus Coleman
Valerie Vance, Co-Producer and Co-Writer
Michael J. Dennis, Founder of Reelblack and Reelblack Renaissance
Aaron Kai, Official Restoration Poster Artist

Additional guests may be announced.

The event also celebrates the first-ever Blu-ray release of Riverbend from Reelblack Renaissance, a Black-owned boutique label dedicated to restoring, preserving, and reissuing overlooked works of Black cinema. Reelblack Renaissance also partnered with Atlanta based Black Eye Film Club and Plazadrome.
 The Blu-Ray features more than four hours of bonus content and will be available for purchase at the event alongside exclusive posters and commemorative merchandise.

Participating guests will also remain after the screening for an autograph session with attendees.

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