The fifth annual Capital City Black Film Festival, scheduled to run this Thursday, August 17 through Sunday, August 20, has come to an abrupt halt before it even started. The festival, which was to be held at the Austin Convention Center, was canceled on Monday.

Festival organizers cite the late receipt of news that “key sponsorship commitments would not be forthcoming” as the reason forcing the decision to cancel the fest. CCBFF Executive Director Winston G. Williams issued the following statement: “I know this is devastating news with only a few days before we were supposed to welcome our guests. Please understand that this was not an easy decision and know that the circumstances had to be dire in order for me to come to this decision.“

In addition to the world premieres of Breaking Brooklyn and The Reason, which star Louis Gossett Jr., the festival was to honor the Officer and a Gentleman Academy Award winner with its Harlem Lights! Living Legend Award. Other featured events included the first episode of OWN’s new series Black Love, and the documentary CopWatch, as well as appearances by gospel legend Fred Hammond and comedian Felonious Munk.

All advance ticket sales will be refunded by Monday, August 21 at 5pm, in addition to all the filmmakers’ submission fees. For more details, visit www.capcitybff.com.

This article appears in August 11 • 2017.

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Marjorie Baumgarten is a film critic and contributing writer at The Austin Chronicle, where she has worked in many capacities since the paper's founding in 1981. She served as the Chronicle's Film Reviews editor for 25 years.