Since the 1999 Fall Semester the Medgar Evers College Community has  engaged in viewing and discussing important works of film that speak to or about the experiences of members of the African Diaspora. The 'MAAFA Film Festival', a collaboration between St. Paul's Community Baptist Church, The Department of Mass Communication, Creative & Performing Arts & Speech, and the Office of Student Affairs, showcased works by independent filmmakers from all over the world in a juried  competition.  Acclaimed filmmakers Charles Dutton, Warrington Hudlin, and  Haile Germia, who premiered the film 'ADAWA' at the 2000 festival, were among many from the film community that participated in the     festivals of '99' and '2000'.

The 'Film & Culture Series' grew out of the 'MAAFA Film Festival', in order to have a continuing series of movie screenings and discussions on issues throughout the year, instead of annual events. The series launched with a premiere screening of the critically acclaimed film 'LUMUMBA' by Raoul Peck. The series has included many important    independent films as well as the premiere of feature films from major  production companies. The Film & Culture Series has brought together many panelists, special guests, performers and hosts, Queen Afua, Roger Bonair Agard, Amir Al Islam, Harry Allen, Faye Anderson, Charles Barron, Elombe Brathe, Stephanie Black, Bonga, Roscoe Brown, Buckshot, Patricia E.  Canson–Griffith, Dinco D, Boyd Graves, Katti Gray, Kool Herc, Damon Hewitt, Walidah Imarisha, Linda Jackson, Kim Jameson, Jamal Joseph, Shani Kulture, Talib Kweli, Nancy Lester, M-1, Andree-Nicola McLaughlin, Rosemari Mealy, Stanley Nelson, Tehut-Nine, Oosa-gefu, PhyaStartha, Margarita Rosario, Danny Schecther, Mwalima Shuuja, Esmeralda Simmons, Dr. Renaldo Spech, Steele, Carlyle Thompson and Steven Yip just to name a few.