Two Decades of Joy: Pville’s Dr. Miller Reflects on Martha’s Vineyard Film Festival
While Dr. Miller attended screenings—including the short film series that featured the MLK-centered documentary Hoops, Hopes, and Dreams—it was the community connection that resonated most.
OAK BLUFFS, Mass. — The 23rd Annual Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival (MVAAFF) wrapped on August 9, 2025, after more than a week of films, conversations, and community that celebrated the power of storytelling and the beauty of Black culture.
Mark Tyler
The nine-day event transformed the historic town of Oak Bluffs into a vibrant hub for filmmakers, artists, and visitors from across the country—including several from the Atlantic City area.
“Joy is our North Star,” festival co-founder Stephanie Rance told the crowd at the Martha’s Vineyard Performing Arts Center during the opening ceremony on August 1. “It’s what we honor in every film.”
This year’s MVAAFF showcased narratives that reflected the richness of the Black experience, spanning themes of family, health, education, love, justice, and liberation. Among those in attendance was Dr. Thomas Miller, a chiropractor from Pleasantville, New Jersey, who has been making the trip to the Vineyard for more than two decades.
“We’ve been going up there for 22, maybe 23 years,” Dr. Miller said. “When we first started, our kids were about six years old. We’d go with friends and their families, rent a house together, and spend time cooking, fishing, and gathering. It was a beautiful environment—not just for us, but for the children too.”
After a break during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Millers returned to the festival three years ago. This summer marked their third year back since then. While Dr. Miller attended screenings—including the short film series that featured the MLK-centered documentary Hoops, Hopes, and Dreams—it was the community connection that resonated most.
“When you walk down Circuit Avenue, people speak to you—‘Good morning, good afternoon.’ You sit on porches and talk with folks from all over. It gives me a sense of who we are as a people—how connected we’ve been, and still are, when we create spaces to be ourselves.”
He recalled the early years of the tradition when families would host fish fries and invite other festivalgoers over for evenings of food, music, and conversation. More than once, strangers became lifelong friends.
The Millers stayed at the historic Oak Bluffs Inn, located at the corner of Pequot Avenue and Circuit Avenue, a central gathering place near the island’s shops and restaurants. Sitting on the inn’s wraparound porch, they chatted with fellow visitors, many of whom they see year after year.
Dr. Miller also expressed his interest in exploring more of the island’s history through the African American Heritage Trail of Martha’s Vineyard, which he hopes to prioritize during his next visit.
“When we come together like this—from all parts of the country—we’re civil, connected, and proud," Dr. Miller said. "The film festival gives us that space. It reminds me that when the environment allows us to be our full selves, we excel.”
Mark Tyler
The MVAAFF will return for its 24th year August 7–15, 2026.
For more information, visit www.mvaaff.com.
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