First Friday at The Barnes Foundation

This Friday, PHLAFF 2025 returns to the iconic Barnes Foundation with an evening that seamlessly blends live performance, cinematic storytelling, and rich cultural celebration. As the city warms into June, we’re taking over First Friday in the most PHLAFF way possible — with rhythm, soul, and a lineup that reminds us why art matters.

Yasser Tejeda & Palotre| 6:45 PM

Dominican singer, guitarist, and producer Yasser Tejeda is no stranger to fusing tradition with the contemporary. Backed by his band and the energy of Afro-Caribbean roots, Yasser’s sound moves between folklore and funk, reverence and rebellion. Whether you’ve followed him for years or are walking in fresh, expect a high-vibe set that turns the Barnes into a sonic celebration of identity and liberation.

Bobby Flowers | 7:45 PM

Joining our lineup for the evening is Bobby Flowers (fka DJ Lean Wit It), a multidisciplinary artist whose infectious sound has lit up stages worldwide—from Fela Kuti’s New Afrika Shrine to tours with Jazmine Sullivan and sets alongside Burna Boy, Victoria Monét, and Ty Dolla $ign. A force in music, theater, and visual art, Bobby’s work bridges cultural influence and community impact, with deep roots in mentorship from Philly to Lagos.

Assorted Shorts Block | 8:00 PM

Tucked into the evening’s festivities is a handpicked shorts block that captures the emotional multitudes of the Latinx experience — from the whimsical to the mystical:

CHUCK & FERN

Two elder companions navigate the small absurdities of daily life with tenderness, humor, and a quiet intimacy that’s hard to shake. With minimal dialogue and expressive visual storytelling, Chuck & Fern paints a portrait of friendship that feels at once ordinary and essential — a reminder that connection can thrive in the softest, most unexpected corners of our lives.

Delicious

Boldly stylized and full of visual wit, Delicious is a short that blurs the line between appetite and emotion. Anchored by vibrant imagery and rhythmic editing, it explores how hunger — for food, for pleasure, for affirmation — shapes our behavior in ways both hilarious and haunting. It’s absurd, yes, but like all good satire, it leaves a bite.

La Bruja (The Witch)

Shot with a rich, almost mythic tone, La Bruja reclaims the figure of the witch not as villain but as truth-teller. Rooted in ancestral wisdom and feminine rage, the film is a poetic and visual meditation on power, legacy, and the narratives we’re told — and the ones we choose to write for ourselves. Expect tension, beauty, and a sense of reclamation.

Get tickets now:
 phlaff25.eventive.org/welcome