Sasha Dees and Philip Powel (festival directors) founded Black Soil, the first International Hip Hop Film Festival in Europe, in 2003.

Black Soil is going back to be an only in Rotterdam festival as of 2008 again!! The 6th annual festival will take place 4-7 December 2008 in Watt (former Nightown) in Rotterdam.. tune in for more info or to check for Black Soil presents events we have national and international throughout the year! 

Black Soil's scope is across the board and puts Hip Hop into a broader perspective. Next to the presentation of movies inspired by DJs, graffiti, MCs and break dancers, movies derived from Hip Hop will be shown, as well as movies which have served as a source of inspiration to Hip Hop artists and to movie directors. In addition to films, Black Soil offers an extensive program, including i.e. panel discussions; expositions and after parties with prominent DJs, MC's & B-boyz & girlzz

Black Soil advised, and/or programmed film screenings in worldwide events, including URB (Finland), BASS & Rising Styles (UK); Cinema Roma, Lezarts Urbains, Cinema Nova (B); Filmhuis Den Haag, 't Hoogt, Bo! Zo Cultuur Amsterdam Zuidoost (NL), Hiphopfilmfestival, H2O, Black Lily (US); ROTL (Germany) and COX18 (Italy). For links to these festivals go to "filmmaker".

Upcoming Black Soil specials:

* 5 July
Black Soil presents @ Street Science in Lantaren/Venster, Rotterdam  www.streetscience.nl
* 7 July
Black Soil presents @ Rising Styles Festival, Brighton UK www.risingstyles.com
* 3 August
Black Soil presents @ URB, Helsinki - Finland www.urb.fi
* 10 August
Black Soil present Bob Marley Tribute @ Rotown  www.rotown.nl
* 12 September
Black Soil presents Leimert Park & Kamau Daaood @ witte de withfestival in TOKO94, Rotterdam www.festivalwww.nl
* 26 October
Black Soil presents @ no label - Filmhuis 't Hoogt, Utrecht www.hoogt.nl