Extent
Acquired 2005-06 & 2025-10
- 3 film reels
- 68 videocassettes
- 27 video discs
- 3 books
- 57 digital files
- 1 box of papers
Acquired 2005-06 & 2025-10
Steven Torriano Berry is a scholar and award-winning filmmaker who is professor emeritus at Howard University’s Department of Media, Journalism, and Film. He has directed several films, including the shorts Rich (1982), Deathly Realities (1985), Money'll Eat You Up (1992), Euphrates Sun (1993), and the horror feature Embalmer (1996). Berry created and produced Black Visions/Silver Screen, a showcase for the work of Howard University’s student filmmakers that ran on the public television station WHUT-TV32 in Washington, D.C. Berry served as director and videographer on Noh Matta Wat!, the first Belizean dramatic TV series, which ran for 22 episodes starting in 2005. In addition to his filmmaking work, Berry has authored (with sister Venise Berry) The 50 Most Influential Black Films: A Celebration of African American Talent (2001), as well as the novels Tears (1991) and The Honeyman's Son (2002).
The S. Torriano Berry Collection provides an overview of Berry's filmic and professional work. Highlights include: the full run of Noh Matta Wat!; Berry's earliest 1980s student films at UCLA; home movies; Berry's reconstructions and re-edits for films like Eloyce and James Gist's Hellbound Train (1930) and Ossie Davis's Countdown at Kusini (1976); documentation of Berry's teaching at Howard; and Berry's work as cinematographer or editor for other filmmakers (including Zeinabu irene Davis). The collection also houses compilations of the Black Visions/Silver Screen showcases, featuring short films by Howard University student filmmakers, many of which are not accessible elsewhere.

The Media School
Black Film Center & ArchiveHours: Monday -Friday, 9 am - 12 pm, 1pm - 4.30 pm