“Celebrating people of color around the world.”

That mission statement informs ROXFILM 2025, the 27th edition of the Roxbury International Film Festival which opens Thursday and closes June 27.

“This began when local filmmakers in Boston weren’t getting into festivals, and there were not a lot of Black or Latino entries,” recalled executive director Lisa Simmons. “These were filmmakers creating different stories and we created this festival that became the Roxbury International Film Festival 15 years ago.

“Opening night June 19 is Juneteenth and the Museum of Fine Arts is free that day and so is our opening film, ‘Paint Me a Road Out of Here’ which uncovers Faith Ringgold’s masterpiece ‘For the Women’s House’ as it follows its 50-year journey from Rikers Island to the Brooklyn Museum.

“It’s a story of resilience and hope.”

Closing night is “May the Lord Watch: The Little Brother Story.” “It is the definitive film about the hip hop group Little Brother. We are collaborating with BAMS fest,” Simmons noted.

“May the Lord Watch” chronicles the North Carolina rap group comprised of Phonte and Big Pooh (and formerly producer 9th Wonder).

A legendary underground duo they bridged the gap between the Roots and Kendrick Lamar, A Tribe Called Quest and J. Cole, De La Soul and Drake. “Watch” follows their rise, breakup and reunion but its heart is seeing the unfolding relationship between Phonte and Big Pooh, which began at Durham’s Black North Carolina Central University, strained in the music industry and resolved when the two reunited for their 2019 album “May the Lord Watch.”

A Q&A moderated by local historian Derek Adams is followed by the closing night party at Artists for Humanity. “We’re excited about that,” Simmons said.

What’s significant this year is the variety and number of films. “Over a hundred, actually 104,” she said, “with a large number of local films, the most since we began. And many short films.”

In today’s strained political climate, Simmons says ROXFILM 2025 “really isn’t political in any way. It’s films about love, relationships. Or social justice and being advocates. These are untold stories and artists you may have never known but it’s lifting up those stories.”

As for a favorite, “I can’t say. As festival director and curator we love every single one. There are great blocks about self-discovery and sports with the Negro Leagues and the NBA.

“This year we’ve brought in community members to do Q&As. Like, ‘What’s the theme that inspired you to make this film?’ Like, a film on Black maternal health, and another on the Boston Celtics to talk about the sports programming we’re doing.

“We have films about Black masculinity and an epic documentary about Harriet Tubman. It’s all about how we’re reaching out to a community and have these important conversations that need to happen.”

For information, including tickets: Roxfilmfest.com