$TACK$
7:26 Min. | Blocks 7 & 11
Nov. 16 | Saturday | 8:00pm - 10:00pm | Theater 12
Nov. 17 | Sunday | 2:00pm - 4:00pm | Theater 13
Unprecedented times force two fierce rivals to come face to face, for the first time in over a decade, to close a deal for the most valuable substance on earth. $TACK$ is a sarcastic plea for every viewer to be responsible for the attitudes, assumptions and judgments buried deep inside themselves.
Gerald Webb: Director, Writer
Gerald Webb, Mark Christopher Lawrence, Meredith Thomas: Producer
Gerald Webb conceived, wrote, produced and directed $TACK$. While the film marks Webb’s directorial debut, the Daytime Emmy nominated producer, actor and former casting executive is no stranger to filmmaking. He has produced 35+ films, cast 100+ films and has appeared as an actor in over 150 films and television shows. In 2012, Gerald co-founded production company, DeInstitutionalized, LLC, with Christopher Ray. The company has produced and delivered films to partners including: Netflix, MarVista Entertainment, Syfy Network, Lifetime Network, ION Television and Cinedigm.
4 TO 6 SECONDS
19:33 Min. | Blocks 6 & 16
Nov. 16 | Saturday | 5:00pm - 7:00pm | Theater 13
Nov. 17 | Sunday | 8:00pm - 10:00pm | Theater 12
Three women face life-changing decisions in a single day. Their choices in mere seconds alter their destinies forever. Dive into a day where fate, decisions, and twists intertwine, crossing paths between three unique characters. Their stories crash and careen as they struggle to navigate a world on the edge of chaos.
ZJ Jackson: Director/Writer
Ar’Darius Stewert, Alena Drake, Zjara Wilson: Producer
ZJ Jackson is a trailblazing director forging an exhilarating path in television & film. ZJ seamlessly interweaves nuanced personal arcs with compelling larger themes that spark cultural conversation. She has honed skills in guiding transcendent performances, maintaining tonal control across episodes, and realizing her singular authorial vision. Her daring artistic perspective probing identity and uplifting diverse voices has established her as a vital new storyteller.
A CINEMA VERITÉ EXPERIENCE:
MY DEJA VU WITH TEENA MARIE
“TESTING POSITIVE 4
DA’ FUNK!”
16:13 Min. | Blocks 2 & 10
Nov. 16 | Saturday | 11:00am - 1:00pm | Theater 13
Nov. 17 | Sunday | 11:00am - 1:00pm | Theater 12
Well, Glory be! The FUNK’s on Me! You want some? “My Deja Vu with Teena Marie”, is aimed at the lovers of real music, by real musicians, who played live, improvised on the spot and knew how to entertain and be sexy without taking everyone to a strip.
Darryl McCane: Director/ Writer
Darryl McCane, Darryl Bohanan, Alia Rose: Producer
Darryl McCane is a dedicated educator, passionate filmmaker, and mentor who has made a significant impact in both the educational and artistic realms. With a career spanning over two decades, McCane has contributed to the development of the next generation of filmmakers and media creators, utilizing innovative teaching methods and community partnerships to empower at-risk students in South Los Angeles. Mr. McCane’s journey includes Adjunct Professor at the Los Angeles Community College District, a Senior Instructor for Film and Video at Washington Preparatory High School, and a filmmaker with a commitment to preserving history through the art of cinema.
A FILM CALLED BLACK: KING’S SPEECH
19:20 Min. | Blocks 4 & 12
Nov. 16 | Saturday | 2:00pm - 4:00pm | Theater 13 Nov. 17 | Sunday | 5:00pm - 7:00pm | Theater 12
A film centered around the conversation of Blackness - What is Blackness? Who gets to define it? And asking Black father’s, “What does it mean to be a king?” This, all while telling the parallel story of Chicago artist Cam Be & Neak’s creation of the song and visual story of King’s Speech. The narrative aspect of the film adorns
different black faces with custom crowns made by artist Simone Yael.
Cam Be: Director Cam Be, Neak: Producer
Cam Be is a film director, photographer, musician, DJ and music producer. His central passion for filmmaking emerged during his studies at New York Film Academy (2006) and Columbia College in Chicago (2008-2010). In 2012 Cam received an Emmy award for his role as producer with NBC Chicago. His first feature length documentary “The Exchange” is available online at Amazon Video. His short documentary “Where Flowers Bloom,” the making of the Grammy Nominated Hip-Hop album ‘Laila’s Wisdom’ by Rapsody was released on Tidal in 2018.
A STRANGER’S WALTZ
11:00 Min. | Blocks 4 & 12
Nov. 16 | Saturday | 2:00pm - 4:00pm | Theater 13
Nov. 17 | Sunday | 5:00pm - 7:00pm | Theater 12
Two young Nigerian Americans, on their way to a Nigerian wedding, cross paths on the bustling streets of New York City. Their chance encounter sets the stage for a connection that transcends time, weaving a heartfelt tale of love, growth, and destiny.
Oluseyi Olatujoye: Director Princess Adenike: Writer/ Producer
Oluseyi Olatujoye, is an accomplished filmmaker whose talent has been recognized on various international platforms. His film “Bobert” has not only garnered acclaim, but has also been selected for multiple prestigious film festivals, further solidifying Oluseyi’s reputation as a filmmaker of exceptional merit.
ALWAYS
12:00 Min. | Blocks 4 & 12
Nov. 16 | Saturday | 2:00pm - 4:00pm | Theater 13
Nov. 17 | Sunday | 5:00pm - 7:00pm | Theater 12
A young woman on the brink of a new chapter, finds her life upended when an unexpected request from her family prompts her to confront the ghosts of her past.
Keena Ferguson: Director Fredericka Meek: Writer Fredericka Meek, Gwendolyn Osborne, Patricia Turner, Carl Protho: Writer
From the Show Me State, to The Ohio State University with a BFA in dance to Los Angeles, Keena has been a storyteller in many forms for years. Starting as a dancer and choreographer since a young age gave her the understanding of staging, blocking and using your entire body to evoke emotion. A NAACP award winning actor and nominated writer and producer, Keena seamlessly transitioned to being a film and TV director. Using her diverse body of work as an actor on hit shows like Atlanta, SWAT and Young & the Restless; she can communicate clearly to her actors and get performances that move the audience.
BALLERINA BOY
17:00 Min. | Blocks 6 & 16
Nov. 16 | Saturday | 5:00pm - 7:00pm | Theater 13
Nov. 17 | Sunday | 8:00pm - 10:00pm | Theater 12
When a Black timid and directionless freshman discovers his love for ballet, he must learn to fight for himself in a locker room full of rowdy boys.
Marc Jure: Director, Writer Amir Zargara: Producer Marc Jure, Fitch Jean, Weggon Allen: Executive Producer
Marc Jure is a rising Haitian-Canadian writer and director, known for his unique blend of cultural backgrounds. With a deep passion for storytelling, Marc finds unparalleled self-fulfillment in crafting narratives that not only mirror the complexities of our world but also offer fresh insights and philosophies on the human experience and our collective journey through life. To date, Marc has helmed two short films and contributed to several documentary web series, showcasing his versatile talent and vision.
BOOTS
7:27 Min. | Blocks 7 & 11
Nov. 16 | Saturday | 8:00pm - 10:00pm | Theater 12
Nov. 17 | Sunday | 2:00pm - 4:00pm | Theater 13
An insecure young woman, discovers a pair of talking heels, she must go on a journey of self-love & acceptance to show her ex-boyfriend that he made a mistake in dumping her.”
Precious Ugochukwu: Director, Writer, Producer
A Nigerian-American from Austin, Texas. Precious Ugochukwu is an actress, writer, director, and content creator. Precious studied at The American and Musical Dramatic Academy in New York and Los Angeles to receive her Bachelor’s degree in Acting for Film and Stage. She has been directing plays since she was seventeen years old and started directing in my high school theater classes. Precious volunteers for her local church. She always puts her full heart and mind into creating a dynamic story to tell audiences.
BREAKFAST
15:10 Min. | Blocks 1 & 15
Nov. 16 | Saturday | 11:00am - 1:00pm | Theater 12
Nov. 17 | Sunday | 8:00pm - 10:00pm | Theater 13
Two estranged siblings meet for an impromptu breakfast revealing family secrets, and harsh truths with fatal consequences.
Philip Payton: Director
Sencere Lawrence: Writer
Genaro NavarroRodriguez: Producer
Phillips Payton is a director, composer, and actor from Chicago, Illinois. He began his filmmaking journey in high school, creating shorts and music videos with friends. Phillips earned a BA in Screenwriting from Loyola Marymount University, focusing on television writing. His directorial work showcases dramatic narratives and stunt choreography. His proof of concept for the historical drama “Message For the King” won Best Period Piece at the Las Vegas Film Festival. Passionate about collaborating with actors, he aims to direct serialized TV, exploring the relationship between image and sound. He is currently pursuing an MFA at USC.
BRIEF TENDER LIGHT
93 Min.
Nov. 16 | Saturday | 11:00am - 1:00pm | Theater 9
At America’s elite MIT, a Ghanaian alum follows four African students as they strive to become agents of change for their home countries Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania and Zimbabwe.
Arthur Musah: Director, Producer, Writer
Brook Sitgraves Turner: Co-Producer
Arthur Musah is a filmmaker from Ghana, Ukraine, and the United States. His 50-minute Naija Beta (2016) played at festivals in the U.S., Africa and Europe, and won the Roxbury International Film Festival’s Best Documentary Short and the Silicon Valley African Film Festival’s Achievement in Documentary awards, among others. Arthur studied filmmaking in the M.F.A. program at the University of Southern California as an Annenberg Fellow. He also earned a bachelor’s and a master’s in electrical engineering and computer science from MIT, and worked as an engineer. Brief Tender Light is his first feature. Arthur’s work has also been supported by the Sundance
BROKEN VERSE
13:28 Min. | Blocks 1 & 15
Nov. 16 | Saturday | 11:00am - 1:00pm | Theater 12
Nov. 17 | Sunday | 8:00pm - 10:00pm | Theater 13
A poetic tale of broken promises and one woman’s courage to finally walk away.
Adrian Jules: Director
Chasity Shanae Hart: Writer
Chasity Shanae Hart, Troyvonna Desroisers: Producer
Born in Nassau, Bahamas, and raised in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Adrian Jules represents a new generation of entertainers, showcasing a diverse portfolio as an actor, writer, and content producer. Despite a stellar history in competitive sports that had many believing he would enter the professional leagues; Adrian chose to pursue his passion for entertainment in Hollywood. In 2011, Adrian made his acting debut and has since been featured as a principal in national and international campaigns for top brands like Verizon, FedEx, Facebook, and Wells Fargo. His image can be seen across various projects both on and off the screen. In his free time, Adrian enjoys writing and creating content, his second passion.
CHASING THE WIND
9:30 Min. | Blocks 3 & 13
Nov. 16 | Saturday | 2:00pm - 4:00pm | Theater 12
Nov. 17 | Sunday | 5:00pm - 7:00pm | Theater 13
Jyran finally gets his big break in his music career and his music video goes viral on YouTube. In the middle of celebrating his success he gets reminded of the real blessing that God has to offer.
Mahalaleel Wallock: Director, Writer, Producer
Based in Florida, Mahalaleel brings a range of practical skills and experience to each project. Skilled in acting, boxing, comedy, fitness, football, improvisation, running, sports and stunts. He has contributed to a variety of roles; meeting project needs and providing consistent results. With a focus on commercials, feature film, TV & video, Wallock has been involved in projects that align with these areas, gaining hands-on experience. Mahalaleel’s background supports a well-rounded approach to new challenges and tasks, making him adaptable across different project settings.
CHOICES
12:49 Min. | Blocks 8 & 12
Nov. 16 | Saturday | 8:00pm - 10:00pm | Theater 13
Nov. 17 | Sunday | 2:00pm - 4:00pm | Theater 12
Three very different friends find renewed connection as they await pregnancy results at their Los Angeles High School.
Kameishia D Wooten: Director/Writer
Janae Greene, Meagann Pallares, Victoria Brown: Producer
Kameishia Wooten is a Los Angeles based Director, Writer, and Producer who creates provoking, inclusive, socially impactful stories for TV & Film. She has written, directed, and produced 7 short films and a web series.
CONTAGIOUS SWAGGER
11:35 Min. | Blocks 8 & 12
Nov. 16 | Saturday | 8:00pm - 10:00pm | Theater 13
Nov. 17 | Sunday | 2:00pm - 4:00pm | Theater 12
Calvin Callins Jr. aka CJ is a writer, director, and DJ. His work is driven by the creation of the final product. The emotion from his projects motivates him to keep creating, bring forth more emotion and expand his reach. Calvin desires to help people accomplish their dreams of acting, telling stories, but also be a part of changing the narrative and portrayal of people of color.
COUNTED
11:00 Min. | Blocks 5 & 9
Nov. 16 | Saturday | 5:00pm - 7:00pm | Theater 12
Nov. 17 | Sunday | 11:00am - 1:00pm | Theater 13
A single mother who suddenly becomes a widow with the uncertainty of how she will be able to care for her family…until she encounters a mysterious homeless woman.
Deborah Franco: Director/ Writer Taji Coleman: Producer
A romantic comedy film about a young Black man visiting his Asian girlfriends’ parents’ house for dinner for the first time. His footwear could be the answer to solve a dramatic forbidden love story.
Calvin Callins Jr.: Director/ Writer
Justin James Colón, Lucas McFarland: Producer
Deborah Franco moved to Los Angeles to pursue a successful songwriting and recording career. Her first music video, a remake of Ain’t No Sunshine in both English and Spanish, earning her a “Best New Artist” award with both BET and Telemundo. Franco was asked to write and direct her first awarding-winning short Late Bloomer. Franco’s passion to create diverse stories led to her writing several features that include a dance film optioned by producer Debra Martin Chase. Over the course of the next four years, Franco wrote, directed and co-produced a series of successful commercials and media projects for the U.S. Navy and the United States Naval Academy as well as other commercials. Franco is an active member of the Directors Guild of America.
DANNY BOY
14:27 Min. | Youth Block
Nov. 16 | Saturday | 10:00am | Theater 8
A young Black Grandson must navigate the challenges of caring for his Grandmother recently diagnosed with Diabetes.
MyQueal Lewis, Luke Harris: Director Yusef Dingle: Producer Logan Coles: Executive Producer
Luke Harris is a Black award–winning, Director-Writer. A graduate of USC School of Cinematic Arts studying Film & Television Production and served as President of African American Cinema Society founded by John Singleton. Winner of the 2022 #CreateLouisiana French Cultural Film Grant for his film “Tambou” starring Lance E. Nichols. Harris was selected into in 2023 NOFS Emerging Voices Directors Lab and NOVAC’s 2023 Director’s documentary cohort. “Pam” directed and written by Luke was selected onto Omeleto which has received over half million views. He wrote and edited, “The First Day of Being Black,” won a Jury Award at the student DGA Award and a show he wrote and produced, “Provenance,” which won Best Drama at the College Television Awards and was selected into SeriesFest.
MyQueal Lewis, with a degree in Social Work from Florida A&M University, seamlessly blends his expertise in social issues with his creative vision in film. His collaborations with brands like Beats by Dre, Disney, and Cricket Wireless have broadened his reach, yet his focus remains on crafting narratives that resonate deeply with individuals.
DEFICIT
7:52 Min. | Blocks 8 & 12
Nov. 16 | Saturday | 8:00pm - 10:00pm | Theater 13
Nov. 17 | Sunday | 2:00pm - 4:00pm | Theater 12
A young college student deals with the struggles of undiagnosed ADHD in his life.
Ian B Hopkins, Zuhah Syed: Director
Ian Hopkins is a senior at Connecticut College who will graduate in May with a degree in film. His work has been selected and won awards in festivals internationally. Post-graduation he plans to continue pursuing documentary filmmaking with a new project “Plight of the Negro: Higher Education”, examining how higher education has failed black students.
ERLKÖNIG
6:25 Min. | Blocks 1 & 15
Nov. 16 | Saturday | 11:00am - 1:00pm Theater 12
Nov. 17 | Sunday | 8:00pm - 10:00pm | Theater 13
In a powerful exploration of racial and health disparities, classical music takes center stage when a father and son confront the ominous figure of Der Erlkönig, the whisperer of death.
Morgan Middleton, Charlie Driscoll: Director
Morgan Middleton: Writer
Morgan Middleton: Producer
SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE
Sunday | November 17, 2024
THEATER 9
11:00am - 1:00pm
Block 9
Counted 11:00 Min.
Shoebox 12:25 Min.
Prizefighter ...............................6:16 Min.
French Fries ............................14:41 Min.
Osoro 27:4 Min. 5
The Devil Aint Plus 25:00 Min.
THEATER 12
11:00am - 1:00pm
Block 10
A Cinema Verite: Teena Marie 23:44 Min.
Poinsetta: Hollywood’s Refuge 19:48 Min.
The Paris 3: The Difference
You Can Make................................. 19:26 Min.
My Name Is Peaches:
A Film Womanism 53:00 Min.
THEATER 9
11:00am - 1:00pm Block B
Sweet Potato Ride 40:00 Min.
Thank You Sade 28:00 Min.
Sudden .....................................7:57 Min.
My Dead Selfie ...................... 39:06 Min.
PANEL
2:00pm
Directors On Directing
THEATER 13
2:00pm - 4:00pm Block 11
Lineage 19:13Min.
What If…You Had The Perfect Person ......................................6:40 Min.
Mosaics Symphony ................44:09 Min.
Boots 7:27 Min. NANY 12:59 Min.
$tacks$ 7:26 Min.
THEATER 12
2:00pm - 4:00pm
Block 12
The Last Supper .....................21:08 Min.
Deficit .......................................7:52 Min.
Choices ..................................12:49 Min.
My Daughter, Tyler 13:40 Min. Contagious Swagger 11:35 Min.
Over the Board 27:00 Min.
THEATER 13
5:00pm - 7:00pm Block 13
Summer Street .........................8:38 Min.
Chasing the Wind ......................9:30 Min.
The Price of Freedom ..............11:15 Min.
The Stranger ...........................28:00 Min.
Puglistic Soul 20:05 Min.
Silent Partner 16:00 Min.
Kool Aid Stand 11:44 Min.
THEATER 12
5:00pm - 7:00pm Block 14
Hard 21:45 Min.
A Stranger’s Waltz ...................11:00 Min.
A Film Called Black: King’s Speech ........................19:20 Min.
Always ....................................12:00 Min.
Terminally Ill 8:08 Min.
Inhuman Tethers .....................20:51 Min.
Spare Me ..................................8:15 Min.
PREMIERE HOUSE
4:00pm H SPECIAL SCREENING H Tollivers Barbershop
THEATER 13
8:00pm - 10:00pm
Block 15
Breakfast ...............................15:10 Min.
Village ....................................12:47 Min.
Broken Verse 13:28 Min.
Niecy 5:39 Min.
Erlkönig ...................................6:25 Min.
The Counter: 1960 18:21 Min.
The Caregiver .........................27:44 Min. Erlkönig ................................... 6:26 Min.
THEATER 12
8:00pm - 10:00pm
Block 16
4 to 6 Seconds 19:33 Min.
House Sitting for My Ex 15:01 Min.
It Takes A Village .....................13:34 Min.
Taraji 7:30 Min.
The Call ...................................7:05 Min.
San Kaz 7:41 Min.
Ballerina Boy 17:00 Min.
Proud Dad 10:48 Min.
*Note: Films within a block may screen in a different order than what is listed.*
30th Annual S.E. Manly African American Short Film Festival
Morgan Middleton (she/her) is a singer-actress, producer, director and writer. Her passion is bringing underrepresented people into focus and showcasing them in their best light. She received a grant from The Boston Foundation to produce and direct an original one-woman show designed to highlight the power of music as a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. The mezzo soprano has performed on stage with Santa Fe Opera, Chicago Opera Theater, and the Lyric Opera of Chicago and performed with composer Ricky Ian Gordon at the Door Kinetic Arts Festival (DKAF) in Door County, Wisconsin. As a writer, she directed a reading of her comedy teleplay, Crescendo, at DKAF. Ms. Middleton completed her bachelor’s degree at the University of Southern California and her master’s degree at New England Conservatory of Music.
FATHEAD
19:58 Min. | Youth Block
Nov. 16 | Saturday | 10:00am | Theater 8
When one of the last free children of Junkyard Paradise has her brother stolen away from her, nothing will stop her from getting him back.
c. Craig: Director/Writer Alexa Villarreal, Letia Solomon, Mitchell Graham Colley: Producer Anthony Gaitros, Brandyn Johnson: Producer
c .Craig is a filmmaker whose work has received distinctions from The Blacklist, Sundance Screenwriters Lab, Sundance Episodic Lab, Hillman Grad’s Rising Voices, the Nicholl Fellowship, and AmPav at Cannes Film Festival. He is the recipient of the
Innovation in Technology grant and the Edward Small Award for writing and directing from the University of Southern California (USC). He is an NAACP Image Award nominee for Outstanding Short Form (Live-Action), a recipient of the George Lucas Family Scholarship and directed the Paramount+ comedy special ‘Imperfect Messenger’ for Roy Wood Jr.
FRENCH FRIES
14:41 Min. | Blocks 5 & 9
Nov. 16 | Saturday | 5:00pm - 7:00pm | Theater 12
Nov. 17 | Sunday | 11:00am - 1:00pm | Theater 13
French Fries explores a young, hip African-American foodie couple’s fight to resolve communication problems in a modern marriage of six years, four months and three and a half days.
Janine Sherman Barrois: Director/Writer
Khaliah Neal: Producer
Amy Emmerich, Shannon & Stone Roberts: Executive Producers
Janine Sherman Barrois is an award-winning writer and showrunner under an exclusive multi-year deal with Warner Bros. through her company, Folding Chair Productions, to create and develop new series. She served as showrunner and executive producer of the critically acclaimed, award-winning Apple TV+ series The Big Cigar. Sherman Barrois made her directorial debut with French Fries, a short she wrote as part of Refinery29’s Shatterbox Anthology series, in conjunction with TNT, and with support from the Women at Sundance program. Sherman Barrois is a two-time NAACP Image Award winner and has been
30th Annual S.E. Manly African American Short Film Festival
nominated for several other awards for television writing, including the prestigious Humanitas Prize. Sherman Barrois is a graduate of the Warner Bros. Writers Workshop and attended Howard University.
HARD
21:45 Min. | Blocks 4 & 12
Nov. 16 | Saturday | 2:00pm - 4:00pm | Theater 13
Nov. 17 | Sunday | 5:00pm - 7:00pm | Theater 12
12-year-old Javonte
Freeman juggles puberty, a bully, and grief while learning the rules of survival in her tough neighborhood.
Directed/Written: Eboni Price
Lurene E. Banks, Eboni Price, Kristofer Cross, Dot McDonald
Musau Onwubiko, Neena
The Last Brand, LLC: Executive Produce Angelica Lee: Consulting Producer
Eboni Price is an award-winning director and writer based in Los Angeles, known for bringing authentic stories of Black women to the forefront. She has worked with major companies including Shondaland, Bad Robot, and Legendary Pictures and has had projects featured in multiple festivals. Eboni’s 2023 feature directorial debut, Free, stars Wendy Raquel Robinson and Clifton Powell, following a career that includes directing shadows on Station 19 and Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story. Eboni is a proud graduate of Howard University and Netflix’s Series Director Program.
HARLEM FRAGMENTS
17:42 Min. | Youth Block
Nov. 16 | Saturday | 10:00am | Theater 8
Harlem Fragments is an Afro-Futurist Drama Sci-Fi that follows the journey of two young siblings, Mya and TJ, as they navigate their parents’ divorce leading from the early 2000s up and through the 2008 recession. The film explores the haunting societal pressures of achieving the Black American dream, told in the POV of 10 year old TJ revisiting his family’s home that’s up for sale.
Cameron Tyler Carr: Writer/Director/Producer
Wes Andre Goodrich, Danielle Therese Douge: Writer Lianne Becker, Collin Meath, Flore De Oro Tejada, Benjamin Drew Thompson
Cameron Tyler Carr is a born and bred Harlemite, Director and Creative Producer. As a pragmatic optimist, and with ambition to become the Issa Rae/Jordan Peele/Donald Glover ultimate hybrid, Cameron’s constant mission is to continue to push, propel and create Black-led stories through film and creative, while spotlighting systemic inequities that often remain unconscious and unspoken in society. After Producing/Assistant Directing seven films and spending seven years making commercials for fortune 500 companies at top creative New York agencies Wieden+Kennedy and BBDO— Cameron’s directorial debut was with Harlem Fragments, backed by a $100K production budget in partnership with FUJIFILM. 16 awards and 8 additional nominations and this year’s selection of the DGA Shoot New Director Spotlight Showcase Cohort.
HOUSE SITTING FOR MY EX
15:01 Min. | Blocks 6 & 16
Nov. 16 | Saturday | 5:00pm - 7:00pm | Theater 13
Nov. 17 | Sunday | 8:00pm - 10:00pm | Theater 12
After delivering a successful art presentation, Dante receives word that he has been promoted to the lead designer position in his company. This promotion is life-changing and causes him to leave town suddenly, affecting his weekend with his children.
Jazzmyne Reese: Director/ Writer
Jazzmyne Reese, Khalimah Gaston: Producer
Faleisha D. Reese, Randy T. Brewer: Producer
Jazzmyne Reese is a writer, director, and artist from Los Angeles, CA. Since she was a young girl, she has always had an active imagination and a passion for films. She wrote her first short story around the age of eight and over the years has produced and directed numerous tributes & music videos that have helped to hone her skills and vision. You can always find her creating and ready to throw herself into a new experience. Most recently, Jazzmyne’s first short film, “House Sitting For My Ex” is dramedy that touches on the complexities of co-parenting. Filmmaking is her tool of choice, and she will continue to use it, telling stories that inspire healing and connection in her community, following in the footsteps of her heroes Spike Lee, John Singleton, Steven Spielberg, Gina Prince-Bythewood, and Hayao Miyazaki.
IMANI THE SUPER ENGINEER
9:45 Min. | Youth Block
Nov. 16 | Saturday | 10:00am | Theater 8
Animated story based on young girl has been invited to “Bring Your Son and Daughter to Work Day” by her mom.
Sandra EversManly:Creator/Executive Producer /Writer
Robert McCune: Writer Jesse Ford:Animation Director
Imani is introduced to the world of engineering during a Bring Your Child To Work Day, at her mother’s job. This is where she is able to dive head first into a world of creativity, problem solving, and lots and lots of FUN! Imani will stop at nothing on her course to making the world a better place, with plenty of attitude along the way, “you feel me?”
“Imani The Super Little Engineer” introduces young people at a large scale, to a world and field that needs growth for the sake of the world’s future. Having already won an Emmy for her help as an executive producer for the documentary, “The Hunt For Planet B”, and having produced or directed several other documentaries Sandra Evers-Manly had a strong ambition to apply her vision to the world of animation.
INHUMAN TETHERS
20:51 Min. | Blocks 4 & 12
Nov. 16 | Saturday | 2:00pm - 4:00pm | Theater 13
Nov. 17 | Sunday | 5:00pm - 7:00pm | Theater 12
When Savannah moves her COPD-stricken brother Jacob into her home for care, she finds a decades-old letter from her now adult son in his suitcase. What she reads in the letter sends her on a spiral, causing her to not only to take her life, but to leave behind a family heirloom along with a final, complicated request for her son, Kordell.
George Anthony Richardson: Director/Writer/ Producer
The roots of George Anthony Richardson are grounded in Merced, CA. His upbringing as the son of a minister and a social worker ignited a fiery desire to reach through to people’s hearts through storytelling. In 2014, he attended Santa Monica College to further hone his craft as an actor until moving to New York City in 2017. He is a 2021 graduate of The Juilliard School’s Drama Division and has worked on numerous productions including Tanya Barfield’s Blue Door and Cardboard Piano by Hansol Jung. In 2022, he made his Off-Broadway Directing Debut at 59e59 Theatres. His most recent acting credit marks his Broadway debut: this past season’s Tony Award winning revival of Suzan Lori-Parks’ Topdog/Underdog. Developing a keen lens for the human condition through storytelling as an actor has propelled him to step into the role of not only a writer, but director as well.
IT TAKES A VILLAGE
13:34 Min. | Blocks 6 & 16
Nov. 16 | Saturday | 5:00pm - 7:00pm | Theater 13 Nov. 17 | Sunday | 8:00pm - 10:00pm | Theater 12
In a family where rites of passage have been performed for generations, a father prepares his morally conflicted son toward manhood, through the hunting of a deer.
Joshua Kissi: Director Joshua Kissi, Keyla McNeely: Writer Kegan Sant: Producer Joshua Kissi, Leah Natasha Thomas: Executive Producer
Patrick Milling-Smith, David Richards: Executive Producer
Kamila Prokop: Executive Producer
Joshua Kissi is a Ghanaian-American director and photographer. Growing up in the Bronx, NY, he had a deep affinity for the arts despite the lack of exposure and accessibility to the creative industries. As a filmmaker, Joshua has an innate ability to find a commonality and connection point with everyone he comes across and each character whose story he is telling imbues his films with insights that are completely unexpected, and emotional depths rarely explored. Joshua Kissi truly is the storyteller of our time. He has directed campaigns for Google, LinkedIn, Hennessy, NBA, New York Times, Chevrolet and is now looking forward to his dive into the narrative world with his first short film, It Takes A Village.
KOOL AID STAND
11:44 Min. | Blocks 3 & 13
Nov. 16 | Saturday | 2:00pm - 4:00pm | Theater 12
Nov. 17 | Sunday | 5:00pm - 7:00pm | Theater 13
An inner city, latchkey kid must stand-up to the school bully and a local gang leader in order to help his mom pay the overdue electricity bill.
Jennifer Marie: Director/ Writer
No Wooden Nickels LLC, Mary Cole
Jennifer Marie aka j Marie is actor, producer, director, comedian and writer. She was in Kansas City, MO and now resides in Hollywood, CA and this is where she would birth her production company, No Wooden Nickels LLC in 2021.
Jennifer decided to add Producer to her resume after working in the entertainment industry as an actor and host. She executive produced and starred in the hit Mini TV Series, Revenge of Side Chick, The Nun, The Witch and The Bloodsucker, Christmas The Wright Way, and the hilarious and inspiring podcast ‘Gyrl Talk With j Marie’. In 2019, the first project she Directed and Executive Produced was a short documentary entitled “fRIENDS to fRAMILY” and that project was selected for a Los Angeles film festival!! Jennifer Marie wrote, directed and starred in two short films: The Ally and Kool-Aid Stand. She also graduated Summa Cum Laude with a 4.0 from the Master’s program for Film and Media Production at New York Film Academy in Burbank, CA. As her next step in life was to add even more knowledge to the passion she has for filmmaking. j Marie’s mission is to produce and create content that the world can love, laugh and learn from.
LINEAGE
19:13 Min. | Blocks 7 & 11
Nov. 16 | Saturday | 8:00pm - 10:00pm | Theater 12 Nov. 17 | Sunday | 2:00pm - 4:00pm | Theater 13
When Trudy finds out her son Marcus is dating Afriyie, it puts Marcus in a difficult position. Will Marcus give in to his mother’s warnings or will he defy her and stick with the woman of his dreams? Marcus has a secret that his mom Trudy doesn’t know. This secret will determine his Lineage and will shock Trudy. What will Marcus do? Ghana is a country full of hopes and dreams. Will Afriyie and Marcus find their dreams there? His Lineage is the key!
Daakyehene Ababio: Director, Writer, Producer
Ghanaian filmmaker based in Ohio, USA, full of passion to tell African stories and the touch on world issues with my films. He has have been chasing this dream for over 13 years now, as a self-taught filmmaker, this project was because of what I have passionately learned over the last 13 years.
MOSAIC SYMPHONY
44:09 Min. | Blocks 7 & 11
Nov. 16 | Saturday | 8:00pm - 10:00pm | Theater 12
Nov. 17 | Sunday | 2:00pm - 4:00pm | Theater 13
From a young age, Genesis’s passion for the violin has been evident. It is only as he becomes of age that he makes a decision to establish his ‘becoming a man’. In the wake of his decision, he impacts the lives of his sister Olivia, his mother and father, and others around him. Can love and forgiveness, like a knock on the door, be opened and found in brokenness? Sometimes fractured moments can shatter lives but when placed in the right hands can produce a beautiful mosaic.
JA Williams: Director/Writer/ Producer
JA Williams is a native of Los Angeles. As a former Civil Engineer, JA transitioned from Engineering to the field of personal security protection, which has granted him access to working with several top artists, traveling all over the world, and observing humanity on a myriad of fronts for the past 35 years. These experiences have beckoned him to incorporate another calling on his life, to produce films of passion and content. Films he hopes will uplift and inspire. From a prophetic word, JA (James, aka ‘Deep’) formed RakingLeaves Productions in 2011. JA continues to produce films that impact humanity on a global scale as he continues to cultivate his craft in all of his inspired works. JA resides in Los Angeles, California with his wife and two adult children.
MY DAUGHTER, TYLER
13:40 Min. | Blocks 8 & 12
Nov. 16 | Saturday | 8:00pm - 10:00pm | Theater 13
Nov. 17 | Sunday | 2:00pm - 4:00pm | Theater 12
Marie, a single, Caribbean-American mother, struggles when she discovers her teenage son is transgender. Their relationship is strained until an incident on the streets of Brooklyn forces her to choose what matters most – society’s expectations or a parent’s support.
Andre Lambertson, Roslyn Campbell: Director Michelle Montgomery, Roslyn Campbell: Writer
Lisa Koffler, Roslyn Campbell, Michelle Montgomery: Producer
Andre Lambertson is known for his work on The Whole Gritty City (2013), 48 Hours Presents: The Whole Gritty City (2014) and Charm City (2018). Roslyn Campbell is the Program Manager for CAMBA/Project ALY where she facilitates workshops on LGBTQ family acceptance throughout New York City. She has a background in theater and performing arts. My Daughter, Tyler is the first film she has co-directed with Andre.
MY DEAD SELFIE
39:06 Min. | Blocks A & B
Nov. 16 | Saturday | 1:00pm | Theater 8
Nov. 17 | Sunday | 11:00am | Theater 8
In a genre that usually goes for blood, guts and gore, My Dead Selfie aims to take the horror audience on a journey that shows the horrific side of racism, full of betrayal and deceit.
Joy Shannon: Writer, Director
Joy Shannon is a producer, writer and director best known for the award-winning docuseries After The LockDown: Black In LA. The series was directed by three Los Angeles based filmmakers, Joy, her nephew Jonathan Burnett and his father Charles Burnett. She also wrote and directed other feature films including, the award-winning 3rd Generation Female Gangsta’, All That Jazzin’ and Uptown Angel (aka Rags To Reality). Joy’s animated shorts include She Flies Again, a feel-good film about women rediscovering their dreams, a short comedy called Canna Sistaz, and a fan-cartoon in honor of Queen Sugar called Give Me Queen Sugar.
. Joy has a BFA from Howard University and a MA in film from The American University, both in Washington, DC. She served as a juror for the Corporation for Public Broadcast (CPB) and was a grant recipient from AFI and WETA. Joy resides in Los Angeles and her day-job is in disaster relief, traveling nationwide to help those impacted by natural disaster.
MY NAME IS PEACHES: A FILM WOMANISM
53:00 Min. | Blocks 2 & 10
Nov. 16 | Saturday | 11:00am - 1:00pm | Theater 13
Nov. 17 | Sunday | 11:00am - 1:00pm | Theater 12
A rich and nuanced exploration that extends far beyond its title, this multi-generational documentary delves deep into the roots of womanism, illuminating its historical significance and articulating the pressing need for this powerful movement today. Through a blend of personal stories and broader cultural reflections, the film skillfully balances the advantages and challenges inherent in womanism.
Corbin Coleman, Charles Crouch, 4C VISUALS
GROUP: Director
Corbin Coleman, Charles Crouch: Producer
4C Visuals Group, founded by independent filmmakers Corbin Coleman and Charles Crouch, is based in Raleigh, North Carolina. With a deep passion for storytelling and a strong commitment to social justice, Corbin and Charles have dedicated their careers to creating impactful documentaries that explore complex themes and amplify marginalized voices. Their filmmaking journey began with the critically acclaimed debut, “I’m Good Bro: Unmasking Black Male Depression,” followed by the equally well-received sequel, “I’m Good Bro Part II: The Year 2020.” Their latest documentary, “My Name Is Peaches: A Film About Womanism,” has garnered positive reviews and has been featured in various film festivals, resonating deeply with both audiences and critics.
NANY
12:59 Min. | Blocks 7 & 11
Nov. 16 | Saturday | 8:00pm - 10:00pm | Theater 12
Nov. 17 | Sunday | 2:00pm - 4:00pm | Theater 13
A young woman struggles to free herself from a home filled with humanity’s legendary evil spirit, white supremacy.
Bervick J. Deculus II: Director/Writer
Courtney M. Franklin: Writer/Producer
Hailing in Los Angeles, CA, Bervick J. Deculus II fell hard for the art of film in 1994 and never released his powerful intention. At 25 years as an independent filmmaker, Bervick is battle-tested to handle projects of any size while facing production headwinds. Bervick scored Best Horror and Best Director of Short Film during his film festival circuit. Bervick naturally possesses a director’s eye, including a thorough approach to executing conventional storytelling. Bervick, an award-winning filmmaker, graduated with a B.A. in Communications from Howard University while he fulfilled major cinema electives at USC as an exchange student.
NIECY
5:39 Min. | Blocks 1 & 15
Nov. 16 | Saturday | 11:00am - 1:00pm | Theater 12
Nov. 17 | Sunday | 8:00pm - 10:00pm | Theater 13
When young cook Robert goes into work on a seemingly regular day, he doesn’t realize that today is the day he will meet the love of his life for the very first time.
Shandaeya Caldwell: Director/Writer Alex Pont: Producer
Shandaeya Caldwell is in award-winning filmmaker NS MFA candidate at USC’s School of Cinematic Arts’ Film & Television Production program. She grew up in Northwest Florida, the youngest daughter of an Air Force family, but after moving around the country in her twenties, she settled in the Bay Area for 6 years where she graduated Cum Laude at San Francisco State University with a degree in Cinema. Despite graduating during the COVID-19 pandemic, she accomplished writing, directing and co-producing her undergraduate thesis, Kiana, earning her the 2021 Berkeley Film Foundation student grant and several festival selections. During her time at USC, she focused on directing while growing stronger in producing and screenwriting. The short film she produced in fall of 2023, Indulge Me, was longlisted for the 2024 Student BAFTAs. Niecy, has been officially selected at multiple film festivals and won awards. This past spring she was brought on as the only inhouse intern at Ava DuVernay’s production company, ARRAY. Shandaeya’s focus and commitment is to bring authentic stories of black women in America to the mainstream.
OSORO
27:45 Min. | Blocks 5 & 9
Nov. 16 | Saturday | 5:00pm - 7:00pm | Theater 12
Nov. 17 | Sunday | 11:00am - 1:00pm | Theater 13
When Alesha is reunited with her high-school sweetheart, she embarks on a perilous magical journey through space and time to rekindle what she lost.
Sheila Nortley: Director
Sheila Nortley, TJ
Kaluunga Jones: Writer Martina Russo: Producer
Sheila Nortley is an award-winning writer/director from London, with a scope of work that extends internationally across film and television. Her film work includes producing the independent feature film Sable Fable, which went on to win awards at several film festivals. Sheila secured a development deal with SKY to develop new television series and was also selected to join the BFI Network x BAFTA crew. Her additional directing credits include short films I Am Mary, Joy, Sacred Knowledge and music videos for Too Bold and We Roll by Shingai. Sheila produced Netflix’s global hit drama Stay Close and Sheila produced superhero show Supacell for Netflix. She developed her debut feature script Birdsong, with BFI, Film London and the BBC. She won the Woman of The Future award in Arts & Culture for her work in film, and in she is an Associate Fellow of the Royal Commonwealth Society.
OVER THE BOARD
27:00 Min. | Blocks 8 & 12
Nov. 16 | Saturday | 8:00pm - 10:00pm | Theater 13 Nov. 17 | Sunday | 2:00pm - 4:00pm | Theater 12
“Over the Board”, a story about twin brothers who meet for the first time, under unique circumstances. Before they can come together, however, they must first overcome their differences. the only way to understand each other, is over the board.
Emiliano Balado: Director
Isaac Bell, Elijah Bell: Writer Isaac Bell, Elijah Bell, Madalyn Horcher: Producer
Emiliano Bolado is a Mexican-American director, writer and independent filmmaker from East Los Angeles, California. He graduated from UCLA in 2012, where he studied Screenwriting and English Literature. His short film Blood Ties was selected as a Finalist for UCLA’s Campus Movie Fest 2012. Since then, he has worked on various independent short film projects, as well as working as a freelance screenwriter.
POINSETTIA - HOLLYWOOD’S REFUGE
19:48 Min. | Blocks 2 & 10
Nov. 16 | Saturday | 11:00am - 1:00pm | Theater 13
Nov. 17 | Sunday | 11:00am - 1:00pm | Theater 12
Poinsettia Park became a refuge for the talent throughout the diaspora of black Hollywood in the early 70’s and 80’s. This is a first-hand telling of the times and the impact that a area, in a single era, can intertwine so many lives.
Derrick Jones-Nelson: Director
Kokayi Ampah, Ricky Jones-Nelson, Derrick Jones-Nelson: Writer
PRIZEFIGHTER
6:16 Min. | Blocks 5 & 9
Nov. 16 | Saturday 5:00pm - 7:00pm | Theater 12
Nov. 17 | Sunday | 11:00am - 1:00pm | Theater 13
Prizefighter is an animated sportrait depicting three days in the life of heavyweight champion Jack Johnson, battling his fiercest opponent - racism.
Lyndon J. Barrois: Director/Writer/Producer
Lyndon J. Barrois, Jeremy Steward: Animation
An AMPAS VFX Executive Branch member, Lyndon boasts a long career in art and animation. His film credits include The Matrix Trilogy, Happy Feet, and The Thing, where he directed pivotal character animation sequences in those features and many others. He currently wins accolades for his unique gum wrapper sculptures and stop-motion animations of historic figures and events, whose portrait and Sportrait films are produced entirely on iPhones. A New Orleans native and HBCU graduate of Xavier University of Louisiana, Lyndon serves on the boards of The Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, California Institute of the Arts (his MFA Alma mater), and on the Academy Museum’s Inclusion Advisory Committee, fostering programs and supporting exhibitions.
PROUD DAD
10:48 Min. | Blocks 6 & 16
Nov. 16 | Saturday | 5:00pm - 7:00pm | Theater 13
Nov. 17 | Sunday | 8:00pm - 10:00pm | Theater 12
A father’s relationship with his son becomes strained when he finds out his son his gay.
Andre Lambertson, Roslyn Campbell: Director Phoebe Nir: Writer
Roslyn, originally from Los Angeles, is a Drama Therapy student currently living in New York. She is an alumna of the LA County High School for the Arts and Cal State Long Beach. Since 2006, she has been dedicated to advocating for mental health and social change through the arts. Roslyn’s film projects stem from workshops addressing LGBTQ Family Acceptance. Her performance experience includes independent films, sketch comedy,
television, stand-up, and theatrical productions. In her spare time, she plays the drums with Batala New York, an all-female Afro Brazilian Samba Reggae Band, and performs stand-up comedy..
Andre Lambertson is a New York-based photojournalist, teacher, and filmmaker committed to documenting stories of hope, healing, and transformation. He creates award-winning photo essays on social issues for magazines, books, foundations, advocacy organizations and museums including Time, US News & World Report, Life, National Geographic, The New York Times Magazine, The Ford Foundation, The George Soros Foundation and The Smithsonian Museum. His work has also been published in the books “A Day in The Life of Africa,” “A Day in The Life of The Military,” “America 24/7” and “RISE,” a project on gifted Black and Latino youth.
PUGILISTIC SOUL
In Andre’s first major fight opportunity, he faces a difficult decision. The promoter, an influential and wealthy man who could either help or hinder Andre’s career, has made it abundantly clear to the fighter that he should consider throwing the upcoming bout if he wants to get the opportunities he deserves. What he chooses may affect his career and the lives of those he loves. He must now decide what and even who is worth fighting for in a soul-rousing and suspense-filled climax.
Mike Noel: Director/Writer
Chap Edmonson: Producer Micheal Skelly, Richard Kaplan, Jonathan Gregory: Executive Producer Brian Orakpo: Executive Producer
Throughout his life Mike Noel has been a student of the motion picture industry. At 9 years old, he saw The Professional and fell in love with every aspect of film. As a young member of St. Johns United Methodist Church in Downtown Houston, Texas, Mike would have his first opportunity to pick up a camera. Mike’s unique perspective on life and ability to transfer his ideas through the lens, allowed Mike to capture the presence of God in the lives of people in a way that mesmerized audiences. His aggressive and artistic approach to storytelling led to a commission by the City of Houston to create a documentary shedding light on the HIV epidemic. This documentary became nationally recognized for its groundbreaking portrayal of the largest HIV testing event in history. His work has been featured in several film festivals. Mike is also an avid boxing fan and boxing historian. Pugilistic Soul allows Mike to combine his two loves, film and boxing.
SAN KAZ
7:41 Min. | Blocks 6 & 16
Nov. 16 | Saturday 5:00pm - 7:00pm | Theater 13
Nov. 17 | Sunday | 8:00pm - 10:00pm | Theater 12
Anaïs, a young student from the French Overseas, is lounging in her Parisian apartment, thinking nostalgically of her country. Suddenly, a noise is heard. She realizes she’s not alone.
Florian KOTIMBI: Director/ Writer/Producer
Florian is a French director and screenwriter. His career has spanned three continents - South America, Europe and North America. From science fiction to drama and thrillers, he varies styles while infusing social themes.
SHOEBOX
12:25 Min. | Blocks 5 & 9
Nov. 16 | Saturday | 5:00pm - 7:00pm | Theater 12
Nov. 17 | Sunday | 11:00am - 1:00pm | Theater 13
Overcome by abuse, a teenage black boy is forced to choose between pulling the trigger or not in an effort to protect himself. In turn, we are split between two realities of fate - the dream or a dream deferred.
D’Angelo “D’Lo” Louis:
Director/Writer
Jamari Perry, David Hunter Jr.: Producer
D’Angelo “D’Lo” Louis began crafting a narrative that in hindsight some might consider extraordinary. His story is rooted deeply in the very real streets of the Bay Area and is a testament to the power of resilience and the magic of storytelling. Richmond, California shaped the early chapters of his life and were written with some hardship. Raised by his mother and great-grandmother, D’Lo understood early on the values of hard work and accountability. In 2011, urgency turned to greed, a misstep that led him to the confines of California’s correctional system. D’Lo was sentenced to 10 years. Within those walls, metamorphosis began. He was released in August of 2018. Five months out of prison, a filmmaker friend offered D’Lo an entry into the world of cinema, juggling roles as both a director’s and producer’s assistant. D’Lo would eventually create projects of his own. Once an inmate, he didn’t let that label define
him; instead, he used it to highlight the shared themes of redemption and hope. His journey of twists and turns, serves as a reminder that every individual has a story worth telling, and that within adversity lies the seed of unparalleled artistry.
SILENT PARTNER
16:00 Min. | Blocks 3 & 13
Nov. 16 | Saturday | 2:00pm - 4:00pm | Theater 12
Nov. 17 | Sunday | 5:00pm - 7:00pm | Theater 13
Silas Jones is an accomplished, Black trial attorney on the cusp of making partner at a white-shoe law firm. Upon successfully defending a white woman charged with murdering a Black teen, Silas comes to a crossroads with his wife Kosi, an equally accomplished professor, as they prepare to attend the firm’s celebration.
As the night progresses, Silas questions the legitimacy of his promotion. Will he make the ultimate sacrifice?
Aristotle Torres: Director
Aristotle Torres, J.J. Johnson: Writer Salma Qarnain, Roderick Lawrence: Producer
Aristotle is a writer/director out of NYC who developed his debut feature film Story Ave first as a short film, and then through the prestigious Sundance Labs. An accomplished music video director in the past, Aristotle has worked with artists such as J Cole, Nas, 2Chainz, and Ludacris. He has directed commercials and campaigns for brands such as Pepsi, Red Bull, Under Armour, and Starbucks. He also has written and directed short films that have played at various festivals across the world.
SPARE ME
8:15 Min. | Blocks 4 & 12
Nov. 16 | Saturday | 2:00pm - 4:00pm | Theater 13
Nov. 17 | Sunday | 5:00pm - 7:00pm | Theater 12
A young African American man confronts his past to overcome changing a flat tire. Throughout the story, the viewer is shown flashbacks set during the early 1930s/40s, showcasing the connection Trey has to this certain location, which is a sundown town, and why changing a tire is no easy task for him to undertake.
Wilderley Mauricette: Director/Writer
Tony Gallucci: Producer
Wilderley Mauricette, was born in Haiti and immigrated to the United States with his father at the age of eight and raised in Sarasota/Bradenton, FL. Wilderley graduated from Ringling College with my Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film at the Ringling College of Arts and Design.
Mauricette’s main purpose in filmmaking is to make meaningful films with emotional and lasting impact, and to motivate other young artists to pursue their passion. Wilderley made his first feature, Monopoly Money The Movie) before attending Ringling college with a group of talented individuals from the community. The success of his first feature has taken him to L.A, where he has worked with Terry Crews and prestigious film festivals.
SUDDEN
7:57 Min. | Blocks A & B
Nov. 16 | Saturday | 1:00pm | Theater 8 Nov. 17 | Sunday | 11:00am | Theater 8
Two best friends that go an individual journey that leads them to unfortunate events.
Elijah Negasi: Writer, Producer, Director
Elijah Negasi is from New York City. Born and raised in the Bronx. Elijah has made a documentary with other high schoolers that was premiered in HBO in 2014 called Gender Power: Street Harassment in NYC. Has worked in America Reframed: World Channel of PBS in 2015 and Tribeca Film Institute in 2016. He has worked in his local borough, BronxNet, editing broadcast channels. As of recently, worked in the 2022 Sundance Film Festival. Elijah is currently in a few film projects such as directorial debut short film, Sudden. His 2nd feature film of acting the main character in the movie called Crypto. Many more to come that he is aspire to achieve and become a full time director. Currently living in Miami, Florida.
SUMMER STREET
8:38 Min. | Blocks 3 & 13
Nov. 16 | Saturday | 2:00pm - 4:00pm | Theater 12
Nov. 17 | Sunday | 5:00pm - 7:00pm | Theater 13
A dramatic series about a mother and daughter who team up to rid the city of pedophiles.
Brigid Turner: Director/ Writer
Brigid Turner, Derron Campbell: Producer
Brigid Turner is a writer, director, producer and filmmaker. She is a very unique, creative, professional and dependable individual. Her creativity and passion set her apart from other filmmakers and producers.
SWEET POTATO RIDE
31:38 Min. | Blocks A & B
Nov. 16 | Saturday | 1:00pm | Theater 8
Nov. 17 | Sunday | 11:00am | Theater 8
Sundance alum Camille Tucker is a feature film and television writer and producer who has sold scripts to Sony, Universal, New Line, Fox TV and Disney studios and worked with producers Robert De Niro, Marc Platt, Debra Chase, and the late John Singleton. She is the co-writer of Lifetime’s hit biopic The Clark Sisters: The First Ladies of Gospel, which was nominated for five NAACP Image Awards, including outstanding writing. More recently, Camille has written a biopic for LeBron James’ Springhill Entertainment and Disney+, a TV pilot 50 Cent’s G-Unit and the STARZ network and is a Writer/Executive Producer on the Gladys Knight limited series with Cineflix Studios. She is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Screenwriting at Loyola Marymount University, where she loves mentoring the next generation of great storytellers.
Kim Greene is a writer based in the Los Angeles area and is penning a number of independent projects capturing the human experience. When she is not writing she enjoys hiking and spending time with her two incredible daughters and family. She has been steeped in the world of healthcare operations, working with physicians, and building teams who take care of patients.
SUPERMAN DOESN’T
A little boy avoids punishment from his father by running away from home, embarking on an odyssey through his South Central Los Angeles neighborhood.
Camille Tucker, Kim Greene: Director Camille Tucker: Writer
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Based on true events,
“Superman Doesn’t Steal” is a coming-of-age story, set during the 1970’s Atlanta child murders- as seen through the eyes of 9-year-old Harriet & her brother, who are fascinated with superheroes. When they experience a troubling series of events, the
impact on their family leaves emotional scars and causes them both to grow up fast as they redefine their definitions of heroes, villains and yes- even Superman.
Tamika Lamison: Director/Writer/Producer
Tamika is a Virginia native who attended The American University & Howard University with a BA in Performing Arts & Theatre while continuing her studies in film at the NY Film Academy and AFI. She worked at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences helping to research and develop the Academy Gold program and currently works as the Exec. Director of the CDDP- Commercial Directors Diversity Programa diversity and inclusion program she created for the Directors Guild of America and the Assoc. of Independent Commercial Producers. She won several other fellowships and awards in writing and directing. Tamika has produced other films including the award winning, The Male Groupie, which aired on HBO and SPIN, which she also directed.
TARAJI
Following a headstrong mother and her precocious son struggling to stay afloat in a downtrodden economic crisis. Clouded by her own judgement, she puts the very relationship she cherishes most in jeopardy.
Davon Cecil: Director/Writer
Davon Cecil, Danté Crichlow, Shanelle Gaddis: Producer
Davon Cecil is a young black storyteller from a small town in Kentucky who’s set out to do something that’s never been done before: Transcend story in ways no one’s ever imagined through an introspective lens. Yet to scratch the surface, he’s taken leaps of faith that have landed him in the 2023 Nate Parker Foundation Summer Film Institute and joining the inaugural 2024 class of ImpactMENtorship founded by JoeyBada$$ as mentee of the multifaceted Malcolm Mays. With a desire to inspire through authenticity and vulnerability, he plans to continue to shift the narrative, push boundaries, and break the mold.
TERMINALLY ILL
8:08 Min. | Blocks 4 & 12
Nov. 16 | Saturday | 2:00pm - 4:00pm | Theater 13
Nov. 17 | Sunday | 5:00pm - 7:00pm | Theater 12
When a struggling rapper is summoned to his grandmother’s deathbed, he engages in a madcap freestyle in a hilarious but heartbreaking attempt to prevent her from dying.
Christopher J. Cole: Director/Writer
Devin Tusa, George Rush, Caroline Kaplan, Topher Lin: Producer
Jacob Baker: Line Producer Topher Lin, Robina Riccitiello, Matt Mclaughlin: Executive Producers
Chris learned how to make films as a child by forcing his siblings to act in parody rap videos. His passion for storytelling, music, and off-color comedy has led to his previous work as a freelance music journalist and Video Producer and Apple. In 2021 and 2022,
he was selected as an SFFILM Filmhouse Resident to develop his feature film “Rolling Stone”. His short film “Terminally Ill” has won multiple awards.
THANK YOU SADE
28:00 Min. | Blocks A & B
Nov. 16 | Saturday | 1:00pm | Theater 8
Nov. 17 | Sunday | 11:00am | Theater 8
This day, a woman receives a call that would change her life...forever.
Julie Fergus: Director Billi Sarafina: Writer
Julie Fergus is a director, writer, actor, producer, singer and mom. She grew up in NY and came out to Los Angeles to attend USC where she studied film and received a degree in theatre. She has performed on stages around the world (most recently in an historic production of Angels in America Parts 1 & 2 in NY), has directed numerous short films and music videos, and is currently in pre-production on her first feature film, which she also wrote..
THE CALL
7:05 Min. | Blocks 6 & 16
Nov. 16 | Saturday | 5:00pm - 7:00pm | Theater 13
Nov. 17 | Sunday | 8:00pm - 10:00pm | Theater 12
A tale of love, family, and choice, 17-year-old Melody has to make a decision that will affect the rest of her life.
Peachanda DuBose: Director/Writer/Producer
Peachanda DuBose: Multi-award-winning playwright, screenwriter, filmmaker, author, director, poet, humanitarian, producer, and activist. She is also the Founder and CEO of her own production company, Mayan Productions LLC, since 2010. Since her initial love affair with the stage, Peachanda has written, directed, and self-produced over 21 individual productions (both theatre and film), providing platforms for 100’s of actors, stage and tech, globally. In addition to various milestones in her career, in 2020, Peachanda made history as the first writer/director to land a residency in the 30+ year history, of one of Hollywood’s most noted theatre staples, The Hudson Theatres, on Hollywood’s Theatre Row, featuring weekly performances of several original theatre pieces written, directed and produced, by Peachanda. In 2021, DuBose made history again, by launching her own platform: peach Tv® making her exclusive content available to her supporters, in addition to launching The PEACH Theatre and Film International Festival.
THE CAREGIVER
27:44 Min. | Blocks 1 & 15
Nov. 16 | Saturday | 11:00am - 1:00pm | Theater 12
Nov. 17 | Sunday | 8:00pm - 10:00pm | Theater 13
A family faces challenges caring for a loved one with dementia. A son, Devin, must decide whether to sacrifice a life-changing opportunity. During the process, He seeks to restore his damaged relationship with his father who has dementia.
William Bright: Director/Writer
William Bright, Charlz Williams: Producer
William Bright is an independent filmmaker whose interest in filmmaking began as his professional career in the Information Technology (IT) industry began to converge with the process of digital filmmaking. Bright gained valuable experience in evaluating and deploying various hardware and software solutions designed for digital audio/video production. William’s filmmaking exposure began as a freelance editor. He enrolled in the Entertainment Studies and Performing Arts Program at UCLA Extension to gain a broader perspective for the filmmaking process. He was awarded Certificates in Film Directing, and Cinematography. William has directed and produced several short films which have all screened at various film festivals. Bright’s interest is to continue to make films that address relevant social issues.
THE COUNTER: 1960
18:21 Min. | Blocks 1 & 15
Nov. 16 | Saturday | 11:00am - 1:00pm | Theater 12
Nov. 17 | Sunday | 8:00pm - 10:00pm | Theater 13
While waiting for his friends to arrive and discuss the string of police killings of unarmed black youth, Joseph slips, and in a miraculous occurrence of time travel, he finds himself and his friends back in 1960 where they are seated at a ‘whites only’ lunch counter. The past is about to inform the present.
Tracy “Twinkie” Byrd: Director/Writer
Ashley Jackson: Writer/Producer
Kimberly Ogletree: Producer
Tracy “Twinkie” Byrd: Executive Producer
Twinkie has 30 years of experience in the entertainment industry. She began casting music videos then short films to Features with sprinkle of commercials in between. Twinkie cast short films for AFI & USC students. One notable director to date is Ryan Coogler. While attending USC, Twinkie cast Cooglers award winning short film FIG, then went on to cast Fruitvale Station.
She has also cast Stomp The Yard, Jumping the Broom, Notorious, Filly Brown, Sparkle, Southside with You, Beats (Netflix) then Televisions, Being Mary Jane. Twinkie has also been bitten by the directing bug. The Counter: 1960, is an award winning short film and Twinkie’s Directorial debut.
THE DEVIL AIN’T PIUS
25:00 Min. | Blocks 5 & 9
Nov. 16 | Saturday | 5:00pm - 7:00pm | Theater 12
Nov. 17 | Sunday | 11:00am - 1:00pm | Theater 13
A lifetime ago, a struggling Pius Montgomery sold the soul of one of his future grandchildren to the Devil in exchange for a life of wealth and success. Fifty years later, Pius, the head of the billion dollar Uncle Pius’ Devilishly Hot Hot Sauce empire, has gathered his four children and seven grandchildren to break the bad news.
Keena Ferguson: Director
Miatta Vincent Ronca: Writer
Miatta Vincent Ronca, Delece James: Producer
Keena Ferguson is an actor’s director. Having had roles in TV shows like Atlanta, Young and The Restless, S.W.A.T., and so much more helped her become a director that actors love to work with. She is an NAACP award winner, an HBO nominee for her film Lindon Passing that she wrote and directed, and she just directed 7 episodes for season 2 of the TV series Lace from AMC.
THE LAST SUPPER
21:08 Min. | Blocks 8 & 12
Nov. 16 | Saturday | 8:00pm - 10:00pm | Theater 13
Nov. 17 | Sunday | 2:00pm - 4:00pm | Theater 12
When a few friends decide to gather for dinner, and a few laughs. Everything takes a turn for the worst resulting in friends questioning if they were ever friends at all.
Tyeisha Downer: Director/ Writer Tyeisha Downer, Kimia’ Workman: Producer
Tyeisha Downer is an Author, Poet, Director and Filmmaker born on April 8,1980. The middle child of seven, she was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland. Tyeisha attended Baltimore Public Schools and attended Baltimore City Community College.
THE MCHENRY TRIAL: DON’T JUDGE A KID BY HOODIE”
29:59 Min. | Youth Block
Nov. 16 | Saturday | 10:00am | Theater 8
The story of a young and brilliant academic phenom who not only passes the bar exam at age 14, finds himself defending his homeless father on a murder charge when few believe he is innocent. He faces a shrewd law firm, an old school segregationist judge, and an arrogant
prosecutor who is preparing to celebrate his 50th consecutive case win.
Ken Sagoes: Director/Writer
Karen T. Bolt, Syvester Warren: Producer
Ken Sagoes, Letaniya, Warren-Tatum: Executive Producer
Ken Sagoes is an award-winning writer and actor who has over 100 film, TV, and stage credits. He studied under two entertainment legends, Edmund J. Cambridge and Marlon Brando. Sagoes won a CableAce Award and was a HUMANITAS Prize Finalist for writing and co-starring in Disney’s “On Promised Land.”
THE PAD HUSTLE
6:28 Min. | Youth Block
Nov. 16 | Saturday | 10:00am | Theater 8
A headstrong highschooler who unexpectedly gets her period during class and as a result of the school having no resources, embarks on a side HUSTLE to help her classmates get the menstrual products they desperately need.
This film is produced by Black Girls Film Camp in hopes to bring awareness to #PeriodPoverty in low income, minority, public high schools.
Kyla Holmes: Director/Writer
Jimmeka Anderson, Sierra Davis: Executive Producers
Regina Hoyles, Yha Mourhia Wright, Chassidy
Jade: Co-Producers
Kyla Holmes is a visionary teen film director with a passion for storytelling and a talent for bringing unique perspectives to the screen. At just 17, Kyla Holmes has already made a name for herself in the film industry with her critically acclaimed directorial debut short film, The Pad Hustle. Inspired by the works of Christopher Nolan and Randall Einhorn, Kyla began her film career and has honed her craft through the teachings from The Black Girls Film Camp.
THE PARIS 3: THE DIFFERENCE YOU CAN MAKE
19:26 Min. | Blocks 2 & 10
Nov. 16 | Saturday | 11:00am - 1:00pm | Theater 13
Nov. 17 | Sunday | 11:00am - 1:00pm | Theater 12
In Paris Kentucky (1961), three young black girls made a bold decision to sit down in a “whites only” diner which promptly led to their arrest, trial, and sentencing within just 36 hours. But the girl’s mothers enlisted their employers to leverage their influence with the judge to demand that the charges be dropped.
This led to the Black community galvanizing into a year-long boycott of the town’s businesses, until segregation was ended.
Miles Hanon: Director
Miles Hanon, Karrié Claybrook, Clay Thompson: Writer
Tom Livingston, Clay Thompson, Karrié Claybrook: Producer
Miles entered the film industry as an engineer, designing and implementing robust, versatile camera
systems for the award-winning media house Compass Arts. There, he applied his technical expertise to film editing, and a new passion was unearthed: storytelling. Following this new passion, Miles served as editor for the award-winning documentary Beyond the Gates of Splendor and the commercially successful feature End of the Spear. In 2006, Miles founded Story Front and shortly thereafter wrote and directed his first feature film, produced two feature documentaries, and has helped a number of organizations tell their own stories with promos and vision films.
THE PRICE OF FREEDOM
11:15 Min. | Blocks 3 & 13
Nov. 16 | Saturday | 2:00pm - 4:00pm | Theater 12
Nov. 17 | Sunday | 5:00pm - 7:00pm | Theater 13
A mother, convicted of a crime she did not commit, makes a last resort attempt at freedom. But that decision comes at a cost.
Lori Webster Fore: Director/Writer
Chao Thao, Jamari Perry: Producer
Lori’s early career in television began as an Executive Assistant to Line Producers and later as a Coordinator in the production department. Lori has continued to build her repertoire through numerous artist development programs. Lori earned her B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and M.F.A. from the University of Southern California. She also is the Founder of Hidden Gem Stories, Executive Creative Director at Hush Harbor Media, and Adjunct Associate Professor at USC School of Cinematic Arts. Lori’s passion for storytelling centers on hidden
gem stories in the black experience. A believer in the power of media for social change, Lori is committed to sharing impactful stories that promote deeper appreciation for unique perspectives.
THE STRANGER
28:00 Min. | Blocks 3 & 13
Nov. 16 | Saturday | 2:00pm - 4:00pm | Theater 12
Nov. 17 | Sunday | 5:00pm - 7:00pm | Theater 13
A graphic designer experiences an unusual encounter that changes her life upon meeting a total Stranger.
Raheem
J Ramsey:
Director/Writer/Producer
RJ Ramsey has always been a fan of filmmaking. His first love is in music where he has written, composed, and produced music for more than 20 years. He is a 20-year U.S. Army Veteran and retiree. After completing military service, he decided to go into business as an entrepreneur in retail. While doing this, he enrolled at Full Sail University, to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Digital Cinematography. He currently maintains a GPA of 3.96 and has written, produced, directed, shot, edited, and scored six short films where two of which are student film assignments. RJ continues to hone his skills as a filmmaker and looks to start working on his first feature film upon graduating from Full Sail in February of 2025.
VILLAGE
12:47 Min. | Blocks 1 & 15
Nov. 16 | Saturday | 11:00pm - 1:00pm | Theater 12
Nov. 17 | Sunday | 8:00pm - 10:00pm | Theater 13
Shane Jr. finds himself thrust into the role of caregiver for the day to his girlfriend’s daughter “Brianna”. His responsibilities quickly escalate when he becomes entangled in a tense but petty exchange with Brianna’s father “Jamar” over their pick-up arrangements.
Dante J Bailey: Director/Writer/Producer
Danté J. Bailey is an independent filmmaker and storyteller from the DMV area, specializing in narrative films and documentaries that explore themes of urban culture, manhood, spiritual growth, and the black identity. He leads Tune-Up Tuesday, a weekly workshop that offers a collaborative space for primarily BIPOC writers to share and refine their work. A 2023 graduate of USC’s School of Cinematic Arts, Danté is dedicated to fostering accessibility and equity in filmmaking, mentoring his peers, and building a supportive creative community. His work reflects a commitment to thought-provoking storytelling and a passion for uplifting diverse voices within the industry.
WHAT IF…YOU HAD THE PERFECT PERSON
6:40 Min. | Blocks 7 & 11
Nov. 16 | Saturday | 8:00pm - 10:00pm | Theater 12
Nov. 17 | Sunday | 2:00pm - 4:00pm | Theater 13
After introducing his “perfect” new girlfriend to his friends, Julian realizes that what he had thought was perfection, may just be an illusion.
Brandon Fobbs: Director Kristina Sullivan: Writer
Brandon Fobbs began his acting career on stage at Hampton University. He had two great acting achievements while attending the HBCU. One was his tri-city nomination for best actor in a drama in Portfolio magazine for his performance as Dracula in the stage play Dracula. His other achievement was landing a role in an AIDS prevention film shot overseas in Tanzania. Upon his graduation from Hampton, Brandon was cast as the recurring lazy eyed thug named Fruit for seasons three & four of HBO’s hit show The Wire. From there his later roles would include a variety of diverse characters. As of recent, Brandon can be seen guest starring on NCIS: Hawai’i, Perry Mason, and NCIS: New Orleans. Although his love has always been for acting, Brandon’s first love is creating. He is a studied screenwriter who has embarked on a parallel path of writing and directing.
Brandon Fobbs, Kristina Sullivan: Producer
