Official Selections: 10th LA Black Film Festival
Congratulations to our accepted filmmakers!
Films are listed in alphabetical order, index to the left.
Scroll Down to learn more about each film.
Rise Up and Fight
Animation, Music Video
Director: Nolan Williams, Jr.
Producer: NEWorks Productions
Compose/Lyricist: Nolan Williams, Jr.
Art Director/Illustrator: Willie C. Cordy, Jr.
Animation & Motion Graphic Director: Gabriel Genesis
Music Producers: Warren Jones & Nolan Williams, Jr.
Cast: Rayshun LaMarr, Benjamin H. Moore, John Riddle & Nova Y. Payton
Winner of 33 international film, music and media prizes, including:
· Award of Excellence – Music Video, 2024 Best Shorts Competition (International)
· Award of Excellence – Animation, 2024 Best Shorts Competition (International)
· Award of Excellence – African American Theme, 2024 Best Shorts Competition (International)
· Award of Excellence – Music Video, 2024 IndieFEST Film Awards (International)
· Award of Excellence – Animation, 2024 IndieFEST Film Awards (International)
· Award of Excellence – Original Song, 2024 IndieFEST Film Awards (International)
· Award of Excellence – African American Theme, 2024 IndieFEST Film Awards (International)
· Award of Excellence – Liberation/Social Justice/Protest, 2024 IndieFEST Film Awards (International)
· "Best Lyrics Video" – 2024 International Music Video Competition
· “Best Animation” – 2024 Davey Awards Gold Prize
· "Best Animation" – 2024 Chicago Indie Film Awards
· "Best Animation Short" – 2024 Indie Short Fest (Los Angeles International Short Film Festival)
· "Best Animation Short" – 2024 Independent Shorts Awards
· "Best Animation Music Video" – 2024 Los Angeles Movie & Music Video Awards
· "Best Animation Music Video" – 2024 Europe Music Video Awards
· “Best Art Direction” – 2024 Davey Awards Gold Prize
· "Best Director - Music Video" – 2024 New York Film & Female Actress Awards
· “Best Human & Civil Rights Special Project” – 2025 Anthem Awards Silver Prize
· "Best Human Rights Short" – 2025 Philadelphia International Filmmaker Awards
· “Best Music Video” – 2024 AVA Digital Awards Platinum Prize
· “Best Music Video” – 2024 Davey Awards Gold Prize
· "Best Music Video" – 2024 London Global Film Awards
· "Best Music Video" – 2024 Los Angeles Film Awards
· "Best Music Video" – 2025 Magnolia Independent Film Festival
· "Best Music Video" – 2024 Paris International Short Festival
· "Best Short Score" – 2024 Arthouse Festival of Beverly Hills
· "Best Social Commentary Video" – 2025 Las Vegas Music Video Awards
· “Best Social Video” – 2024 Davey Awards Gold Prize
· “Best Use of Animation” – 2024 Davey Awards Gold Prize
· “Best Use of Music” – 2024 Davey Awards Gold Prize
· Bronze Medal: Listener Impact: Content/Message Delivery – 2024 Global Music Awards
· "Outstanding Achievement Award for Music Video" – 2024 Indie Short Fest (Los Angeles International Short Film Festival)
· "Special Achievement Award for Social Justice & Hope" – 2024 California Music Video & Film Awards
Websites: neworksproductions.com / nolanwilliamsjr.com
Instagram: @neworksproductions / @nolanwilliamsjr
Facebook: @neworksproductions / @nolanwilliamsjr
Surprise
Short
USA Premiere
Worried Celeste decides to organize a surprise party to bring the family back together. However, tensions within the family ensure that things turn out completely differently than planned.
Director: Kooshin M. Hussein
Producer: Suzan de Swaan, Danielle Guirguis
Writer: Kooshin M. Hussein, Gabriel D. Calvo Nencel
Cast: Joy Delima, Manoushka Zeegelaar Breeveld, Fjodor Jozefzoon, Eline Havenaar, Jean Pierre Nshimyumuremy
Cinematographer: Dionne Cats
Editor: Wies Hundling
Additional details about the process: Surprise is an Aware talent development production.
The Devil Ain’t Pius
Short Film
In this thrilling tale of family secrets, lies and deception, Pius Montgomery, head of the billion-dollar Uncle Pius’ Devilishly Hot Hot Sauce company, forces his four children to compete in a series of games to save his grandkids from an old debt he owes the Devil. It’s a heart-pounding, edge-of-your-seat ride that culminates in an ending no one sees coming!
Director: Keena Ferguson Frasier
Producer: Miatta Vincent Ronca, Delece James
Writer: Miatta Vincent Ronca
Cast: Lawrence-Hilton Jacobs, Iona Morris, Sammie Wayne, Miatta Vincent Ronca, Rolando Boyce, Dana L. Wilson, Kamal Bolden, Kent Faulcon, Benita Nall, Paris Nicole, Kayla Paschall, Delano Jarrell Foster III, Charity Joy Harrison, Logan Carter, Londyn Carter, Brooke Yamamoto, Kao Courseault, Nicola Lambo, and Graciela Marshall.
Cinematographer: Jason Weary
Editor: Domonic Smith
Awards
Winner: The Premiere Short Award at the Anthology Film Festival.
Nominee: Outstanding Dramatic Short and Outstanding Dramatic Writing at Micheaux Film Festival
Nominee: Best Short Film at the Bronzelens Film Festival
Website: iiofcups.com
Instagram: @ii_of_cups_productions
Facebook: @ii.of.cups.productions
The WIcked Flee
Short
West Coast Premiere
A pastor and his troubled young adult group embark on a retreat to a remote Nebraska camp, unaware it will be their last together. While struggling with personal demons and a church that rejects them, they are forced to confront dark secrets that threaten their survival. Trapped in isolation, the group must overcome their differences and the weight of their pasts. With their faith and lives on the line, they discover that their own inner turmoil may be their greatest enemy.
Director: Quincy T. Christian
Producer: Quincy T. Christian, Reginald Dawson, Mike Ehrhart
Writer: Quincy T. Christian
Cast: Grifon Aldren, Shae’Kell Butler, Jessica N. Johnson, Justin “Marcey Yates” Young, Myeisha Essex, Brandon Williams, Christian J. Velez, Cameron Ram, Asheia Cook Arre, Walter Shatley, Amblessed Kanu
Cinematographer: Mike Ehrhart
Editor: Shannon Smay
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wickedfleefilm/
Twitter: https://x.com/wickedfleefilm
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61572511634993