* VIEW TRAILERS * FILM DESCRIPTIONS -&-  FILMMAKER BIOS *  
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​In The Hood  {Minha Vizinha}

BLOCK #3:  TOXIC CRAVINGS      12:00 pm - 1:05 pm       CARVER COMMUNITY CULTURAL CENTER 
 Anichka Banichka & Arcenio De Almedia
​Bulgaria and Mozambique
Music Video (story) | Total Running Time: 0:25:54
Two clans of gossip women from Mozambique and Bulgaria join forces and embark on a mad race to get the deal that will make them the absolute bosses of the neighborhood.​
Writers
​Anichka Banichka
Producers
Anichka Banichka
​Arcenio De Almeida
Key Cast
Anichka Banichka
​Arcenio De Almeida
Website
https://arcenioanichka.com/arcenio-anichka
Email Address
[email protected]

​Recession  Proof

BLOCK #4:  RECESSION PROOF           1:15 pm - 3:10 pm           CARVER COMMUNITY CULTURAL CTR.  ​
Arthur Muhammad
Dallas, Texas - USA
Narrative Feature |  Total Running Time: 1:51:45
A Wall Street executive loses her entire life savings in a Ponzi scheme and is forced to move back home with her mom in the hood and find a new way of life.
Writers
Khadijah Karriem Sharice Henry Lamb
Producers
Sharice Lamb,
Brian "Akachi" Lamb Khadijah Karriem Angela Blair
Key Cast
Khadijah Karriem      Clifton Powell
Sharice Henry Lamb
Denzel Wells
Matthew Greer
Liz Mikel
​Lucretia Johnson
Email Address
[email protected]

Mister  Gates

BLOCK #8:  MISTER GATES                10:35 am - 12:21 pm                                  LIL' CARVER CIVIC CTR.
Desmond Donahue
Glenn Heights, Texas, ​USA
Narrative Feature  |  Time: 1:46:33
Real-estate mogul Christopher Gates becomes homeless after losing his family, only to discover the sinister connection to their deaths.
Writers
Desmond Donahue
Producers
Desmond Donahue Sheril Rodgers
Key Cast
Mack White
Hawthorne James
Vic Mignogna
Mila McCoy
Avante Perkins
Website
http://www.MisterGatesMovie.com
Email Address
[email protected]​

CIRILO, A Legacy Untold

BLOCK #9:   SAGE WISDOM                           12:35 pm - 2:10 pm                                      LIL' CARVER CIVIC CTR.
Justin O'Shea Cooper
Los Angeles, CA, United States
​
​This documentary short, Cirilo, A Legacy Untold, weaves together archival footage, personal anecdotes, and expert insights to illuminate a transformative figure who continues to inspire across the Americas.
Documentary Short  |  Total Running Time: 0:25:38 
Born into poverty in Panama, Cirilo McSween's journey is one of defiance, resilience, and triumph over systemic barriers. Against the backdrop of Jim Crow America, McSween confronts entrenched racism while pursuing the elusive American Dream. From his arrival in the United States as an ambitious immigrant to his ascent as a trailblazing entrepreneur and civil rights activist, McSween's life becomes a testament to the power of determination and community. 
 
Through his tireless advocacy for equality and opportunity, McSween plays pivotal roles in shaping both Panama's identity and Chicago's civil rights landscape. A confidant of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a groundbreaking insurance executive, and a philanthropist dedicated to empowering underserved communities, McSween's story bridges nations and generations. 
Writers
Justin O'Shea Cooper
Producers
Justin O'Shea Cooper
Key Cast
Ann Nesby
Rev. Janette Wilson
Blanton Canady Jeanette Simpson
​ Cirilo McSween, Sr.
Website
https://www.cirilomcsweendoc.com/​
Email Address
[email protected]​

​Ain't No Back to a Merry-Go-Round

 BLOCK #10:   MERRY GO ROUND                 2:20 pm - 3:50 pm                                   LIL' CARVER CIVIC CTR.
Ilana Trachtman
Philadelphia, PA, United States 


*This Documentary is ONLY available for a San Antonio screening. I will not be shown V.O.D. online/virtually.
Documentary Feature  | Total Running Time: 1:29:58 
When 5 Howard University students sat on a Maryland carousel in 1960, the arrests made headlines. When the white community near Glen Echo Amusement Park joined the Black students in picketing, the first organized interracial civil rights protest in US history was born.

The pickets attracted Nazis, Congressman, and a press avalanche. For the Black and white citizens on the picket line, picketing together led to partying together and union organizers mentored student activists, ultimately producing ten 1961 Freedom Riders, including Stokely Carmichael, and a Supreme Court case.

With never-before seen footage, and immersive storytelling by Emmy-award winning director Ilana Trachtman, four living protesters rescue this untold story, revealing the price, and the power, of heeding the impulse to activism. "Ain't No Back to a Merry-Go-Round" includes voiceover by noted actors Jeffrey Wright, Mandy Patinkin, Bob Balaban, Lee Grant, Peter Gallagher, Dominique Thorne, and Alysia Reiner.  
Producer
Ilana Trachtman
Key Cast
Jeffrey Wright
Mandy Patinkin Dominique Thorne
Lee Grant
Peter Gallagher
Alysia Reiner
Bob Balaban
Dion Tyrone Diamond Henry "Hank" James Thomas
Christina Clarke
​Nancy Stoller Alex Joseph Grayson Tracie Thoms
​Helene Berleant Wilson Ageloff
Website
​https://www.aintnoback.com/

The Rhythm   of  Liberation
{Maracatu  Liberta}

BLOCK #1:  GAINING MOMENTUM           9:00 am - 10:20 pm          CARVER COMMUNITY CULTURAL CTR.    
Rita de C'cia Oenning da Silva
Brazil 
Documentary Short  |  Total Time: 0:17:26 | (Portuguese, English subtitles)
"At school, the teacher said that the German boy had his culture; the European girl had hers... and I thought I had no culture at all." 
 
Maracatu Liberta tells the story of Black families who find identity, strength, and culture in the rhythm and procession of Maracatu. Although far from its roots in Pernambuco, Maracatu offers hope and belonging and a path out of racism for both children and adults.
Writers
Cris Fernandes
Producers
Rita de C'cia Oenning da Silva
Kurt Shaw
Key Cast
Kurt
Website
NA
Email Address
[email protected]​​

A New Voice

 BLOCK #1:   GAINING MOMENTUM ​    9:00 am - 10:20 am      CARVER COMMUNITY CULTURAL CENTER   
Michael K Davis,
​Debbie A Davis
Chested, Pennsylvania. ​USA
Documentary Short  |  Total Running Time: 0:16:01
A New Voice is a documentary that gives a firsthand look into the upward journey of citizens returning to communities after incarceration. The film sheds light on the rarely seen success stories of people who have transitioned home from prison, and their impact on their communities.
Writers
Michael K Davis
Debbie A Davis
Producers
Michael K Davis, Debbie A Davis, Asad Muhammad, El Sawyer Gabriel Weiner
​Jon Kaufman
Key Cast
Michael K Davis
Debbie A Davi
Kempis Ghani Songster
Robert Saleem Holbrook
Dana Lomax-Ayler
Website
NA
Email Address
[email protected]​​

The Ohio, Texas Remix

BLOCK #5:  BARRIERS BEFORE US ​        3:20 pm - 4:33 pm         CARVER COMMUNITY CULTURAL CTR.    
Ya'Ke Smith
Austin, Texas. USA
Narrative Short  | Total Running Time: 0:15:00
A woman travels from Ohio to Texas to kidnap her son from her estranged ex-husband. Based on a true story.
Writers
Ya'Ke Smith
Producers
Grant Norsworthy Lizette Barerra Elizabeth Avellan Veronika Bozeman
Key Cast
Veronika Bozeman Sean Nelson
Mikala Gibson
Jasmine Shanise
Tripp McMillian
​Kyla Simmons
Website
https://exodusfilmworks.com
​
Email Address
[email protected]​

if(fy)

 BLOCK  #7: STARRY EYES              9:00 am - 10:24 am                                               LIL CARVER CIVIC CTR.  
Lesego Vorster, Ross Lelliott, Osiokeh Ikharo
Los Angeles, CA. USA
Animation   |  Time: 0:16:00
Ifeanyi has been planning his first move; he just needs an in. Or maybe an unobstructed view. His intentions are dubious but pure. He swears! After getting a pity-invite, he finally gets the chance he's been waiting for. But will it be too late? if(fy) explores the idea that the rules dictating our morality are re-written in the presence of things we want more; and how our outer face often masks an inner struggle to navigate our fears. 
Writers
Osiokeh Ikharo
Producers
Osiokeh Ikharo
Key Cast
Dulo Folarin-Harris kittie Kaboom
Jaimi Gray, Harrison Knight
Isaac Fletcher
​Sherrick O'Quinn
Website
https://www.watchiffy.com/
Email Address
[email protected]​

Welcome to School - A Documentary Celebrating 25 Years of Maya Angelou Schools

BLOCK #1:  GAINING MOMENTUM      9:00 am - 10:20 am         CARVER COMMUNITY CULTURAL CTR.  
Producer, Leah Lamb 
(Director:  Kristin Adair)
Washington, DC. USA
Documentary Short  |  Total Running Time: 0:25:42
 Welcome to School is a documentary produced in 2023 by the Maya Angelou Schools and See Forever Foundation in conjunction with Unchained Stories, a social impact production company. The film traces the 25-year legacy of the Washington, DC based Maya Angelou Schools' storied history of grassroots organizing, resource activism, and creating a specialized safe space for carceral and alternative education students. Welcome to School is told through first-person narratives from current students, alumni, staff, faculty, and the organization's founders. The intersection between poverty, public education, and the juvenile justice system from the 1990s to present day are examined alongside the retelling of the Maya Angelou Schools' origins. 
 
The cycles of collective trauma, inappropriate discipline of students, and the presence of police and police-adjacent agencies against the backdrop of undersourced wards and neighborhoods all affect the educational environment. The Maya Angelou Schools began as the student-by-student counter to these institutional barriers. Throughout the decades, the Maya Angelou Schools' founders, board, parents, faculty, and staff have questioned the bureaucracy of the traditional education system's teaching and learning practices against the reality of many DC youth. Welcome to School highlights the fact that Maya Angelou Schools grown from an initially experimental approach to educating students to a nationally recognized expert in serving opportunity and justice-involved youth. Their unique approach helped to solidify the Maya Schools as the premiere leader of alternative education and a school network providing second chances!
Producer
Leah Y. Lamb

Director:  
 Kristin Adair
Key Cast
James Forman Jr.
Keith Lewis, DaShona Bland, Rachel Black Clarisse Mendoza Davis, David Domenici Alise Marshall
Website
https://www.seeforever.org/documentary/
Email Address
[email protected]​

Hurry Up and Wait

BLOCK #3:   TOXIC CRAVINGS            12:00 pm - 1:05 pm           CARVER COMMUNITY CULTURAL CTR.   
Miguel Corado
 Atlanta, GA.  USA
Narrative Short   |  Total Running Time: 0:06:37
A frantic young woman's disastrous morning spirals out of control, proving that no matter how fast she moves, life always finds a way to trip her up.
Writer
Jamila C. Gray
Producers
Jamila C. Gray
Moja Marilyne Mwangi
Key Cast
Jamila C. Gray
​Miguel Corado
Website
https://www.oursweetconvo.com/
Email Address
[email protected]

Hero  {SHUJAA}

BLOCK #1:   GAINING MOMENTUM     ​    9:00 am - 10:20 am        CARVER COMMUNITY CULTURAL CTR.    
Alphonce Haule
Dar es Salaam, Kinondoni, United Republic of Tanzania
Animation Short  |  Time: 0:07:33
Shujaa is a 3D Animation Film within our Harakati Za Ngeti Series that brings you our superhero, Ngeti. Shujaa reveals the battle a Maasai girlchild will most likely face whilst avoiding Female Genital Mutilation for her to thrive in her academic journey and work towards achieving her hopes and dreams. Ngeti, with the help of her parents, embodies the spirit of heroism. They show us the steps we can take as people to change and evolve from old traditions that are not beneficial to the girlchild and the personal development of young people.
Writers
Padili James
Diana-Maryline Charles
Producers
Ian Tarimo
Gwamaka Mwabuka
Key Cast
Mwashamba Ally Dianna Thimoteo
Julius Keneri
Website
https://partners.tai.or.tz
Email Address
[email protected]

Caution Spawn Ahead

BLOCK #5:   BARRIERS BEFORE US          3:20 pm - 4:33 pm       CARVER COMMUNITY CULTURAL CTR.      
Stacey Larkins
Glenn Heights, Texas, ​USA
*Filmmaker will be in attendance
Narrative Short  |  Time: 0:14:50
An experimental film, mostly told in rhyme, that explores our current political climate, presented as a warning in a banned children's book.
Writer
Stacey Larkins
Key Cast
Rene Henry
Soulo Smith
Rew Star
Amy Simon
​Angela Morone
Website
http://Staceylarkinswriterdirector.com​
Email Address
[email protected]​

                  Shankleville:   A  Love That                          Still Stands

BLOCK #9:   SAGE WISDOM          12:35 pm -  2:10 pm                     CARVER COMMUNITY CULTURAL CTR.  
Gordon S. Williams
Glenn Heights, Texas, ​USA
Documentary Short  |  Total Running Time: 0:13:20
"Shankleville: A Love That Still Stands" chronicles the love story of an enslaved couple who built a community in East Texas, their descendants who celebrate their contributions, and the importance of their history. 
Writer
Gordon S. Williams
Producers
Gordon S. Williams
Website
NA
Email Address
[email protected]​

Drop Dead Gorgeous

BLOCK #3:  TOXIC CRAVINGS                12:00 pm - 1:05 pm                                   LIL' CARVER CIVIC CENTER
Mark Reed
Humble, TX, ​USA
Narrative Short  |  Total Running Time: 0:11:59
Two orphaned sisters are molded into lethal assassins, targeting the city's most powerful men. Each kill unravels a hidden connection, exposing a dark history they never knew they shared. As they get closer to the truth, the lines between justice and vengeance blur,  forcing them to confront their past before it consumes them.
Writers
Barbara Wilson
​Mark Reed
Producer
Mark Reed
Key Cast
Barbara Wilson
Art Hall
Website
NA
Email Address
[email protected]​

THE VIRAL EXPERIMENT

BLOCK #7:  STARRY EYES                    9:00 am - 10:24 pm                                     LIL' CARVER CIVIC CENTER
Mark Reed
Humble, TX, ​USA
Narrative Short  |  Total Running Time: 0:17:49
Nubb and Reese, who, after failing to make it big in the fast-paced world of city social media, decide to retreat to a small town to chase their viral dreams. Desperate for success, they embark on a chaotic journey, attempting to create the kind of content they believe will finally make them famous. 
 
With each embarrassing failure, Nubb and Reese's determination grows. As they continue to stage over-the-top skits, their efforts seem hopeless, until an unintended video goes viral overnight. 
​
Now faced with newfound attention, they are presented with a tantalizing offer that could propel them to stardom, but only if they betray the one moral they swore to uphold when they left the city. 
 
 Torn between staying true to themselves and seizing viral fame, Nubb and Reese must decide: is success worth sacrificing their principles?
Writer
Mark Reed
Producer
Mark Reed
Key Cast
Maurice Reese Gates TreDante Nubb Bias Timothy TimSoFunny Oliver
Website
NA
Email Address
[email protected]​

Voyeur

BLOCK #11:   CAPTAINS OF OUR SOULS              4:00 pm - 5:15 pm                  LIL' CARVER CIVIC CENTER
Maryam Hashempour
Iran, Islamic Republic of
Narrative Short  |  Total Running Time: 0:05:52
A girl enters a coffee shop while waiting for her friend. An unknown number sends her a photo of her, taken just before she enters the coffee shop. The unknown person sends the photo several times until.
Writer
Mohammadreza Seyf
Producers
Maryam Hashempour Jafar Mirahmadi
Key Cast
Vida Gharagozlou
Website
NA
Email Address
[email protected]​

The Incredible Sensational
​FianceE of Seya Ajayi

 BLOCK #5:  BARRIERS BEFORE US         3:20 pm - 4:33 pm        CARVER COMMUNITY CULTURAL CTR.  
Abbesi Akhamie
Lagos, Nigeria, Washington, DC. USA 
Narrative Short  |  Total Running Time: 0:16:20
In the whimsical Pan-African community of Alkebulan, a brilliant scholar plots revenge after discovering her fiance' engagement to another woman.
Writers
Abbesi Akhamie
Producers
Yety Omotomilola Akinola
Key Cast
Ellie Foumbi, Babetida Sadjo
Ayoola Ayolola
Michael Oloyede Bridget John
Website
https://www.ceewave.co/the-incredible
Email Address
[email protected]​

Baldy The Film

BLOCK #7:     STARRY EYES                 9:00 am - 10:24 am                                      LIL' CARVER CIVIC CENTER
Eddie Griffith
New York City, New York.  USA
Narrative Short  |  Total Running Time: 0:15:44 
In this heartfelt dramady, we meet Travis, a New Yorker whose receding hairline mirrors the distant memories of his childhood. As he navigates the vibrant chaos before his birthday on a night out, he's haunted by looming thoughts. He has a great network of family and friends around him, but Travis doesn't know how to open up about his hair loss.
Writer
Melvin Taylor II
Producers
Melvin Taylor II
Tracy Oliver
Felicia Bell
Tre'Vell Anderson, Diana Alleyne
Alyssa Fauntleroy
Max Hague, Sarah-Michelle L'ger
Niina Taapopi
Sunni Valentine
Jill Gross
Charlie Gross
Ian Hague
Jaamal Jones
Key Cast
Melvin Taylor II
Sam DeLeon
Milbelynn Soto Roodlyne Woods
Vivek Netrakanti
Saint Aubyn
​DeMone Seraphin
Website
http://www.baldythefilm.com​
Email Address
[email protected]​

Statistic

BLOCK #11  -  CAPTAINS OF OUR SOULS          4:00 pm - 5:15 pm              LIL' CARVER CIVIC CTR.
Millene Avelar Ana Stella Cunha Rodrigo Sena
Brazil
Narrative Short  |  Total Recording Time: 0:06:00
No interior do nordeste brasileiro a garantia e acesso a uma vaga na escola ainda n'o, uma realidade para todos. Gugu, um adolescente que passa a maior parte do tempo assistindo TV e fazendo artesanato. Uma reportagem de jornal desperta seu interesse pela educao ao expor a trag' dia brasileira que envolve a juventude negra de hoje.
Writers
Millene Avelar
​Ana Stella Cunha
Rodrigo Sena
Producers
Rodrigo Sena
Key Cast
Willian Gustavo
Website
https://www.instagram.com/oriaudiovisual/​
Email Address
[email protected]​

Roots  of  Resilience: Stories of Caribbean Women in Agriculture

BLOCK #9:   SAGE WISDOM                   12:35 pm - 2:10 pm                                      LIL' CARVER CIVIC CENTER   
Curmiah Lisette, Keithlin Caroo-Afrifa
St. Lucia, West Indies
DOCUMENTARY SHORT  |  Total Running Time: 0:48:36
Roots of Resilience: Stories of Caribbean Women in Agriculture is a moving portrait of St. Lucia's agricultural journey, celebrating the strength of its women and the enduring spirit of a community deeply connected to its land through the lens of the local non-profit, Helen's Daughters.  
Writers
Curmiah Lisette
Yara Ammar
Anastasia Gaisenok Keithlin Caroo-Afrifa
Producers
Curmiah Lisette
Yara Ammar
​Anastasia Gaisenok
Key Cast
NA
Website
NA
Email Address
[email protected]​

Breaking Barriers: East Central's Flag Football Historic Victory

BLOCK 1:  GAINING MOMENTUM         9:00 am - 10:20 am            CARVER COMMUNITY CULTURAL CTR.
Racquelle Verner
Tulsa, OK.  ​USA
 Student Film  (Doc.)  | Total Running Time: 0:12:25 
Breaking Barriers: East Central's Flag Football Historic Victory is a powerful documentary that celebrates the resilience, determination, and triumph of the East Central High School Girls Flag Football Team, the first-ever champions of Oklahoma's Interscholastic Girls' Flag Football League. This film captures their groundbreaking journey to victory, highlighting the **impact of sports on young women and the power of community support. Featuring interviews with NFL star Donald Driver, Mayor Monroe Nichols, coaches, parents, and the athletes themselves, Breaking Barriers goes beyond football, it's a story about breaking stereotypes, inspiring the next generation, and proving that women can conquer any field they step onto.
Writer
Tamecca Rogers
Producers
Tamecca Rogers
Jack Copeland
Gina Wilson
Website
NA
Email Address
[email protected]​

Don't Hang Up

BLOCK #11:  CAPTAINS OF OUR SOULS                  4:00 pm - 5:15 pm               LIL' CARVER CIVIC CENTER   
Diamond Batiste
Long Beach, CA. ​USA
Narrative Short  |  Total Running Time: 0:10:31
In rural Hayti, Missouri, matriarch Elizabeth Holiday confronts her past when an unexpected call from her former student, Jeremy, disrupts her routine. As they navigate their shared history and the challenges of their community, they're forced to confront harsh realities, igniting a journey of reconciliation and redemption.
Writer
Ron McCants
Producers
Ron McCants
Alain Fleury
​Ramfis Myrthl
Key Cast
Paula Jai Parker
LT Hines II
Website
NA
Email Address
[email protected]​

​GO

BLOCK #5:  BARRIERS BEFORE US      3:20 pm - 4:33 pm    THE CARVER COMMUNITY CULTURAL CTR. 
Dusan Brown
Studio City, CA. ​USA
Narrative Short  | Total Running Time: 0:14:28
When a perfectionist, collegiate wrestler finds himself stumbling through the stages of grief after the tragic death of his parents, a security guard with a similar past, secretly coaches him to grow into a champion. 
 
GO is a short, narrative, sports action drama that addresses overcoming past trauma through wrestling, personal growth and the love and support of the community.
Writers
Dusan Brown
Producers
Thomas Olsen
Joyce Kelly-Brown
Key Cast
Dante Brown
Ebony Mayo
Alimi Ballard
Keesha Sharp
Twain Taylor
Website
http://DusanBrown.net
Email Address
[email protected]​

See You Friday

BLOCK  #3 -  TOXIC CRAVINGS         12:00  pm - 1:05 pm           CARVER COMMUNITY CULTURAL CTR.
Makeba L. Ross
Brooklyn, NY.  USA
Documentary Short  |  Time: 0:11:00
Zuri is finally ready to be serious with Amare; but Amare just got some news that threatens to ruin the romantic date he has planned for her. The sequel to See You Thursday is here!
Key Cast
Makeba L. Ross
Salif Soumahoro
Website
NA
Email Address
[email protected]​

The Adventures of Angosat

BLOCK #7:  STARRY EYES                           9:00 am - 10:24 am                                LIL' CARVER CIVIC CENTER                    
Resem Verkron, Marc Serena
Angola, Spain

*This narrative short film is ONLY available for a San Antonio screening.
It will not be shown V.O.D. online/virtually.
Musical Short  |  Total Running Time: 0:34:30 
Man R, dreams of traveling the outer space... and what if this happens? 

Angola launched in 2017 its first satellite into space... and got lost. "The Adventures of Angosat" is a retelling of this dream. An indie musical film written and performed by Isis Hembe, one of the most renowned Angolan urban artists. It brings together upcoming artists from the streets of Cazenga (Luanda) in a unique one-shot fiction film.
Writer
Isis Hembe
Producers
Jo'o Carlos Domingos Marc Serena
Key Cast
Isis Hembe
Website
NA
Email Address
[email protected]​

Finding Solace

BLOCK #6 :  FINDING SOLACE              4:45 pm - 6:45 pm               CARVER COMMUNITY CULTURAL CTR.
Maurice Moore
Austin, TX.  USA
Narrative Feature | Total Running Time: 1:59:00
"Finding Solace" is a psychological thriller revolving around the Solace sisters whose been estranged for many years but are forced to reconnect after the death of their father in small town Texas. Meanwhile, the local Sheriff is investigating a series of murders that seem to be related to each other and spreading panic within the community.  As the Solace sisters fight to rekindle their troubled pass, they realize that it's that past that has them directly linked to the murders and now their lives may be in grave danger.
Writers
Maurice Moore
Producers
Maurice Moore
Key Cast
Kelly Dealyn
Marissa Falscone Maurice Moore
Peggy Schott
Website
http://motivate.pictures
Email Address
[email protected]​

Profiles of Promise:  Back to
My Roots

 BLOCK #9:  SAGE WISDOM                      12:35 pm - 2:10 pm                                   LIL' CARVER CIVIC CENTER  
Nana Kofi Acquah, Tiffany Steeves
Ghana & Dallas, TX.  USA 
Documentary Short  |  Total Recording Time: 0:07:43
From Dallas to Ghana, Stanford student Roman Scott embarks on a transformative journey to reconnect with his ancestral roots while using his background in technology and entrepreneurship to empower a Black-owned real estate firm. As he leads a digital transformation at Incept Architectural, Roman discovers a deeper purpose, bridging continents, cultures, and communities through innovation, heritage, and hope. 
Producer
Roman Scott
Key Cast
Sowa Yimaseni Imoisili Kate Selby
Website
http://motivate.pictures
Email Address
[email protected]​

Criminals

BLOCK #5:   BARRIERS BEFORE US          3:20 pm - 4:33 pm          CARVER COMMUNITY CULTURAL CTR. 
Hossein Hadinezhad
Tehran, Iran​
Narrative Short  |  Total Running Time: 0:19:21
Saman, a reformed thief struggling under the weight of life's pressures, finds himself forced to steal once again. He breaks into what he believes to be an abandoned house, only to discover someone secretly living there, a fugitive hiding from the police. The encounter between Saman and the runaway sparks an unusual and gripping confrontation.
Writer
Hossein Hadinezhad
Producer
Hossein Hadinezhad
Website
NA
Email Address
[email protected]​

Hag

BLOCK #11:   CAPTAINS OF OUR SOULS          4:00 pm - 5:15 pm                     LIL' CARVER CIVIC CENTER
Jay Najeeah
Washington, DC. USA
Narrative Short  |  Total Running Time: 0:24:00
Winner of the 2024 Focus Features Social Impact Award, Hag is a Southern Gothic Horror that follows a young queer woman battling with demons both real and emotional, while pregnant with her first child. "Through supernatural and historical means, she has to save herself and her child from an Urban legend come to life."
Writer
Jay Najeeah
Producer
Cameron Logan
Key Cast
Jazelle Foster
Kandice Wilson
Joy Vandervort-Cobb Alloire Thomas
Katrina Dia
Tierra Mai
Website
https://haintblueprod.wixsite.com/hbp23
Email Address
[email protected]​

Catching Bullets

BLOCK #12:   CATCHING BULLETS         5:25 pm - 6:50 pm                                               Lil Carver Civic Center
Derrick Phillips, Ben Scholle 
Saint Louis, MO, ​United States
Film Director, Producer and Subject will be in attendance.
Documentary Feature  |  Total Running Time: 1:24:17
A generation ago, Darren sold dope. Behind a gun and a bullet-proof vest, he once made a name for himself in Walnut Park, one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in St. Louis, a city itself haunted by a perennially high murder rate. Now in his 50s and marked with the scars of 13 bullets, Darren buys a condemned church building in his old neighborhood and channels his energy into establishing a youth mentoring center, dedicated to breaking the cycle of violence he once perpetuated. When Preston, the 18-year-old son of Darren's late friend, is tempted by the allure of street-level drug dealing, Darren pledges to save Preston from winding up in a jail cell or worse.
Writers
NA
Producers
Derrick Phillips
Ben Scholle
Key Cast
NA
Website
https://www.organpop.com/catching-bullets​
Email Address
[email protected]

ROTTEN  BLOOD

BLOCK #11:   CAPTAINS OF OUR SOULS           4:00 pm - 5:15 pm               LIL' CARVER CIVIC CENTER
Tarek El Sherbeny
Egypt
Documentary Feature  |  Total Running Time: 0:12:00
In order to satisfy her sexual needs after her divorce, Mona meets her secret lover Yahiya in his house. Their religious neighborhood obliges them not to be seen outside as they're not married. While they are together, her brother Hazem breaks into the house. He gives her the choice of waiving her total ownership of their deceased father's house, or her sexual affairs will be exposed to her ex husband.  

Mona refuses, defending their father's decision to give her full ownership was to secure the life of her baby girl. Hazem argues that what the old man did was against Islam as it is his right to get 2/3 of the ownership. Mona offers him his share, but Hazem declines, demanding the full control over the house. It's his only way to escape the country's economic crisis and start a new life outside of Egypt. The situation escalates into chaos while Mona is looking for a way out of this misery.
Writer
Tarek El Sherbeny
Producers
Tarek El Sherbeny Ahmed Abd El Hafez Ihab Fares
​Ahmed Hafez
Amr Saleh
Key Cast
Bassant Ahmed
Emad Ghoneim
Mohab Khalifa
​Mohamed Rabea
Website
N/A
Email Address
[email protected]

The Lesser of  2  Evils

BLOCK #11:   CAPTAINS OF OUR SOULS                4:00 pm - 5:15 pm                LIL' CARVER CIVIC CENTER
Mario Tahi Lathan
Riverside, CA, ​United States
Documentary Short (Experimental)  | Running Time: 0:24:00
A Knife, a Gun, or a Decision.   
A meditation on life and destruction summarizes the narrative plight of the experimental film, The Lesser of 2 Evils. Originally conceived as deconstructive commentary on the idea of consumption versus non-consumption through the lens of fear, happiness, sadness and surprise, The Lesser of 2 Evils challenges the viewer on the idea of choice and the consequences thereof. What will it be: the knife or the gun? 
  
The real choice may be the one that is not made.
Producers
Mario Lathan
​JD Allen
Key Cast
JD Allen
Website
NA
Email Address
[email protected]​

While You were Freeing the World

BLOCK #3:    TOXIC CRAVINGS       12:00 PM - 1:05 PM                      CARVER COMMUNITY CULTURAL CTR.
Christina Cottles
Silver Spring, MD, ​United States
Narrative Short  |  Total Running Time: 0:11:20
Fame and fortune have made world renowned singer and actor Paul Robeson loved and admired all over the world, except here in America where his stance on Civil Rights has made him a stranger in his own land.  Yet Paul and his wife, Eslanda, grow more and more distant due to his fame and fortune in addition to his marital infidelities, forcing him to confront the pain of becoming a stranger in his own home.
Writers
Christina Cottles
Producers
Christina Cottles
Greg Amiker
Key Cast
Stogie Kenyatta Christina Childress
Website
NA
Email Address
[email protected]​

Wait Until Tomorrow

BLOCK #2:  WAIT UNTIL TOMORROW     10:30 am - 11:40 pm         CARVER COMMUNITY CULTURAL CTR. 
Osato Dixon
USA
Documentary Feature |  Total Running Time: 1:10:00
This documentary follows the journeys of Black families over two years, showcasing their struggles, survival, and pursuit of success across diverse economic paths. It examines five distinct themes that shape Black economic mobility, intercut with expert interviews from McKinsey's Black Economic Mobility Institute. Through intimate family stories, it explores the challenges and triumphs of Black life, offering an in-depth look at the factors influencing economic mobility and the fight for a better future.
Writers
Osato Dixon
Kara  Murphy
Producers
Jamund Washington
Key Cast
Kelley Robins Hicks
Website
NA
Email Address
[email protected]​
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