WHERE CRAFT MEETS COMMUNITY
![BFS[822]--_4000P1076019 (1).jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f48162fe5a2917b916a2c9e/1fd57275-f4b7-4844-9fb1-1f8cc42d2718/BFS%5B822%5D--_4000P1076019+%281%29.jpg)
Check out the Hour By Hour Schedule Below
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Check out the Hour By Hour Schedule Below 〰️
There are
film festivals.
There are networking events.
Then there’s
BFS WEEKEND.
BFS Weekend 2025 is our third annual large-scale conference dedicated to helping Black filmmakers grow their craft, expand their networks, and explore bold new approaches to storytelling. This is a hands-on, skill-building experience designed for Black filmmakers at all levels.
Over the course of one dynamic weekend, attendees will take part in immersive workshops, panels led by industry experts, and community-driven discussions focused on the art and craft of storytelling. While festivals and mixers offer exposure, opportunities for deep creative development outside of expensive academic programs are limited—and that’s where we come in.
We’re bringing together some of the most talented and generous voices in the industry to help filmmakers grow, connect, and create on their own terms.
This year’s theme celebrates the multi-hyphenate creative.
As the film industry constantly evolves in unprecedented ways, filmmakers are facing the reality that sustaining their careers often requires the art of pivoting.
The idea of a multi-hyphenate once carried a stigma for lack of focus, but as the media landscape shifts, multi-hyphenate creatives are emerging as powerhouses with marketable skills that help them generate multiple streams of income that can navigate any industry changes.
We’ll explore what it means to build a career in which you can be celebrated for your diverse skills and offer education that can help you stay marketable as an adaptable storyteller across all areas in the industry.
OPENING NIGHT PARTY
7pm to 11pm
Diamante’s
410 8th Avenue, New York City, NY 10001
Kick off BFS Weekend 2025 with a night of music, drinks, and community! Join us as we bring together filmmakers, storytellers, and creatives from across the country for an unforgettable evening. This is your chance to connect, celebrate, and set the tone for an inspiring weekend ahead. Don’t miss it!
friday, september 19
MUSIC BY: DJ ZENAS
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DJ Zenas is a Denver, CO native and international DJ who has taken his passion for music across the globe. Known for his dynamic hosting skills and ability to keep any crowd energized, Zenas has performed at venues and festivals worldwide, from Vie i Pee in Austria to the Hill Festival in Rwanda, as well as stages across the U.S. and Europe.
Heavily influenced by the sounds of the ‘90s, Zenas blends nostalgia with modern energy, seamlessly moving through Hip-Hop, R&B, Pop, House, Afrobeat, Amapiano, Reggae/Dancehall, Latin, and beyond. His versatility behind the decks allows him to create unforgettable experiences, whether rocking intimate clubs or massive festival stages.
Beyond music, Zenas is a passionate traveler, entrepreneur, and advocate for financial literacy and investing. He’s also a dedicated foodie who enjoys exploring cultures through cuisine, and values quality time with family and friends just as much as time spent on stage. His lifestyle and artistry reflect a balance of creativity, business savvy, and genuine human connection.
With a career that continues to expand internationally, DJ Zenas is making his mark not just as a party rocker but as a global connector, using music, culture, and community to bring people together wherever he goes.
SESSIONS
Join us for a full day of panels, workshops, and community building breakout rooms.
Doors open at 9:30am
Manhattan Neighborhood Network
509 W 38th St, New York, NY 10018
saturday, september 20
Collaborating as Multi-Hyphenates for Your Debut Feature Film
Oscar Micheaux Room
Filmmakers Rashad Frett, Lin Que Ayoung, and Ramfis Myrthil discuss their arduous journey from proof of concept short to Sundance award-winning feature film ‘Ricky’. The session will also delve in their varied talents lending to their collaboration, followed by scene study of clips from the film.
RASHAD FRETT
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Rashad Frett is an award-winning Caribbean American filmmaker who began pursuing the arts after serving as a U.S. Army Combat Medic during 9/11. Inspired to create social impact through media, he earned an MFA from NYU’s prestigious Tisch Graduate Film Program. His short film ‘Ricky’ premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival and in 2025, Frett premiered the debut feature ‘Ricky’ at the Sundance Film Festival, where he won the Directing Award in the U.S. Dramatic Competition. Frett’s accolades include a BAFTA-HBO Scholarship, a Martin Scorsese Young Filmmakers Scholarship, a DGA Student Film Award, two King Wasserman Awards, a Spike Lee Production Fellowship, and a Cary Fukunaga Production Fund. He’s also a mentee of Ryan Murphy’s HALF Initiative and a 2023 Sundance Feature Film Lab Fellow.
LIN QUE AYOUNG
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Lin Que Ayoung is an award-winning writer, director, and producer. Upon obtaining an MFA from NYU's Graduate Film program, Lin Que's thesis film, ‘Cracked’, which won The Spike Lee Production Grant, won a Top Honor King Wasserman Award for Best Graduate Film at NYU's First Run Film Festival. There, it was also awarded Craft Awards for Acting and Cinematography. ‘Cracked’ had its World Premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival and is currently streaming on HBO MAX. Lin Que was selected to be a Sundance Screenwriters Lab Fellow as a co-writer for the feature film ‘Ricky’. Amongst her achievements, Lin Que was chosen to be a fellow of the Gotham Marcie Bloom Fellowship Program, one of the ten Women Director's selected for Issa Rae's Project Greenlight, and a mentee for Ryan Murphy's HALF Initiative Director Shadowing Program where she received extensive mentorship from Steven Canals, the 3-time Emmy-nominated Co-creator, Showrunner, and Writer/Director of FX's groundbreaking drama series ‘Pose’.
RAMFIS MYRTHIL
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Ramfis Myrthil, a global citizen and storyteller who has carved a dynamic and celebrated path through the film industry. He is passionate about championing narratives from around the world. His focus is on uplifting stories that resonate with diverse communities, including people of color, the LGBTQ+ community, women, and the disabled community. Ramfis began his journey in the film industry by premiering his first short, ‘Love and the Small Print,’ at the 65th Annual Cannes Film Festival in 2012, where it was picked up by Shorts International for worldwide distribution. He went on to build a successful body of work as a producer, with one of his most celebrated feature films, ‘Cicada,’ released in 2021, winning awards at several film festivals and being nominated for an Independent Spirit Award. He also found success in the Tribeca Film Festival Creators Market with his project ‘5150’ in 2021, executive produced alongside David Oyelowo. He was a producer for the Oscar-qualified short film ‘Ricky’ and developed it through the prestigious Sundance Producer Lab program. His other credits include the documentary ‘Bad Like Brooklyn Dance Hall’ which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival, ‘Unidentified Objects’ and ‘Haze’ which was financed and distributed by Shudder, and 2025’s ‘Terrestrial’, a gripping sci-fi thriller directed by Steve Pink, at the Fantasia International Film Festival. He serves as an advisor for the Sundance Film Institute’s Collab producing program, is a co-founder of the Hyphen Grant supporting filmmakers from the Caribbean and West Indies, and is an adjunct professor at Five Towns College and Montclair University, he continues to teach “Advanced Producing” to the next generation of filmmakers. Ramfis was named to Stars' 2018 40 Under 40 list and serves as a panelist at various film festivals.
moderator: Reggie Williams
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Reggie is a comedic screenwriter/director and a non-comedic non-profit executive.
In 2019 he wrote and directed a short film entitled an anomalous love, a romantic comedy about a Black atheist age gap relationship. an anomalous love screened at the Urban World Film Festival, the Pan African Film Festival and the Roxbury Film Festival.
Most recently, Williams wrote and co-directed a comedic web series entitled Regular Negroes about five roommates in their 30's who struggle to level up in life.
Regular Negroes won best comedic web series at Black Web Fest, was a finalist at the Charlotte Black Film Festival and Runner Up at the Denton Black Film Festival.
Born and raised in Boston, Williams graduated from Emerson College with a degree in Writing For Film & TV. During this time Reggie performed at major comedy clubs in New England such as The Comedy Studio and The Providence Comedy Connection, organized shows at Emerson and wrote for Comedy Central.
Reggie is committed to humanizing Black characters in his work through comedy and romance.
Launching a Multi-Hyphenate Career
Oscar Micheaux Room
Award-winning filmmakers Kevin Wilson Jr., Elegance Bratton, and Chester Algernal Gordon each spent years functioning in various roles on productions before launching highly successful professional careers in the industry. This session will focus on how to be adaptable and flexible to the ever-changing demands of the film, television, and content creation industries.
kevin wilson, jr.
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Kevin Wilson, Jr. is an Oscar Nominated Filmmaker, Documentarian, and Award Winning Commercial Director. His recent credits include Netflix's Untold: The Rise & Fall of AND1 and Netflix's CHEF'S TABLE. He is an active member of The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences and an Adjunct Professor in the Graduate Film Program at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts.
elegance bratton
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Elegance Bratton is an award-winning and boundary-breaking director, writer, and producer whose work has played at over 200 film festivals worldwide, including Sundance, TIFF, NYFF, BFI, Thessaloniki, Doc NYC, and BlackStar. His films include Pier Kids (Spirit Award winner), Move Ya Body: The Birth of House, and The Inspection (A24), which premiered at TIFF and NYFF, earned Golden Globe, Gotham, and Spirit Award nominations, and was named one of Variety’s “10 Directors to Watch” for 2023. He created and executive produced Viceland’s My House, and is currently in post-production on By Any Means, a civil rights–mafia action film starring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Mark Wahlberg. Bratton co-runs the production company Freedom Principle with his producing partner Chester Algernal Gordon.
Chester Algernal Gordon
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Chester Algernal Gordon is a producer whose films spark conversations across political and cultural lines, exploring identity, humanity, and purpose, with premieres at leading festivals such as Sundance, TIFF, NYFF, Tribeca, BFI, Thessaloniki, and Docs Against Gravity. Their credits include The Inspection (A24), which earned Golden Globe, Gotham, and Independent Spirit Award nominations, won NAACP and GLAAD Awards, and was named one of the National Board of Review’s Top Ten Independent Films, as well as Pier Kids (Spirit Award winner), Move Ya Body: The Birth of House, and the Sundance Jury Prize–winning short -Ship: A Visual Poem. Upcoming work includes By Any Means, a civil rights–mafia action film directed by Elegance Bratton and starring Mark Wahlberg and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II. Gordon is also the co-founder of Freedom Principle and a 2025 Gotham / Cannes Producers Network Fellow.
Crafting the All-in-One Pitch
Oscar Micheaux Room
TV & Film Producer, Writer, Director and novelist Stacy Evans Morgan who has worked on esteemed shows A Black Lady Sketch Show, The Varnell Hill Show, Saturdays, Family Time, The Parkers and more. She will discuss strategies for pitching TV show ideas as a creative with multiple talents in comedy.
STACeY EVANS MORGAN
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Stacey Evans Morgan is a veteran television writer and producer with credits including Saturdays (for Disney+), The Parkers, Family Time, Love that Girl, Partners in Rhyme, The Jamie Foxx Show, DreamWorks Animation series Madagascar: A Little Wild and BET+’s new comedy series The Varnell Hill Show. She is also the author of the romantic-comedy novel A Good Thing, which was optioned for film in 2023. Stacey lives in Los Angeles and continues to champion her mantra: #WriteTheVision. From sitcoms to novels, veteran TV writer/producer/author Stacey Evans Morgan brings stories to life from page to the stage, shaping culture through comedy, drama, and creative vision.
'Brand New' Short Film: A Case Study for Production, Festival, and Distribution Success
Oscar Micheaux Room
Filmmaking team Quincy & Yuki Ledbetter join us to share how they created the compelling short film 'Brand New' that made incredible waves in the film festival circuit in 2024, screening at notable festivals such as Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival, HollyShorts Film Festival, BronzeLens Film Festival, Austin Film Festival, and Urbanworld Film Festival. They also secured a two-year, five-figure distribution deal with AMC/ALLBLK. AMC executive Sean Charles will weigh in how they were able to convince a major network to offer them incentives that are typically reserved for feature films.
quincy ledbetter
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Quincy Ledbetter is a filmmaker specializing primarily in directing and writing narrative films and television. In 2020 he wrote, directed, and composed the score for his debut feature film, 'Alieu the Dreamer' released via BET and Paramount Players. This year his award winning short film, 'Brand New', co-written and co-directed with Denzel Whitaker, received distribution on AMC's ALLBLK streaming platform. In 2024 Quincy was inducted into the DGA's Director Development Initiative Mentorship Program, dedicated to nurturing the next generation of television directors. His credits also include Emmy nominated documentaries.
Yuki Maekawa-Ledbetter
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Yuki Maekawa-Ledbetter is a Japanese-born creative producer and filmmaker based in NYC.
Her works have showcased at The Met, Brooklyn Museum, Museum of Pop Culture, as well as festivals including Tribeca Festival, Austin Film Festival, HollyShorts, NewFest, BFI Flare, and Urbanworld, and been distributed by AMC Networks, Paramount, BET, DUST, Black Public Media among others. Recent credits include ‘The Black Disquisition’, ‘Friends of Sophia’, ‘The Rebirth’, and ‘El Tiguere’. Her dedication extends beyond the screens, actively advocating an inclusive community by collaborating with diverse creatives, a testament to her mission of portraying the world authentically through unique perspectives, both on and off-camera.
RAMFIS MYRTHIL
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Ramfis Myrthil, a global citizen and storyteller who has carved a dynamic and celebrated path through the film industry. He is passionate about championing narratives from around the world. His focus is on uplifting stories that resonate with diverse communities, including people of color, the LGBTQ+ community, women, and the disabled community. Ramfis began his journey in the film industry by premiering his first short, ‘Love and the Small Print,’ at the 65th Annual Cannes Film Festival in 2012, where it was picked up by Shorts International for worldwide distribution. He went on to build a successful body of work as a producer, with one of his most celebrated feature films, ‘Cicada,’ released in 2021, winning awards at several film festivals and being nominated for an Independent Spirit Award. He also found success in the Tribeca Film Festival Creators Market with his project ‘5150’ in 2021, executive produced alongside David Oyelowo. He was a producer for the Oscar-qualified short film ‘Ricky’ and developed it through the prestigious Sundance Producer Lab program. His other credits include the documentary ‘Bad Like Brooklyn Dance Hall’ which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival, ‘Unidentified Objects’ and ‘Haze’ which was financed and distributed by Shudder, and 2025’s ‘Terrestrial’, a gripping sci-fi thriller directed by Steve Pink, at the Fantasia International Film Festival. He serves as an advisor for the Sundance Film Institute’s Collab producing program, is a co-founder of the Hyphen Grant supporting filmmakers from the Caribbean and West Indies, and is an adjunct professor at Five Towns College and Montclair University, he continues to teach “Advanced Producing” to the next generation of filmmakers. Ramfis was named to Stars' 2018 40 Under 40 list and serves as a panelist at various film festivals.
sean charles
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Sean Charles is an Executive Producer and Scripted/Unscripted Development & Production Manager at ALLBLK/WE tv an AMC Networks property. He is responsible for producing and developing original content for the streaming service and linear broadcaster, in addition to assisting in acquisitions and scheduling. Having worked on such titles as the 2025 Telly Award Winning unscripted series Deb’s House in the Television Game Show & Competition category that aired across, WE tv, ALLBLK and Peacock to scripted projects like Wicked City selected as a 2025 GLAAD Media Award nominee for Outstanding Drama Series he’s had a wide range of experiences. Sean also alongside filmmakers Gabriel Reis and Ahmad Muhammad, independently produced the Award-Winning short film The Therapist, starring Trell Woodberry and Vanessa Simmons. He is also a 2024 Cynopsis Rising Star recipient. Formed and led the inaugural Black employee resource group, Vested Interest in Black Employees (V.I.B.E) from 2018 through 2021, as Co-Chair at AMC Networks. In addition to having received his B.A in Media Communications from Queens College, CUNY he also holds an M.B.A from Mercy College.
moderator: STEVEN ST. PIERRE
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Steven St. Pierre is a Queens-bred actor, director, writer and producer of Haitian descent. He’s appeared in over 30 Film/TV productions including FBI: Most Wanted (CBS), High Maintenance (HBO), and the Daytime Emmy-nominated series Tough Love (TV One). He stars in The Pill (Amazon/Tubi) and the award-winning short COREY, which he also wrote and directed. His web series Room for Rent won Best Web Series at three festivals in 2024.
On stage, St. Pierre played Lincoln in Suzan Lori-Parks' Pulitzer Prize winning play Topdog/Underdog (Passage Theatre). He's the founder of Saint Pierre Media Group and coaches actors through Self-Tape with St. Pierre.
Actor Fireside Chat with Mehcad Brooks
Oscar Micheaux Room
Mehcad Brooks will join us for an intimate fireside chat where he will share his inspiring journey from modeling to becoming a successful working actor. He will discuss how he has built a marketable and versatile career, the strategies he uses to stay in demand, and the ways he continues to hone his craft and grow as an artist.
mehcad brooks
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Mehcad Brooks is an American actor and former fashion model. He is known for his roles as Matthew Applewhite in the second season of ABC's series Desperate Housewives (2005–2006), Jerome in The Game, "Eggs" Benedict Talley in the first and second seasons of HBO's series True Blood, his leading role as Terrance "TK" King in the USA series Necessary Roughness (2011–2013) and James Olsen in the CBS/The CW series Supergirl. From 2022 to 2025, he portrayed the lead role of NYPD Detective Jalen Shaw on the NBC police procedural drama Law & Order.
Unconventional Distribution Pathways for Multi-Hyphenate Creatives
Issa Rae Room
Indie filmmakers are being challenged now more than ever to work around tighter barriers of entry as streamers and studios ignore much of our talent. Arts administrator/filmmaker Talia Koylass and social media savant Jerrica Long will lead a discussion that invites unique, yet lucrative avenues to distribute your film and prepare you for a brand new filmmaking landscape in the future.
jerrica long
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Jerrica Long is a creative strategist, digital showrunner, and founder of Greenlight Yourself, helping entertainment companies and creators grow loyal audiences without Netflix-sized budgets. With over a decade in TV, film, and digital media — including roles at Netflix, SpringHill Entertainment (Lebron James Entertainment Co.), and Lionsgate — her clients’ projects have landed on Netflix, Amazon, and major networks. She specializes in turning ideas into signature series and sustainable careers, giving creatives the tools to own their audience and their future. Clients’ projects have been featured on Netflix, Amazon, and major networks.
JUAN MEDINA
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Juan Medina is a Brooklyn-based Puerto Rican film publicist with over 5 years of experience in distribution. He currently works for the renowned distributor Kino Lorber, overseeing national and regional P.R. campaigns for award-winning arthouse narrative and documentary feature films. During his time at Kino Lorber, he has contributed to the U.S. theatrical release of the award-winning films, including Academy Award-nominated documentary features “Four Daughters” by Kaouther Ben Hania and “Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat” by Johan Grimonprez, AND US theatrical re-release of "Killer of Sheep" and The Annihilation of Fish" by Charles Burnett. He graduated from the University of Puerto Rico with a Bachelor's degree in Hispanic Studies, before completing a Master's degree in Film Studies at Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona, Spain.
Utilizing AI for Filmmaking
Issa Rae Room
Evan will lead a session focusing on new AI storytelling techniques meant to streamline production, brainstorm, and enhance ideas that will elevate any audiovisual work in progress.
evan rose
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Evan Rose is the founder of Rose Digital, an agency focused on storytelling using Augmented Reality and Digital Transformation. Some clients include AirBnB, Adidas, American Express, Red Bull, Patron and many others.
Multi-Hyphenate Legal Open House
Issa Rae Room
As an entertainment attorney, Janine Beach focuses on representing creative talent and producers and serves various BIPOC clients with unique, distinct challenges, including multi-hyphenates who need to optimize their various talents for professional growth. Khalil Nobles is a senior associate specializing in a wide range of activities related to the commercialization of technology and intellectual property rights. They will be leading an open house for creatives at all levels to ask their pressing questions.
JANINE BEACH
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Janine is a lawyer and strategy consultant who is passionate about advocating for creatives, and brings over twelve years of experience as an entertainment lawyer and media strategist across film, television, digital media, and theater. As an entertainment lawyer, her practice focuses on representing creative talent and producers. Prior to starting her own firm, she was a lawyer in private practice and in-house and gained equal experience representing both top-tier and emerging clients. Her strategy work focuses on SME and boutique entertainment companies. She began my legal career at a leading Wall Street law firm, her consulting career at the foremost international management consultancy, and has been a senior advisor to C-suite executives at international media companies. Her clients’ projects have premiered at Sundance, TIFF, Berlinale and Tribeca and on major broadcasters and streaming services. She is also a frequent public speaker and has lectured and appeared on panels at NYU Tisch, The Gotham (formerly Independent Filmmaker Project), CUNY, NYC Media Center, ACTRA, Content Canada, Edinburgh Film Festival, London Film School and Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson).
Khalil Nobles
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Khalil Nobles is a senior associate in the New York office of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, where he is part of the firm’s technology transactions practice. His practice covers a wide range of activities related to the commercialization of technology and acquisition of intellectual property rights, including negotiating and drafting strategic commercial agreements, matters relating to mergers and acquisitions, financing transactions, and intellectual property and technology transfers. Listed as a top attorney for intellectual property law in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch, 2021-2024, J.D., Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, 2015 Moot Court Honor Society, Intellectual Property and Information Law, Colloquium Fellow
Multi-Hyphenate Documentary Filmmakers Spotlight
Oscar Micheaux Room
Two award-winning documentary filmmakers will share their journeys as multi-hyphenates and how they developed their skillsets to tell powerful stories in front of and behind the camera.
Attika J. Torrence
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Attika J. Torrence is a multi-award-winning, multi-hyphenate storyteller whose work includes documentaries, narrative films, docuseries, children's books, novels, custom and branded content campaigns, live concerts, experiential events and whatever he conjures up in that super creative brain of his.
With no limits on his storytelling abilities or creativity, Attika has won top awards in every category of storytelling he has embarked upon proving that he not only thinks outside of the box... he doesn't even acknowledge the box. When it comes to creativity, the box doesn't even exist! His honors include TV Academy Honors Award winning producer , 2 X Emmy Nominated producer, Black Authors Festival Trailblazer Award, BET Lens on Talent Award winner, 3 X Telly Award winning Creative Director.
BYRON HURT
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Byron Hurt is an award-winning documentary filmmaker, writer, activist, and an adjunct professor at SUNY Old Westbury. Hurt is the former host of the Emmy-nominated series, "REEL WORKS with BYRON HURT.” He also directed the critically acclaimed PBS films, Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes; Soul Food Junkies; HAZING; and Lee and Liza’s Family Tree. All four films aired nationally on PBS and can be streamed on PBS.org, the PBS App, Apple TV, and on Prime Video in the PBS Documentaries Channel. He has won Best Documentary at several film festivals, including the American Black Film Festival, the Urbanworld Film Festival, the Queen City Film Festival, and others. His latest short documentary film, Men of Courage, will premiere next week at the Detroit Black Film Festival.
moderator: LISA DURDEN
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Lisa Durden is a National TV Personality, Multihyphenate Content Creator, Award-Winning Filmmaker and sought-after Public Speaker known for her unapologetic voice and fearless storytelling. Her expert commentary has been featured on esteemed platforms including ABC News 20/20, CBS News, NewsNation’s Dan Abrams Live and On Balance, Revolt TV’s Revolt Black News, amongst others. Founder of Lisa Durden Unlimited Productions, she amplifies underrepresented voices through impactful films, series, and podcasts. Her recent credits include Executive Producer, Café Mocha TV (FoxSoul), Producer, Diary Of A Killer (ABC 20/20), Supervising Story Producer, The Conversations Project (Hulu), Director, HBCU FirstLook Let’s Talk Series with Loni Love (theGrio), Associate Producer, Neighborhood Wars 2 (A&E), Assistant Director, ‘Conversations With Mom’ (Verizon PSA), Producer, Paris Blues In Harlem (PBS Online Festival), and Host/Executive Producer, the award-nominated podcast Vice President Kamala Harris: She Ready! A proud graduate of the School of Visual Arts with an MFA in Social Documentary Film, Lisa continues to inspire, challenge, and ignite change.
Cinematographer Spotlight with Jomo Fray
Issa Rae Room
Jomo Fray has served as Cinematographer on critically acclaimed films such as Nickel Boys, All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt, and Selah and The Spades. He is also a 2025 Independent Spirit Award winner. Jomo will share his professional story, the growth of his career, and his experiences collaborating with directors and talent.
JOMO FRAY
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Jomo Fray is a cinematographer whose work is focused on crafting images from a place of radical empathy—films that strive to have the viewer not only see the story, but feel it as well. Some recent honors include a 2025 Independent Spirit Award as well as a 2024 Spirit Award nomination. He was also featured as one of the 2018 25 New Faces of Independent Film by Filmmaker Magazine and won the 2025 American Cinematographer Spotlight Award. Feature film work includes Selah and the Spades (Sundance 2019), Port Authority (Cannes 2019), No Future (Tribeca 2020), Runner (TIFF 2022), All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt (Sundance 2023), and The Young Wife (SXSW 2023). His most recent film, Nickel Boys, directed by RaMell Ross was nominated for multiple Oscars including Best Picture and garnered multiple critics awards for its cinematography.
MODERATOR: Harold Williams
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Harold Williams is a Creative Producer and writer who is passionate about telling diverse stories of people of the African Diaspora. Williams proudly hails from Philadelphia where he first discovered soul and art. Currently he works on projects in New York and Los Angeles. In New York he serves as the Training Coordinator for the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, training local New York residents to work on film sets as Production Assistants.
His TV and film experience includes physical production and creative development in unscripted, narrative and documentary. He’s worked on producing teams for several network productions such as Food Network, A&E, truTV, and Warner Media.
Williams has also produced several independent projects. In 2018, he won the American Black Film Festival’s Comedy Writing and Best Web Series awards for “Keloid”, in which he served as Executive Producer of the project. That same year he landed a development deal with TruTv and worked with the network to create original shows. In 2020 he earned a spot among the prestigious Producers Guild of America Diversity program with his original unscripted project “Unpacking Black”. In 2023 he produced a short film in Disney’s Launchpad program. Currently he is working on the producing team for Friday Night Vibes on TBS.
Williams’ work explores the black diaspora often telling stories of the nuance of black male identity in never before seen worlds.
Directing Your Performance
Issa Rae Room
Lauren L. Owen, film/TV producer, actor, writer, and director, will present a case study of her short film, "Trapped," in which she served as producer, writer, director, and co-star acting opposite...herself. She will share how her creative vision came to life and how her experience wearing multiple hats on indie and studio projects alike shaped her adaptability throughout the production process.
Lauren L. Owen
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Lauren L. Owen is a producer, actor, writer, director, and the first Black or African American alum of NYU’s MBA/MFA dual degree program, who brings bold, nuanced stories to life on the screen. She produced the Academy Award-nominated "My Nephew Emmett" and served as Vice President of Development at Spike Lee’s 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks, where she worked on Academy Award-winning "BlacKkKlansman" and the Netflix originals "She’s Gotta Have It" and "See You Yesterday." She was the Production Supervisor on the 2025 Sundance award-winning film "Ricky" (starring Stephan James and Sheryl Lee Ralph) and continues to develop a slate of projects that amplify inventive storytelling and diverse voices, both on the screen and behind the scenes. During the brief moments when she removes her filmmaker hat, Lauren finds unapologetic joy on the improv stage, happily making things up as she goes along.
Logline & Pitch Competition sponsored by The Gotham and cliveRd.
Oscar Micheaux Room
Black Film Space is partnering with The Gotham and cliveRd to give five logline pitch finalists a chance to win a cash prize! They will be chosen from hundreds of applicants who will submit their loglines. Each finalist is required to present a slideshow presentation detailing their idea in five minutes or less. The judges will also invite all finalists backstage to offer feedback on their idea, and the presentation of their projects. See below for more details.
JUDGES
kia brooks
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Kia Brooks is the Deputy Director of The Gotham Film and Media Institute. Kia’s experience in strategic communications (including PR and Marketing) and events spans over a decade. She enjoys supporting and advising creators and entrepreneurs in taking the next steps in their projects and careers. At The Gotham, she oversees the organization’s programming, communications and supports the organization’s development and strategic planning efforts.
Before working at the Gotham, Kia worked in film publicity for companies such as Focus Features, Oscilloscope Laboratories and Tribeca Film Festival. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Communication from American University and a Certificate in Fundraising from New York University.
casey baron
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Casey is a Programmer focusing on US Narratives, Indie Episodics, and Games at Tribeca Festival. With a decades’ worth of experience in the industry, further efforts supporting the filmmaking community includes stints as a Jury member for film competitions across the World. He has been an advisory board member on various funds and grants including currently the NYU Game Center Incubator. Born and raised in Dominica in the West Indies, Casey now resides in New York City, NY.
With no limits on his storytelling abilities or creativity, Attika has won top awards in every category of storytelling he has embarked upon proving that he not only thinks outside of the box... he doesn't even acknowledge the box. When it comes to creativity, the box doesn't even exist! His honors include TV Academy Honors Award winning producer , 2 X Emmy Nominated producer, Black Authors Festival Trailblazer Award, BET Lens on Talent Award winner, 3 X Telly Award winning Creative Director.
sean charles
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Sean Charles is an Executive Producer and Scripted/Unscripted Development & Production Manager at ALLBLK/WE tv an AMC Networks property. He is responsible for producing and developing original content for the streaming service and linear broadcaster, in addition to assisting in acquisitions and scheduling. Having worked on such titles as the 2025 Telly Award Winning unscripted series Deb’s House in the Television Game Show & Competition category that aired across, WE tv, ALLBLK and Peacock to scripted projects like Wicked City selected as a 2025 GLAAD Media Award nominee for Outstanding Drama Series he’s had a wide range of experiences. Sean also alongside filmmakers Gabriel Reis and Ahmad Muhammad, independently produced the Award-Winning short film The Therapist, starring Trell Woodberry and Vanessa Simmons. He is also a 2024 Cynopsis Rising Star recipient. Formed and led the inaugural Black employee resource group, Vested Interest in Black Employees (V.I.B.E) from 2018 through 2021, as Co-Chair at AMC Networks. In addition to having received his B.A in Media Communications from Queens College, CUNY he also holds an M.B.A from Mercy College.
FINALISTS
FOLASHADE ADE-BANJO
MAYA DARBY
MILES FREED
KAYLA DAVIS
SEKIYA DORSETT
Making Films Throughout the Diaspora as a Multi-Hyphenate
Oscar Micheaux Room
International productions are gaining incredible steam as studios, production houses, and talent are migrating overseas in droves. We’re diving into the challenges and benefits of shooting abroad from two Black filmmakers from Haitian-American and Nigerian-American backgrounds.
Melissa Adeyemo
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Melissa Oluwarotimi Adeyemo is a visionary film producer who is the founder of US-based Ominira Studios and the co-founder of the intracontinental studio, Yetu (Un)Limited.
Melissa’s first feature, Eyimofe, premiered at the 2020 Berlinale and is currently the first Nigerian film to be a part of the Criterion Collection. Dusty & Stones is her first documentary feature film and premiered at Doc NYC 2022. It has gone on to win several awards across the US and Europe and is currently sold on Apple TV and Amazon.
Melissa is a BAFTA Breakthrough Fellow, EAVE Fellow, Cannes Producer’s Network, and a Netflix + Film Independent Amplifier Fellow. Melissa has an MBA from NYU Stern and a BA from Columbia University.
Elisee Junior St Preux
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Elisee Junior St Preux is a Haitian-American Filmmaker from Miami, FL. Elisee is a Season 1 Director of Indeed's Rising Voices, a 53rd NAACP Image Awards nominee, a Sundance Ignite Finalist, an ABFF HBO Short Film Award recipient, a Year 2 Rideback Rise Circle Inductee, an NBAF Horizon Award Finalist, a WEG Feature Film Lab Fellow, and a Netflix "Created By" Fellow where he held a script development deal to pen an original feature film for the studio. His award-winning film, "Aurinko in Adagio" has received distribution on HULU. Elisee is the owner of the production company, SOIL, who harness the power of storytelling to uplift, influence, and enhance the Black & Caribbean experience both on and off the screen. Designing his work through pure nostalgia, Elisee's ultimate mission is to change the stigmatized depiction of Black boys and their fathers with a more loving, vulnerable image. Elisee is currently in post-production on his debut feature film, "The Tropic Sun and His Eyes" - the first mental health, father-and-son narrative shot entirely on land in Haiti.
Fireside Chat: State of the Film and Television Industry in 2025
Issa Rae Room
Film Festival Director, Content Strategist, and Development and Impact Producer Lamonia Brown will be hosting a discussion with Chinisha Scott about the state of film and television behind the scenes in today’s post-strike, post-election climate. This is intended to be a discussion that offers honest, real perspectives of people actively working and advocating for Black creatives in the industry.
Lamonia Deanne Brown
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Lamonia Deanne Brown is a Creative Executive, Filmmaker, and Film Festival Producer/Director. As founder of The Gilchrist Group LLC., she partners with entertainment companies in the areas of content development, strategy and communications, as well as live events. She specializes in film and series development, film festival production with a focus on programming, impact strategy, and content innovation. She served as Head of Production & Programming for the American Black Film Festival (ABFF), Festival Director of Essence Film Festival, which she built, launched, executed, and amplified through programming and production, and has also worked with many other festivals including Sundance, Pan African Film Festival, NY International Film Festival, Hamptons International Film Festival, and a host of others. Additionally, she worked at HBO/Warner Bros Discovery granting sponsorships to over 45 identity-based film festivals, 200 arts/culture organizations, and was on WarnerMedia’s Oscar-award winning team OneFifty where she worked on developing a slate of 22 original projects. In 2025, she will launch the Cultural Connections Film Festival in Washington D.C.
Working with Your Agent for Career Sustainability
Professional Workshop
Sharon Parker-Fraizer and Francesca Francois-Grimaldi run a boutique agency focused on independent, emerging talent behind and in front of the camera. Join them for a session about how artists can best utilize representation to position their careers for success.
Francesca Francois-Grimaldi
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Veteran agent trained at Oscard Agency and ICM (now CAA). Former clients include Vin Diesel, Tim Roth, Miscia Barton, and Anthony Rapp. Current client include, Jennifer Williams, Erica Mena, UGod Hawkins, Marla Maples.
Sharon Parker-Fraizer
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Native New Yorker, UCLA graduate and a soccer mom. Sharon got her start in NY production working on various television and films sets, New York Undercover,
Law & Order, The Cosby Mysteries, Die Hard III, Above The Rim, NBA Inside Stuff.
Representing creatives with Crystal Ship Artists Agency since 2020 in content curation strategies.
The Craft of Casting and Its Superpower to Transform Stories
Professional Workshop
Jennifer is a Casting Director with a specific focus on indie films. She will discuss the instrumental role of casting in filmmaking and her professional toolbox in getting the best talent for her projects. Her session will provide a comprehensive strategy for auditions, forming representation, and the importance of adapting within various genres and formats.
Optional: Attendees are welcome to bring headshots to be collected after the session.
Jennifer Peralta-Ajemian
THE FIRST FIVE PAGES OF YOUR TV PILOT
Professional Workshop
TV Writer and founder of Black Screenwriters, Craig T. Williams, will lead a workshop to share tools and tips to write a compelling first five pages of a television script. He will emphasize the importance of proper screenplay structure so your work can truly grab the attention of agents and executives.
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Jennifer Peralta-Ajemian is a Casting Director, Filmmaker, and Founder of JPA — a multidisciplinary storytelling company shaping culture through inclusive casting, narrative development, and creative innovation. A casting professional since 2005, Jennifer trained under leading casting directors including Avy Kaufman, Bernard Telsey, Cindy Tolan, and Liz Lewis before launching JPA Casting in 2014 to champion historically underestimated voices for screens of all sizes. Before casting, she worked at Henderson/Hogan and CESD talent agencies.
Her casting credits span award-winning and internationally distributed projects such as Feeling Through (Oscar Nominee, Dir. Doug Roland), Dark My Light (Dir. Neal Dhand, Amazon Prime), and The Catch (Dir. Matthew Balzer, Apple TV/Tubi). Her casting work has been recognized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, SXSW, Tribeca, Cinequest, Dances With Films, Austin Film Festival, New York Latino Film Festival, and featured in The New York Times, Ellen, and Today. Her projects in development include the feature films House on Fire (Dir. Kareem Mortimer), The Rhodora (Dir. Maria Matteoli), and Lineage (Dir. Robin Rose Singer).
Beyond narrative film, Jennifer has cast for major organizations and brands including A21, A&E, Comcast, Heineken, Dollar General, Swiffer, and Western Union. She has served on festival juries and as a panelist for Glass Elevator, Film Fatales, and the Globescreen Conference, where she advocates for authenticity, representation, and a values-first approach to storytelling. www.jpa-casting.com
Craig T. Williams
HOW I BECAME AN IN-DEMAND DIRECTOR
Professional Workshop
B. Monét is a highly accomplished director-for-hire who strategically positioned herself to be in-demand for a variety of genres and formats. She will share her story and the importance of being intentional in developing one's long term approach to their career.
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Craig T. Williams is a New York–based screenwriter, producer, and co-founder of Red Wall Productions. He has written for the AMC streamer ALLBLK’s Terror Lake Drive and is developing several pilots and features, including Black Boys Don’t Sew with Viola Davis and Julius Tennon attached. A WarnerMedia Discovery All-Access TV Writers Program alum, Craig is dedicated to mentoring emerging storytellers and amplifying underrepresented voices in film and television.
B. MONÉT
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B. Monét is a distinguished writer and director who obtained her B.A. in English from Spelman College and an MFA in Film and Television with a concentration in writing and directing from New York University.
Differently, Monét was chosen as one of the winners of the Queen Collective in partnership with Queen Latifah, Tribeca, and P&G. Her short film Ballet After Dark is exclusively streaming on BET. Her first feature documentary, Black Girls, celebrates Black women and girlhood, featuring voices like Allyson Felix, Marley Dias, and Alex Elle, exclusively streaming on Comcast’s Black Experience on Xfinity channel, Peacock, on X1, Xumo, and Flex. Most recently, she had the opportunity to be one of the filmmakers involved in The Next Generation Narratives at Warner Brothers, where she reimagined A Star Is Born for modern audiences, exclusively streaming on MAX, allowing a new generation to connect with its timeless themes.
CRAFTING BLACK LEGACY THROUGH HAIR: WORKING WITH DIRECTORS AND TALENT
Professional Workshop
Jessi Dean has extensive experience working on critically acclaimed projects such as ‘Genius: MLK/X’, ‘Candyman’, and ‘Shining Girls’. She will share her professional background story, unique ways she accomplished looks for her various projects, and will also provide tips to help creatives achieve looks in a business that often botches grooming practices for Black actors.
JESSI DEAN
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Hair Department Head Jessi Dean believes that the “proof is in the hair.” With more than 25 years of experience, coupled with an expert eye for style, color, and form; Jessi has built a loyal customer base and a thriving career as a hair department head for major film and television productions.
She has worked with talent such as Elisabeth Moss, Sterling K. Brown, Teyonah Parris, John Slattery and Yahya Abdul-Mateen III, to name a few.
Her credits include Hulu’s critically-acclaimed Washington Black, based on the award-winning book; MGM+’s Emperor of Ocean Park starring Forest Whitaker; Disney+ and National Geographic’s Genius: MLK/X; Apple TV+’s The Shining Girls, starring Elisabeth Moss and Phillipa Soo; Starz’s Power Book IV: Force; MGM’s Candyman produced by Jordan Peele and Directed by Nia DaCosta; FOX’s Next, Netflix’s Beats; and CBS’ The Red Line.
Coming up, Jessi is working on Boots Riley’s upcoming film I Love Boosters, starring Naomi Ackie, Will Poulter, and Keke Palmer.
Jessi has also worked as a hair stylist for HBO’s Lovecraft Country, Showtime’s The Chi, The Oprah Winfrey Show, and FOX’s The Big Leap.
In addition to film and TV, Jessi’s hair designs can be seen in music videos for major labels such as Jive, Atlantic, and Hidden Beach Records, as well as print editorial such as Sheen Magazine.
Jessi is the founder of her eponymous human hair extension brand, offering a full range of hair care solutions including custom wigs, hair pieces and extensions. She is a member of Local 476 and an alumnus of both the Pivot Point and Dudley Cosmetology schools.
THE ART OF THE SELF-TAPE
Professional Workshop
Join actress and acting coach Rosalyn Coleman Williams for a one-hour, interactive workshop where actors learn what makes a winning self-tape. In this workshop, she will analyze self-tapes that booked the jobs, spot the most common mistakes to avoid, and watch how the tape translates into the final TV or film performance. Fun, practical, and packed with insider insight.
ROSALYN COLEMAN WILLIAMS
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Rosalyn Coleman Williams is an award-winning director and actor with over a dozen film credits, including the shorts Allergic to Nuts and Drawing Angel, and the upcoming feature Black Boys Don’t Sew, executive produced by Viola Davis. A graduate of Howard University and Yale School of Drama, she is celebrated as an “actor’s director,” having been on-set coach for HBO’s In Treatment and coached Sundance filmmakers, including Terrance Nance (Random Acts of Flyness). As an actor, she has nine Broadway credits and has worked alongside Meryl Streep, Viola Davis, Samuel L. Jackson, Halle Berry, and Tom Cruise. Rosalyn is also heralded as one of the top audition coaches in New York City.
RAISING YOUR EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE ON AND OFF SET
Professional Workshop
Kevin Berry is a worldwide workshop leader with an emphasis on leadership development. Join him for a session where he demonstrates various scenarios that filmmakers encounter and explains how to leave the best impression.
Kevin Berry
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Kevin Berry is the founder of The Kevin Berry Collective. For over two decades he has been helping blue chip organizations create small and large change cultural change. Brought up on housing commission estates in the UK, creating personal change and evolving was a survival strategy that became a passion, life purpose, and career. Founder of Black Ghost Films.
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
Conference Room
Meet various active members of Black Film Space who will share their professional backgrounds and highlight beneficial experiences with Black Film Space programming. Participants/attendees will have a chance to connect with their fellow members.
STACeY EVANS MORGAN
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Stacey Evans Morgan is a veteran television writer and producer with credits including Saturdays (for Disney+), The Parkers, Family Time, Love that Girl, Partners in Rhyme, The Jamie Foxx Show, DreamWorks Animation series Madagascar: A Little Wild and BET+’s new comedy series The Varnell Hill Show. She is also the author of the romantic-comedy novel A Good Thing, which was optioned for film in 2023. Stacey lives in Los Angeles and continues to champion her mantra: #WriteTheVision. From sitcoms to novels, veteran TV writer/producer/author Stacey Evans Morgan brings stories to life from page to the stage, shaping culture through comedy, drama, and creative vision.
Qu’ran Rawlins
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Qu’ran Rawlins is a director of photography, producer, and founder of nofruit, based in New York City. For the past decade, he’s been telling stories through film, collaborating with brands like Cécred, Facebook, and DoorDash. Whether the vision is big or small, he believes every story deserves to be told.
TAY WITCHER
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Tay Witcher is a Brooklyn-born model and actress whose fearless drive and captivating presence have made her a distinguished force in the entertainment industry since age 17. Best known for lead roles in film, media, and commercials, along with modeling for acclaimed brands like L’Oréal and Hello Fresh, she brings both depth and energy to every project she undertakes. A graduate of Howard University and Georgia State University, Tay’s foundation as an educator and professor sharpened her ability to connect, inspire, and command attention—skills she now channels seamlessly into her performances. Her career highlights include multiple campaigns with L’Oréal, being featured as the fresh face of Macy’s Beauty Series, and leading roles in respected independent films that have reached national audiences. Beyond the screen, Tay continues to embody creativity, empowerment, and authenticity, while enjoying travel, sports, and cultural exploration.
Kyvon Edwin
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Kyvon Edwin is a native Saint Lucian award winning Director, Producer, Writer and Actor currently based in New York. He is an alumnus of the Lee Strasberg Theater and Film Institute as an Eleanora Duse Scholar. His work has been featured at Academy Award qualifying festivals including American Black Film Festival, Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival, Hip Hop Film Festival, Essence Film Festival, Bronzelens Film Festival and the Festival de Cannes among others. His writing work has been workshopped at the likes of Black Film Space and Sundance Collective Kitchen.
Kyvon’s first foray into filmmaking was through an intensive program at the Bushwick Film Institute where he trained with industry mentors from HBO, ESPN, and B & H. The program equipped Kyvon with a firm understanding of directing techniques, film production, equipment training and a wealth of film and TV knowledge. Since then, he’s gone on to direct, produce and collaborate on a number of projects.
The primary focus of his work is to give voice to the underrepresented West-Indian diaspora. In pursuit of that mission, Kyvon founded Roots Productions, a multi-media production company authentically championing stories of the diaspora. The company’s debut project Lettre La premiered at Chelsea Film Festival and is currently streaming via Aspire TV.
Currently, as a Black TV and Film Collective member, Kyvon is actively developing film and TV projects to build on his portfolio. He is repped by Artists & Representatives and Tash Moseley Management.
Sallomé Hralima
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Sallomé Hralima is a writer and producer born in San Francisco and based in Brooklyn, NY. She has won awards and recognition for Best Narrative Short, Best Screenwriting, and Best in Festival. Her documentary filmmaking includes a retrospective on the impact of “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill,” a spotlight on hip hop ambassador Toni Blackman, an exploration of the role of community in home birth, and “It Was All a Dream,” a feature documentary focusing on the rappers and producers in the west and east coasts just before its biggest stars are slain. Since 2013, she has recorded countless oral histories and supported even more with end of life planning. She lives in Brooklyn, NY with her husband and two children - Dream & Legacy.
If you have specific accessibility needs—such as ASL interpretation, mobility accommodations, reserved seating, or access to a quiet space—please email us at info@blackfilmspace.com as early as possible. We’ll do our best to meet your needs and make sure you can fully participate in the event.
moderator: LANDE YOOSUF
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Lande Yoosuf is a Nigerian-American novelist, screenwriter, filmmaker and co-founder of Black Film Space. She has 15 years of production, development and casting experience in non-fiction programming, and has worked with several networks, including MTV, A&E Networks, NBC, WEtv, and Bravo.
Her short film, “Privilege Unhinged”, screened at the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival, Big Apple Film Festival, the DC Black Film Festival, aired on AMC’s Shorts TV and was a finalist for “Insecure” star Jean Elie’s short film contest under his company banner, Bassett House.
Yoosuf’s second film, “Second Generation Wedding” screened at the Bronze Lens Film Festival, Black Girls Rock! Film Festival, and inspired the novel, “Ko-Foe.” She has an affinity for telling stories that explore media influence, sociology, gender/race relations, pop culture and self-image themes.
Lande is currently developing a mixed slate of feature films, documentaries andtelevision pilots through her production company, One Scribe Media.
Yoosuf directed Antu Yacob’s dramatic short film “Love in Submission”, which screened at the Afrikana Film Festival, Noire Film Festival and the New York African Film Festival. The film was accepted into the “Emerging Black Filmmaker Film Collection”, screened in over 60 theaters throughout the country, and was part of a diversity case study discussion about Hollywood at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival.
As Co-founder and Partnerships Director of Black Film Space, Lande works to contribute to expanded control, ownership and media management for content creators of African descent across all cinematic formats and content platforms. She served as a host, workshop facilitator,speaker and moderator for events with organizations like ARRAY, HBO, ABFF, BAM’s New Voices in Black Cinema, The Root and many others. Her speaking engagements received coverage from outlets such as The New York Times.
Lande earned a Bachelors of Arts from Brooklyn College in Television and Radio, and honed her writing skills through classes taught by Jackson Taylor, the Associate Director at The New School’s Graduate Writing Program. In her spare time, she loves to sing, read, travel and spend time with her loved ones. She reps her Nigerian background proudly and holds down her hometown, the world-famous republic of Brooklyn, New York.
Stay In touch with Lande @LandeYoosuf and @OneScribeMediaon all social media platforms,or through her website onescribemedia.com.
If you would like to view Lande’s director reel, please do so here.
moderator: LANDE YOOSUF
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Lande Yoosuf is a Nigerian-American novelist, screenwriter, filmmaker and co-founder of Black Film Space. She has 15 years of production, development and casting experience in non-fiction programming, and has worked with several networks, including MTV, A&E Networks, NBC, WEtv, and Bravo.
Her short film, “Privilege Unhinged”, screened at the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival, Big Apple Film Festival, the DC Black Film Festival, aired on AMC’s Shorts TV and was a finalist for “Insecure” star Jean Elie’s short film contest under his company banner, Bassett House.
Yoosuf’s second film, “Second Generation Wedding” screened at the Bronze Lens Film Festival, Black Girls Rock! Film Festival, and inspired the novel, “Ko-Foe.” She has an affinity for telling stories that explore media influence, sociology, gender/race relations, pop culture and self-image themes.
Lande is currently developing a mixed slate of feature films, documentaries andtelevision pilots through her production company, One Scribe Media.
Yoosuf directed Antu Yacob’s dramatic short film “Love in Submission”, which screened at the Afrikana Film Festival, Noire Film Festival and the New York African Film Festival. The film was accepted into the “Emerging Black Filmmaker Film Collection”, screened in over 60 theaters throughout the country, and was part of a diversity case study discussion about Hollywood at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival.
As Co-founder and Partnerships Director of Black Film Space, Lande works to contribute to expanded control, ownership and media management for content creators of African descent across all cinematic formats and content platforms. She served as a host, workshop facilitator,speaker and moderator for events with organizations like ARRAY, HBO, ABFF, BAM’s New Voices in Black Cinema, The Root and many others. Her speaking engagements received coverage from outlets such as The New York Times.
Lande earned a Bachelors of Arts from Brooklyn College in Television and Radio, and honed her writing skills through classes taught by Jackson Taylor, the Associate Director at The New School’s Graduate Writing Program. In her spare time, she loves to sing, read, travel and spend time with her loved ones. She reps her Nigerian background proudly and holds down her hometown, the world-famous republic of Brooklyn, New York.
Stay In touch with Lande @LandeYoosuf and @OneScribeMediaon all social media platforms,or through her website onescribemedia.com.
If you would like to view Lande’s director reel, please do so here.
moderator: LANDE YOOSUF
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Lande Yoosuf is a Nigerian-American novelist, screenwriter, filmmaker and co-founder of Black Film Space. She has 15 years of production, development and casting experience in non-fiction programming, and has worked with several networks, including MTV, A&E Networks, NBC, WEtv, and Bravo.
Her short film, “Privilege Unhinged”, screened at the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival, Big Apple Film Festival, the DC Black Film Festival, aired on AMC’s Shorts TV and was a finalist for “Insecure” star Jean Elie’s short film contest under his company banner, Bassett House.
Yoosuf’s second film, “Second Generation Wedding” screened at the Bronze Lens Film Festival, Black Girls Rock! Film Festival, and inspired the novel, “Ko-Foe.” She has an affinity for telling stories that explore media influence, sociology, gender/race relations, pop culture and self-image themes.
Lande is currently developing a mixed slate of feature films, documentaries andtelevision pilots through her production company, One Scribe Media.
Yoosuf directed Antu Yacob’s dramatic short film “Love in Submission”, which screened at the Afrikana Film Festival, Noire Film Festival and the New York African Film Festival. The film was accepted into the “Emerging Black Filmmaker Film Collection”, screened in over 60 theaters throughout the country, and was part of a diversity case study discussion about Hollywood at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival.
As Co-founder and Partnerships Director of Black Film Space, Lande works to contribute to expanded control, ownership and media management for content creators of African descent across all cinematic formats and content platforms. She served as a host, workshop facilitator,speaker and moderator for events with organizations like ARRAY, HBO, ABFF, BAM’s New Voices in Black Cinema, The Root and many others. Her speaking engagements received coverage from outlets such as The New York Times.
Lande earned a Bachelors of Arts from Brooklyn College in Television and Radio, and honed her writing skills through classes taught by Jackson Taylor, the Associate Director at The New School’s Graduate Writing Program. In her spare time, she loves to sing, read, travel and spend time with her loved ones. She reps her Nigerian background proudly and holds down her hometown, the world-famous republic of Brooklyn, New York.
Stay In touch with Lande @LandeYoosuf and @OneScribeMediaon all social media platforms,or through her website onescribemedia.com.
If you would like to view Lande’s director reel, please do so here.
moderator: reggie williams
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Reggie is a comedic screenwriter/director and a non-comedic non-profit executive.
In 2019 he wrote and directed a short film entitled an anomalous love, a romantic comedy about a Black atheist age gap relationship. an anomalous love screened at the Urban World Film Festival, the Pan African Film Festival and the Roxbury Film Festival.
Most recently, Williams wrote and co-directed a comedic web series entitled Regular Negroes about five roommates in their 30's who struggle to level up in life.
Regular Negroes won best comedic web series at Black Web Fest, was a finalist at the Charlotte Black Film Festival and Runner Up at the Denton Black Film Festival.
Born and raised in Boston, Williams graduated from Emerson College with a degree in Writing For Film & TV. During this time Reggie performed at major comedy clubs in New England such as The Comedy Studio and The Providence Comedy Connection, organized shows at Emerson and wrote for Comedy Central.
Reggie is committed to humanizing Black characters in his work through comedy and romance.
Chinisha Scott
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Chinisha Scott is an Emmy-nominated, award-winning, multi-hyphenate creator with 20 years of experience in Film, TV, and media production. She began her musical training at the age of nine and continued through grad school, with a brief stint as an engineering major in her freshman year of college. (She had Mae Jemison dreams of becoming an astronaut – here’s hoping they need filmmakers in space). Since then, she has been creating content for broadcast, digital, and theater spaces (with a slight tangent to start her own band in a basement after grad school). As the co-chair of the WGAE Non-fiction Women of Color Caucus, Chinisha has crafted and hosted professional development trainings, industry networking functions, and bi/monthly zoom calls for BIPOC non-fiction creatives to convene in a safe space, support one another, and grow. She’s a certified Prince super-fam, nerdy geek-girl, and cheerful nihilist with a penchant for witty, sometimes self-deprecating humor. She attended The New School where she received her MA in Media Studies, and a BA in Cinema Studies with a minor in African-American Studies from the CUNY Macaulay Honors College, cum laude. She enjoys doing the NY Times puzzle in pen, but prefers the app on her phone.
moderator: Danielle bennett
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Danielle is the founder of cliveRd., an agile startup studio focused on producing, building and investing in deeptech ideas/companies in technology and film. She is a Stern School of Business graduate, VFA alum and early stage technology investor and LP. She has previously worked at BlackRock, Viacom, Emerge Venture Lab, charity: water & Endeavor + in mainly product and growth roles. On the side she has become an advisor to organizations that align with her values and identities.
The Black Film Space Logline & Pitch Competition is back—and this year, it’s bigger than ever.
In Partnership with cliveRd & The Gotham, we’re giving one storyteller the chance to pitch live in New York City during BFS Weekend, win a $2,500 cash prize, and gain exclusive access to industry opportunities designed to move their career forward.
If you’ve got a compelling story, this is your moment. Submit your logline for a shot to pitch in front of a panel of esteemed judges.
Five finalists will be selected to present their ideas live, and one winner will walk away with more than just funding.
The winning filmmaker will receive:
• $2,500
• A Gotham Pro Membership
• A one-on-one consultation with a Gotham team member to discuss their project’s future.
Meet the Judges
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Kia Brooks
Deputy Director, The Gotham
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Casey Baron
Programmer, Tribeca Festival (U.S. Narrative & Games)
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Sean Charles
Development & Production Manager, ALLBLK & WE tv
LAST YEARS WINNER
Jordaine Pearce won the 2024 competition with a sharp delivery and a powerful concept.
This year, it could be you.
How to Enter
To participate, you must be registered for BFS Weekend.
• Purchase your ticket
• You’ll automatically receive an e-mail with a form to enter the contest.
• Submit your logline by August 8th at 11:59 PM EST
• Finalists will be notified by September 1st.
FAQs
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No. It's open for all lengths, formats and genres of scripted/narrative films.
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Unfortunately, no. It's open for scripted projects.
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Your name, e-mail address, logline, basic details about the project and quality photo of yourself (for promotional purposes)
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We are open to all experience levels. We are choosing the finalists based on the most clear, concise, unique, well written loglines.
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You are required to use the prize money on the project you are pitching.
You will be provided specific instruction on how to report the use of the funds.
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Yes, only two team members from each project can pitch at a time.
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To get a feel for how a logline should read, start with a basic structure.
When [INCITING INCIDENT OCCURS]...
A [CHARACTER TYPE]...
Must [OBJECTIVE]...
Before [STAKES]
Keep your logline between 25 to 50 words or one to two sentences.
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Unfortunately, no. You can only submit one logline per filmmaker.
