10 Black Filmmakers Win Grants at 1st-Ever Black Life Film

Swirl Films and Mansa Productions introduced on Wednesday the highest 10 winners of its first-ever Black Life Film Festival, a showcase of quick movies that present “the beauty and complexities of ‘Black Life’ and what that means to individuals and society.”

The high 10 winners will obtain $5,000 grants to proceed their movie careers and may have the chance to fulfill with executives for potential distribution offers for his or her mission. They are:

1. “Black Boy Joy” by Martina Lee 
2. “MeMaw” by Zanah Thirus 
3. “Body + Son” by Chris Hamilton 
4. “THICKE” by Britt Banks
5. “Guilty Until Proven Innocent” by Eddie Gorie 
6. “Give Us Free” by Mac Grant 
7. “She Had to Ask” by Perri Camper 
8. “Orange Morning” by Reshaun Jones 
9. “AFRO” by Jenn Shaw 
10. “BLOOM” by Jazmen Darnell Brown and Rashad Mubarak

The high 5 winners, nonetheless to be determined by a jury of Atlanta filmmakers and producers, will workshop extra initiatives with Swirl, Mansa and their respective artistic groups.

“We are so proud and impressed by the quality of short films that were submitted. It’s truly a testament to our belief at Swirl Films and the motivation behind the inaugural year – the Black film community is incredibly talented and their stories matter” mentioned Eric Tomosunas, Swirl Films’ CEO and founder. ” Mansa Productions has been a tremendous associate in creating one other platform for Black filmmakers to be heard and assist additional their careers within the leisure business.”

“This film festival has truly been a journey. In a few short months, it grew from just a Sunday afternoon idea to hundreds of submissions of strong Black short films” mentioned Tyrell Jemison, Producer at Swirl Films. “We’re looking forward to this becoming an annual festival that celebrates Black storytelling.”

The Black Life Film Fest is govt produced by Eric Tomosunas, Tyrell Jemison, Jay Allen and Nikki Byles for Swirl Films and Kellon Akeem for Mansa Productions.