Voices of Culture
A non-competitive section of narrative works by directors of multicultural backgrounds. The following films represent the 2024 official selection in this category:
1 Up
United Kingdom | 16 min | USA PREMIERE
Andrew searches for guidance and connection through his late father’s record collection.
Director: Greg Francis | Writer: Greg Francis | Producer: Tobi Kyeremateng | Cast: Lamar Waves, Mina Andala, Sean Earl McPherson
Alliés
France | 15 min | USA PREMIERE
Back from a trip to Africa, Amaury wants to tell his friends that he wants to change his identity.
Director: Salif Cissé | Writer: Salif Cissé | Producer: Walid Bekhti | Cast: Guillaume Morel, Agathe Mazouin, Alexandre Auvergne, Clémence Coullon, Myriam Fitcher, Mikaël-Don Giancarli
Baby Something
Ghana | 18 min | WORLD PREMIERE
A Ghanaian-American woman and a Ghanaian-Indian man embark on their journey of parenthood, but the universal politics of race quickly becomes a piercing obstacle for her to overcome.
Director: Nicole F. Amarteifio | Writer: Nicole F. Amarteifio | Producer: Nicole F. Amarteifio, Ramesh Jai Gulabrai | Cast: Nicole F. Amarteifio, Ramesh Jai Gulabrai, Niyara Afua Gulabrai
Behold A Lady
USA | 16 min | WORLD PREMIERE
When a studious tomboy’s boyfriend dumps her on the eve of her Latin Quiz Bowl tryouts, she struggles to balance her heartbreak and studies as she transforms her appearance to win him back.
Director: Britt Williams | Writer: Britt Williams | Producer: Austin Chen, Chris Crema | Cast: Alana Kay Bright, AMARR, Naquia Brown, Jon Gentry, Taharka Welcome, Olivia Celine
How To Sue The Klan
USA | 35 min
The Legacy of the Chattanooga Five.
Director: John Beder | Producer: John Beder, Benjamin Crump, Cameron S. Mitchell, Raji Ramanathan | Cast: Ben Crump, Randolph McLaughlin, Juanita Toney, Nate Crumsey, Sonya Rollins, Connie Rollins, Betty Lawrence Lewis, Roberta Kaplan
X: The Interview
USA | 19 min | WORLD PREMIERE
A canceled superhero facing eviction turns to his side hustle for survival. As he embarks on his journey, he discovers dark powers are conspiring against him…
Director: RJ Barnes, Anthony Rose | Writer: RJ Barnes | Producer: RJ Barnes, Anthony Rose, Anthony Baldino | Cast: Brandon Broady, Stephanie Elyse, Jerah Milligan, Jacqueline Legrande, Christopher Hancock, Patrice Lakey, Kate McIntyre, Arayawna Moore, Leah “L” Knauer, Jeremy “Gumbo” Christian
32
USA | 15 min | WORLD PREMIERE
A woman realizes she’s the same age with the same ailment that her father had when he passed away and she finds herself trying to balance the ebb and flow of this bittersweet feeling and phase of her life.
Director: Stewart Yost | Writer: Shakira Ja’nai Paye | Producer: Shakira Ja’nai Paye & Stewart Yost | Cast: Shakira Ja’nai Paye, Gail Bean
Definitely Not A Monster
USA | 19 min
After a beloved icon dies after being accused of rape, his devoted widow invites a journalist into their home to clear his name.
Director: Brea Cola Angelo | Writer: Brea Cola Angelo | Producer: Jaqueline Fabricius, Koury Angelo, Audra Todd, Stephen Enloe | Cast: April Grace, Brea Cola Angelo
Haven
USA | 10 min | WORLD PREMIERE
A man questions his notion of a safe place, then confronts disturbing beings that appear in his home.
Director: Corey Emanuel Jr. | Writer: Corey Emanuel Jr. | Producer: Lili Dessalegn Tegegn, Corey Emanuel Jr., Shellita Boxie | Cast: Andre De’Sean Shanks, Kingston Zelaya, Dominique McCllelan, Shelitta Boxie
Lucille
USA | 13 min
A man’s overly talkative wife disrupts her elderly husband’s day of peace.
Director: Warren S. L. Burke | Writer: Warren S. L. Burke | Producer: Warren S. L. Burke, Rebecca Herrick | Cast: Loretta Devine & Frankie Faison
Vigilante
USA | 24 min | WORLD PREMIERE
In a world where superheroes overlook the vulnerable, four friends with powers step up to protect their neglected neighborhood.
Director: Wesley Armstrong | Writer: Phil Dover II | Producer: Jamee Ranta, Diamond Batiste, Alain Fleury | Cast: Khleo Thomas, Maestro Harrell, Jaden Martin, Timothy Kennedy, Benjamin Abiola
My Brother & Me
USA | 17 min | WORLD PREMIERE
A coming-of-age story about two brothers who attempt to rob their distant father of their overdue child support.
Director: Ryan DeForeest | Writer: Ryan DeForeest | Producer: Ryan DeForeest, Lexx Truss, Shandrea Evans | Cast: Alexander Bello, Zechariah Eubanks, Rodney Hobbs, Katie Kelley, Micah Kobayashi, Riley Nelson, Thaddeus Newman
Ninth Life
United Kingdom | 14 min | WORLD PREMIERE
A predominantly non-verbal drama series exploring the interconnections of a group of young BIPOC creatives in London.
Director: JOMO (Tajana Tokyo & Sannchia Gaston) | Writer: JOMO (Tajana Tokyo & Sannchia Gaston) | Producer: Alli Maxwell, Scarlett Anderson, Somesuch, Miriam | Cast: Michelle Zan, Gabriel Goux, Yos Clark, Kikz Katika, Lisa Sainvil, Fatou Bah, Benjamin Williams, Robia Milliner, Tajorn Brown, Belen Leroux, Aahkilah Cornelius, Sweetny Ojule, Webster Opiyo, Keith Alexander, Tyrik Patterson, Genesis Lynea & Remi Black
Promise
USA | 21 min | WORLD PREMIERE
Promise, a single mother facing deportation and John, an ex-con with a business idea, find their marriage of convenience becoming something more.
Director: D. Wilmos Paul | Writer: D. Wilmos Paul | Producer: Anuradha Srikanth, Ned Johnson and D. Wilmos Paul | Cast: Artrece Johnson and Donnevan Tolbert
The Origin
USA | 26 min
Tep, one of the only legitimate heirs of an ancient extraterrestrial power, finds himself forced to join forces with a wise sage and his tribal brother to fight off alien mercenaries sent to eliminate them.
Director: Jorge Sanchez | Writer: Jorge Sanchez | Producer: Jtasha St. Cyr, Morris Chestnut, Jorge Sanchez | Cast: Morris Chestnut, Alimi Ballard, J.Chris Rouse, Lanre Idewu, Kearia Schroeder, Page Kennedy, Jayce Kennedy