Explore this immersive collection of short films celebrating Black queer lives. From documentaries on vibrant drag queens and Black elders to magical coming of age journeys and stories of transformative love, these films weave a rhapsody of resilience and authentic connections.
Screening followed by Q&A with: Sterling Hampton (Director, Merman), NOVA CYPRESS BLACK (Director, Dey/Dem), Tee Park (Co-director, Winter Insect, Summer Flower), and Gbenga Komolafe (Co- director, Winter Insect, Summer Flower).
ABOUT THE FILMS
How to Raise a Black Boy
Director by Justice Jamal Jones | 2020 | 13 min
Four boys journey through a fantastical world of black boyhood, queer identity, and fraternity in a modern reimagining of the fairy tale genre.
Screenplay by Justice Jamal Jones | Produced by Justice Jamal Jones, Justine Sweetman | Starring Maiya Blaney, Rodney Chrome, Christian Coston-Payne, Emperor Kaioyus, Eric Payne, Rayceen Pendarvis, Justin Smith, Nicklaus Vallie, Cory Walkers
MnM
Directed By Twiggy Pucci Garçon | 2023 | 15 min
MnM is an exuberant portrait of chosen sisters Mermaid and Milan, two emerging runway divas in the drag ballroom community. Celebrating their joy, siblinghood, and unapologetic personas, the film explores the power and beauty of being nonbinary in a community that prizes gender ‘realness’.
Executive Produced by J Wortham | Produced by Colleen Cassingham, Jess Devaney | Starring Milan Garçon, Mermaid Garçon
(dey/dem): a choreo-doc
Directed by NOVA CYPRESS BLACK | 2023 | 17 min
(dey/dem): a choreo-doc is an experimental documentary that illuminates Black non-binary folks in the American Souf & their connection to the nearly erased history of gender expansiveness within the African diaspora.
Produced by Morgan B. Powell | Starring Nicholas Goodly, Kamil Oshundara, A. Raheim White, Cie Minniefield, Majic Dyke, Āryā Jeipea Karijo, Mercy Thokozane Minah
Winter Insect, Summer Flower
Directed by Tee Park & Gbenga Komolafe | 2021 | 11 min
Spring, a woman is birthed from the earth and follows a moth into the light. A journey of courage and rebirth.
Screenplay by Tee Park, Gbenga Komolafe | Produced by Ava Doorley | Starring Pia Davis, Indigo Tolbert
Sis
Directed by Miranda Haymon | 2023 | 12 min
In this surrealist black comedy, a woman's curiosity in her ex-crush's new girlfriend complicates after their cosmic meet cute at a Brooklyn rooftop party.
Screenplay by Miranda Haymon | Executive Produced by Ralph Laucella, Marc Grill, David Shane | Produced by Candice Kuwahara | Starring Kara Young, Michelle Kariuki, Juliana Canfield, Miles Jackson, Jake Cornell, Patrick Foley
Merman
Directed by Sterling Hampton IV | 2023 | 12 min
A 60-year-old Black Queer man talks about his life as an Emergency Nurse, Leather Enthusiast, Civil Rights Advocate and Husband.
Screenwriting by Sterling Hampton IV | Executive Produced by Sterling Hampton IV, Nani Walker, Sharon Mathews, Terry Tang, Karen Foshay | Produced by Sterling Hampton IV | With Monica Lawless | Starring Andre Chambers
About The Directors
Justice Jamal Jones is a filmmaker, actor, and writer based in New York City. As a Black Queer Alchemist, they integrate Black Feminist Queer theory alongside Black diasporic Spirituality into their work. Their debut film How To Raise a Black Boy, was a reimagining of Jones’ childhood linking their boyhood to their identity as a trans/non-binary artist. The film was internationally recognized at over 30 film festivals, earning 10 awards. Justice was also a 2021 Sundance Ignite Fellow, and in 2022 was a commissioned director for MTV and Calvin Klein. Jones was also a guest on Good Morning America’s Hulu special “A Conversation Between Black Men,” where Jones advocated for Black Trans and Non-binary individuals. In early 2023 Jones traveled to the Cayman Islands to explore Black Magick and the Black Trans identity in their mixed media film “Notes on a Siren” curated by Palm Heights Hotel and Valiant Productions. The film has already been widely well-received, being spotlighted on NOWNESS, gaining traction on its film festival run, and premiering at the South Street Seaport Museum in Febrauary 2024.
Twiggy Pucci Garçon is an activist, creative director, event producer, culture curator, performance artist, and runway trainer. They have collaborated with Gucci, Coach, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, GLAAD, AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Reebok, and more. Twiggy has worked at True Colors United for nearly a decade, protecting rights for young people experiencing homelessness. They are the Overall Overseer for the Legendary International House of Comme des Garçon, the Chief Ambassador for the Center for Black Equity, and Co-Founder of All Tea, No Shade Productions alongside New York Times Bestselling author George M. Johnson. Twiggy was a featured subject in HBO’s The Out List (2013), was the co-writer and subject of Sara Jordenö’s award-winning documentary Kiki (Sundance 2016), and served as consultant and runway choreographer on Ryan Murphy’s Emmy-nominated FX series, POSE.
NOVA CYPRESS BLACK writes deir name in all caps as a reminder to take up space as a Black trans gender-expansive lighthouse. This proud alum of the 2021 Outfest Screenwriting Lab & 2021 Hillman Grad Mentorship Lab was a Staff Writer on season 3 of The L Word: Generation Q. NOVA was 1 of 7 trans writers who made the 2022 GLAAD List, with deir sci-fi pilot BLACKSEED. This nomadic Libra is currently a Writing Fellow in Film Independent’s 2024 Project Involve. (dey/dem): a choreo-doc is NOVA's directorial debut.
Miranda Haymon is a Princess Grace Award winning director and writer originally from Boston. As a theater director, Miranda has developed and staged work with The Tank, NYTW, Roundabout, Ars Nova, Manhattan Theatre Club, The Public, Bushwick Starr, Signature Theater and more. Miranda has served as Visiting Faculty at Fordham, Dartmouth, Sarah Lawrence, Wesleyan, and Rutgers. Past fellowships/residencies include New Georges, Space on Ryder Farm, LCT Director’s Lab, Wingspace, NYTW 2050, Roundabout, Manhattan Theatre Club and Arena Stage. Currently, Miranda is a Resident Director at Roundabout Theatre Company. In the brand sphere, Miranda has directed projects with Progressive, Gucci, Garage Magazine, Dunkin’ and Spectrum. As a writer, Miranda is under commission by Jeremy O. Harris, and most recently wrote Dylan Mulvaney’s “365 Days of Girlhood Live!” from the Rainbow Room. You can also find Miranda collaborating with their alter ego, bb brecht. Miranda is a graduate of Wesleyan University where they double majored in German Studies and Theater and were awarded the Rachel Henderson Theater Prize in Directing."
Sterling Hampton IV is an American film director, photographer, producer, writer, and composer from Southern California. He is the creator and head of Clash of the Artistic Minds (COTAM). Best known for his films, Kylie and Merman which screened at Sundance, Tribeca, AFI and Urbanworld. His roots are in documentary and narrative filmmaking. Hampton has created for companies like Mercedes, Xupermask and LA Times. His creative endeavors also extend to music videos for various musical artists such as The Black Eyed Peas, Will.i.am, Mario, G-Eazy and more. He not only directs, produces, colors, sound mixes and edits his own films, but also composes his own music for his original films.