Official Selections: 11th LA Black Film Festival

Congratulations to our accepted filmmakers!
Films are listed in alphabetical order, index to the left.
Scroll Down to learn more about each film.

Akwaaba: Oceans Between, Dreams Beyond

Documentary Short
**World Premiere**
Delta Air Lines champions equity in the communities where we live, work, and serve. Delta is honored to stand behind the talented women from Delta and JA Africa who brought authenticity, creativity, and heart to *Akwaaba*. Through human-centered storytelling, we celebrate film’s unique ability to connect, inspire, and empower young women around the world to keep climbing.
At the helm of this project are three stellar Black creatives —Joy Taylor (Producer), Patricia Swayne (Executive Producer), and Ayana Noble (Production & Art Designer) who joined forces to craft a story rooted in the African diaspora and the voices of young women. From developing the narrative to traveling to Ghana, their collaboration reflects a shared commitment to cultural truth and creative excellence. Together with an extraordinary Black director (Jabriel Films) and director of photography (Azariah Oldacre), *Akwaaba* came to life as a film that celebrates representation while inspiring the next generation of storytellers.
Director: Jabriel Films
Executive Producer: Patricia Swayne
Producer: Joy Amaya Taylor
Art Direction: Ayana Noble
Cinematographer: Azariah Oldacre
Editor: Michael Wiley
Winner Best Documentary Film at Atlanta Women’s Film Festival 2025
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reels/DK9w9dGtftQ/

We’d like to add in ways people can support the amazing young women featured in our film.

JA Africa Worldwide https://ja-africa.org/ and Tumininu “Tumi” Samuel is a remarkable 16-year-old from Nigeria featured in the film who dreams of studying in the United Kingdom to make a difference in the world. Tumi has been accepted to several respected universities for January 2026 including the University of Sunderland, Teesside University, and the University of Wolverhampton to pursue her passion in fields such as Biomedical Science, Nursing, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, and Cybersecurity.

GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/c63cc5d32

ANIMALS

Narrative Short
In a random act of kindness, Zoya invites a stranger into her hom,e who has no intention of leaving.
Following the death of her mother, Zoya inherits the family home. Her mother was last on a long list of Zoya’s family members that have passed away. There’s no one left in the family home but Zoya. When Amelia, a stranger who claims to have rented her home on Airbnb, arrives, Zoya clings to the unexpected comfort of the presence of another person. Zoya lets Amelia stay the night, not wanting to spend a night alone in the cold home. When a night turns into an indefinite stay, their companionship twists into a game of control and abuse. As the situation becomes dire, it becomes a question of why can’t Amelia leave but more importantly why does Zoya stay?
Director: Maya Gray
Producer: Michael Jasper
Writer: Maya Gray
Cast: Serine Sianosian, Rachel Alig, Geneva Cimone, Peter Kalisch, Jamie Criss, and Chad Adbnerson
Cinematographer: Olugbenga Osikomaiya
Editor: Michael Jasper

BEHIND THE MIC: The Arvie Lowe Jr. Story

Documentary Short
LA Premiere
Behind the Mic offers a compelling look at the career of actor and voiceover artist Arvie Lowe Jr., while spotlighting the voices and experiences of other Black voiceover actors in Hollywood. The film features candid reflections from Lowe's close friend and acclaimed voiceover talent Ogie Banks III, as well as seasoned performer Hillary Hawkins, who shares her perspective as a Black actor navigating the industry. Through personal stories, career milestones, and hard-won insights, Behind the Mic explores representation, resilience, and the ongoing challenges and triumphs of being a Black artist in Hollywood.
Directors: Deji Emmanuel, Amber Mitchell
Producers: Amber Mitchell, Arvie Lowe Jr.
Cast: Arvie Lowe Jr., Ogie Banks III, Hillary Hawkins
Cinematographers: Adam Pedrego, Alec Rodriguez
Editor: Amber Mitchell
Awards: Independent Shorts Award - Official Selection; THE GREAT FILM CLUB - Official Selection; 2025 Culver City Film Festival - Official Selection; Hollywood Stage Script Film Competition - Director American Short Film Winner
Website: filmfreeway.com/btm
Instagram: @btmshort

Behind the Mic reveals the experiences of Black voice over artists in Hollywood. Voices we know, but stories we've never heard.

*Behind The Screams: A Filmmaking Nightmare*

Short Film
**Disclaimer:**
This film contains a “scary-good” mix of chills and laughs. Viewer discretion is advised—especially if you startle easily or lack a sense of humor. All characters and spooky situations are fictional… unless your neighbor looks suspiciously like our ghost. Enjoy the screams, but don’t forget to laugh. You’re welcome.
Braxton Sayles is a self-proclaimed genius—witty, stylish, and completely clueless. After suffering through a terrible horror movie, he becomes convinced he can do better. Armed with a beret, big ideas, and little knowledge, he recruits his film-student friend Aaron and a group of equally inexperienced classmates to create the greatest horror film ever made.
To keep things “authentic,” Braxton picks an abandoned house with a dark past as their filming location. But once production begins, strange occurrences take over. Something unseen is growing stronger each day. Out of options, Braxton calls in Madam Moreena Butts, a no-nonsense medium who may be their only hope of surviving the shoot.
Lights, camera… Death?
**Director:** Chelsea Bartel
**Producer(s):** Raven Mone’t Bryant, Bryson Scott
**Writer:** Bryson Scott
**Cast:** Bryson Scott, Sabin Senehang, Taylor Layne, Raven Mone’t Bryant, Audrey Ettel, Anirudh Mohan
**Cinematographer:** Michele Cadei
**Editor:** Sophia Franklin
**Instagram:** @behindthescreams__

An overconfident wannabe auteur sets out to make the ultimate horror film inside a haunted house—unintentionally summoning a real demon and turning his low-budget shoot into a hilarious nightmare.

Official Selections: 11th LA Black Film Festival

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