Official Selections: 10th 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.
Class of Her Own
Documentary
West Coast Premiere
“Class of Her Own” tells the story of a teacher’s transformation into a trailblazer who used hip hop, dance, and call-and-response to lead her high-need elementary school from an F to an A on the state standardized test in one year. “I’m biased but I feel every adult who impacts the lives of children — from teachers to parents to youth counselors — should watch and learn from Gloria Jean Merriex’s story,” said the film’s director and producer, Boaz Dvir.
Director: Boaz Dvir
Producer: Boaz Dvir
Writer: Boaz Dvir
Cast: Tamara Tunie, Gloria Jean Merriex, Leanetta McNealy, Don Pemberton, Buffy Bondy
Cinematographer: Boaz Dvir
Editor: Seth Schurman
Best Documentary Feature, Windsor International Black Film Festival, Canada, and Best Teacher Film, Helsinki Education Film Festival International, Finland. Refencing the popular ABC sitcom, Forbes’ Peter Greene described “Class of Her Own” as a “real-life mirror of Abbott Elementary”
Twitter: @boazdvir
Don’t Hang Up
Short
Los Angeles Premiere
In rural Hayti, Missouri, matriarch Elizabeth Holiday confronts her past when an unexpected call from her former student, Jeremy, disrupts her routine. As they navigate their shared history and the challenges of their community, they're forced to confront harsh realities, igniting a journey of reconciliation and redemption.
Director: Diamond Batiste
Producer: Ron McCants
Writer: Ron McCants
Cast: Paula Jai Parker, L.T. Hines II, Forrest Martin, Freda Worthon, Garnett Fisher
Cinematographer: Isaac Yowman
Editor: Alain Fleury
Instagram: @tenetproductionsinc