May 13, 2021
LAWT News Service
After a week-long of film screenings, The Micheaux Film Festival has ended with a bang. The show wrapped on Sunday with a primetime ceremony, naming legendary filmmaker and acclaimed actor/director, Robert Townsend with the Oscar Micheaux Trailblazer of Excellence Award.
Jam-packed with Hollywood’s most elite actors, entertainers, filmmakers, directors and executive producers, the event attendees included; Actor Amin Joseph (FX’s “Snowfall”), Comedian Slink Johnson (Adult Swim’s “Black Jesus”), Actress Brely Evans (OWN’s “Ambitions”) Actress Reagan Gomez-Preston (OWN’s “Queen Sugar”) and father-daughter duo, Robert Townsend (“Five Heartbeats”) and Skye Townsend (HBO’s “Black Lady Sketchshow”).
The highly anticipated, star-studded hybrid festival took place in Los Angeles at Hollywood’s most prominent landmark, The Chinese Theatre. As the first in-person event since the inception of the pandemic; this experience was one for the books.
The two-hour telecast capped a week of film screenings and activation ceremonies, bestowing awards in more than 40 categories honoring the accomplishments of people of color this past year across the fields of film, shorts, digital series, music, and social influence.
Full list of 2021 winners:As an added bonus, event sponsor Panavision, contributed $75K in grant funds to award winners of the festival.
Outstanding Music Video
“Black Leather”
Outstanding Student Project
“Furthest From”
Outstanding Action/Suspense
“Rules to Rule”
Outstanding Horror/Thriller
“10 Years in 40 Seconds”
Outstanding Sci-Fi
“Navel Gazers”
Outstanding Short Documentary
“Free to Be”
Outstanding Feature Documentary
“Uprooted: The Journey of Jazz Dance”
Outstanding Special Programming
“Black Girl, Bleu”
Outstanding Editing
“I Love You, I’m Sorry”
Outstanding Performance Piece
“Hues & Hidden Kings”
Outstanding Music
Harana (Serenade)
Outstanding VFX
“Dark Lights”
Outstanding Cinematography
“Distance”
Outstanding Podcast, Digital Talk, or Vlog
“All Things Undone” - podcast
“Savage Chat Series” - digital talk
“Externo” - Vlog
Outstanding Dramatic Short
“Circuit”
Outstanding Comedic Short
“$tack$”
Outstanding Animated Short
“Kapaemahu”
Outstanding Dramatic Actress (short form)
Frencheska Farr as “Maya” - Harana
Outstanding Comedic Actress (short form)
Bria Henderson as “Mia” - Prepared
Outstanding Dramatic Actor (short form)
Telvin Griffin as “David Carter” - A Blue Shroud
Outstanding Comedic Actor (short form)
Sandro Iocolano as “Guido Gaguzzi” - How to Do Sh!t with Guido Gagootz
Outstanding Actor (Feature)
Kim Estes as “Detective Travis” - Loyalty
Outstanding Actress (Feature)
Denise Yolèn as “Monika” - Sundays in July
Outstanding Dramatic Writing
“The Ice Cream Stop”
Outstanding Comedic Writing
“December 21st”
Outstanding Writing (Feature)
“Asking For It”
Outstanding Directing Comedic Short Form
“How to Do Sh!t with Guido Gagootz”
Outstanding Directing Dramatic Short Form
“The Fixer”
Outstanding Directing (Feature)
“Red Pill”
Outstanding Dramatic Digital Series
“Incompleteness”
Outstanding Comedic Digital Series
“The Gaze”
Outstanding Unscripted Digital Series
“Content is King”
Outstanding International Short
“Ashmina”
Outstanding Panavision Short
“Piece”
Outstanding Panavision Feature Film
“Sunday’s in July”
Oscar Micheaux Trailblazer of Excellence Award
Robert Townsend
Cesar Chavez Civic Impact Award
Kevin Welbeck
Michael Ajakwe Pioneer of Influence Award
Gregori J. Martin
Other elements of the week included, several workshops and conversations comprised of a multitude of decorated actors, such as; Jill Marie Jones (OWN’s “Delilah,” “Girlfriends”); Maahra Hill (OWN’s “Delilah”); Bridgid Coulter Cheadle (“Westworld”); Award-winning writer & director, Steve Pink (“Hot Tub Time Machine”); Award-winning and critically acclaimed filmmaker, Deborah Riley Draper (“Olympic Pride, American Prejudice”), Award-winning producer, Whitney Valcin and Casting Directors Christian Bustamante (“One Night in Miami”); Jamie Castro (“Grey’s Anatomy”) and Renita Gale (Honda, Toyota).
The festival also featured a series of digital panels, and elite master classes - providing attendees with the opportunity to gain access to new content and exclusive insight, while establishing tangible and equitable connections. Event sponsors included: Oprah Winfrey Network, SONY Pictures Entertainment, Panavision, and IMDbPro.
For more information and updates, or to register for this event, please visit: www.micheauxfilmfest.com