The 7th Annual Micheaux Film Festival brought together filmmakers, industry professionals, and audiences for an unforgettable celebration of bold, diverse, and innovative storytelling. Whether attendees joined in person in Culver City or virtually from around the world, the four-day event (October 23–26) once again honored the pioneering spirit of Oscar Micheaux by spotlighting inclusion, creativity, and artistic excellence across film, television, and digital media.

This year’s festival featured 36 world premieres, over 100 Los Angeles premieres, and 15 panels and special events, showcasing hundreds of filmmakers across narrative features, shorts, documentaries, and digital series. The event concluded with the prestigious Micheaux Awards Gala, recognizing outstanding achievements in storytelling, performance, and craft.

2025 Micheaux Film Festival Award Highlights

  • Best Music Video: I’m in Love

  • Best Horror/Thriller: Missing Rhythms

  • Best Documentary (Feature): It’s Dorothy!

  • Best Dramatic Short: ADO

  • Best Comedic Short: Better Life

  • Best Animated Film: Wednesdays with Gramps and I Know Him So Well

  • Outstanding Performances: Jimmy Jean-Louis (Sins of a Father), Angel Theory (Them That’s Not), Marcus Scribner (Food for the Soul), Ivonnah Erskine (Love Is Blind)

  • Best Feature Writing: The Rewrite

  • Best Directing: She Dances

  • Jury Awards: BELIEF (Short), The Rewrite (Feature)

“Our award winners are architects of change—storytellers who remind us that impact doesn’t come only from resources, but from resilience,” said festival co-founder Noel Braham. “Their work moved our jury not just for its craft, but for its courage, honesty, and the conversations it sparks.”

The 2025 edition also marked a record-breaking year for submissions, with nearly half of all participating directors identifying as first-time or early-career filmmakers. Projects represented a diverse range of creators—spanning generations from Gen Z to 65+—with the largest group aged 26 to 35. Over 60% of participating productions featured majority women, BIPOC, or LGBTQIA+ crews, underscoring the festival’s mission to champion representation and equity in the entertainment industry.

From the Opening Night Gala, featuring the LA premiere of It’s Dorothy! and the debut of Remember, to the Closing Night Gala celebrating She Dances, the festival delivered a dynamic lineup of screenings, panels, and networking events. Highlights also included the Filmmakers’ VIP Reception and the signature Gold Night: Young Hollywood Party, honoring rising stars Adriyan Rae, Mike Merrill, Tosin Morohunfola, Gail Bean, and Shanice Williams.

The Micheaux Film Festival continues to stand as a powerful platform for emerging and established storytellers alike—amplifying voices that inspire, challenge, and shape the future of entertainment.