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What is the Micheaux Film Festival?

The Micheaux Film Festival is a cutting-edge multicultural film festival that puts the focus on independent filmmakers of all backgrounds, cultures, and sexual orientations. We give creators an outlet to showcase their work, as we strive to create a unique and fresh take on the traditional film festival experience.

Embracing diversity as a way of life and advocating for all in the entertainment landscape.

Our commitment to diversity and inclusion lies beyond a buzzword. While diversity refers to the traits that make people unique, inclusion refers to the behaviors and social norms that ensure people feel welcome.We invite all aspects of individualism and uniqueness including; race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, age, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor. Our main focus is to curate an environment where all feel welcomed, part of a community, and able to identify with the stories they see play out on screen.

Micheaux Film Festival at a Glance

Highlights from this year's festival, showcasing: screenings, filmmaker Q&A panels, and networking mixers...

After receiving over 120 submissions, we selected and featured a diverse group of filmmakers, screening short films, digital series, music videos, student shorts and documentaries. Themes of content span from messages of social justice, mental health awareness, and sexual advocacy.

On the last day of the festival, we also provided filmmakers and attendees with several Master Class workshops: Writing for Film (sponsored by Final Draft), Cinematography (sponsored by Panavision), Editing / Post Production, Raising Capital (sponsored by Seed & Spark) and Marketing + Distribution.

Providing a medium to exhibit thought-provoking and entertaining content that leaves the viewer feeling entertained, challenged and inspired...

A glimpse into the content that screened at #Micheaux2020.

Our Filmmakers

Celebrating diverse stories, characters and filmmakers...

Before each screening block, filmmakers are featured in a spotlight that details their projects and accomplishments.

Honors & Awards

The Michael Ajakwe Pioneer of Influence Award

This year, the festival honored an entertainment professional who is forging her own path in the industry, and exemplifying the Micheaux mission of independence in excellence. Christina Cooper of Christina Cooper Productions

The Oscar Micheaux Trailblazer of Excellence Award

This award is presented to established creators who are operating within mainstream Hollywood, while also maintaining their independence in writing, producing and financing their own projects. For their visionary guidance and unyielding contributions to the industry. we honored Deon and Roxanne Taylor of Hidden Empire Film Group (Black and Blue, The Intruder, Traffik)

2020 Stats Recap

Micheaux Film Festival 2021

Next year's festival will be held at Regal Cinemas LA Live, from April 15-18, 2021

Meet the Festival Directors

Noel Braham

Award-winning filmmaker and actor, Noel Braham, grew up in Atlanta, Georgia where he attended Georgia State University, majoring in Speech Communication and Film/Video production. His desire to create worlds of comedy, science fiction, and drama led him to his first project, The Side Chick, which was screened and awarded at several international web festivals - winning for best comedy, actor, and cast. His sophomore project, The Millennial won a prestigious Telly Award for short form media.

His most recent endeavor includes his role as founder and co-director of the Micheaux Film Festival. His team was able to install a successful event which attracted over 200 attendees and was held at Regal Cinemas LA Live: A Barco Innovation Center, one of the most technologically advanced theaters in the country.

You can find more of his work: Star Wars Exile on StarWars.com where it won best VFX and choreography in the Disney/Lucas Fan Film Awards. Noel currently serves as a judge for the Daytime Emmy awards as an active member of the National Television Academy. In addition to judging, Noel and his company were nominated for two Daytime Emmy awards for Outstanding Special Class – Directing: Noel Braham and Outstanding Special Class: Short Format Programming for their work on his third project, Watchtower. In addition to the Emmy nominations, Watchtower was screened at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival Short Corner in the South of France.

Courtney L. Branch

Upon graduating with a degree in Broadcast Journalism from Georgia State University, Courtney spent several years in New York, where she jumpstarted her television career with a fellowship with CBS This Morning. After working between the Atlanta and New York markets and being recognized for two Emmy nominations, Courtney relocated to Los Angeles, where she landed an Associate Producer position on Daytime's #1 talk show, Dr. Phil, produced at Paramount Studios. As a casting producer, she has worked for Lifetime, Food Network, Fox and BET. She is currently back with CBS, marking her seventh year with the network.

Outside of television production, Courtney serves as Co-Chair for the Micheaux Film Festival, which debuted in Downtown Los Angeles in December 2018 to a crowd of over 200 people. Courtney is an active member of the Television Academy and served as a judge for the 2019 Daytime Emmy Awards and as a voter for the 2019 Primetime Emmy Awards.

Partnerships

As an effort to contribute to the community, we partnered with Covenant House Hollywood, a non-profit organization that provides resources, shelter and aide to homeless youth.
Covenant House director Anthony Conley & Covenant House volunteers w/festival founder, Noel Braham

Sponsors

Last year's sponsors made it possible...

Press:

The company, founded by Emmy-nominated filmmakers Noel Braham and Courtney L. Branch, aims to promote diversity in all facets of entertainment, both in front of and behind the camera. Ahead of Election Day, it also wants to promote the importance of casting a ballot—especially in underserved communities. The cofounders launched G.O.A.Ts Vote (Greatest of All Time Vote), a new voting initiative promoting voter education.
"As two people of color in the entertainment industry, they found common ground in their desire to advocate for more diversity and representation in the field... Braham and Branch spoke with POPSUGAR about their journey and the cultural impact they hope to make by unifying fellow creators with the festival."
"Named after Oscar Micheaux, the illustrious filmmaker of the early 20th century and the first Black person to own a film studio, the festival provides a space for independent filmmakers of all backgrounds and cultures to showcase their work in state-of-the-art facilities."

Testimonials from Past Filmmakers

"The Micheaux Film Festival defines excellence. They showcase the filmmaker with care, purpose and style. Well curated. Great films which screen at Regal Cinema on a huge screen with a packed audience. Awesome Q&A lead by a professional interviewer. Great questions. Great for networking. It feels like they’ve been doing this for years. Super on all levels. One of the best."
"I have been to quite a few film fests over the past few years. I have no doubt that the Micheaux Film Fest will soon be one of the premier festivals in Los Angeles. Noel and his crew make the film maker feel appreciated. It's clear that this festival is from the heart. Very well organized and curated."
"The Micheaux film festival was an amazing experience. It was a wonderful weekend full of networking, workshops, and diverse and beautiful films. A wonderful team who worked so hard to make the weekend special. Would highly recommend the experience."
#Micheaux2021 submissions are open! Click the link to submit your project today:

Become a Sponsor

We look forward to working with dynamic and forward-thinking partners to create an engaging and immersive festival experience. If you are interested in investing in our community of award-winning and up-and-coming filmmakers, actors, and creators, we would love to have a conversation. Please fill out the following form and a member of our team will reach out to you.

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