10th Anniversary celebration
2024 Film Line Up & Finalists Announcement
DBFF is dedicated to preserving and celebrating Black culture with film at its heart and spotlights on other forms of storytelling, like spoken word, art, music, comedy, and dance. We also highlight social justice issues through films and panel discussions.
Each year we look for creatives from all around the world who want to share “our” stories; gathering submissions with no discrimination of new filmmakers or filmmakers with an established career in the industry to take part in a competitive film awards. Filmmakers of all races and ethnicities are welcome to submit when their work reflects the following guidelines: Written, directed, or produced by Black filmmakers; or Prominently feature Black actors; or Feature subject matter which relates to the Black community and/or Black experience.
The competitive program awards are provided in each category and have included Panavision camera packages, cash prizes, trophies, and certificates.
2024 Denton Black Film Festival Competitive Film Finalists
BEST NARRATIVE FEATURE
FOUR WALLS – Kgosana Monchusi, Menzi Mzimela, Juvaiś Dunn
ImPossible – Seckeita Lewis
Outed – Blake Arthur (David Jamie Senft)
Step Dad – Arthur Jordan Muhammad
BEST SHORT NARRATIVE
BLACK WOMAN WHITE MAN – Michael Joseph Smith, Ko Han Lai
Breakup Weekend – Jordan Rice
Donna’s Dream – Huey Rawls
FATHER’S DAY – Tumelo Lekena
Nia – Chantelle Ampomah Aboraah
Rear – Edward Worthy
The Dragonfly Tale – Lorey Hayes
The Recipe – Tawan Bazemore
The Three Phases of Isa – Andi Chapman
What They Found – Ryan Darbonne
BEST WEB/ EPISODIC SERIES
Being Alex – Christopher J. Love
Big Girl Love – RaJeana Price
Detangling The South Episode 1: New Orleans – Damien D Smith
My Happiest Days – Philippe Cormier
Roots, Race & Culture: Black Social Media – Kelton Wells, Lisa Olken
BEST ORIGINAL MUSIC VIDEO
Got U | Ombachii – Dejion O’marie Duncan
Hands & Knees by Rexx Life – Raj Alba Roland Mejia
Mamma Knew How to Pray – Paul E. Puckett
You’re My Friend – Paul E. Puckett
BEST TEXAS NARRATIVE SHORT
Donna’s Dream – Huey Rawls
Lotus – Beau Thompson
Set – Ade Dina
The Black Experience – Christian L. Scott
This or That – Nitashia Johnson
What They Found – Ryan Darbonne
BEST TEXAS COLLEGE SHORT
Black Magic – Cristin Stephens
Disrupting Silence – Rico Veliz
Sour – Ayron La’Vell Walker
BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
Bike Vessel – Eric D. Seals
Black Uniform – Robert Darwell
Farming While Black – Mark Decena
Guardians of the Flame – Daniel Wolff
If A Flower Bloomed – Kithetheesyo
Storming Caesars Palace – Hazel Gurland-Pooler
The Quilt: A Living History of African American Music – Julya Jara
BEST SHORT DOCUMENTARY
Birth From the Earth – Katy Walker Mejia
I Am Because You Are – Levi Allen
Representing: Black Lawyers, Clients, & The Culture (Pt.1 The Amari Harley Case) – Micah Autry
Slice – Zaire Love
The Route to Emancipation – Talib Abdullahi, Riley Engemoen
The Take Away – Susan Carol Davis, Claire Blakeney DeJarnett
BEST COLLEGE SHORT
Black Magic – Cristin Stephens
Disrupting Silence – Rico Veliz
Family Mixtape Visual Essay – Keith Nixon
Love Taps – Derrick Woodyard
Sour – Ayron La’Vell Walker
The River – Janay Kelley
TikTok Challenged – Ivan Rome
BEST SCREENDANCE FILM
Oxowusi – Augusto Soledade, Gabriel Yjalade
Red Line – Irishia Hubbard
Soulful Serenade – Jarid Polite
What’s Bred in the Blood and Bone – Robin M Gee
BEST TEXAS DOCUMENTARY SHORT
Aesthetic Inheritances – Stacey Allen, Keda Sharber, Danielle Mason
December 10, 2022 – Matthew Osborne
Representing: Black Lawyers, Clients, & The Culture (Pt.1 The Amari Harley Case) – Micah Autry
The Route to Emancipation – Talib Abdullahi, Riley Engemoen
The Take Away – Susan Carol Davis, Claire Blakeney DeJarnett
Invitational Selections
NARRATIVE FEATURES:
A Heart That Forgives 2 – The Battle Within- M. Legend Brown
Black Clown 2 – Ryan Taylor
Girl – Adura Onashile
Riverbend – Sam Firstenberg
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE:
Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project – Joe Brewster, Michele Stephenson
Invisible Beauty – Bethann Hardison, Frédéric Tcheng
DOCUMENTARY SHORT:
Ambassadors of Hope – Cassidy Friedman, Amber Allen-Peirson
