DENTON, TEXAS – The Denton Black Film Festival wrapped up its 10th year, topping more than 12,000 attendees and recognizing some of the nation’s top independent filmmakers.
The festival also featured a gaming competition with nearly 500 attendees including Xbox, Gearbox, Epic Games, Robot Entertainment, Maverick Gaming and more.
Attendees from around the nation attended 85 films, three art exhibits, a gaming event, live music, spoken word poetry slam, and master classes, workshops, and panels to help creatives hone their craft.
“The 10th year celebration was a joyful experience,” said Harry Eaddy, the festival’s executive director, “and exceeded my expectations with DBFF hosting its largest in person audience ever! The feedback from attendees has been phenomenal!”
The festival today took place, in person – January 24th – 28th in several Denton locations and virtually January 29 -February 5, 2024. The presenting sponsors were City of Denton, Panavision and NBC5. Panavision provided more than $20,000 camera packages each for the Best Narrative and Documentary films. Other major sponsors included Texas Commission of the Arts, The Village Giving Circle at Texas Women’s, Charles Schwab Bank, Meow Wolf and McDonald’s of North Texas.
Grammy-Award Winner Kirk Whalum had the crowd on its feet as he and Wendy Moten, a highly sought-after, entertained a crowd at TWU’s Margo Jones Performing Arts Theater. Comedian Myra J, of the legendary Tom Joyner Morning Show, hosted a night of laughs with Trey Mack, Mary Boyce and Payton Payne at a packed Patterson-Appleton Arts Center. The always popular Spoken Word Slam featured teams battling against each other.
Participating gaming exhibitors included companies Gearbox, Xbox, Robot Entertainment, Maverick Gaming and Moonlet Studios.
Here’s a list of this year’s film winners who were recognized at a special ceremony at Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in Denton:
Best Narrative Feature
“ImPossible,” directed by Seckeita Lewis
Runner-Up: “FOUR WALLS,” directed by Kgosana Monchusi, Menzi Mzimela, Juvais Dunn
Best Documentary Feature
“Bike Vessel,” directed by Eric D. Seals
Runner-Up: “Farming While Black,” directed by Mark Decena
Best Narrative Short
“FATHER’S DAY,” directed by Tumelo Lekena
Runner-Up: “REAR,” directed by Edward Worthy
Best Documentary Short
“Slice,” directed by Zaire Love
Runner-Up: “Birth from the Earth,” directed by Katy Walker Mejia
Best Episodic/Web Series
“Detangling the South Ep 1: New Orleans,” directed by Damien D. Smith
Runner-Up: “Being Alex,” directed by Christopher J. Love
Best College Short
“Disrupting Silence,” directed by Rico Veliz
Runner-Up: “The River,” directed by Janay Kelley
Best Original Music Video
“Hands & Knees by Rexx Life Raj,” directed by Alba Roland Mejia
Runner-Up: “Mamma Knew How to Pray,” directed by Paul E. Puckett
Best Screendance Film
“Oxowusi,” directed by Augusto Soledade, Gabriel Yjalade
Runner-Up: “Red Line,” directed by Irishia Hubbard
Best Texas Short Narrative
“What They Found,” directed by Ryan Darbonne.
Runner-Up: “The Black Experience,” directed by Christian L. Scott
Best Texas Short Documentary
“The Route to Emancipation,” directed by Talib Abdullahi, Riley Engemoen
Runner-Up: “Representing: Black Lawyerss, Clients, & The Culture (Pt. 1 The Amari Harley Case),” directed by Micah Autry
Best Texas College Short
“Disrupting Silence,” directed by Rico Veliz
Runner-Up: “Black Magic,” directed by Cristin Stephens
For more information about the festival and films, contact us at [email protected] or call (469) 573-0799 with your questions. To learn more, go to DentonBFF.com and follow the festival on social: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.
About the Denton Black Film Festival
The Denton Black Film Festival is an annual cultural event, featuring the works of emerging filmmakers, creatives from around the country and talented college students, musicians, artists and spoken word poets. Held each January, thousands attend the celebration of storytelling in various art forms, which takes place in venues in Denton, Texas. To stay informed on events throughout the year and next year’s festival, follow us on social: Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, X, YouTube and LinkedIn.
