The 2024 ESSENCE Film Festival Winners
The 2024 ESSENCE Film Festival by ESSENCE STUDIOS was held from July 5th to 7th at the ESSENCE Festival of Culture presented by Coca-Cola® in New Orleans. The event included star-studded appearances from some of the leading names in the entertainment industry Garcelle Beauvais, Tisha Campbell, Essence Atkins, Danielle Brooks, Wayne Brady, Edward Buckles Jr., Danielle Pinnock, and Ava DuVernay. Alongside the Nigerian Afrobeat artist, Tiwa Savage, who screened her acting debut in the film “Water & Garri.” This year’s festival also included industry newcomers such as Laila Pruitt, Brian Jordan Jr., and Rhoyle Ivy King.
Winners from the 2024 ESSENCE Film Festival by ESSENCE STUDIOS include:
JURY AWARDS
BEST NARRATIVE FEATURE: A KISMET HOLIDAY, by Chazitear
BEST DOCUMENTARY: TIME II: UNFINISHED BUSINESS, by Fox Rich
BEST SHORT FILM: LIMINALITY, by Mecca McDonald, Celeste O'Connor
BEST SOCIAL IMPACT STORY: BEYOND THEIR YEARS: THE INCREDIBLE LEGACIES OF HERB CARNEGIE AND BUCK O’NEIL, by Bryant McBride, Daniel Horgan
BEST ANIMATION FILM: JG AND THE BC KIDS, by Janet Hubert
BEST INDIE EPISODIC: PLEDGE: CHANGE IS GOOD, Ariel K. Harris
BEST PODCAST: CHAT AND BOTHER, by Eva A Greene-Wilson
AUDIENCE AWARDS
BEST NARRATIVE FEATURE: PHELS HIGH, by Kevin J Nelson
BEST DOCUMENTARY: ME PERIOD, by Lisa Cunningham
BEST SHORT FILM: HARLEM FRAGMENTS, by Cameron Tyler Carr
BEST SOCIAL IMPACT STORY: PTSD-RESILIENT VALOR, by Ermelle Martinez
BEST ANIMATION FILM: THE LOST COMB OF MAWU, by Kwame-Michael Brako
BEST INDIE EPISODIC: 3 BLIND MICE, by Letia Solomon
BEST PODCAST: CULTURE MINUTE NEWS, by Omar Cook
SCREENPLAYS
BEST STAGE READING: ANIMAL, by Eunice Levis and Michael Wells
BEST SCRIPT: HOUND DOG, by Letitia Guillory and Crayton Robey
Here’s a breakdown of the awards
JURY AWARDS
BEST NARRATIVE FEATURE: A KISMET HOLIDAY, by Chazitear
Set against a magical Christmas Eve backdrop, two strangers find love, only to be separated, but when fate reunites them five years later, the question arises if this is a mere coincidence or a sign of destined love.
Produced by Bree and Chuck West of Octet Productions, the film stars Karen Obliom and Derrick A. King along with Joyful Drake, Kym Whitley, Lamman Rucker, Elle Varner, Asiahn, Angelo Diaz, Rhonda Morman, Javon Johnson, and Adrian Lockett
BEST DOCUMENTARY: TIME II: UNFINISHED BUSINESS, by Fox Rich
This gripping documentary witnesses the return of Sibil Fox and Robert Richardson, the love-bound protagonists of the Oscar-nominated documentary, TIME, (2020). TIME II: UNFINISHED BUSINESS plunges us into the aftermath of Rob's release from Angola after 21 grueling years and their ongoing fight for their unjustly imprisoned nephew, Ontario. Fueled by newfound freedom, Fox and Rob confront the brutal realities that come with their unwavering commitment to liberate their nephew and honor a sacred promise made over two decades ago.
About TIME II: UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
Fox Rich is a fighter, entrepreneur, abolitionist, and mother of six boys. She spent over two decades campaigning for her husband Rob G. Rich's release, who was serving a 60-year sentence for a bank robbery they committed in a moment of desperation. "TIME II" marks Fox's directorial debut, combining years of video diaries with present-day footage post-Rob’s release.
BEST SHORT FILM: LIMINALITY, by Mecca McDonald, Celeste O'Connor
A young couple, Aina and Zari, are at the beginning of their careers as a painter and an accomplished coder yet they don't know how to communicate with each other. When Zari gets sucked into a video game, where she must confront hidden aspects of her identity, the two must finally learn how to be brave and vulnerable.
BEST SOCIAL IMPACT STORY: BEYOND THEIR YEARS: THE INCREDIBLE LEGACIES OF HERB CARNEGIE AND BUCK O’NEIL, by Bryant McBride, Daniel Horgan
BEST ANIMATION FILM: JG AND THE BC KIDS, by Janet Hubert
JG and the BC Kids is a pilot to series feature, created by Janet Hubert. Bringing Book Smart and Street Smart kids together to create LIFE SMART KIDS. Done in brilliant 2D animation, JG is what parents have longed for. Bringing STEM, wonderful music and characters all kids will love together. YOUR GONNA WIN.. FOR SURE!
BEST INDIE EPISODIC: PLEDGE: CHANGE IS GOOD, Ariel K. Harris
Deonte, a vengeful teen, discovers the HBCU students responsible for his older brother’s death are members of a vampire fraternity, in which, he vows to infiltrate and expose by pledging.
Ariel K. Harris is a native of Charlotte, North Carolina, and a U.S. Navy veteran. Over the last 3 years, she has been studying towards a B.S. in Film Production at The Los Angeles Film School. She has been a filmmaker since I age 14, shooting and editing highlight reels as her high school's sports videographer. Now, over a decade later, Ariel has become proficient in everything from commercials to music videos to shorts, but her true passion lies behind her narrative works.
BEST PODCAST: CHAT AND BOTHER, by Eva A Greene-Wilson
AUDIENCE AWARDS
BEST NARRATIVE FEATURE: PHELS HIGH, by Kevin J Nelson
The cast includes Omari Hardwick, Elise Neal, Michael Hyatt, T.J. Atoms, Allen Maldonado, Marc John Jefferies
The film is about a bond between four friends which gets destroyed when one of the boys, who gets bullied, takes matters into his own hands by taking the life of the kid that bullied him. The school’s peace is shattered by gunfire and the boys end up barricaded, trying to devise a plan. Beef (the shooter) figures he may have a chance of having a future if he takes the life of his best friend to come out on top of his messed-up situation. He plots to look like a hero instead of the villain that he is, but his plan falls short and an innocent life is taken due to his choices
BEST DOCUMENTARY: ME PERIOD, by Lisa Cunningham
Highlighting conversations between families of all types, the film also features insights and stories from actress Sheryl Lee Ralph and author Tabitha Brown, alongside their daughters, Ivy "Coco" Maurice and Choice Brown. Inspired by the groundbreaking 1987 documentary, "Becoming A Woman," by Black Women's Health Imperative (BWHI) founder Byllye Avery, "Me Period" explores the stories of families navigating the complexities and taboos surrounding the menstrual journey.
BEST SHORT FILM: HARLEM FRAGMENTS, by Cameron Tyler Carr
Based on true events-Harlem Fragments is an Afro-futurist scrapbook storytelling of a Harlem Black family's beautiful destruction during the 2008 recession. A natural disaster so mesmerizing you can't look away from the tragedy. Based on true events.
Cameron Carr is born and bred Harlemite, Filmmaker and Creative Producer based out of NYC. As a pragmatic optimist, and ambition to become the Issa Rae/Jordan Peele/Donald Glover ultimate hybrid: in hand with producing commercials at his Creative agency Wieden+Kennedy NY by day- Cameron's constant mission is to continue to push, propel and create Black-led stories through film and creative, while spotlighting systemic inequities that often remain unconscious and unspoken in society.
BEST SOCIAL IMPACT STORY: PTSD-RESILIENT VALOR, by Ermelle Martinez
BEST ANIMATION FILM: THE LOST COMB OF MAWU, by Kwame-Michael Brako
Written, produced, directed, animated and scored by Kwame-Michael Brako. This a concept, passion project animation I'm creating with the goal to turn into a feature film or series. It’s an afrofuturism, scifi tale about four friends (from the Afro-CyberPunk community) who find a mythical comb, dropped by the Goddess, Mawu (An African mythological God representing creation and life). It sets off and escapade by the neighboring Solar Punk community, where the Prince's soul purpose is to find the talisman first for his own greedy uses. The SolarPunks are a stem of the Cyberpunks that evolved but later looked down on their past. Laced with thrills, humor, and emotions, it also encompasses the power of self and acceptance of being different. It also tells a story of togetherness.
BEST INDIE EPISODIC: 3 BLIND MICE, by Letia Solomon
Naeemah, a young Black woman who was adopted by a White couple and raised in an all White environment in Massachusetts, makes an effort to learn more about her past by transferring to an Historical Black College in Baltimore. Upon arriving, she meets two young Black women who help guide her during her transition. 3 Blind Mice is a love letter to the 90's HBCU experience -- pre-electronic era, but takes place in current time.
BEST PODCAST: CULTURE MINUTE NEWS, by Omar Cook
SCREENPLAYS
BEST STAGE READING: ANIMAL, by Eunice Levis and Michael Wells
BEST SCRIPT: HOUND DOG, by Letitia Guillory and Crayton Robey
