Here’s Who Won At The 2024 Essence Film Festival
The Essence Film Festival, from Essence Studios, took place during the 2024 Essence Fest, with stars like Garcelle Beauvais, Tisha Campbell, Essence Atkins, Danielle Brooks, Wayne Brady, Danielle Pinnock, Ava DuVernay and more gracing the stage.
At the film festival, which was held from July 5 to 7, Nigerian Afrobeats icon Tiwa Savage made a memorable appearance, screening her acting debut in the film Water & Garri, and several newcomers like Laila Pruitt, Martin Bobb-Semple, Rhoyle Ivy King were also in attendance.
Filmmakers, creatives, and screenwriters were given the opportunity to showcase and be recognized for their work. Some of the film festival’s big winners are: Chazitear, who’s film Kismet Holiday won a jury award for Best Narrative Feature, Kevin J Nelson, whose film Phels High won an audience award for Best Narrative Feature and more.
Check out the full list below:
JURY AWARDS
BEST NARRATIVE FEATURE: 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
