2025 AWARD WINNERS
BEST LONG DOCUMENTARY
COMPROMISED
​The Black Educator's Fight for Equity
DIRECTED BY RACHEL HARDY
Discover the untold story of America's education system as we journey alongside Black educators, the forgotten heroes whose pivotal roles in the Brown v. Board case reshaped history. Witness their extraordinary journey as their tireless advocacy turns the tide of history, only to face the tumultuous aftermath that upends their lives and reshapes the entire educational landscape.
BEST SHORT DOCUMENTARY
CLEMMIE G.:
UNFILTERED
DIRECTED BY TOM NEFF
Over 21 years in the making, Clemmie G.: Unfiltered the story of Clemmie Greenlee and her transformation from abused street addict to selfless champion of youths on the street and of mothers whose sons have been senselessly murdered by street violence.
BEST NARRATIVE FEATURE
CAN YOU STAND THE RAIN
​
DIRECTED BY EDEN MARRYSHOW
When beloved children's author Shawn Xavier Brown unexpectedly passes away, his tight-knit group of childhood friends reunite for his funeral weekend. As old wounds, unresolved dreams, and hidden tensions rise to the surface, they are forced to confront the lives they've built, the loves they've lost, and the hopes they've long buried. "Can You Stand The Rain" is a powerful exploration of friendship, grief, identity, and the eternal struggle between who we are and who we once dreamed we could be.
BEST NARRATIVE SHORT
MEA CULPA
DIRECTED BY WILLIE ROBBINS​
Mea Culpa follows two friends whose bond is torn apart when political turmoil forces them to confront loyalty, conviction, and the cost of truth.
BEST SOCIAL JUSTICE FILM
OUR MOVEMENT STARTS HERE
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DIRECTED BY JOHN RASH, MELANIE DANG HO
The rural community of Warren County, North Carolina sparked the environmental justice movement and raised awareness of environmentally racist practices with their historic fight against a toxic PCB landfill in 1982.
BEST INSPIRATIONAL FILM
THE BUCKET WISH
DIRECTED BY ERICKA NICOLE MALONE
The Bucket Wish chronicles Award winning Writer Ericka Nicole Malone and her journey as she revisits her dreams and confronts the fears that once held her back. Ericka shares how the roots of Black history can embolden you to come out of the temple of your familiar. From early setbacks in dance to her efforts in songwriting and facing old fears, Ericka’s story is one of rediscovery and determination. Along the way, she impacts others through acts of kindness and tackles meaningful conversations within her community.
BEST OF TENNESSEE
THE TOUR OF
ONE CITY:
The History of the Negro Leagues in Nashville, Tn. and Beyond
DIRECTED BY DR. HARRIET KIMBRO-HAMILTON
When Rube Foster developed the first National Negro League, Tom Wilson, the owner of the Elite Giants of Nashville, Tn. helped create the Negro Southern League shortly after that. This documentary reflects the growth of Black baseball in Nashville that began after the Civil War and flourished into special and unique times well into the 1960s. Hear the stories from some of those who played during the Negro League era. Also, the family members of those players share the stories, and experiences handed down.
BEST OF FESTIVAL
FATHERLESS
NO MORE
DIRECTED BY KAYLA JOHNSON
Fatherless No More is a powerful feature documentary that chronicles the extraordinary journey of an Orlando-based pastor and former Super Bowl Champion who makes an unprecedented move—choosing to live in an RV on Rikers Island.
Compelled by faith, he embeds himself in one of the nation’s most infamous correctional facilities for over a year. Through personal encounters and deeply human stories from within the jail’s walls, the film explores the transformative power of presence, compassion, and spiritual conviction.
BEST ANIMATION
THE EKSPATS
We're Going to Africa
DIRECTED BY RON MYRICK
Bill Diamond, an earnest, unappreciated, down in the dumps business consultant is given a career-saving opportunity that forces him and his sheltered, all-American family to relocate to Nigeria. We join them on their journey as their minds and hearts open to the people, the culture, and the privileged family of the tycoon, Solomon Babatunde, who hired Bill’s firm. Later, he elevates Bill’s assignment to recommend a successor for the Babatunde family business empire.
FOUNDERS AWARD
TO CAPTURE A VISION FAIR...
Kappa Lambda Omega's Golden Legacy of Sisterhood and Service
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DIRECTED BY K. DAWN RUTLEDGE
"To Capture a Vision Fair" is an inspiring documentary chronicling the remarkable legacy of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®’s Kappa Lambda Omega Chapter, celebrating 50 years of sisterhood, leadership, and impactful service in the greater Nashville community.
From its establishment in 1975, on the campus of Meharry Medical College, Kappa Lambda Omega has grown from 25 visionary charter members to more than 300 accomplished and passionate women dedicated to making a difference. With signature fundraising events like the Little Miss AKA Pageant and the Pink Chablis, the chapter has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarships and supported community initiatives that address education, youth empowerment, economic development, and social justice.