Fall 2025

Welcome to the Inaugural Black Light: A Howard Short Film Showcase.

This showcase celebrates the vision, craft, and resilience of Howard University filmmakers across generations, including undergraduate directors, MFA Film alumni, and members of the Howard University Film Organization (HUFO). Their work shines light on stories rooted in Black life, imagination, and possibility.

Black Light is more than a screening. It is a gathering. Here, we honor students as emerging storytellers, connect their practice to global cinematic traditions, and share their achievements with the wider Washington, D.C. community.

Fall 2025 Trailer - Edited by Isabella Spencer

Program Overview

Official Poster — Fall 2025 Inaugural Edition

Two-night public showcase at the Miracle Theatre (December 2 -3, 2025)

26 undergraduate student films
Undergraduate directors, MFA alumni, and HUFO
Invited guest artists Terence Nance and Karyn Parsons
In collaboration with Sankofa Video Books & Café

6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
- Undergraduate Directing for Film & TV Shorts (Class of 2025)
- Selected shorts films from Howard University’s Directing for Film & TV students
8:00 PM - 8:30 PM
- Howard University Film Organization (HUFO) Spotlight
- Where's Everybody At? Volume I + Recognition Ceremony
8:30 PM - 10:00 PM
- Special Guest: Terence Nance
  Random Acts of Flyness Season 2 (Episodes 1 and 2) with Q&A
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
- MFA Alumni Showcase
- Curated selection from recent cohorts (2018-2025)
8:00 PM - 8:30 PM
- Alumni Roundtable
- Reflections from MFA filmmakers on Howard’s cinematic legacy
8:30 PM - 10:00 PM
- Special Guest: Karyn Parsons
- The evening concludes with a screening of On Monday of Last Week (dir. Akosua Adoma Owusu, starring Karyn Parsons), followed by a conversation and book signing with Karyn Parsons, presented in collaboration with Sankofa Video, Books & Café.

Featured Guests

Terence Nance is a filmmaker and visual artist whose work spans film, television, music, and installation. He is the creator of the Peabody Award–winning HBO series Random Acts of Flyness and has directed projects including the film component for André 3000’s New Blue Sun. His work was studied throughout the semester in Directing for Film & TV and featured in conversation with student filmmakers during Black Light.

Karyn Parsons is an actor, writer, and cultural storyteller best known for her role as Hilary Banks on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. She is the founder of Sweet Blackberry, an award-winning animated series highlighting unsung Black heroes in history, and the author of several acclaimed children’s books. Parsons joined Black Light to engage students in conversation about storytelling, legacy, and creative practice across generations.

Undergraduate &

MFA Alumni films

Curve — Destineé Coburn & Emmanuel Oreoluwa Karunwi
Pipto — Othello Marin & Leila Gbelia
The Last Notification — Tyler Parker & Chioke McKinney
Office Hours Apocalypse — Saniya Rowe & Cameron Taylor
Echoes of Her — Danaeya Witherspoon & Sanaa Morris
Scripted — Sharif “Coin” Nelson & Saniyah Slater
The Sunken Place — Jovanique Osafoh & Marley Franklin
The Medium — Mia Simone & Michael Mollison
#Prank — Zoe Rance & Isabella Spencer
Are We Good? — Amanda Carmen Thompson & London Mechelle
One v. One — Kyndell Baskin & Jelena Wells
Yellow Sanctuary — Debbie Taiwo Pace & Marlow Buckner
Head & Body — Shakyra Cotton & Jadeya Hamilton
The Other Side of Silence — Bukola Haastrup & Jalynn Kristen
Alter Ego — Christopher Hill & Jaila Nicole
Premature — Kylan Mabry & Ka’Darius McNair
Holidaze — Morgan McIntosh & Elizabeth Thomas
Shadow Waltz — Kiara Pugh & Gabrielle Speight-Leach
Through His Eyes — Aalia Scott & Jada Wesley
The Art of Talking Sh*t — Gillian “Bantu” Joseph & Laila Milan Zeigler
The Missed Call — Ajoi Adams & Denzel Mitchell III
Perfect — Dazhai Brown & Bethany Jemie
Stuck — Brandon Ferreira & Josh Taylor
Enjoy Your Day! — Corey Hecdivert & Nylah Statley
5 and Forever — Mikayla Clark & Chase Howard
The Echo — Naya Jackson, Chayla Murray & Jahlil Rahim
Paralysis by Analysis — Jolene Carter (Class of 2025)
Hag — Jay Najeeah (Class of 2024)
The Sparrow Sings — Joshua David Lowery (Class of 2023)
Finding Faith in the Storm — Allen Mays (Class of 2022)
Divine — Elon Durant (Class of 2022)
Orchid Boys — Rory Padgett (Class of 2018)
730 Days — LaDawn Manuel (Class of 2018)
Maladaptive — Jessica McLorren (Class of 2026)
Where’s Everybody At? — Lauryn Johnson
Permanence — Jovan Scurry
Sitting Ducks — Donnie Letterman