Detroit is preparing to welcome a wave of young Black filmmakers whose voices are reshaping the future of cinema. Autumn Sun, a Detroit-based creative organization, will host a three-day HBCU Film Festival from November 21–23, 2025, marking Detroit as the only city in the country to hold a national film event dedicated solely to student filmmakers from Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
The festival positions Detroit as a central stage for emerging storytellers at a moment when the industry is searching for new narratives, new leadership, and new creative centers. The gathering will bring student directors, writers, producers, and visual artists from more than a dozen HBCUs to screen work that spans narrative films, documentaries, animation, and experimental projects.
The Awards Ceremony, set for November 22 at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, will recognize standout films and the students behind them. The ceremony will run from 6 to 10 p.m. and is expected to draw local arts leaders, cultural institutions, and industry professionals who are watching how Detroit supports the next generation of film talent.
Autumn Sun’s mission centers on building pathways for young Black artists through film, media, and storytelling. The organization focuses on creating platforms that allow Detroit to function as a pipeline for rising talent—one that reflects the city’s history of creativity and its ongoing investment in cultural growth.
Bruce Clifton, executive producer of Autumn Sun, said the city offers the environment young filmmakers need. “Detroit is the creative hub our filmmakers deserve, and we’re excited to bring a new generation of vibrant creatives to the forefront,” he said. “This festival is about access, visibility, and celebrating the brilliance of HBCU filmmakers who are redefining what’s possible in film.”
Autumn Sun created this festival to give student filmmakers a space to be seen early in their careers, supported by Detroit’s mayor and City Council. The invitational underscores Detroit’s long-running commitment to building opportunity for Black artists, especially those working in fields where access often depends on funding, networks, and exposure.
Finalists will meet with working professionals, tour Detroit’s arts community, participate in workshops, and present their films to national audiences and a jury panel. Their work represents the full range of HBCU film programs, highlighting the depth and breadth of talent developing on campuses across the country.
This year’s finalists include:
A’Jah Canty, North Carolina A&T; Akiva Bell, Florida A&M; Arnold Cadayona, Alabama A&M; D’Mani Washington, Bowie State; Elizabeth Walton, Howard; Jala Bennett, Howard; Julia Washington, North Carolina Central; Kenaji Belvins, Morehouse; Kennedy Jones, North Carolina Central; Kiara Magnum, Howard; Mason Brown, Howard; Morgan Lewis, Morgan State; Nyhle Wilson, Billiard; Shane Cameron, Howard; Suuna McKitty, Morehouse; Ysabella Lopez, Spelman; Zachary Ramseur, Hampton; and Zion Murphy, Howard.
