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