From 2020-2024, I served as one of the main organizers and facilitators for the Indie Memphis Black Creators Forum (BCF) in my role as a Programmer and Black Creators Forum Manager and eventual Director of Programming. The Black Creators Forum Symposium was the largest of BCF’s annual programs, and below is a selection of BCF sessions I either moderated or coordinated virtually or in-person.

2024 SYMPOSIUM

Keynote Naked Acts: Restoring a Black Independent Classic (BCF Virtual)

Moderator, featuring Naked Acts director and writer, Bridgett M. Davis and Maya Cade, Founder and Curator of Black Film Archive

Jimmy: Film as a Tour (BCF Virtual)

Moderator, featuring Jimmy director, Yashaddai Owens

Festival Strategy: The Value of Regional Festivals (BCF Virtual)

Moderator, featuring Jessica Chriesman, Sidewalk Film Director of Education and Outreach

Screenwriting Through a Decolonized and Abstract Lens (BCF Virtual)

Intro by Kayla Myers, Session Facilitated by Maria Judice, filmmaker

2023 sYMPOSIUM

Music Supervision for Film (BCF In-Person)

Moderator, featuring music supervisor Morgan Rhodes (The Color Purple, Selma, Queen Sugar)

Against Respectability (BCF In-Person)

Moderator, featuring IMFF23 filmmaker Zaire Love, writer of Donna and Ally, Cousin Shy, and actor and musician Qing Qi (Donna and Ally).  

First Features: Documentary Filmmaking (BCF In-Person)

Moderator, featuring IMFF23 filmmakers Jessica Chaney (I AM) and Alicia Ester 

Southern Filmmaking and Craft (BCF Virtual)

Moderator, featuring filmmakers Zandashé Brown and A.J. Riggins

2022 symposium

Streaming Do’s and Don’t’s (BCF Virtual)

Moderator, featuring Sean Charles (ALLBLK) and DeShauna Spencer (KweliTV)

The Writers’ Room: P-Valley (BCF Virtual)

Moderator, featuring P-Valley staff writer, Jamey Hatley  

Documentary Distribution: Public Media and Maintaining Your Voice (BCF Virtual)

Moderator, featuring Opal H. Bennett (POV), and Phil Bertelsen (The Picture Taker) 

Look at the Material: Grants, Labs, and Pitching (BCF Virtual)

Moderator, featuring filmmakers Zandashé Brown and Zaire Love