The Micheaux Film Festival has revealed its opening and closing selections for its seventh annual edition, set to run October 23–26, 2025, at The Culver Theatre in Culver City and nearby venues. This year’s lineup opens with the World Premiere of the episodic series Remember and the Los Angeles Premiere of the feature documentary It’s Dorothy. The festival will close with the West Coast Premiere of She Dances.
“This year’s programming is all about legacy, identity, and transformation,” said Noel Braham, Co-Founder of the Micheaux Film Festival. “Each of these projects explores how memory connects us, to one another, to history, and to the stories that shape who we are. Culver City’s connection to The Wizard of Oz makes It’s Dorothy especially meaningful, as it bridges nostalgia with fresh cultural perspective. Both Remember and She Dances embody the kind of emotional truth that drives this festival — stories of friendship, family, and resilience.”
Opening Night – Remember (World Premiere)
The festival kicks off with Remember, an original episodic series about a forgetful millennial whose lapses reveal a deeper struggle, testing the bonds between him and his four closest friends as they navigate love, identity, and the grind of modern adulthood.
Directed by Tari Wariebi (We Were Meant To, Sundance) and written and produced by Bernard David Jones, the cast includes Jones, Hosea Chanchez, Griffin Matthews, Devere Rogers, and Brandon Gill. (Runtime: 33 minutes)
Opening Feature – It’s Dorothy (Los Angeles Premiere)
From filmmaker Jeffrey McHale (You Don’t Nomi), It’s Dorothy explores 125 years of Dorothy Gale’s enduring symbolism, from Judy Garland’s Kansas dreamer to a universal emblem of hope and belonging. The documentary fuses performance, archival imagery, and commentary from prominent artists and thinkers, including Ashanti, Fairuza Balk, Lena Waithe, John Waters, Margaret Cho, Amber Ruffin, and Roxane Gay.
Produced by Ariana Garfinkel, Zel McCarthy, and Suzanne Zionts, with Kevin S. Bright serving as executive producer. (Runtime: 97 minutes)
Closing Night – She Dances (West Coast Premiere)
The festival concludes with She Dances, a heartfelt family drama set against the competitive dance circuit. A father and daughter embark on a road trip to her final competition, confronting grief and rediscovering each other along the way.
Directed by Rick Gomez and co-written by Gomez and Steve Zahn, the film stars Steve Zahn, Ethan Hawke, Sonequa Martin-Green, Mackenzie Ziegler, Audrey Zahn, and Rosemarie DeWitt. (Runtime: 93 minutes)
The 2025 Micheaux Film Festival runs October 23–26 in Culver City, continuing its mission to spotlight multicultural and underrepresented voices in film, television, and digital media.
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