2026 Denton Black Film Festival

Becoming Ourselves: Futures Without Guns, Reconciliation, Soaring Mission: Peripheral Arterial Disease in the Black Community,The Shine King, and Where the Roads Intersect

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Congratulations 2026 DBFF Best Texas College Short Winner "Soaring Mission: Peripheral Arterial Disease in the Black Community" Directed by Emmanuel Chiemela Ebrim; 2026 DBFF Best Documentary Short Runner Up: Runner-Up: "Futures Without Guns" by Kyra Knox; and 2026 DBFF Best Documentary Short Honorable Mention: "Reconciliation" by Ian Phillips


Soaring Mission is a powerful documentary that centers the lived experiences of Black individuals diagnosed with Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD), a condition that disproportionately leads to lower extremity amputations. Through intimate patient stories, the film traces the progression of PAD—from diagnosis and surgery to life after amputation—highlighting the emotional, physical, and socioeconomic challenges faced along the way.

Interwoven with these narratives are expert perspectives from vascular surgeons at The University of Texas Medical Branch, who address social determinants of health, systemic healthcare disparities, and persistent misinformation about PAD in the Black community. Filmed in hospitals, clinics, and patients’ homes, Soaring Mission serves as both an educational resource and a call to action—aimed at empowering communities, informing healthcare professionals, and advancing equity in vascular health.

  • Year
    2024
  • Runtime
    0:05:41
  • Language
    English
  • Country
    United States
  • Premiere
    North Texas
  • Genre
    Medical Documentary, Social Issues, Health & Wellness, Advocacy, Lived Experiences, Shortfilm, Health, Health Equity, Vascular Disease, Cardiovascular, Vascular Surgery
  • Note
    Website: https://www.soaringmissionfilm.com/
  • Director
    Emmanuel Chiemela Ebirim
  • Screenwriter
    Emmanuel Chiemela Ebirim
  • Producer
    Uche Ogbonna
  • Cast
    Channa Blakely, Bennie Thomas, Burniece Jones, Derrick Lewis, Mitchell W Cox, Micheal B Silva
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