Mekhai Lee Hailing from Charlotte, North Carolina, is a Proud graduate of the Drama program

at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. He acted in many professional

productions, including Broadway’s “The Color Purple.” He is the writer/director & co-creator of

original web-series entitled For the Boys to much acclaim. He is a member of the Half-Initiative

Director Program and is the 2022 Director’s Fellow on HBO’s Succession. Mekhai also wrote

and directed an original short film called “Them That’s Not” which premiered at NewfestPride

‘25 Film Festival as part of Concord Originals and Newfest’s Sound and Scene Program, and

has since screened at numerous Film Festivals including Chicago International Film Festival

and Big Bear International Film Festival. He is also one of six directing recipients of the

NAACP 2025 Cinematic Shorts Competition, which took place at the 2025 NAACP National

Convention. Mekhai participated as Director of new play “NHeaven” by up and coming

playwright Keyon Monte. He is also one of six directing recipients of the NAACP 2025

Cinematic Shorts Competition, which took place at the 2025 NAACP National Convention.

Mekhai is passionate about directing in both the film and theatrical mediums.

I set out to tell this story at the passing of my own grandmother when faced with how isolating

grief in a family setting could be, especially for those who are closer to the deceased. I found

connective tissue in that isolation amongst communities, i.e identifying as queer in your

heteronormative family, identifying as Hard of Hearing in your entirely Hearing family… Thus,

Billie Holliday’s song, “God Bless the Child” commissioned to this film by Concord Publishing

and Newfest Film Festival, became the quintessential tune to bring this film to life. “God Bless

the Child” heralds that isolation, and I was keen on flipping the message of the song to be one

that instead reminds its listener of trusted community. That “our own” can rest in those around

us whom we love.. even if they’re the most unexpected source of solace. I hope you enjoy!

Philippe (Phil) Roc is a Haitian-American filmmaker whose work spans film, music

videos, documentaries, commercials, and digital series. A Tribeca All Access alum, Roc

has directed award-winning shorts like AVENUE X, which premiered at Tribeca, and

VET, a powerful story about a soldier’s return from war. His digital series RHYME

ANIMAL earned Best New Media Series from Independent Film Quarterly.

Roc has created visual content for artists like Alicia Keys, Snoop Dogg, and Roger

Waters—who tapped him as Visual Content Producer for The Wall Live tour. He

produced Made in Heaven – The Making of Kind of Blue for Sony, and co-directed Little

Ballers Indiana for Nick Sports Jr. Roc recently completed a documentary on HBCUs

and is developing new film and TV projects. His work blends narrative depth with music-

driven energy, always rooted in powerful storytelling.

He lives in Los Angeles with his wife, daughter, and their dog.

Dir. Statement

Simone is an evocative exploration inspired by the poignant real-life experiences of my

collaborator, Jean-Pierre Vertus. Amidst our conversations about Haiti and cinematic

possibilities, Jean-Pierre shared a deeply personal narrative from his youth, one that left

me profoundly moved and compelled to make it our creative endeavor.

The essence of our project lies in its delicate nature, a commitment to authentically

convey the raw emotions of Jean-Pierre's story. As a filmmaker, my unwavering

dedication is to honor the authenticity of both narrative and characters.

Beyond mere storytelling, I see myself as a conductor of a visual and emotional

symphony, guiding our audience through the human tapestry of joys, struggles, and

resolutions. I yearn for viewers to realize the profound interconnectedness of us all, to

understand that one individual's journey can resonate across the collective human

experience. Equally, I aspire to inspire contemplation and provoke a shift in perspective,

urging our audience to perceive the world as a single character—sometimes wounded,

healed, and ultimately triumphant.This interconnectedness, often unnoticed but undeniably

powerful, underscores the essence of our shared human experience. The 'face' of the character may change, but the core narrative remains universal—a testament to our shared humanity, both different and the same.

Nosazemen Agbontaen (b. 1995) is a Lagos-based director, producer, and

multidisciplinary artist interested in exploring narratives via absurdism, experimenting

with boundaries, and creating alternative worldviews in various art forms. Nosazemen

Agbontaen is a self-taught filmmaker who is interested in exploring narratives via

absurdism, experimenting with boundaries, and creating alternative worldviews through

various art forms. She studied Sociology at Glendon College-York University and Global

and Local Urban Challenges with Delft University, which gave her the framework to

explore social relations via art. She is the founder of the independent film production

company, Nosa Machi Productions. Her films have screened at Africa in Motion (AiM)

Festival Scotland, Alliance Français de Lagos, S16 Film Festival, and Internationale

Kurzfilmtage Winterthur.

Tareowei Oki is a 24 year old Nigerian Producer, Director and Screenwriter working

professionally under the moniker “Rete Poki”. As a graduate in politics and sociology

from the University of Cape town, and a member of the 2023 International Class at the

Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg, He has grown to recognise and respect the valuable

role visual imagery plays in shaping social consciousness and facilitating necessary

structural changes. Rete Poki produced, directed and edited short form documentaries

for South African based environmental NGO, The Green Connection, and Cape Town

based production company, Half and Halve, before returning to Nigeria in 2022 and

starting his own production company Banga Studios. Since then Rete has produced and

directed a number of short films including 24 Ifedola Street (2024), All The Places I

Once Loved You (2024), and Everything Lasts and Nothing Ends (2024). Rete’s

films have been selected for and screened at the S16 Film festival, SoleDXB, Toronto

International Nollywood Film Festival, and the Ibadan Indie Film Festival.

Dir. Statement :

Everything Lasts is centred around two Nigerian women experiencing Lagos from

distinctly different perspectives; While one of the lead characters is making preparations

to permanently migrate from Lagos to Germany, the other desperately hopes to move to

Lagos away from the mundanity of her small town in Northern Nigeria. This story draws

not-so-subtle attention to the themes of migration that have risen to the forefront of the

modern Nigerian. It is a film about the tensions arising from relationships and experiences

destined to end but promising bliss, comfort and security, even in their ephemerality. It isa film about Lagos and all its seeming contradictions that create fertile grounds for a

surreal-reality.

Given the homophobic climate of Nigeria today, most queer people engaging in a queer

relationship advance with the anxiety that their relationship is not something that can be

safely expressed in the open or in its totality. There is the implicit awareness that it might

lead to very real negative and dangerous consequences. Sometimes, the promise of even

temporary respite from the loneliness of the heteronormative lived experience in itself is

enough to overcome the external factors that might threaten to pull the participants apart.

"Everything Lasts And Nothing Ends" explores this experience as a driving force for

emigration. It also explores connection between women who create language out of action

since the language for what they are and what they can be is scarce in a socio-political

climate like Nigeria.

Fernando Nectoux is an award-nominated Brazilian director with over a decade of

experience in commercials, branded content, music videos, and short films. His work

spans cinematography, editing, and music production. An LGBTQIA+ and Autistic

filmmaker, Nectoux brings authenticity and inclusivity to every project. His latest

work, Beyond a Secret, reflects his sensitivity as a visual storyteller.

Director’s Statement:

Beyond a Secret is a story that confronts silence, appearances, and the courage to

embrace identity. I wanted to craft a film that goes beyond stereotypes and portrays

bisexuality with honesty and depth. As a queer filmmaker, my goal was to create a

space where vulnerability and truth resonate, offering audiences a mirror of both

struggle and liberation.