Sybrina’s teenaged son, Trayvon, has been brutally murdered by a self-appointed “neighborhood watchman” as he was walking home from a convenience store. While vigils are held across the country calling for justice for her son, Sybrina is paralyzed with grief. On the morning of Trayvon’s funeral, Sybrina is gifted a veil by a well-meaning supporter, but she can’t bring herself to accept it. Acceptance of the mourning attire would mean accepting the reality that she has now joined a long list of mothers who have lost their children to violence, too soon.

After a fraught discussion with Trayvon’s father, Sybrina is visited by Yemaya, the celebrated African orisha of mothers and children. Yemaya takes Sybrina on an unforgettable journey through the Civil Rights Movement, urging Sybrina to honor the legacy of her son by telling his story. She shows Sybrina seminal moments in Black history, drawing parallels between Sybrina’s tragic loss and the loss of so many others. From Mamie Till, Myrlie Evers, the mothers of the Four Little Girls killed in the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church and others, Sybrina draws strength; ultimately mustering the courage to tell her son’s story on the witness stand.

Directed by Courtney Baker Oliver and adapted from Steven A. Butler, Jr.'s play, "Veils—Requiem for Trayvon" is a visual, musical, storytelling masterpiece. The artful cinematography and dynamic editing by Andre Strong is a full circle moment as Courtney was Andre’s high school drama teacher at the legendary Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC. Most of the cast and crew attended Howard University and came together to create this new film now touted as a Black Lives Matter “Hamilton.”

Shot at VU Studios in Nashville, Tennessee, the use of AI imagery catapults this cinematic play into a groundbreaking film. Stirring original music by Christopher John Burnett, Justin Thompson, and Baker-Oliver and classic historical vignettes leave viewers transformed by the film’s central theme of overcoming grief without forgetting the loss.

Veils—Requiem for Trayvon is impeccably cast with Broadway and regional theatre stand outs and stars Roz White as Sybrina, Desiré DuBose as Yemaya, Kyra Da Costa as Myrlie Evers, Nova Y. Payton as Mrs. Collins, Corisa Myers as Mamie Till, Andrea Gerald as Fannie Lou Hamer, Kandace Foreman as Fannie Lee Chaney, Bridget Garwood as Viola Liuzzo and Bernie Alston as Lorena Ware.

Restoration Stage & Film Corporation presents in association with Films With a Purpose and LiFORM FnS

“Veils—Requiem for Trayvon”

A film by Courtney Baker-Oliver

Written by Steven A. Butler, Jr. & Courtney Baker-Oliver Adapted from Steven A. Butler’s play, “Veils.” Original Songs by Courtney Baker-Oliver, & Christopher John Burnett

featuring Roz White as Sybrina Steven A. Butler, Jr. Desire’ Dubose Corisa Myers Andrea Gerald Kandace Foreman Kyra DaCosta Bridget Garwood Bernie Alston Christopher Ezell Robert McAdams Nova Y. Payton

Executive Producer Sandra J. Evers-Manly Produced by Courtney Baker-Oliver, Steven A. Butler, Jr. & Andre Strong Associate Producers Mimi Machado-Luces & John Forbes

Director of Photography Andre Strong Kyra DaCosta Choreographer Justin Thompson Musical Director Christopher John Burnett Music Supervisor Steven A. Butler, Jr. Production Designer Andre’ Strong Film Editor Courtney Baker-Oliver Costume Designer Yarde Noir Key Hair and Makeup Chris White Sound Designer Ronald Lee Newman First Assistant Director