BILL VAUGHAN'S TASTY CLIPS: 2024 Micheaux Film Festival To Celebrate 'Champions'

With a theme of “Champions,” celebrating the resilience and determination of filmmakers who overcome countless obstacles to bring their visions to life, the 6th annual Micheaux Film Festival will return to the Culver Theater Oct. 21 – 27.

Honoring the trailblazing Oscar Micheaux, the first African American to produce a feature-length film, the festival showcases the work of emerging filmmakers from all backgrounds and provides a platform for underrepresented voices in the film industry.

This year’s edition includes more than 250 short films, feature films, and new media series with additional projects being featured virtually. In addition, there will be panel discussions, workshops, and networking and social events.

Issa Rae, Viola Davis, Lupita Nyong’o, Morris Chestnut, Traci Thoms, Patricia "Ms. Pat" Williams, Tichina Arnold, Tommy Davidson, Chad L. Coleman, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jimmy Jean-Louis, Chris Chalk, Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, Rolando Boyce, Rutina Wesley, Omari Hardwick, Elise Neal, Allen Maldonado, Michael Gandolfini, Abigail Breslin, Jaime Camil, Ben Crump, Killer Mike, Jayne Kennedy, Danai Gurira, Richard Lawson, Anna Maria Horsford and more are among the luminaries expected and/or represented on screen.

Organized by founders Courtney L. Branch and Noel Braham, the Micheaux Film Festival is heralded as a 'Transformational Journey, not a Transactional Event,' highlighting its profound impact on both creators and audiences alike as the festival is dedicated to elevating established and emerging talents from varied backgrounds and experiences.

For additional information, the full lineup, tickets and passes, visit: www.micheauxfilmfest.com.

TASTY QUIP: “My heart and soul is all over this film.” – HALLE BERRY at the world premiere of the Lionsgate horrific “Never Let Go” premiering in theaters nationwide Sept. 20

CLIPPETTES: Najee and Frank McComb are at Hyatt Regency Newport Beach on Sept. 20 as Toro y Moi plays Hollywood Forever Cemetery, Willow is welcomed by the Grammy Museum, Simone Biles and America’s best gymnasts come to Crypto.com Arena, and The Lox 30th Anniversary Tour hits The Belasco (with another show the next evening at The Observatory) …

All kinds of music Sept. 21, as the Stanley Clarke-curated Future Sounds of Jazz Festival is Sept. 21 with Judith Hill, Gerald Clayton, Cameron Graves and more at Santa Monica’s Broadstage; while the Central Avenue Jazz Festival returns with Carmen Lundy, Chief Adjuah, Matthew Whittaker, John Beasley and others …

Additionally, Lil Wayne, Lil Kim and Jeremih are at Toyota Arena, Usher is at Intuit Dome for four nights, Nicki Minaj at Crypto.com Arena for two nights, Questlove & friends celebrate the 40th anniversary of Prince’s “Purple Rain” at the Rose Bowl, and Jazz at Drew presents Morris Day & The Time, Norman Brown, DW3, the Lao Tizer Band with Eric Marienthal, and more …

Freda Payne pays tribute to Ella Fitzgerald at Catalina Jazz Club on Sept. 22

Anderson .Paak and the Free Nationals with Color of Noize Orchestra are at the Hollywood Bow on Sept. 24 while Terrace Martin is at Verve.??

TASTY QUIP: “Staying silent in the face of racism and hate is something that I refuse to do. This past week, the lies that have been spewed about the Haitian community — about my community — have been disgusting, deeply hurtful and dangerous. I have always been a proud Haitian immigrant. Coming to America, working hard, that’s what we do. And I will not sit by and let people talk about my community in any way they want for their own gain. The power we have is to vote, to register and vote, and stop this madness, this chaos. We’re supposed to be uplifting each other, from our leaders to our neighbors. This has got to stop… we can’t just sit by. Register to vote. We have 50-something days. Go out and vote.” – GARCELLE BEAUVAIS

TC ON TV: Sept. 20 – “Dandelion” (AllBlk/AMC+): A struggling singer-songwriter in a downward spiral meets a guitarist who walked away from his dream in this intoxicating romance starring KiKi Layne (“If Beale Street Could Talk”) and Thomas Doherty (“Gossip Girl”). “In Vogue: The 90s” (Hulu): The docuseries ends with “The Rise of the Met Gala,” “Hip-Hop Takes Fashion,” and “The American Moment.” “Spellbound” (Hulu): A second season of the series toplining Hailey Melody Romain as a ballerina who discovers she has witchy ways.

“Blood Legacy” (Netflix): An African drama with Xolile Tshabalala as a woman who returns home to fight for her family's business empire as it threatens to collapse under corruption.

“I Saw The TV Glow” (MAX): The Justice Smith-led horror drama that was a Sundance hit comes to streaming. “First Take” (ESPN): Broadcast live from Howard University. “Deadlock: an election story” (PBS): Supreme Court justices Sonia Sotomayor and Amy Coney Barrett, Princeton University professor Eddie Glaude Jr., former secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson, and others are participants in this special delving into discourses around real-life issues moderated by UC Davis Law professor Aaron Tang. “Friday Night Vibes” (TBS): Saluting Morgan Freeman with “The Shawshank Redemption” and “Angel Has Fallen.” “Secret Celebrity Renovation” (CBS): In this special edition, LA Dodgers superstar Mookie Betts returns to Nashville to transform his father’s home.

Sept. 21 – “Buried Alive and Survived” (Lifetime): Eva Marcille, Tyler Lepley (“P-Valley”), and Cocoa Brown are leads in this movie inspired by the true story of a woman who is buried alive by her ex and miraculously digs her way out before searching for her son who she fears may be next.

Sept. 22 – “Snowpiercer” (AMC): Last stop for the Daveed Diggs futuristic train series that has been running in circles. “Matlock” (CBS): Kathy Bates takes on the Andy Griffith role in this reimaging of the classic television legal drama. With Skye P. Marshall (“Black Lightning”), Jason Ritter and Eme Ikwuakor.

“From” (MGM+): A third season of the Harold Perrineau fright fest begins. “TV On The Edge” (CNN): A four-part series examining the most impactful moments in television history.

Sept. 23 – “The Jennifer Hudson Show” (Syn): Terrence Howard “The Voice” (NBC): The competition is fierce as Snoop Dogg and Michael Bublé each claim their red chairs alongside returning coaches Reba McEntire and Gwen Stefani. “Nick Cannon Presents: Wild ‘N Out” (VH1): Trick Daddy, Famous Dex, and Saucy Santana. “Global Soul Kitchen” (FYI): Chef Deborah VanTrece shares recipes for Meatloaf Wellington along with Lomo Saltado. “The Tonight Show” (NBC): Leon Bridges

Sept. 24 – “Evolution of the Black Quarterback” (Prime): A three-part docuseries that follows retired NFL Pro Bowl quarterback Michael Vick as he travels across America to explore the history and impact of his peers on and off the field. With Patrick Mahomes, Jalen Hurts, Cam Newton, Dak Prescott, Russell Wilson, Donovan McNabb, James "Shack" Harris, Warren Moon, and Doug Williams, plus commentary from celebrities and other football stars including Common, Deion Sanders, Larry Wilmore, Steve Young, Josh Allen and Jamie Foxx. “The View” (ABC): Uzo Aduba, Michael Eric Dyson “Tamron Hall” (Syn): Lalah Hathaway

“Last Bite Hotel” (Food): Tituss Burgess (“Dolemite Is My Name“) hosts this new competition series challenging eight chefs to meet the culinary demands of VIP guests.

Sept. 25 – “Inside Out 2” (Disney+): The smash animated sequel makes its streaming debut. “The Masked Singer” (FOX): For the first time in the show's history, viewers will get the biggest clue yet as each of the fifteen masked singers will be endorsed by a celebrity Masked Ambassador alum.

“Everybody Still Hates Chris” (Comedy): An animated reimagining of the series with original cast members Chris Rock, Terry Crews and Tichina Arnold lending their voices.

“Grotesquerie” (FX/Hulu): Ryan Murphy's new horror drama series starring Niecy Nash-Betts and Travis Kelcie.

Sept. 26 – “The View” (ABC): Wanda Sykes “Tamron Hall” (Syn): Nicole Murphy “9-1-1” (FOX): The Angela Bassett drama returns with the team battling a swarm of bees. “Hell’s Kitchen” (FOX): For the first time in its history, the show will move east to the Foxwoods Resort Casino and its contestants will all be head chefs. “Grey’s Anatomy” (ABC): Jesse Williams is being teased as a returnee for the series’ 21st season. ?

END QUOTE: “We are each other’s / harvest: / we are each other’s / business: / we are each other’s / magnitude and bond.” – GWENDOLYN BROOKS

As featured in the Los Angeles Wave and Independent, Tasty Clips is one of the leading entertainment columns in the nation, serving more than one million monthly readers. Bill Vaughan may be reached at [email protected], via X (FKA Twitter) @tastyclips, or Instagram @tasty_clips.