Diversity and Inclusion Film Festival 2025

Everyone needs and deserves to be able to see themselves on screen, in the media, and in our society as a whole. The Diversity and Inclusion Film Festival (DIFF) aims to discover emerging storytellers and give them the opportunity to present their fresh perspectives. We believe in using film to inspire social change and connect creatives for a more equitable future. We are a resource for talent discovery and supporting filmmakers.

DIFF proudly screens filmmakers of all walks of life. DIFF is here to celebrate diversity and inclusion in front of and behind the camera. We thank you for supporting this festival!

Read about our founder, Sola Fasehun, and DIFF in Forbes

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM & TWITTER/X @DiFilmFestival and TikTok @diff.nyc

#DIFF2025

Bruno Walter Theater, Lincoln Center

111 Amsterdam Ave (Between 64th & 65th, around the corner from the Juilliard School)

New York, NY 10023

***please note you can also enter the building on the Lincoln Center campus at 40 Lincoln Center Plaza***

We recommend using the 111 Amsterdam Avenue entrance because it is closer to the Bruno Walter Theater. If you enter on 40 Lincoln Center Plaza, you are in the correct building, but you’ll have to take an elevator to get to the Walter Bruno Theater.

Day Pass (excluding party access) - $45

• Purchase on this page - Select the date you'd like to attend above

Full festival passes (all 4 days, excluding party access) - $120

• Purchase on this page - available by selecting from all dates

VIP all-access (includes all 4 days + parties) - $165

• Purchase on this page - available by selecting from all dates

Individual Event Ticket - Access to one screening event (shorts/feature) or panel - $12

• Click on individual events below to be taken to the event page

- 10:30am - Check In Begins

- 11:15am - Opening Remarks

- 11:30am - Feature Film Screening: Disney's Remember the Titans (25th Anniversary Screening)

• Starring Denzel Washington, Ryan Hurst, Wood Harris, Nicole Ari Parker, Donald Faison, Will Patton
• Directed by Boaz Yakin
• Written by Gregory Allen Howard
• Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer & Chad Oman
• Co-Presented by Disney
• Followed by Q&A with the director Boaz Yakin, Moderated by Jeryl Brunner (Contributor/Columnist, Forbes) and Sola Fasehun (Founder, The Diversity & Inclusion Film Festival)

-2:30pm - TV Pilot Screening: Paid in Full - The Battle for Black Music

• Starring, Chaka Khan, Ice-T, Nile Rodgers, Master P., Smokey Robinson, Monie Love, Gloria Gaynor, & more
• Directed by Alison Duke & Guy Evans
• Narrated by Zawe Ashton
• Executive Produced by Idris Elba, Sabrina Elba, Sebastien Janin, Natasha Duran, & Aeysha Walsh
• Impact Producer/Sales Consultant: Sola Fasehun
• Co-Presented by The Grammys / Recording Academy / Black Music Collective, Danceaholic Records/Noizy Neighbors (distributed by Universal Music Group/Bungaloo), Afroholic Records (distributed by Sony/The Orchard)

- 9:30am - Check In Begins

- 9:55am - Opening Remarks

- 10:00am - Short Films Screening: FINDING OUR PLACE IN THIS WORLD

• UNHOLY - Written & Directed by Daisy Friedman; Produced by Arielle Friedman
• NOMAD - Written & Directed by Lucas Chengze Li; Produced by Galia Mengge Qin
• AMIDA - Written & Directed by Majid Mirhashemi; Produced by Mohammadreza Ataei; Impact Producer: Maura Campbell
• TO ALL THE GIRLS I’VE LOVED BEFORE (NFMLA Curated Film) - Directed by Adolfo Mena Cejas; Written by Adolfo Mena Cejas & Raúl Reyes Mancebo; Produced by Adolfo Mena Cejas & Carolina Gimenez
• PAPI CHULO - Directed by Anthony Rojas
• Followed by Filmmakers Panel featuring Adolfo Mena Cejas, Lucas Chengze Li, Maura Campbell, and Anthony Rojas; Moderated by Michelle Bassan (Co-Founder, Fugitive Sister Productions)

- 12:00pm - Feature Film Screening: Sing Sing

• Starring Coleman Domingo, JJ Velazquez, Clarence Maclin, Sean Dino Johnson
• Directed by Greg Kwedar
• Produced by Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar, & Monique Walton
• Co-Presented by A24, Monumental Media, & Rehabilitation Through the Arts/RTA
• Followed by panel with JJ Velazquez, Clarence Maclin, Sean Dino Johnson (More TBA), moderated by Sola Fasehun (Founder, Diversity & Inclusion Film Festival)

- 2:30pm - Industry Panel: Representation – A Chat with Entertainment Agents & Managers

• Tina Dunca (UTA)
• Linda Colonna (MC Talent Consultants)
• More TBA
• Moderated by Sola Fasehun (Founder/Literary Manager, The Distribution Collective) & Sebastian Rea (Co-Director, The Diversity & Inclusion Film Festival/DIFF)

- 3:45pm - Short Films Screening: A SLICE OF LIFE AROUND THE WORLD

• THE LAST SUMMER - Written & Produced by Leah Simone Scott; Directed by Patrick Wei
• ELEVEN - Written by Natalia Kyriacou; Directed by Lottie Graham; Produced by Paolo Maria Pedullà
• RAT CITY SYMPHONY - Written & Directed by Adam Zheng Yuan; Produced by Rosette Jin
• LES CHOIX - Written & Directed by Hallel Mujingila Diakalenga; Produced by Mehaka Luintel
• BABKA - Written & Directed by Serena Dykman; Produced by Julia Elaine Walker, Julia McGill, William T. Phoenix, Chriz Naing, & Melina M. Greene
• Followed by Filmmakers Panel with Leah Simone Scott, Patrick Wei, Adam Zheng Yuan, Lottie Graham, Hallel Mujingila Diakalenga, & Serena Dykman; Moderated by Okema T. Moore (Board Member, New York Women in Film & Television/NYWIFT)

- 7:00pm - Live Performance - Voices of a People’s History: The People Speak and Sing!

• Performers: Daphne Rubin-Vega (Only Murders in the Building, In the Heights), Alysia Reiner (The Diplomat, Ms. Marvel), Annie Gonzalez (Flamin’ Hot, Netflix’s Leanne), Elizabeth Pan (Slanted, Reasonable Doubt), Christopher Rivas (Call Me Kat, Chicago PD), Cassie Bradley (Coronation Street, Casualty), Sebastian Rea (NBC Peacock’s Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy), Sola, Ann Flanigan, Christine Bruno, & more TBA
• Produced by Anna Strout, Anthony Arnove, Sola Fasehun, & Heather Mason
• Stage Managed by Mark Brystowski

- 8:30pm - Reception co-presented by Voices of People’s History, Impact Lounge, Fugitive Sister Productions, & Brooklyn Winery

- 9:00am - Check In Begins

- 9:55am - Opening Remarks

- 10:00am - Short Films Screening: FAMILY DYNAMICS AROUND THE WORLD

• THE QUEEN OF BASKETBALL (Academy Award Winner) - Directed by Ben Proudfoot; Executive Produced by Stephen Curry, Shaquille O’Neal, Adam B. Ellick, & Mike Parris
• WE HAD FUN - Directed by Linda Lo; Produced by Didar Domehri
• I’M STICKING WITH YOU - Written and Directed by Eric ‘Asha’ Shahinian; Produced by Sola Fasehun
• HOLY CURSE - Written, Directed, & Produced by Snigdha Kapoor; Produced by Neeraj Churi, Noopur Sinha, & Shweta Bolakani
• CHOCOLATE WITH SPRINKLES (NAACP Nominee, Outstanding Short Form, Live Action) - Written & Directed by Huriyyah Muhammad; Produced by Okema T. Moore, Cole Sanchez, & Yha Mourhia Wright; Starring Reno Wilson
• FOOL’S DAY (Tribeca Film Festival Nominee) - Written by Shane Snyder; Directed by Cody Blue Snyder; Produced by Lenny Emery
• Followed by Filmmakers Panel featuring Eric ‘Asha’ Shahinian, Snigdha Kapoor, Okema T. Moore, Lenny Emery; Moderated by Matthew Sibilia (Associate Director, The Diversity & Inclusion Film Festival) and Ermalinda Manos (Founder, Behind the Seams Podcast)

- 12:45pm - Short Films Screening: NFMLA CURATED PROGRAM (BLOCK 1)

• GOD & BUDDHA ARE FRIENDS - Written & Directed by Anthony Ma; Produced by Jaclyn Amor, Jonathan Chung-Young, & Anthony Ma
• UNWAVERING - Written by Christine Hughes; Directed by Alexandra "Alle" Hsu; Produced by Christine Hughes, Elizabeth Hales, Ami Park, Brady Hales, & Rory Ross
• CARTES - Written & Directed by Rhym Guissé; Produced by Kevin Howley
• SOUL TIE - Written, Directed, & Produced by Maegan L. Philmore; Produced by Cristina Sasso
• LAST CALL - Written & Directed by Winnie Cheung; Co-written by The Andujar Twins; Produced by Art School Athletics
• COW HEAVY & FLORAL - Written & Directed by Richa Rudola; Produced by Robin Rose Singer & Lela Meadow-Conner
• BYE BYE BARBARITO - Written by Susannah Rodriguez Drissi; Directed & Produced by Michelle Salcedo; Produced by Lindsay Torrey &Susannah Rodriguez Drissi
• MEAN GOALS - Written, Directed, & Executive Produced by Ahuatl Amaro; Produced by Fanfan Zhou & Barbara Lettieri
• Followed by Filmmakers Panel featuring Alexandra "Alle" Hsu, Rhym Guissé, Maegan L. Philmore, Winnie Cheung, Richa Rudola, Michelle Salcedo, Fanfan Zhou, Simon TaufiQue, & Emily Branham ; Moderated by Ryan Lattanzio (Executive Editor, IndieWire)

- 9:00am - Check In Begins

- 9:55am - Opening Remarks

- 10:00pm - Short Films Screening: LOVE, LIFE, & MANY OTHER COMPLICATIONS

• EXTREMIST (BAFTA Nominee) - Written & Directed by Alexander (Sasha) Molochnikov; Produced by Jean Chapiro Uziel
• KOTOWARI - Written & Directed by Coralie Watanabe Prosper; Produced by Garance Cosimano & Marie Jaouen
• WE’RE NOT DONE YET - Written & Produced by Joseph Longo; Directed by Sofia Carmago & Joseph Longo; Produced by Louis Anania & Pauline Glomaud-Murmann
• LOQUITA POR TI/CRAZY FOR YOU - Written & Directed by Greta Diaz Moreau; Produced by Pau Pérez Puig
• GET YOUR STORY STRAIGHT - Written by Ariel Felix, Myra Aquino, & Eric Hwang; Directed by Myra Aquino; Produced by Ariel Felix & Paul Martinez
• Followed by Filmmakers Panel featuring Jean Chapiro Uziel, Greta Diaz Moreau, Joseph Longo, Ariel Felix; Moderated by Maylen Calienes (Founder, Latino Filmmakers Network/LFN)
• Co-Presented by Latino Filmmakers Network

- 12:30pm - Industry Panel: Sales & Distribution - Guiding Filmmakers Through Times of Rapid Change in the Industry

• Archana M. Jain (Co-Founder, Product of Culture; Impact Producer, Academy Award-Nominated To K*ll A Tiger; Distribution, Queen of My Dreams)
• Sola Fasehun (Founder/Sales Consultant, The Distribution Collective/TDC; Impact Producer & Sales Consultant, Paid in Full - The Battle for Black Music)
• More TBA
• Moderated by Cassie Bradley (Creative Director, The Impact Lounge)
• Co-Presented by Product of Culture & Impact Lounge

- 1:45pm - Short Films Screening: FINDING LIGHT & TRUTH IN A COMPLICATED WORLD

• FIRST NIGHT - Directed by Rachel Elitzur; Produced by Avigail Sperber
• DANIELLE SCOTT: ANCESTRAL CALL (NAACP Award Nominee) - Directed & Produced by Sonia Kennebeck & Tetiana Anderson
• EDMUND PETTUS BRIDGE - Directed by Kenneth Love & Daniel Love; Produced by Mario Tahi Lathan
• HASTA ENCONTRARLOS (TILL WE FIND THEM)(Student Academy Award Winner) - Produced & Directed by Jean Chapiro Uziel
• CLARENCE JONES: THE FIERCE URGENCY OF NOW - Directed & Produced by Mike DeCaro & Jamal Joseph
• Followed by Filmmakers Panel featuring Sonia Kennebeck, Kenneth Love, Mike DeCaro, Jamal Joseph, & Jean Chapiro; Moderated by Jodi Johnson (Founder, Thought Projector Studios)

- 4:00pm - Feature Film Screening (TBA)

- 6:30pm - Short Films Screening: NFMLA CURATED PROGRAM (BLOCK 2)

• RAINBOW GIRLS - Written & Directed by Nana Duffuor; Produced by Raman Nimmala
• WITNESS - Written by Saif Jaan; Directed by Radha Mehta & Saif Jaan; Produced by Radha Mehta, Omar Al Dakheel, & Sheheryar Ahsan
• SUNFLOWER GIRL - Written, Directed, & Produced by Holly M. Kaplan; Produced by Seika Paradeis; Sponsored by Netflix
• OASIS (NAACP Cinematic Short Film Program)- Written & Directed by Daniel Croix & Jonathan Logan; Produced by Leah Cohen-Mays; Sponsored by NAACP + Studios & Adobe
• MY BROTHER & ME - Written, Directed, & Produced by Ryan DeForeest; Produced by Lexx Truss & Shandrea Evans
• STRANGERS - Written, Directed, & Produced by Leah Doz; Produced by Augustus Oicle
• THE VOTE - Written & Directed by Sylvia Ray; Produced by Andrea Porras
• Followed by Filmmakers Panel featuring Nana Duffuor, Shaan Dasani, Saif Jaan, Holly M. Kaplan, Daniel Croix, Jonathan Logan, Ryan DeForeest, Leah Doz, & Sylvia Ray; Moderater TBA

- 8:30pm - Closing Remarks

- 8:45pm Closing Night Reception co-presented by SAGIndie, New Filmmakers Los Angeles (NFMLA), Latino Filmmakers Network, Product of Culture, & Brooklyn Winery(Deluxe Ticket or VIP Pass Required)

Festival Staff:

Sola Fasehun (Founder, Executive Director, Senior Programmer), Sebastian Rea (Co-Director), Mark Brystowski (Associate Director), Matthew Sibilia (Associate Director), Kristen Schultheiss (Festival Manager), Victoria Hubler (Social Media Manager, Festival Interviews), H. Lynn Pai (Outreach Manager), Anne-Marie Agbodji (Community/Guest Relations Manager), Lenny Emery (Live Streaming), Ermalinda Manos (Live Streaming, Festival Interviews), Eric ‘Asha’ Shahinian (Festival Coordinator), Caroline Parker Boyd (Accessibility Coordinator), Shara Talia Taylor (Festival Interviews), Shea Davies (Hospitality Manager), David Ryan Aguilar (Photographer & Videographer)

VOLUNTEERS:

DIFF 2025 artwork and marketing consulting by Singing Duck Studio (Vincent Fichet, Othello Glenn, John Glenn, and Troy Simon)

https://thesingingduckstudio.com

@the_singing_duck_studio

Thank you to our sponsors:

The Distribution Collective (TDC), Danceaholic Records, SAGIndie, Noizy Neighbors Records, Stumptown Coffee Roasters, Afroholic Records, Brooklyn Winery, Fasehun Films, The GRAMMYS/Recording Academy/Black Music Collective (BMC), Open Water, Getty Images, Pillsbury Law Firm, Voices of a People’s History (VPH)

DIFF Collaborators:

New Filmmakers Los Angeles (NFMLA), Latino Filmmakers Network (LFN), Impact Lounge, Product of Culture, Toks Media, Disney, A24, Starbucks, Monumental Media, Fugitive Sister Productions, Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA), Library for the Performing Arts (LPA), Lincoln Center

Special Thanks:

Eugene Hernandez, Anna Strout, Anthony Arnove, Jeryl Brunner, Toks Adesanya, Asiana Blount, Jade Jiang, Y. Celia Fasehun (Board Member), Femi Fasehun, Abiola Fasehun (Board Member), Robert Brodie (Board Member), Namrata Banerjee (Board Member), Jack Lechner, Jodi Johnson, Larry Laboe, Maylen Calienes, Jeff M. Rebudal, Zoe Gainey, Jordan Popky, James Armstrong, Gabbi Lemanski, Cory Lidschin, Jennifer DeRosia Becker, Michael Abbott, Heather Mason, Cassie Bradley, Geri Leigh Tiu, JJ, Velazquez, Karin Shiel, Archana M. Jain, Linda Colonna, Tina Dunca, Okema T. Moore, Boaz Yakin, Ryan Lattanzio, Emeka Eziri, Othello Glenn, Vincent Fichet, John Glenn, Troy Simon, Niki Mazaroli, Mara Keen, Alyson Stoner, Alysia Reiner, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Christopher Rivas, Annie Gonzalez, Elizabeth Pan, Ann Flanigan, Sally Piper, Ryan Hurst, Jessica Omokheyeke, Ricky Lyon, Cameron Porette, Sara O’Bery, Lisa Richie, Libeth Morales, Haley Emerson, Darrien Michele Gipson, Brian T. Robinson, Darrian Collins, André Reid, Jamie White

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Bruno Walter Auditorium, 111 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, United States

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.

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