A competitive section for short-form episodic television directed by or produced and written by persons of African descent. Each series in this section will compete for the Jury Award for Best Web Series (presented by Comcast NBCUniversal, $2,500 cash prize). The following are the 2022 official selections in the Web Series category:

Bourn Kind: The Tiny Kindness Project

A Black/Jewish artist creates a project of kindness to celebrate connection in his community. USA | 12 min

Director: Rachel Myers

Writer: Rachel Myers

Producer: Tamika Lamison, Connie Jo Sechrist, Rachel Myers

Cast: Bourn Rich

Dreamers

The zany misadventures of two sisters navigating the ups and downs of life, as artists, in the wild and unpredictable streets of La La Land.

USA | 7:30 min

Director: Kimberly Dooley

Writer: Kimberly Dooley

Producer: Kimberly Dooley

Cast: Kimberly Dooley, Dayna Dooley

I am Mara *World Premiere

Striving to break free from a life of espionage, murder and destructive family ties, Mara sets out to fabricate a new life for herself, but soon realizes the truth will always reveal itself and all sins must be atoned for.

USA | 14:33 min

Directors: Cody Duncum, Demetrius Feaster

Writers: Candace West, Clarinda D’Cruze

Producer: Candace West, Demetrius Feaster, Clarinda D’Cruze

Cast: Candace Kirstin West, Keith Elgin Douglas, Alek President, Jose Navarro, Virginia Elliot, David Chin

Jonathan’s World *U.S. Festival Premiere

Boy genius sips magical potion causing him to obtain enhanced capabilities. USA | 14 min

Director: Tyler D. Lambert

Writer: Tyler D. Lambert

Producer: Tyler D. Lambert

Cast: Tyler D. Lambert

Last Name Unknown *World Premiere

Beyond Hope Youth Shelter’s homeless youth beat the odds, and find their place in society. USA | 15 min

Director: Dui Jarrod

Writer: Dui Jarrod

Producers: Kevin “Coach K” Lee, Pierre “Pee” Thomas, Dui Jarrod, Chris Hicks, David Blackman

Cast: Chakeefe Gordon, Erika Norrell, Braxton Jordan, Lindsey G. Smith

Layered, “Stalker” *World Premiere

A series following three black women from Philadelphia, two of them Muslim, trying to break into the media industry while being met with challenges in mental health, faith, and loss due to gun violence.

USA | 12:57 min

Director: Zareefa Abdul-Adl

Writers: Arraiyan DuBose, Aiko Brown, Zareefa Abdul-Adl

Producers: Aiko Brown, Arraiyan DuBose, Zareefa Abdul-Adl

Cast: Merceedes White, LaPorscha Rodgers, Aisha Saran

Little Lawyer *U.S. Festival Premiere

A six-year-old girl with aspirations of being an attorney puts her little brother on trial after she discovers her toy is inoperative.

USA | 12 min

Director: Sam Buckner III

Writer: Sam Buckner III

Producers: Sam Buckner, Samantha O. Buckner

Cast: Sophia Dejesus, London Sinead, Wyatt Hinz, Ayani Tamar, Brandon. L Ward, Alex Jackson

Mine

When the sudden disappearance of water — their main life source — threatens to upend a vibrant utopia, an intrepid teen named Blaze must save their community before it’s too late.

USA | 12:30 min

Directors: Randall Dottin, Luisa Dantas

Writers: Randall Dottin, Angela Tucker, Paige Wood, Luisa Dantas, Rise-Home Stories Project

Producers: Randall Dottin, Angela Tucker, Paige Wood, Luisa Dantas,

Rise-Home Stories Project, Anna Lee, Russell Hornsby

Cast: Russell Hornsby, Denny Dillon, Imani Russell, Kaya Fraites, Sunni Patterson

The Green Couch (Ep. 2) *World Premiere

Psychologist Dr. Rhemington Lee engages patients in an unwitting experiment of truth as each convene on The Green Couch.

USA | 14:08 min

Director: Mirlande Amazan

Writer: Mirlande Amazan

Producer: Mirlande Amazan

Cast: Mirlande Amazan, Antuone Torbert; narrated by Gordon Greene

The Whippersnappers *World Premiere

OG, Big Mama and Foegy, aka “The Oldheads,” growing tired of the same routine, decide to use technology to become younger.

USA | 4:56 min

Director: Ryan Cole

Writer: Ryan Cole

Producer: Ryan Cole

Cast: Ryan Cole

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