HOW WE HEAL SHORT FILM LAB
"How We Heal: Films that connect us, stories that renew us” is a nationwide short film lab elevating powerful stories about racial healing. It highlights how cinematic storytelling can build understanding and strengthen connection because while our lived experiences may differ, our futures are linked. Emerging filmmakers from across the country submitted stories conveying themes that honor our shared humanity and inspire us to work together in building a more just, equitable world. These are the 10 semifinalists who were selected by a group of respected film industry leaders.
SEMIFINALISTS
In the coming months the semifinalists will participate in a mentorship experience led by industry professionals who will guide them from concept to completion.
Five awardees will receive $10,000 and travel to Chicago in June 2026 to premiere their short films during a special event.
JUDGES &
MENTORS
Jered Everson
Bio
A Minneapolis-based filmmaker rooted in justice-centered storytelling who brings care and accountability to stories of memory, dignity and healing. Now stepping into directing, his work explores how change unfolds through listening and time.
Samuel Hunter
Bio
A Jacksonville, Fla.-born actor, writer and producer, he creates stories driven by imagination and emotional truth. His work treats storytelling as escape and catharsis, aiming to move hearts, spark purpose and uplift his hometown’s creative voice.
Ty Kazy
Bio
A Grand Rapids, Mich.-based animator, he creates thoughtful stories for children that explore empathy, fairness and emotional awareness. Using simple narratives and expressive animation, his work invites young audiences to see the world with care and curiosity.
Edward Nguyen
Bio
A filmmaker born in Saigon and raised in Texas, he creates poetic, meditative films shaped by displacement, queerness and memory. His work centers Vietnamese and queer lives, using cinema to question power and imagine more just futures.
Alexis Noble
Bio
A Southern storyteller and cultural worker rooted in Jackson, Miss. who uses art, memory and community to honor everyday Black life. Her work preserves family history, nurtures young creatives and treats storytelling as care, healing and legacy.
Marcus Polk
Bio
A New York-based filmmaker and producer, he tells collaborative stories shaped by heritage, power and community. His work examines dignity, history and the human cost of social systems.
Castel Sweet
Bio
A community-rooted documentary filmmaker and sociologist based in Mississippi, she tells collaborative stories grounded in Black Southern memory and culture. Her films honor ancestral knowledge, truth-telling and healing across generations.
Katie Soo
Judge
Katie Soo is an award-winning global media and tech executive driving innovation, growth, and brand transformation. A Senior Advisor to Newbury Street and KiwiCo, she previously led global growth at HBO Max and held leadership roles at Warner Bros., Hulu, and Dollar Shave Club.
Sophie Watts
Judge
Sophie Watts is a media entrepreneur, investor, and executive known for scaling talent-driven TMT businesses. Founding President of STX Entertainment, she helped build the studio into a $2.5B company. She now leads SW Group, advising celebrity-led, IP-driven ventures across media and tech.
Miriam Bale
Judge
Miriam Bale is a film programmer and writer, formerly Artistic Director of Indie Memphis and Founding Director of New York’s La Di Da Film Festival. She has written for The New York Times, Sight and Sound, Film Comment, and W Magazine, and reviewed grants for NEA, Sundance, and Creative Capital.
Mikael Moore
Judge
Mikael Moore is Managing Partner at Wondaland, where he leads artist management and advocacy for talents including Janelle Monáe and Jidenna. He has driven major brand partnerships with Pepsi, Samsung, Target, and Starbucks, bringing a policy- and campaign-driven approach to music, film, and media.
Michael Skolnik
Judge
Michael Skolnik is a founding partner of The Soze Agency, creating culture-shaping campaigns rooted in compassion and equity. A former filmmaker and digital media entrepreneur, he serves on the boards of The Trayvon Martin Foundation and The Public Theater and is a UCLA TFT graduate.
Gbenga Akinnagbe
Mentor
Gbenga Akinnagbe is a dynamic actor, producer, and activist whose work spans film, television, and theater. Known for roles in The Wire and The Deuce, he recently starred in Kathryn Bigelow’s A House of Dynamite and will appear next in Aaron Sorkin’s The Social Reckoning.
Djaka Souaré
Mentor
Djaka Souaré is an actress and screenwriter of Guinean and French descent, known for the award-winning Cut Me If You Can and Call of Duty. Her work spans Hulu, Oscar-qualifying shorts, and festival premieres, with her directorial debut acquired by Comcast.
Mika Pryce
Mentor
Mika Pryce is SVP of Production at Paramount Pictures, overseeing major features including Star Trek, Children of Blood and Bone, Smile 2, and The Running Man. Formerly Head of Development at Don Cheadle’s Radicle Act, she is a USC Peter Stark alum.
Nihaar Sinha
Mentor
Nihaar Sinha is a screenwriter and producer from Washington, DC, and a former Netflix executive. He supported Original Drama, Documentary, and Comedy teams on strategy and valuation, and has sold original series to UCP while developing projects with Oscar-winning collaborators.
Zoey Martinson
Mentor
Zoey Martinson is an award-winning writer-director whose feature The Fisherman premiered at Venice, winning UNESCO’s Fellini Medal. She has directed for Hulu, Disney+, MTV, and Showtime, written for HBO Max, and created acclaimed theater work Off-Broadway and internationally.