CROWN

CROWN is a short story shot on film exploring art, hypocrisy and wine in New York.

When a young, Black artist-sommelier lands a job at one of New York City’s most prestigious wine bars, he is pressured with the ultimatum of changing his appearance to adhere to ‘traditions,’ forcing him to navigate the hypocrisy of hair discrimination in a world where the art is celebrated but the artist is not.

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  • WORLD CULTURE FILM FESTIVAL Best Short Film 2024 Award.

  • CLEVELAND INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL Official Selection. FilmSlam® Streams programming, which will be seen by thousands of students as part of their educational festival experience.

  • LADY FILMMAKERS FESTIVAL Honorable Mention, Best Actor in a Short Film Award.

  • ETHOS FILM AWARDS Impact Award 2024.

  • TOPANGA FILM FESTIVAL Official Selection.

  • NEW YORK SHORT FILM FESTIVAL Official Selection.

  • MANHATTAN FIILM FESTIVAL Official Selection.

  • “The use of film adds richness and even greater impact to this piece. The director has a clear vision and style.” - DANCES WITH FILMS.

  • “It's difficult to recall that CROWN is not a documentary. By centering a young Black artist's professional journey in NYC - a city whose embrace of cultural self-expression is presumed and often unquestioned- the director gives a platform to vital counter-narratives to racial progress. The storytellers ask the audience to confront and decolonize workplace "micro"-aggressions that limit bodily autonomy and remain rooted in white (dis)comfort. What emerges is a critical explanation of how a city, even one with a county of kings, can function like a modern plantation when authorities condition our livelihood and our dignity on the removal of the crowns our ancestors gave us.” - Dr. Tamara L. Lee, Associate Professor of Labor Studies, Rutgers University, School of Management and Labor Relations.

  • "Creating for CROWN Film allowed me the freedom to express how our crowns (HAIR) are the glory of who we are.” - Ashley Sorrell, Hair Designer.