Each year, the event honors recipients of the Sidney Poitier Emerging Luminary Awards, recognizing creators who embody the festival’s mission to celebrate, empower, and elevate diverse voices in film and television. This year’s honorees included Tosin Morohunfola (Run the World, Black Lightning), Gail Bean (Snowfall, P-Valley), Adriyan Rae (Chicago Fire, The Game), Shanice Shantay (The Chi, It’s Dorothy! — which premiered at the festival), and Mike Merrill (The Black Hamptons, All American), each recognized for carving their own paths while paving the way for others to follow.
Also in attendance were festival ambassador Lil Rel Howery, celebrity fashion designer Sai Suman, actors Malcolm Barrett (Timeless, Preacher), Adrian Dev (Never Have I Ever), Teresa Celeste (The Game, Black Jesus), and Shaka Smith (A House Divided), alongside Ashley Nicole Graham, Christal Luster, music artist Chef Sean, host/DJ CJ Tyler, festival co-founders Noel Braham and Courtney L. Branch, among many others
Capturing the spirit of Gold Night – connection, recognition, and golden-era glamour – the celebration marked the perfect finale to four days of screenings, panels, and events spotlighting multicultural storytelling and the creative voices shaping the future of entertainment.
2025 Honorees
Honorees, left to right: Mike Merrill, Shanice Shantay, Gail Bean, Tosin Morohunfola, Adriyan Rae. Picture courtesy Sisi Cronin PR
Mike Merrill: An American actor, producer and entrepreneur. His recent credits include the STARZ crime drama BMF (where he played Ty Washington) and the BET+ original miniseries The Black Hamptons (as Martin Britton), which was nominated for a 2023 NAACP Image Award. He appears in the Netflix film STRAW (with Taraji P Henson, Teyana Taylor, Sherry Sheppard, others.), executive produced and created by Tyler Perry. Merrill’s trajectory as a rising male lead in dramatic television and film, combined with his production involvement, underscores his potential as a next-gen talent.
Shanice Shantay: Also credited as Shanice Williams is an American actress from Rahway, New Jersey. She gained recognition for her role as Johnny Mae Burton in the Tyler Perry-directed film TK. Shantay has roots in theater, musical training, and faith-based community outreach. She has discussed her spiritual journey and mentoring focus). As an emerging on-screen talent who also uses her platform to uplift others, she aligns well with the festival’s focus on “emerging luminaries.
Gail Bean: Born Gail Mitchell is an American actress who hails from Stone Mountain, Georgia.She earned a degree in accounting at Valdosta State University before pivoting into acting.Bean’s breakout film performance came in the 2015 Sundance-premiering film Unexpected, where she played a pregnant teen opposite Cobie Smulders; she was named one of Sundance’s “10 Breakout Stars” by TheWrap.
On television she is best known for her role as Wanda Bell on the FX series Snowfall (2018-2023) and more recently plays Roulette on the Starz drama P‑Valley. Beyond acting, Bean is actively involved in philanthropy: she founded the non-profit “Dream Above The Influence,” offering mentorship, scholarships (her “All Of My Love” scholarship) and resources to youth in metro Atlanta. Her versatility, from indie film to major TV dramas, and her commitment to community uplift, mark her as a compelling emerging luminary.
Tosin Morohunfola: an actor, writer, and director born August 1, 1988 in Leawood, Kansas. Based in Los Angeles but began his career in Chicago. Parents are Nigerian immigrants. He has acted in and directed theater (e.g., at the Goodman Theatre, Court Theatre, Northlight, Victory Gardens in Chicago) and won the Black Theatre Alliance’s “Best Supporting Actor.
Recently he joined the Starz comedy series Run The World as Ola, the Nigerian-American fiancé of Whitney (Amber Stevens West). His multifaceted career — acting, writing, directing — especially centered on stories of empathy, awareness and the human condition, sets him apart as an inclusive voice in emerging entertainment.
Adriyan Rae: An American actress, born October 7, 1994, in Seaford, Delaware. She is of Black American, German, Native American and Venezuelan descent. Before acting, she earned bachelor’s degrees in Physician Assistant Studies and Medical Laboratory Science from the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia; she also competed in AAU Junior Olympic track & field and field hockey. After moving to Atlanta to pursue acting, she landed the lead role of Elida in the Syfy sci-fi drama Vagrant Queen(2020).
She subsequently co-starred as paramedic Gianna Mackey on the NBC series Chicago Fire during Season 9. More recently, she joined the cast of the Netflix series Forever, created by Mara Brock Akil, playing Brittany (Keisha’s cousin). Rae’s background in science and athletics, and her move into acting with strong roles in genre television, make her a rising talent blending diverse skills.
The Micheaux Film Festival is known for its vibrant and inclusive atmosphere, offering a platform for underrepresented voices and pushing boundaries in terms of storytelling and genre. It typically attracts filmmakers, cinephiles, and activists, creating a unique space where art, culture, and social change intersect. It is a celebration of Black filmmakers and artists, showcasing a diverse range of independent films, highlighting the work of both emerging and established voices in the film industry, with a focus on stories that reflect the Black experience.
Named after Oscar Micheaux, one of the most influential Black filmmakers in the early 20th century, the festival serves as a platform for showcasing films that might otherwise struggle to find an audience in mainstream cinema.
The festival typically features a mix of short films, documentaries, narrative features, and experimental works. In addition to film screenings, it often includes panel discussions, workshops, and networking events designed to foster creative collaboration and community-building among filmmakers, industry professionals, and audiences.
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the WORD Editor Gregg W. Morris