Three New York Film Academy (NYFA) alumni, Tarik Holmes & Jonathan Samukange, and Deante’ Gray screened their latest films as part of this year’s 12th Annual BronzeLens Film Festival official selection. Their short films, Aftermath and Loving Byron, were screened to audiences online in August 2021. The BronzeLens Film Festival is an Oscar-qualifying festival that showcases films by, for, and about people of color.

Tarik Holmes, writer, producer, and lead actor in Aftermath, is an honors graduate of NYFA’s MFA Acting for Film. NYFA Acting Department Associate Chair Anne Moore describes Holmes as “a sensitive, driven, and talented artist whose vision is unique as an actor and storyteller. His powerful voice is valuable and needs to be heard.”

Aftermath follows the story of a young man who abducts his older brother as revenge for their troubled past. The NYFA alum found inspiration for the story from his own relationship with his brother. “When I left home for film school in California, it was my first time being that far away from my family,” Holmes describes, “Although we would call each other all the time, I felt like I left my younger brother behind and I was missing certain milestones in his life. So I created this crazy story as a love letter to him.”

Holmes was introduced to NYFA BFA Filmmaking student, Jonathan Samukange, through a mutual professor. Holmes recounted that he was on the way to their first meeting when Samukange called and said “he was surprised at how great the script was and he had to direct it! I was so surprised and humbled.” Samukange concurred. “Tarik is hardworking, dedicated, and came highly recommended. I completely connected with him and the screenplay, which I felt was well written. And I could relate to the subject.”

Holmes describes Samukange as an actor’s director. “He really made me feel comfortable and was specific about investing in each character. Before each take, he spoke with us to see how we were feeling and guided us into the scene,” Holmes says. “I remember while we were shooting one scene, I kept messing up a line, so he told me to ad-lib in character, and it felt so freeing to let out my frustrations. That moment ended up being in the final cut.”

The second film screened at this year’s festival was Loving Byron, which follows the story of a 17-year-old boy who runs away from his problematic home with his girlfriend to live in the middle of nowhere. Writer and Director of the film, Deante’ Gray is an MA graduate from NYFA’s Film and Media Production program after a torn ACL sidelined his career as a professional football player.

Gray discusses the inspiration for the film which, “was my upbringing growing up in Houston. How a kid can be so in love, so hopeful in life, and have it all stripped away at a moment’s notice.”

Gray’s favorite part of directing the film was exploring the characters with his actors. “My lead is actually my best friend who I grew up with in Houston,” the director explained. “So our connection and us knowing everything about one another only amplified the focus and care that was needed to make this film what it is.”

After graduating from NYFA’s Los Angeles campus, all three creatives returned to their homes to build their careers. Holmes resides in Jamaica producing, writing, and acting in original work. Samukange returned to Zimbabwe to build a film production studio where he plans to produce his first feature film. Gray used his time in Houston to write, shoot, and direct the web series Sunday Dinner, available now on YouTube.

“I’m so proud of these filmmakers and the hard work they’ve put into film festivals,” says Crickett Rumley, director of NYFA’s Film Festival Department. “Deante’ has already screened at New Filmmakers LA and won an award at WorldFest Houston. Tarik and Jonathan have been at the African Film Festival in Dallas and the Charlotte Black Film Festival. I feel confident they will have a great experience with BronzeLens and enjoy the festival’s impressive offerings.”

The New York Film Academy congratulates Holmes, Samukange, and Gray on their films’ selection by the prestigious BronzeLens Film Festival.

Please note: NYFA does not represent that these are typical or guaranteed career outcomes. The success of our graduates in any chosen professional pathway depends on multiple factors, and the achievements of NYFA alumni are the result of their hard work, perseverance, talent and circumstances.

This September, New York Film Academy will be proudly partnering with InterAmerican Development Bank (IADB); the Uruguay Ministry of Industry, Energy and Mining; the Uruguayan Ministry of Education and Culture through the Directorate of Culture, and the National Institute of Cinema and Audiovisual; Uruguay XXI, and Punta del Este Studios. Through this partnership classes in Hollywood style movie and TV production will be offered to filmmakers and creative individuals of Uruguayan nationality. The course will be taught by experts from NYFA, who are all experienced in working with American productions.

“We are pleased to partner with New York Film Academy in this pioneer program to empower the Uruguayan creative industry talent, attract outstanding international projects, boost its exports and to create more qualified employment. The number of interested people in these courses is showing we are on the right track,” said Matías Berdensky, Country Representative, Uruguay.

What’s the Program?

Through this program, Uruguayan filmmakers can learn how to produce films on par with those seen around the world. Students will learn the fundamentals of production, screenwriting, editing, sound, entertainment law and more during the 4-week program.

“It is an honor and a privilege for NYFA to collaborate with the Uruguayan Ministry of Education and Culture, the Uruguay Ministry of Industry, Energy and Mining, the InterAmerican Development Bank, and Punta Del Este Studios to further develop the film industry in Uruguay at this pivotal time when local, national, and regional content creation is sought after in truly major ways. Our professional instructors from NYFA LA and NY campuses are experts in the art of storytelling and production, and we expect exciting results for the creative industry in Uruguay as a result of this multipronged partnership,” stated Dan Mackler, Dean of NYFA’s Los Angeles Campus.

“We are very proud to be part of this strategic alliance which will undoubtedly continue to develop Uruguayan talent & creativity. Qualifying and certifying the local workforce internationally is mandatory for us, and vital for the talents of the new generations to learn and understand the development process, so that their stories travel globally and attract international content developers’ attention. This institutional partnership will improve Uruguay’s international exposure & contribute to develop an international production hub locally,” added Nicolas Aznarez, Founding Partner Punta del Este Studios.

Classes begin on September 20th, 2021 and will be taught in English by our renowned NYFA faculty.

The program is broken out into two cohorts: one for novice filmmakers and one for industry professionals. While much of the program will be virtual, there will be some hands-on learning opportunities permitting strict health guidelines.

How Do Students Apply?

Uruguayan students interested in applying can submit their application here. All applications are subject to review as there is limited space available. To make the program more accessible to the people of Uruguay, IADB is subsidizing 75% of the entire program, significantly reducing the student fee. The deadline to submit your application is August 20, 2021.

The National Directorate of Culture, the National Institute of Cinema and Audiovisual and EGEDA offers four scholarships that cover the US$750 tuition. Those interested in accessing this special funding benefit should contact the ICAU through the email [email protected].

To read more about the partnership program here.