**WalkGood LA Launches Third Annual FilmGood Film & Wellness Festival in Los Angeles**
From November 6-9, WalkGood LA will host its Third Annual FilmGood Film & Wellness Festival, the nation’s first and only film and wellness festival spotlighting independent, underrepresented filmmakers and creators of color. This multi-day event will take place at The WalkGood Yard in Los Angeles, featuring screenings of short and feature-length films, filmmaker Q&As, industry workshops, wellness activations, and community networking opportunities.
Inspired by renowned festivals like Sundance, SXSW, and the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival, FilmGood cultivates a vibrant and inclusive community for filmmakers, industry professionals, and movie enthusiasts. At its core, the festival centers wellness as an essential part of its programming.
**About WalkGood LA and FilmGood Festival**
Founded by Etienne Maurice—an entrepreneur, community activist, actor, wellness expert, and son of Emmy Award-winning actress Sheryl Lee Ralph—the festival aligns with the mission of The WalkGood Yard, Maurice’s creative wellness studio. The WalkGood Yard operates under WalkGood LA, a Black-owned and family-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded by siblings Etienne Maurice, Ivy Coco Maurice, and Marley Ralph.
WalkGood LA is dedicated to healing and uniting communities through art, wellness, and activism. It has evolved into a cultural movement, merging creative expression with purpose to create equitable healing spaces across Los Angeles and beyond.
Through year-round programming at The WalkGood Yard—including repertory screenings, workshops, and panels—FilmGood provides a crucial platform for diverse storytellers. It welcomes individuals of all ages, races, religions, sexualities, and abilities to exhibit their work, expand their networks, sharpen their skills, and access essential wellness resources. The goal is to support voices often marginalized in the film industry.
“We started FilmGood because we wanted our community to have a festival that not only celebrates our stories but also takes care of the storytellers,” says Etienne Maurice. “So many of us in entertainment are chasing the next project, but we rarely pause to ask how we’re actually doing. We’re building a festival that celebrates the power of our stories and the importance of our well-being. You can’t pour into your art if you haven’t poured into yourself.”
His mother, Sheryl Lee Ralph, who will appear as a special guest at the festival, shared, “Watching my son and the WalkGood family create FilmGood reminds me that when we tell our own stories, we heal our own people. This festival is proof that film can do more than entertain.”
**Support and Legacy**
Lena Waithe, acclaimed actress, filmmaker, and screenwriter, is a strong supporter of the festival and believes Maurice is expanding his mother’s legacy. “Knowing FilmGood began as a continuation of your mother’s mission 25 years ago gives me chills,” Waithe says.
**Festival Highlights**
The four-day festival will blend visual storytelling with immersive wellness experiences, including:
– The 25th anniversary screening of the classic *Love & Basketball*
– A special presentation of the 2025 Sundance Official Selection *Ricky*
– Workshops featuring industry leaders from DreamWorks Animation, ColorCreative, and other notable organizations
The festival’s cinematic and wellness programs are designed to inspire attendees both creatively and personally.
**Festival Schedule Highlights**
– **Thursday, November 6:** Festival kickoff with a Meditation & Sound Bath led by Marley Ralph and Ivy Coco Maurice, followed by the Short Film Spotlight, *Hoops, Hopes, & Dreams*, honoring Michael Latt’s legacy. The evening concludes with the 25th Anniversary Screening of *Love & Basketball*, presented by the African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA), followed by a Q&A session.
– **Weekend Professional Development Workshops:**
– *Outside The Lines: A Playbook to Navigating Black Animation* – A rapid-fire workshop with DreamWorks Animation and Black N Animated (BNA) leadership, including a screening of the Oscar-qualifying animated short *Wednesday with Gramps*.
– TV Writers Interactive Fireside Chat with acclaimed showrunner Raamla Mohamed (*Reasonable Doubt*, *Little Fires Everywhere*).
– Producers Workshop with Deniese Davis, Co-founder of ColorCreative and Producer of *Insecure* and *One Of Them Days*.
– Director’s Masterclass with visionary filmmaker Morgan Stevenson (*Bel-Air*, *Yay*), presented by Blasé.
**2025 FilmGood Film & Wellness Festival Official Selections**
Curated from over 180 nationwide submissions, the competition program includes 12 titles across narrative shorts, documentary shorts, and episodic projects.
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### Narrative Shorts Competition
– **Moonluck Wonton** (2025)
*Director & Screenwriter:* Siddiq Saunderson
*Producers:* Ashley Cimone Leslie, Chanel Hinds
Jamie discovers a mysterious trombone case on a full moon night and calls his friends for wontons. As intrigue and danger unfold, Jamie confronts whether this is his lucky night or a blessing meant for someone else.
*Cast:* Siddiq Saunderson, Jerrie Johnson, Travis Raeburn, Daryl Bright Clay
– **The Off-Brands** (2024)
*Director & Screenwriter:* Shayla Racquel
*Screenwriter:* Nekala Rosetta
*Producers:* Mitra I Arthur, Shania Banton, Moya Johnson, Nekala Rosetta
A quirky teenage girl living with Sickle Cell shares her unique coming-of-age experiences in a small southern town.
*Cast:* Grace Duah, Porsche Kemp, Jai Demond, Jackson Coppins
– **Witness** (2024)
*Director & Screenwriter:* Saif Jaan
*Co-Director & Producer:* Radha Mehta
*Producers:* Omar Al-Dakheel, Sheheryar Ahsan
A revered small-town imam faces a crisis of faith protecting a trans man congregant, balancing mosque values with safety and spiritual belonging.
*Cast:* Faran Tahir, Shaan Dasani, Michael MacLeod, Nemma Adeni
– **Zeke** (2025)
*Director & Screenwriter:* Kerry Coddett
*Producer:* Krystal Payne
Set in a Brooklyn barbershop, Vic’s routine visit takes a sinister turn after he wakes from a nap to an unsettling realization he struggles to process.
*Cast:* Hassan Johnson, Sam Jay, Stephen Cofield, Kerry Coddett
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### Documentary Shorts Competition
– **Big Bryce Son** (2025)
*Director:* Bryce Savoy
*Screenwriter:* Holin Hardy
Bryce Savoy navigates a transformative year marked by his father’s death and the birth of his son.
*Producer:* Bryce Savoy
– **Dear Brandon** (2025)
*Director & Producer:* Krystina Christiansen
*Producer:* Kate Oliva
An outdoorsman paralyzed by MS reflects in a letter left on a Utah hiking trail, leading a filmmaker to connect with him and a global community.
*Cast:* Brandon Lingwall
– **Keur Simbara** (2024)
*Director:* Sea Mahsati
*Producers:* Vashni Korin, Sea Mahsati
This lyrical short follows women community organizers in rural Senegal building health, finance, agriculture, and domestic infrastructure systems.
*Cast:* Dusu Kante, Awa Diop, Coumba Ba, Adama Diop
– **Shallow Water** (2025)
*Director & Screenwriter:* Osahon Tongo
*Screenwriter:* Jillian Hanesworth
*Producers:* Shayna Hayes, Osahon Tongo, Dow Edwards
Chronicles the announcement of Queen Tahj Williams as the official designer of Super Bowl 59’s logo the day after Super Bowl 58.
*Cast:* Tyrann Mathieu, Tahj Williams, Dow Edwards
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### Episodic Competition
– **Remember | Pilot** (2025)
*Director:* Tari Wariebi
*Screenwriter:* Bernard David Jones
*Producer:* Gem Little
A forgetful millennial and his four best friends navigate queer love, careers, and friendship, while confronting a serious memory condition.
*Cast:* Bernard David Jones, Hosea Chanchez, Griffin Matthews, Devere Rogers, Brandon Gill
– **Southern Fried Rice | Episodes 5 & 6** (2025)
*Director:* Shayla Racquel
*Screenwriter:* Nakia Stephens
*Producers:* Keke Palmer, Sharon Palmer, Lenoria Addison, Nakia Stephens
A quirky group of friends tries to keep their Los Angeles comic store afloat by any ridiculous means.
*Cast:* Page Yang, Shaun Rose, Andreya Wallang, Kordell Beckham
– **The Comic Shop | Episode 4: “Dungeons & Dragons”** (2025)
*Director:* Pier Paolo Piccoli
*Screenwriter:* Amber Jay
*Producers:* Cheyenne Ewulu, Amber Jay, Simone Kirlew
Friends face chaos while trying to sustain their comic book store.
*Cast:* Cheyenne Ewulu, Zeno Robinson, Shanae Coleman, Grayson Niles
– **Transplants | Episode 3: “Rent Party”** (2023)
*Director:* Carlton Bell
*Screenwriter:* Alscott Worrell
*Producers:* Matthew Guthrie, Alscott Worrell, Rodney Hawkins Jr.
Two LA transplants throw a rent party that spirals into chaos, confession, and unexpected connections as past and present collide.
*Cast:* Alscott Worrell, Rodney Hawkins Jr., Isaiah Joseph, Chris Hill
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The 2025 FilmGood Film & Wellness Festival promises a unique fusion of storytelling and well-being, celebrating diversity, creativity, and holistic care in the arts community. For more information and ticket details, visit WalkGood LA’s official website.
https://bitcoinethereumnews.com/finance/the-filmgood-festival-returns-to-empower-diverse-creators-through-storytelling-and-wellness/
