Phillip Youmans (born February 18, 2000)[1] is an American filmmaker. He is the first African-American director to win the Founders Prize at Tribeca Film Festival, which he received for his 2019 directorial debut, Burning Cane.[2]
Phillip Youmans | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 18, 2000 New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Alma mater | New York University |
| Occupation | Filmmaker |
| Notable work | Burning Cane (2019) |
| Website | phillipyoumans |
Early life and education
editYoumans was born and raised in New Orleans.[3] He first became interested in film-making when he was 13. Youmans attended two high schools through a dual enrollment program: Benjamin Franklin High School and New Orleans Center for Creative Arts.[4]
He completed his freshman year at New York University in May 2019.[1] In October 2019 he stated he may drop out of the program to focus on his career.[4]
Career
editYoumans wrote, shot, directed and edited his first feature-length film, Burning Cane, as a senior in high school, when he was 17.[5][3] The film grew from a short film that Youmans wrote called The Glory.[3] It tells the story of a woman (played by Karen Kaia Livers) in rural Louisiana and her relationships with her alcoholic son and a local preacher.[6] It also stars and was co-produced by Wendell Pierce.[1][7] Raised Baptist, Youmans stated that the goal of Burning Cane was to "touch on [] how rigid religious conviction can be within the rural South, especially under sort of rigid interpretation of Protestantism."[3] Youmans financed the film with $2500 in personal savings, an Indiegogo campaign, and donations from friends and family.[4]
Burning Cane won the Founders Prize and the prize for best cinematography in a U.S. narrative feature film at the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival. Youmans is the first African-American director to receive the Founders Prize; he is also the youngest director to have a film accepted to the Tribeca Film Festival.[5]
Youmans announced that he is currently developing his next feature film, which will focus on "the Black Panther chapter in New Orleans during 1978."[4]
Awards and nominations
edit| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | American Film Festival | Best Narrative Feature | Burning Cane | Nominated |
| Tribeca Film Festival | Best Cinematography | Won | ||
| Founders Prize | Won | |||
| 2020 | Black Reel Awards | Outstanding First Screenplay | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Independent Feature | Nominated | |||
| Independent Spirit Awards | John Cassavetes Award | Nominated | ||
| Gotham Awards | Bingham Ray Breakthrough Director Award | Nominated | ||
| Audience Award | Nominated |
References
edit- ^ a b c McDonald, Soraya Nadia (May 7, 2019). "Phillip Youmans becomes first black director to win at Tribeca with his feature debut, 'Burning Cane'". Andscape. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
- ^ Stidhum, Tonja Renée (May 6, 2019). "2019 Tribeca Film Festival: In Burning Cane, the Devil Is in the Details". The Grapevine. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
- ^ a b c d Wilkinson, Alissa (November 11, 2019). "How Burning Cane's 19-year-old director made his haunting tale of religion in the South". Vox. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
- ^ a b c d Bramesco, Charles (October 30, 2019). "'I had to make this happen': how a 19-year-old director wowed Hollywood". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
- ^ a b Fallon, Kevin (April 25, 2019). "The Youngest Director Ever at the Tribeca Film Festival". The Daily Beast. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
- ^ "'Burning Cane': Film Review | Tribeca 2019". The Hollywood Reporter. May 8, 2019. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
- ^ Writer, JAKE COYLE | AP Film. "Phillip Youmans, 19-year-old New Orleans native, wins top award at Tribeca Film Festival for Louisiana-shot 'Burning Cane'". The Advocate. Retrieved May 8, 2019.