Tamika Lamison
Tamika Lamison | |
|---|---|
 Tamika Lamison in 2023 | |
| Born | 26 May 1969 |
| Education | American University |
| Occupations | |
| Years active | 1990–present |
| Relatives | Cleve Lamison (brother) |
Tamika Lamison (born May 26, 1969)[1][2] is an American filmmaker, writer, director, producer, actor, and humanitarian known for founding the Make A Film Foundation (MAFF), a nonprofit organization that helps children with serious medical conditions create short films.
She directed and produced the 2024 short film Superman Doesn't Steal, which received recognition at several festivals, including the NAACP Image Awards and the Pan African Film Festival at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival.[3][4] The film also earned the Best Short First Film award at the Septimius Awards and Best Director honors at the 2024 Reel Sisters of the Diaspora Film Festival.[5]
Early life and education
[edit]Lamison was born in Richmond, Virginia. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Performing Arts from The American University,[6] where she initially majored in Journalism before switching to Performing Arts.
Career
[edit]Film and television
[edit]Lamison began her career as an actor, performing in various theaters in Washington, D.C., and New York City.[7][8] Her film and television credits include producing and starring in the feature film "Last Life," and serving as a writer and supervising producer for the television series "Monogamy,".[9]
Lamison's first screenplay, "The Jar By The Door," was a Sundance Finalist and won the Gordon Parks Indie Film Award. She has received several fellowships and awards, including the ABC/Walt Disney Screenwriting Fellowship, the CBS Director’s Initiative, and the Guy Hanks and Marvin Miller Fellowship.[10][11]
Make A Film Foundation
[edit]
In 2006, Lamison founded the Make A Film Foundation (MAFF),[12][13] a nonprofit organization that grants film wishes to children with serious or life-threatening medical conditions by teaming them with noted actors, writers, and directors to create short film legacies.[14][15] MAFF has produced over 100 short films through its Short Narrative Program and Vidz 4 Kidz Short Documentary Program.[16][17]
Notable projects include "The Magic Bracelet," written by Rina Goldberg and adapted by Diablo Cody, featuring actors such as Bailee Madison and Hailee Steinfeld and "Deep Blue Breath," written by Clay Beabout and starring Sean Astin and Ernie Hudson.[18]
Superman Doesn't Steal and awards success (2024–present)
[edit]In 2024, Lamison wrote and directed the coming-of-age short drama film Superman Doesn't Steal. Released on January 10, 2024, the film quickly earned critical praise for its storytelling and emotional depth.[19][20]
Inspired by true events, the film explores themes of Black ownership and takes place during the tragic era of the 1970s Atlanta child murders.[21] It resonated deeply with audiences and made its way to several film festivals,[22] including the Cleveland International Film Festival and the Tallahassee Film Festival.[23]
In 2024, Superman Doesn't Steal received multiple nominations and won seven awards. It was also honored with the Outstanding Short Form award at the 56th NAACP Image Awards, held in 2025.[4]
Advocacy and leadership
[edit]Lamison served as the Executive Director of the Commercial Directors Diversity Program (CDDP), a diversity and inclusion program under the Directors Guild of America (DGA) and the Association of Independent Commercial Producers (AICP). She is also the Senior Vice President of Development & Production at PhilmCo, a company focused on art advocacy and commerce.[17]
Controversy
[edit]Allegations against Vincent Cirrincione
[edit]In February 2018, Tamika Lamison publicly accused Hollywood talent manager Vincent Cirrincione of sexual misconduct.[24] She alleged that in 1996, at the age of 27, she met Cirrincione at a Tony Awards dinner. He invited her to his hotel suite for an audition, during which he took a phone call from Halle Berry and put it on speakerphone.[25][26] Lamison claimed that while she was performing a poem, Cirrincione grabbed and kissed her, then propositioned her by stating he would represent her if she agreed to have sex with him whenever he wanted. She rejected his advances and left the suite.[27]
Lamison was among nine women, predominantly women of color, who accused Cirrincione of sexual harassment.[28][29] These allegations highlighted a pattern of behavior where Cirrincione allegedly exploited his position to proposition aspiring actresses. Following the public accusations, Cirrincione denied any non-consensual acts but acknowledged pursuing sexual relationships with clients. He subsequently closed his management company, Vincent Cirrincione Associates.[30][31]
Miss Black Virginia Pageant Concerns
[edit]In the early 1990s, Lamison, who held the title of Miss Black Virginia 1990, voiced concerns about the management of the pageant. She reported being frequently asked to solicit funds for the organization without transparency on how the money was used. Lamison also stated that two years after winning, she had not received the full prize money promised. She took action by sending numerous complaint letters to businesses, seeking accountability from the pageant organizers.[32]
Filmography
[edit]Film / TV
[edit]| Year[33] | Title | Director | Writer | Producer | Actor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Craddle Will Rock | No | No | No | Yes |
| 2003 | HOPE | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| College Hill | Yes | No | No | No | |
| 2018 | Craig Ross Jr.'s Monogamy | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Last Life | No | No | Yes | Yes | |
| kumba Shule | No | No | No | Yes |
Short films / Documentaries
| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Actor | Producer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Hope | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| 2004 | The Male Groupie | No | No | No | Yes |
| 2005 | P.N.O.K | Yes | No | No | No |
| K(no)w De:tales | No | No | No | Yes | |
| 2007 | Spin | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Put It in a Book | No | No | No | Yes | |
| 2011 | Deep Blue Breath | No | No | No | Yes |
| 2012 | The Question | No | No | No | Yes |
| 2013 | The Real Blood Ghost | No | No | No | Yes |
| The Magic Bracelet | No | No | No | Yes | |
| 2017 | The 3rd Era of Medicine | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| The Black Ghiandola | No | No | No | Yes | |
| Katharine of America | No | No | No | Yes | |
| Sex and Violence! or: A Brief Review of Simple Physics | No | No | No | Yes | |
| 2021 | Ferguson Rises | No | No | No | Yes |
| 2022 | Bourn Kind: The Tiny Kindness Project | No | No | No | Yes |
| 2024 | Superman Doesn't Steal | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Awards and recognition
[edit]Lamison has been recognized with numerous honors, including the Trailblazer Award from the Baron Jay Foundation . Her original pilot "B.E.E.S." was a finalist for the Producers Guild of America's Power of Diversity Workshop.
| Year | Award | Category | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Image Awards (NAACP) | Outstanding Short Form | Won | [4] |
| 2024 | Pan African Film Festival | Best Film | Won | [3] |
| Septimius Awards | Best Short Film | Won | [34] | |
| Tallahassee Film Festival | Audience Choice Award | Won | [35] | |
| Chesapeake Film Festival | Best Short Narative | Won | [36] | |
| Reel Sisters of the Diaspora Film Festival | Best Director | Won | [37] | |
| Reel Sisters of the Diaspora Film Festival | Best Narative Short | Won | [5] | |
| Cameroon International Film Festival | Best short International film | Won |
References
[edit]- ^ "Tamika Lamison Movies List | Rotten Tomatoes | Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com. Retrieved 2025-05-07.
- ^ "Tamika Lamison | Biography". FilmBooster.co.uk. Retrieved 2025-05-07.
- ^ a b Cannick, Jasmyne (2024-02-19). "2024 Pan African Film & Arts Festival Filmmaker Awards Announced! - Pan African Film & Arts Festival (PAFF)". Retrieved 2025-05-08.
- ^ a b c Grein, Paul (2025-02-23). "Keke Palmer, Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar & More Win Big at 2025 NAACP Image Awards: Full List". Billboard. Retrieved 2025-05-08.
- ^ a b "Reel Sisters Award-Winning Films 2024". Welcome to Reel Sisters of the Diaspora. Retrieved 2025-05-08.
- ^ "Tamika Lamison - Actor". makeafilmfoundation.org. Retrieved 2025-05-07.
- ^ Barron, Kelly (2010-12-19). "Free-spirited actress needs to focus on material things". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2025-05-08.
- ^ "Directors - Film Fatales". Film Fatales - An inclusive community of women feature film and television directors. 2023-03-17. Retrieved 2025-05-07.
- ^ Lamison, Tamika. "Tamika Lamison". Tamika Lamison. Retrieved 2025-05-07.
- ^ "Meet Tamika Lamison". Bold Journey Magazine. 2023-12-08. Retrieved 2025-05-07.
- ^ Magazine, Urban (2024-11-13). "Interview: Acclaimed Director/Writer Tamika Lamison Talks Superman Doesn't Steal". Urban Magazine. Retrieved 2025-05-07.
- ^ "Meet Tamika Lamison". canvasrebel.com. Retrieved 2025-05-07.
- ^ "Meet Tamika Lamison of Make A Film Foundation". January 22, 2019.
- ^ Wissot, Lauren (2014-05-02). "Wish Granter Tamika Lamison on the Make A Film Foundation - Filmmaker Magazine". Filmmaker Magazine | Publication with a focus on independent film, offering articles, links, and resources. Retrieved 2025-05-07.
- ^ Cunningham, Todd (2013-08-25). "Sarah Silverman, Tom Papa Headline Make A Film Foundation Benefit". TheWrap. Retrieved 2025-05-07.
- ^ "Make a Film Foundation and Hollywood celebrities help sick teen Clay Beabout realize his filmmaking dream". Yahoo News. 2011-08-12. Retrieved 2025-05-07.
- ^ a b sidreddy (2020-10-19). "Meet Tamika Lamison | Filmmaker, Writer, Director, Producer, Non-Profit Owner & Executive". SHOUTOUT LA. Retrieved 2025-05-07.
- ^ "Meet the Woman Helping Terminally Ill Kids Realize Their Movie-Making Dreams". People.com. Retrieved 2025-05-07.
- ^ Shaw, A. R. (2024-10-30). "Tamika Lamison's Film 'Superman Doesn't Steal' Takes Introspective Look At 'Atlanta Child Murders'". Atlanta Daily World. Retrieved 2025-05-08.
- ^ "Huguenot graduate brings acclaimed short to RIFF". richmondfreepress.com. Retrieved 2025-05-08.
- ^ Williams, O. J. (2024-12-07). "Writer, Director & Star Tamika Lamison Talks Creating Short 'Superman Doesn't Steal' [Video]". The Knockturnal. Retrieved 2025-05-08.
- ^ "2025 Richmond International Film Festival". riff.eventive.org. Retrieved 2025-05-08.
- ^ "Superman Doesn't Steal". www.clevelandfilm.org. Retrieved 2025-05-06.
- ^ Pirani, Fiza. "One year after Weinstein: A timeline of powerful men accused of sexual misconduct". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. ISSN 1539-7459. Retrieved 2025-05-08.
- ^ "Vincent Cirrincione, Hollywood manager, accused of sexual harassment - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. 2018-02-05. Retrieved 2025-05-08.
- ^ Bellstrom, Kristen. "Uma Thurman, Katie Roiphe, Janet Jackson: Broadsheet Jan. 5th". Fortune. Retrieved 2025-05-08.
- ^ Desta, Yohana (2018-02-02). "Manager Who Worked with Halle Berry, Taraji P. Henson, Accused of Sexual Misconduct". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 2025-05-08.
- ^ Evans, Greg (2018-02-02). "Nine Women Accuse Taraji P. Henson Manager Vincent Cirrincione Of Sexual Misconduct: Report". Deadline. Retrieved 2025-05-08.
- ^ Mandell, Andrea. "Nine women accuse Halle Berry's ex-manager of sexual harassment". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2025-05-08.
- ^ Gonzales, Richard (2018-02-05). "Hollywood Star-Maker Accused Of Sexual Harassment Closes Talent Agency". NPR. Retrieved 2025-05-08.
- ^ Sun, Rebecca (2018-02-05). "Vincent Cirrincione Shutters Management Company After Sexual Harassment Claims". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2025-05-08.
- ^ "Winn v. United Press Intern., 938 F. Supp. 39 (D.D.C. 1996)". Justia Law. Retrieved 2025-05-08.
- ^ "Member List". Alliance of Women Directors. Retrieved 2025-05-08.
- ^ "PAST WINNERS – Septimius Awards". Retrieved 2025-05-08.
- ^ Democrat, Special to the Tallahassee. "Check out 15 movies that took home 2024 Tallahassee Film Festival awards". Tallahassee Democrat. Retrieved 2025-05-08.
- ^ "Award Winners | Chesapeake Film Festival". Retrieved 2025-05-08.
- ^ "Reel Sisters Award-Winning Films 2024". Welcome to Reel Sisters of the Diaspora. Retrieved 2025-05-08.