Gene Graham is an award-winning director, editor and producer working in Brooklyn, NY. His feature documentary, This One’s for the Ladies, world premiered at SXSW 2018, won a Special Jury Recognition Award for Best Cast, and was acquired by Neon. LADIES released theatrically in North America, June 2019. Well reviewed and loved by women of all backgrounds, LADIES has streamed on Hulu, MAX, Paramount+ and is currently available on Tubi. Rent or own LADIES on all major VOD/SVOD platforms.
During the Covid years, Gene wrote, directed and edited two award-winning narrative short movies - Born Again Reject and Jac on the Come Up. Both have screened at film festivals throughout 2022, ‘23 and ‘24. Jac on the Come Up can be seen on Kweli TV.
Of all the awards, Gene is most proud of the recognition his subjects and actors consistently receive. Whether its drama, horror, comedy or documentary, the stories and screenplays, the strategy behind the production, and the attention to detail on set and in the edit are designed to help subjects and actors feel comfortable expressing their humanity and delivering their best work.
Commercial and non-profit production work for gold standard clients include the Pulitzer Prizes, the Biden/Harris 2020 campaign, National Domestic Workers Alliance, American History Unbound, and Education Writers Association. Through numerous agencies, including Dentsu, Razorfish, Access Brand Communications and Ogilvy Health, Gene has contributed to campaigns for Mercedes Benz, Morgan Stanley, Axe, PNC Bank, Allergan/Botox, Celebrity Cruises, Gilead, Capital One, Ford Motors and many more.
Awards & Milestones:
Born Again Reject
2024 Best Horror Short, Coney Island Film Festival
2024 Best Ensemble, Random Acts of Terror
2023 Best Terror Short Film, Ciudad de Mexico International Film Festival
Jac on the Come Up
2022 Best Narrative Short, Gary International Black Film Festival
2022 Best Actress, DC Black Film Festival
2019 Filmmaker in Residence @ Docs In Progress
Washington DC.
This One’s For The Ladies
2019 Best Documentary, North Carolina Black Film Festival
2018 Nominated, Best Documentary, IndieMemphis
2018 SXSW, Special Jury Award for Best Cast in a Documentary
2018 SXSW, Nominated, Best Documentary
The Godfather of Disco
2007 Jury & Audience Awards for Best Documentary, Fire Island Film & Video Festival
2007 Emerging Filmmaker Award, 25th Minneapolis/St. Paul International Film Festival
Dirty Laundry
2008 NAACP Image Award Nominee, Best Independent Film
2008 GLAAD Award Nominee, Best Feature Film / Limited Release
2006 Blockbuster Audience Award Winner for Best Picture and Best Actor (Loretta Devine), American Black Film Festival
The Ski Trip
2005 Favorite Narrative Feature, Seattle Lesbian & Gay Film Festival