Savannah State University’s Shannon Sharpe and Morehouse College’s Spike Lee are among the 100 HBCU alumni who have made the HBCU First LOOK “I Aspire” list. This list highlights 100 HBCU alumni who inspire the next generation of content creators across film, television, and digital platforms. The list was released yesterday by Miles Ahead Entertainment.
The list and the HBCU First LOOK Film Festival are the brainchild of Sheila Eldridge, a Howard University alumna. The HBCU First LOOK Film Festival is a three-day, one-of-a-kind event dedicated to honoring Black filmmakers and providing a platform for HBCU students to showcase and develop their skills. According to founder Sheila Eldridge, “the festival is a bridge for students and alumni in the HBCU diaspora by connecting students to real-world executives who have successfully walked in their shoes and connecting industry experts to young and emerging talent that will be the next “it” in film and television.”
The HBCU First LOOK Film Festival is returning to Howard University for the second year in a row. Last year’s festival was graced with appearances from celebrities including Terri J. Vaughn, Loni Love, Peyton Alex Smith, and Ruth E. Carter. But the biggest moment of last year’s festival followed the premiere of the Netflix film Rustin, when former President and First Lady Barack and Michelle Obama made a surprise appearance at the end of the film for a talkback session.
This year's list includes MSNBC President Rashida Jones (Hampton University); Anthony Anderson (Howard University); and Keisha Knight Pulliam (Spelman College); film, network, and studio executives, directors, and producers Will Packer (Florida A&M University), Aisha Summers Burke (Howard University), Robert Boyd (Morehouse), and Risha Archibald (Lincoln University); award-winning hairstylist and makeup artist Mia Neal (Jackson State University); stage and media influencer K. J. Rose (Florida A&M University); and many more.
Sharpe and Lee are just two of thousands of HBCU alumni excelling in the field of media. Since graduating from Savannah State, Sharpe has had a successful professional football career and is now a successful podcaster, in addition to being the co-host of the ESPN sports talk television show, First Take.
Spike Lee has made a name for himself as one of the most influential film directors of all time. His journey began at Morehouse, where he made his first student film. Lee has multiple awards for films including Inside Man, School Daze, Do the Right Thing, and BlacKkKlansman.
The theme for this year’s festival is “A Celebration of Black Cinema X Activism,” paying homage to some of Hollywood's most influential classic films and HBCU alums in arts and entertainment who have built bridges for the next generation.
The 2nd Annual HBCU First LOOK Film Festival will take place on November 8–10, 2024, at Howard University in Washington, D.C.
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