In this short film, Black men and boys swim, play, embrace loved ones, and navigate various physical and emotional landscapes. The Unveiling of God / a love letter to my forefathers is an operatic visual poem that celebrates the Black men in the artists' lives. In counter to narrow and destructive ideas of masculinity that are present — though not unchallenged — in contemporary media and music, NIA JUNE, Kirby Griffin, and APoetNamedNate created an arresting work that celebrates male strength through tenderness. The film features over 100 residents, artists, and local businesses such as B360 Baltimore and Upton Boxing Gym.

The author notes: “In 2017, my father died at 47 years old due to a heroin overdose. Through my grief, I realized that several men in both my paternal and maternal families led short, complicated lives. In my innate desire to know and understand them, I created this work. While writing and directing the film’s poems and images, I was able to finally look my fathers in their eyes and discover myself. I was able to forgive them for myself and on behalf of my mother, my grandmothers, and my children to come. The Unveiling of God / a love letter to my forefathers is a visual interpretation of my imagination on the matter of my forefathers and Black men prematurely removed from my life. Through poetry, music, and moving portraits, the film asks its viewers: what could they have been, unburdened by the gravity of an oppressive system and known to the God in themselves?”

It premiered at The Parkway Theater in 2021 and exhibited in The Culture: Hip Hop and Contemporary Art in the 21st Century, an exhibiting touring museums across Baltimore, MD; St. Louis, MO; Frankfurt, Germany; Cincinnati, OH; and Ontario, Canada. It is also included in the curriculum at University of Baltimore and Coppin State University in 2022 and 2023 semesters.

Original Poetry Written and Performed by NIA JUNE

Directed by NIA JUNE and APoetNamedNate

Cinematography by Kirby Griffin

Edited by Kirby Griffin, NIA JUNE, APoetNamedNate

Produced by NIA JUNE

Original Sountrack by APoetNamedNate, Brandon Woody, Troy Long, Tyler Moonlight, Black Assets, Zadia, Blaqstarr, Omnia Azar, Dee Dave, and T.Ali.

In A Black Girl's Country, the Black girl's complexity is laid open and housed in a soft jubilee that trumpets through us, "finally, we are home." Featuring more than 50 members of the Baltimore community, this film showcases women and girls, across multiple generations, radiating pure joy and embracing their unapologetic freedom in a space they truly own. This multifaceted experience of Black womanhood is a collaborative effort with director and spoken word artist NIA JUNE, cinematographer Kirby Griffin, and creative director and musician APoetNamedNate. Through moving portraits, original poetry, and music, the three Baltimore natives offer a renewed gaze at the Black woman and the world she embodies and ask viewers: "what do you know of A Black Girl's Country?" 

The film was acquired by the Baltimore Museum of Art as part of its permanent collection in 2021 and exhibited in the Contemporary Wing at the beginning of 2024.

Original Poetry Written and Performed by NIA JUNE 

Directed by NIA JUNE

Creative Director and Original Score by APoetNamedNate

Cinematography by Kirby Griffin

Original Dance Choreography Developed and Performed by NIA JUNE

Additional Vocals by Wifty Bangura 

This short documentary spotlights four Baltimore-born entrepreneurs — Mrs. Tammy, Danny, KC, and Akio — who, through dedication and innovation, have become trailblazers in their industries and neighborhoods. Ms. Harris, owner of Carey Hardware, continues the legacy of her father, who ran the store in the 1980s. KC, a welding artist and the founder of KC’s Studio, aims to break the barrier of entry and encourage more Black individuals to enter the field. Danny, the visionary behind Illicit Rag Vintage, works to cement Baltimore’s place in the fashion world by being a resource to local designers and models. Akio, of Akio’s Glorious Heroes, customizes clothing to honor his mother while telling impactful stories and preserving history through streetwear design. Keep What You Sow documents their journey,  highlighting how these self-starters not only contribute to Baltimore’s cultural landscape but also uplift the community.

The film debuted at Center Stage Baltimore in 2022.

Directed by NIA JUNE

Cinematography by Kirby Griffin

Original Score by Brandon Woody & Troy Long 

Produced by The Medicine Show 

Taking Care: Portraits from Baltimore offers an intimate look into the lives of Sandra, Ms. Harris, and Clayvon — three clients of Health Care for the Homeless whose paths converge at the organization’s doors. Sandra, an immigrant from Nicaragua, is a cancer survivor rebuilding her life. Ms. Harris, a former educator and dancer, survived a diabetic coma and continues to defy the odds. Clayvon, once a drug dealer and now an aspiring youth services worker, perseveres after a severe stroke. Through their survival stories, the film paints a compassionate and unflinching portrait of Baltimore’s unhoused community, shedding light on the persevering spirit of individuals navigating homelessness and the essential support Health Care for the Homeless provides.

The documentary premiered at Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing in 2024.

Director & Producer: NIA JUNE

Creative Director: APoetNamedNate

Director of Photography: Kirby Griffin

Creative Director & Musical Producer: APoetNamedNate 

Executive Producer: Health Care for the Homeless

Original Score: APoetNamedNate, Brandon Woody, & Troy Long

In Threads I “Leroy H. Carolina,” the Reginald F. Lewis Museum invites you to immerse yourself in the artistry of Black fiber artist Elizabeth Talford Scott, whose quilts transcend craft to become living narratives of Black womanhood. This interdisciplinary experience, produced by jazz trumpeter Brandon Woody and his band—Troy Long (Main Keys), Vittorio Stropoli (Aux Synth), Michael Saunders (Bass), Quincy Phillips (Drums), Wendel Patrick (Turntables), and Leon June (Engineer)—along with dancer Asya Shaw and poet NIA JUNE celebrates Scott’s visionary work during Jazz and Poetry Appreciation Month. This performance was presented in partnership with the exhibition BLACK WOMAN GENIUS: Elizabeth Talford Scott—Tapestries of Generations.

THREADS | "Leroy H, Carolina"

UPENDO featuring NIA JUNE and Asya Shaw

Brandon Woody - Trumpet

Troy Long - Main Keys

Michael Saunders - Bass

Quincy Phillips - Drums 

Vittorio Stropoli - Aux Synth

Wendel Patrick - Turntables

NIA JUNE - Poetry

Asya Shaw - Dance and Choreography

Neon June - Sound Engineer 

A short dance film that honors movement in the most organic way. Two celestial souls explore what it means to be elemental in water while flowing through air and grounding in what feels like an eternal journey through space and time.

Directed and Choreographed by Brittney London

Dancers: Brittney London and NIA JUNE

Filmed and Edited by Kirby Griffin

Original Score by APoetNamedNate

Trumpet Performed by Brandon Woody

Production Engineers: Tyler Moonlight and Eric Barry

A collection by NIA JUNE and Kirby Griffin, Paper Trails of the Undying captures Baltimore’s endurance through a series of raw and intimate poems and photographs. This work portrays resilience in the face of motherhood, addiction, tradition, and the harsh impact of police brutality.
 

Sold at Greedy Reads, Bird in Hand, Charm City Books, and Everyone’s Place.