BURNING CANE

in collaboration with Tribeca Film Festival

cinematography
Phillip Youmans
editing
Phillip Youmans
Ruby Kline

music
Robert Johnson
Mary Lou Williams
sound
Mose Mayer
Armann Turner
Rahsaan Ison
production design
Ojo Akinlana

cast
Wendell Pierce
[Reverend Tillman]
Karen Kaia Livers
[Helen Wayne]
Dominique McClellan
[Daniel Wayne]
Braelyn Kelly
[Jeremiah Wayne]
Emyri Crutchfield
[Sherry Bland]
Cynthia Capers
[Marsha Bland]

producers
Phillip Youmans
Cassandra Youmans
Wendell Pierce
Benh Zeitlin
Karen Kaia Livers
Mose Mayer
Ojo Akinlana
production
Denizen Pictures
co-producers
Isaac Webb
Jakob Johnson
in association with
The Sunhawk Company

world sales
Cinetic Media
mail

International
press office
Array
Tilane Jones
Sofia Smith

Filmography

2019 Burning Cane

At 19, Phillip Youmans became the youngest and first African-American director to win the Founder's Award for Best Narrative Feature at the Tribeca Film Festival for his feature-length debut, Burning Cane, which he wrote, directed, shot, and edited during his final years of high school. Before high school, Phillip began writing, directing, shooting, and editing his own short films. His most recent video installation is titled Won't You Celebrate with Me. Furthermore, Phillip is in post-production for his documentary about the Grammy-nominated jazz musician Jon Batiste, titled Anatomy of Angels.

"Making Burning Cane was a therapeutic way to work out some of my personal conflicts. I want audiences to understand and empathize with the decision that Helen ultimately makes; I also hope they recognize the brutality present in what motivates her actions." [Phillip Youmans]