Sweet Soul

Knight Made in MIA Short Film Award

In the 1960s, singer Helene Smith, dubbed "Queen of Miami Soul," was destined for stardom as the featured artist on the Deep City label, the first black record label in Florida. She became disillusioned with the music business, then stepped away from recording and performing. The film Sweet Soul chronicles her first effort recording original material in forty years.

Marlon Johnson is an Emmy award-winning producer and director. His films explore music, social, and cultural issues such as Miami's soul music scene in the 1960s and the Pan-African drum line as a tool to mentor youth in present-day Louisville.

Dennis Scholl is an award-winning documentary filmmaker. His feature film credits include Deep City: The Birth of the Miami Sound, Sweet Dillard, Queen of Thursdays, and Singular, all of which have premiered at the Miami Film Festival.

Chad Tingle started his filmmaking career as a director on documentaries that explore social and cultural issues relative to Miami. His films have been invited to screen at SXSW, Aspen Shortsfest, and The Miami Film Festival.

Supported by John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.