The Los Angeles premiere of It’s Dorothy brought the story full circle, returning to Culver City, where The Wizard of Oz was originally filmed. Director Jeffrey McHale (You Don’t Nomi), Shanice Shantay (The Wiz Live!), Gita Dorothy Morena (great-granddaughter of author L. Frank Baum), author Manuel Betancourt (Judy at Carnegie Hall), and producers Suzanne Zionts and Ariana Garfinkel joined the celebration of the film’s debut.
The evening also spotlighted the world premiere of the gripping new series Remember with stars Brandon Gill and Tosin Morohunfola, writer and actor Bernard David Jones, director Tari Wariebi, and Cinematographer Veronica Bouza in attendance.
The red carpet welcomed festival ambassador Lil Rel Howery; Cynthia Micheaux Lewis, descendant of pioneering filmmaker Oscar Micheaux; and E! Entertainment founder Larry Namer, and featured talent and creators from official selections across genres, including Reggie Hayes (Girlfriends, Abbott Elementary), Daphnique Springs (Hulu’s LOL Live with Daphnique Springs), and Meghan Falcone (Californication) representing I Hate My Love Life; Emmy-nominated Melvin Jackson Jr. (The Wire, BET’s The New Edition Story), Brandon Fobbs (The Wire, The Walking Dead), Aasha Davis (Grey’s Anatomy, Friday Night Lights), and Ivonnah Erskine for Let the Myth Be; Sarah Drew (Grey’s Anatomy) and Harry Groener (Oppenheimer, Buffy the Vampire Slayer) for Such a Pretty Girl; along with creative teams from Young King, Don’t Let Them Out, Flight 182, Legends, and other 2025 official selections. Martin Rodriguez (Griselda), Eugenia Kuzmina (Bad Moms), and other industry guests were also in attendance.
Credit: Kathlyn Almedia)
Credit: Kathlyn Almedia)
(Photo Credit: Kathlyn Almedia)
