Imani Davis is a writer, producer, and a film programmer at the American Cinematheque in Los Angeles. A recent LA transplant from Chicago, she is deeply committed to elevating women directors, as well as providing opportunities for emerging talent to break into the film industry. At the American Cinematheque, a 501c3 nonprofit boasting over 1,500 film screenings a year, Imani curates, plans, and executes unique and engaging film events. She has worked to put on events with A-list filmmakers and talent such as Sofia Coppola, Jordan Peele, Daniels (Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert), Damien Chazelle, Christopher Nolan, and many more.
Also within her work at the American Cinematheque, Imani founded and put on the inaugural PROOF Film Festival in October of 2023. PROOF is one of the first ever short film festivals completely dedicated to proof-of-concept short films. Imani thought of the festival concept and put on the first edition to rousing success within a year of starting her position at the AC. The first year of PROOF included screenings of over 40 hand-picked short films from emerging talent, industry mixers and panels, and film industry decision makers in attendance such as representatives from Sony, Lionsgate, Gersh Agency, MACRO, Hartbeat Productions, ColorCreative, and more.
Outside of her role as a film programmer, Imani co-founded Film Girlz Brunch, a monthly casual meetup of women in film in Los Angeles which has formed a number of partnerships and hosted many events in just over a year of starting. She also co-hosts “Players: A Film Industry Podcast” with fellow filmmaker and producer Demma Strausbaugh which is dedicated to demystifying various industry topics in an accessible and fun way.
Connect with Imani:
➡️ Instagram: @imanimdavis
➡️ TikTok: @imanidavis
https://www.americancinematheque.com/series/proof-proof-of-concept-film-festival-2025/
About The Lot1 Podcast ✨
The Lot1 Podcast is designed for anyone who is interested in or working in filmmaking. Whether you’re just starting out or a seasoned veteran, we hope you gain the knowledge you need to improve your craft, achieve your filmmaking goals, or simply get an understanding and appreciation for the roles and duties of your peers and colleagues.
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Hosted by
Deji Bankole (@deji_bankole)
Christopher Henley (@henley_son)
Produced by
Mina Vazirian
Edited by
Carlos Luna & Christopher Henley