LOS ANGELES
American Clay, the haunting and beautifully shot short film from Saddlebrook Media and Hundreds Entertainment, continues its extraordinary rise on the festival circuit, earning multiple honors across the United States and Europe.
The film won at the Venice Short Film Awards, where its director Christopher Ray Jackson was also recognized as Best First-Time Filmmaker, celebrating his striking debut and the film’s profound creative vision.
Adding to its growing list of accolades, American Clay has now been officially selected as a Semi-Finalist for the 2025 Cannes Indie Shorts Awards – a testament to the film’s expanding global resonance.
A visually stunning and emotionally layered work, American Clay taps into the roots of Black and multicultural identity without centering trauma, instead exploring spiritual resilience, intuitive power, and the stories passed down through generations. With breathtaking visuals and a chilling original score, the film reflects a new wave of contemporary filmmaking that reclaims cultural narratives with depth and reverence.
“Seeing American Clay honored in Venice and Cannes is a moment of deep gratitude,” said Vi City, co-executive producer, co-writer, and music director. “This film was always meant to transcend time, it’s a piece of art that speaks through sound, vision, and spirit. These awards affirm that truth-telling through creativity still has the power to move people everywhere.”
The film’s inspiration stems from Saddlebrook Media’s family story, an intergenerational narrative built on reclaiming the American story through evidence-based research, oral tradition, and richly rooted characters. Co-executive producers Carmen Perkins and Michelle Taylor, both co-creators of American Clay, lead with intention and vision.
“These honors remind us why we made this film,” said Carmen Perkins and Michelle Taylor in a joint statement. “American Clay was created to honor the women who came before us, their resilience, their quiet strength, their creativity. To see it celebrated on international stages like Venice and Cannes is powerful validation that our ancestors’ stories still move people everywhere.”
With its growing acclaim and profound message, American Clay continues to solidify its place as a powerful and necessary voice in independent cinema.
American Clay is more than a film; it’s a cinematic experience that reclaims space for culturally rich storytelling while challenging the boundaries of traditional historical narratives.
For more information please visit: https://www.americanclaymovie.com and follow on social at @americanclaymovie .
