Hisonni Mustafa, a talented Guyanese American filmmaker, originates from Milwaukee, WI, a city known for its deep segregation. His impressive skills span across various aspects of filmmaking, including writing, directing, cinematography, editing, and producing. Notably, he has successfully crowdfunded multiple projects, leading to the creation of a dozen award-winning films.
Hisonni's work has earned widespread acclaim, with over 200 festival recognitions, including prestigious events like Cinequest, Hollyshorts, Frameline, and Urbanworld. His short films and web series have collectively amassed more than six million online views, captivating audiences worldwide. His talent has also garnered award nominations from esteemed organizations such as LA Webfest, The VH1 Streamy Awards, Marseille Webfest, The International Academy of Web Television Awards, and even Marvel's Stan Lee. Among his significant accomplishments is his independent film "Take Out Girl," now available on Hulu, which received accolades from The Bentonville Film Festival, Dances With Films, Ashland Independent, Cinequest, and Indie Memphis. He has been honored with the Best Director award at the American Black Film Festival and the HBO feature film competition at the Martha's Vineyard African American Film Festival, in addition to being recognized as a Gemstones Rising Storyteller Search Finalist.
Pushing the boundaries in his career, Hisonni achieved significant milestones. He was selected as a fellow of the 2023 Commercial Directors Diversity Program, where he directed a commercial and shadowed Oscar nominees Will Speck and Josh Gordon. Additionally, he made history as the first filmmaker from Nevada to win the prestigious $175,000 Cordillera Film Festival pitch fest. Moreover, his works have been awarded the Best Nevada Film accolade at the Nevada Women's Film Festival and twice at the Cordillera Film Festival. Grants from esteemed institutions like the Nevada Arts Council and The National Black Arts Forward Artist Project have supported Hisonni's dedication to his craft. He was also the first filmmaker to participate in John Ridley's Filmmakers with No Borders Program, further cementing his status as a filmmaker to keep an eye on.