Fusion Entertainment has added writer-director Ryan DeForeest to its creative roster and begun work on a feature adaptation of his short film My Brother & Me, the company and filmmaker confirmed in recent reporting.
From short festival success to feature development
The short originally premiered at the 2024 American Black Film Festival and has since circulated on the festival circuit, positioning DeForeest as an emerging voice. The story tracks two brothers across three decades — raised in South Los Angeles and later Oakland — and examines the fraught dynamics of fatherhood, masculinity and sexuality as the siblings grow into adulthood.
Fusion co-founder Chris Evans framed the director’s filmmaking as complementary to the company’s focus on singular cinematic voices. In a statement, he said the story addresses “the experience of Black fatherhood, masculinity, queerness, and the complicated, tender dynamics of brotherhood.”
“Ryan is a rare new voice whose filmmaking belongs right alongside our roster of distinctive auteurs with an unmistakable point of view.”
Creative team and continuity
Producers Chris Evans and Adam Kersh will shepherd the feature for Fusion, joined by Lexx Truss, who produced the short alongside Shandrea Evans. Several key collaborators from the short are expected to return, including cinematographer Sade Ndya and composer Evan Wright, signalling an intent to preserve the short’s visual and sonic character as the story expands.
DeForeest expressed gratitude for the opportunity to develop the short into a debut feature, noting the project’s personal origins and the importance of telling work that reflects the communities close to him.
“I’m incredibly grateful to Chris and Adam for believing in the potential of this film and the many other stories I hope to tell.”
Festival recognition and awards
The short has screened at multiple festivals and received industry recognition that will likely bolster the feature’s profile as it seeks financing and distribution.
| Festival / Award | Result |
|---|---|
| American Black Film Festival (2024) | Premiere |
| Micheaux Film Festival | Screening |
| Oak Park Black Film Festival | Screening |
| NewFilmmakers Los Angeles (NFMLA) | Screening; two 2026 Best of NFMLA nominations (Best Short Film — Drama; Best Cinematography) |
| NAACP Image Awards (56th) | Nomination — Outstanding Short Form (Live Action) |
What this means for DeForeest and Fusion
For DeForeest, the transition from short to feature represents a common but significant leap for emerging filmmakers: expanding a concentrated, personal story into a longer narrative while securing production support from an established company. Fusion’s interest suggests confidence not only in the project's commercial potential but in DeForeest’s distinct perspective.
- Continuity of key collaborators — returning cinematographer and composer increases the chance the feature will preserve the short’s aesthetic identity.
- Producer support — Fusion’s co-founders will produce alongside the short’s original producer, offering both industry clout and continuity.
- Festival momentum — nominations and screenings provide a track record that can aid festival and distribution placement for the feature.
The feature is currently in development; no casting announcements or production timeline have been released. As studios and independent companies continue to seek distinct, diverse voices, projects like this one—which touch on intersecting themes of family, identity and survival—are likely to attract attention from programmers and buyers looking for grounded, character-driven cinema.
For now, the industry-watchers and festival audiences who followed the short will be watching how the story expands, and whether its intimacy and urgency hold as it moves toward a larger canvas under Fusion’s banner.
