Carmen Banks Earns ‘Best Lead Actress Award’ at SFAAF
A still from Iman DuPree’s ZAIRE with Carmen Banks as Zaire (R)
Source: South Film and Arts Academy Festival - June 8, 2026
During its 7th international film fest selection, Zaire made a pitstop at SFAAF (an IMDb qualifying film fest) in Chile on May 17th. The SFAAF team generously invited The Arthouse to screen ZAIRE in April, which Iman DuPree happily accepted. DuPree’s ultimate goal was to touch hearts across the globe with their debut portrait, Zaire. And the Chilean screening at South Film and Arts Academy Festival marks the 3rd continent the film has connected with.
On June 8th, the SFAAF jury honored Zaire by awarding Carmen Banks with May’s “Best Lead Actress in a Feature Film” award! What a well-deserved crowning for Banks’ debut feature-length picture.
To The Arthouse’s pleasant surprise, the film also earned five more awards:
Best LGBT Feature Film
Best Director in a Feature Film, Iman DuPree
Best Cinematography in a Feature Film, Iman DuPree
Best Production in a Feature Film, Aaron Allen Davis
And Feature Film of the Month (May 2026)!
To date, Zaire has won 9 international film festival awards. This continued acclaim further illustrates that Black intersectional and underground storytelling thrives worldwide. The Arthouse extends its profound gratitude to SFAAF for their warm embrace!
“Great representation with a stellar cast. Touching, funny and REAL. A must watch!”
In Zaire’s 2-day tale, writer-director Iman DuPree teleports us back to the pandemic’s lockdown era, where Zaire & Marcus meet unexpectedly. Captured in a digital, anamorphic format of black and white imagery, one night brings color to the space the duo shares. Yet the film questions if societal expectations may keep them apart.
Zaire stars Carmen Banks (The Miss Pat Show, WandaVision, The Game) as Zaire alongside emerging co-star Benji as Marcus. Supporting the duo includes Venus Kii Thomas (Octavia) and Aaron Davis (Troy), with diverse V.O. talent from Janice Davis, India Ford, Miera Corey and Johnathan Mitchell-Dixon. The film was penned, directed, lensed and edited by Iman DuPree.
See the one-pager/full press kit below. The release continues after.
2026 - 75 minutes - Drama, Romance, Arthouse - 2.39:1 - Black & White + Color - United States
Zaire’s Status Across Other Film Festivals:
Iman’s debut picture screens at NAIFF June 25-28, 2026 at The Greenbelt Cinema.
Purchase your tickets and passes HERE.
ZAIRE has also been selected at festivals in the UK, including the International Celebration of Cinema, the Mega Movie Awards, and the Global Indie Filmmaker Awards (August and Sept. respectively).
On March 21, 2027, Zaire will compete alongside 11 other monthly winners in AIMAFF’s annual competition where it could score Best LGBT Film of the year (similar to its March 2026 Sweden Film Awards win).
Further official selection announcements are forthcoming.
Cinephiles can support the film directly by purchasing ZAIRE today at www.irisofiman.org.
ZAIRE: A Film Noir-Inspired Story - OUT NOW!
An accolades film poster from Iman DuPree’s ZAIRE. Benji as Marcus (L), Carmen Banks as Zaire (R)
-From The Iman DuPree Arthouse - JUNE 2026
info@irisofiman.org - www.irisofiman.org - DOWNLOAD ZAIRE PRESS KIT
Keywords: ZAIRE, 2026 Film Awards, Indie Film, Independent Film, LGBTQ, Black Cinema, Black Queer Film, Queer Film, Maryland Film, Maryland State Arts Council, SFAAF, South Film and Arts Academy Festival
About Us
The Iman DuPree Arthouse is an underground artist collective, creating the intersectional stories that Hollywood won’t. Established in 2024 by five artists and community organizers, this lean team partnered to secure grants and other contributed revenue to harness the power of cinema, to share edifying storytelling globally.
The Iman DuPree Arthouse is fiscally sponsored by Fractured Atlas, a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit.
Please consider supporting our artwork HERE.
