Commuted

Nailah is a filmmaker intrigued and inspired by the enduring human spirit, whose films span fiction and nonfiction. Her acclaimed work has been distributed domestically and internationally on the film festival circuit, theatrically and televised. Nailah’s debut documentary Vanishing Pearls: The Oystermen of Pointe a la Hache, told the story of the little known African American oyster fishing community in Plaquemines Parish and their fight for justice in the aftermath of the 2010 BP Oil Spill. The film was acquired by ARRAY and is currently available on The Urban Movie Channel. In 2017, Nailah was nominated for a National Magazine Ellie award for directing Essence Magazine’s Black Girl Magic Episode 4. Nailah’s first narrative film, Plaquemines, was awarded the inaugural Create Louisiana $50k Short Film grant. It was chosen as an American Black Film Festival HBO Shorts finalist and is currently available on HBO platforms. Nailah’s current work includes the documentary Commuted. The film has received support from Chicken & Egg, ITVS, Black Public Media and Firelight Media.

Darcy McKinnon produces documentaries; her most recent release is Suzannah Herbert’s Natchez, premiering at Tribeca 2025, scheduled for broadcast on Independent Lens in 2026. Other credits include A King Like Me, Roleplay, Commuted, Algiers, America, Under G-d, Look at Me: XXXTENTACION, and The Neutral Ground.