Courtney Claude' Brings The Old Gray Mare to MVAAFF: Real Stories, Black Voices & Horror Twists

Courtney Claude' Brings The Old Gray Mare to MVAAFF: Real Stories, Black Voices & Horror Twists At the 23rd Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival (MVAAFF), filmmaker Courtney Claude' premiered his bold new project The Old Gray Mare, a film that merges community-centered storytelling with an unexpected horror twist. Known for crafting narratives grounded in reality, Claude' emphasizes that even when he ventures into the horror genre, the fear stems from lived experiences and authentic cultural dynamics—not fantasy alone. In his interview at MVAAFF, Claude shared how important it was for him, as a Black creative, to showcase his work on a stage that has long uplifted filmmakers of color. For him, the festival isn’t just a screening venue—it’s a platform where Black audiences engage directly with Black stories, offering immediate, honest feedback that validates or challenges the work. That direct connection, Claude explained, is critical for filmmakers shaping narratives that reflect their communities. Claude describes himself as a “baseline storyteller,” focused on weaving grounded tales that take audiences on an emotional journey while staying tethered to real-world truths. With The Old Gay Mare, he delivers both entertainment and reflection, infusing a layer of social commentary beneath the genre thrills. Viewers can expect a creative balance of suspense, surprise, and resonance, with stories rooted in familiar struggles and triumphs of community life. By bringing The Old Gray Mare to MVAAFF, Courtney Claude' underscores the festival’s reputation as a launchpad for authentic Black voices, innovative storytelling, and culturally impactful cinema. This film not only entertains but sparks conversation—highlighting how horror, when shaped by real-life themes, can challenge perceptions, reflect identity, and empower communities. Leave A Comment, Click Thumbs Up and remember to Ring The Bell For Notifications. ---------------------------------------Subscribe To Our Channel:-------------------------------------------------- https://www.youtube.com/user/mvfilmfestival?sub_confirmation=1 ---------------------------------------------Recommended playlist:------------------------------------------------ https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwV5mtnzyXXo31Y6uRuudPP4g2KpCCp5O https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwV5mtnzyXXop6WIfgC15biHbRc2LgJ0d https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwV5mtnzyXXpHMsGDYHue1tSwcwhtOH2a https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwV5mtnzyXXq4Mg3cb_g3aCtqGvqrBuNz ----------------------------------------Follow us on Social Media-------------------------------------------------- #MVAAFF #SummersFinestFilmFestival Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/runandshootfilmworks/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/mvfilmfestival Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mvaaff/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/mvfilmfestival -----------------------------------------------About MVAAFF------------------------------------------------------------ About Martha’s Vineyard African-American Film Festival Established in 2002, the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival (MVAAFF) is an Academy-Award® accredited Black Film Festival where independent and established African American filmmakers can showcase, screen and promote emerging feature, documentary, and short films from across the world. The brainchild of husband and wife team, Floyd and Stephanie Rance, the MVAAFF provides a nurturing environment for African American filmmakers to test their creativity, while providing sponsors a captive audience to promote their brands among a highly discerning community of people of color. ---------------------------------About Run&Shoot Filmworks---------------------------------------------------- Run&Shoot Filmworks, producer of the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival (MVAAFF), is a film production company credited with creating outstanding visual work for several clients including HBO, Martell Cognac, Reebok, NBC Sports and Footlocker. For the past 18 years, Run&Shoot Filmworks has produced the MVAAFF with the primary goal of providing a positive environment where filmmakers can share their thoughts, ideas and aspirations with each other without judgement with the goal of supporting one another.