OCTFME RECOGNIZES SAMUEL 'SAMI' MIRANDA AS THE JULY 2026 FILMMAKER OF THE MONTH

(Washington, DC) - The award-winning DC Office of Cable Television, Film, Music, and Entertainment (OCTFME) is proud to recognize filmmaker Samuel "Sami" Miranda as the July 2026 Filmmaker of the Month. A visual artist, poet, educator, and storyteller, Sami has spent more than three decades combining poetry and film to create space for people's names to be spoken and their stories to be remembered.

Raised in the South Bronx and now rooted in Washington, DC, Sami's entry into filmmaking came not from formal study but from an artistic desire to bring poetry and lived narratives to wider audiences.

"Sami Miranda embodies the spirit of Washington, DC's creative community...authentic, resilient, and deeply committed to elevating the stories that shape our city," said OCTFME Director and Film Commissioner LaToya Foster. "His work preserves histories that might otherwise be forgotten, and his artistry ensures that DC's cultural voice continues to resonate locally and globally. We are honored to celebrate him as our Filmmaker of the Month."

Sami serves as Executive Director of the American Poetry Museum in Northwest Washington, DC. He leads programming there and continues his multidisciplinary collaborations with musicians, filmmakers, and visual artists. He is the author of Protection from Erasure (Jaded Ibis Press), Departure (Central Square Press), and We Is (Zozobra Publishing), with Rewarding the Unhurried forthcoming from FlowerSong Press. His artwork has been exhibited nationally and internationally, including in Puerto Rico, Madrid, New York City, Washington, DC, and at the Smithsonian's Molina Family Latino Gallery's inaugural exhibition ¡Presente! A Latino History of the United States.

"This recognition means that the stories that I am telling are being recognized; it means that the work I am doing to make sure that people get their flowers is valued," said Sami.

His film credits include Hiding Place, Desert Poems, Jesus, and Spanish Joe Remembers, which he co-produced and co-directed. These works have screened at festivals across DC, Berlin, the Netherlands, Madrid, Houston, Bethesda, Seattle, and Milwaukee.

Sami's creative partnership with award-winning filmmaker Ellie Walton has become central to his filmmaking practice. Together, they develop films that document and uplift community-rooted stories. OCTFME is a proud sponsor of their DC free screening of May There Always Be Words Between Us on July 22, 2026, at 6:00 PM at downtown's MLK Memorial Library. RSVP: https://dclibrary.libnet.info/event/16825374

The documentary explores the legacy of Washington, DC's iconic open mic "It's Your Mug" and the community of poets and artists it helped shape.

Sami and Ellie's other current collaborative projects include:
• The Jim Crow Drowning of Kenneth Carroll - A historical film examining the 1952 drowning of Kenneth Francis Carroll at the segregated Rosedale Swimming Pool and the community-led fight for desegregation that followed. The story is framed through the poetry of his nephew, who uncovered the history six decades later.

• Soy De La Nubes - A portrait of Baruk, a photographer and community builder navigating life after forced deportation. Through photography and poetry, the film follows his return to California for the first time in more than a decade and explores themes of identity, migration, and resilience.

OCTFME continues to celebrate the local creatives who shape the District's vibrant film and media landscape. Samuel Miranda's commitment to stories rooted in DC, migration, resilience, memory, and cultural identity reflects the heart of the Filmmaker of the Month program.

Audiences can connect with Sami and explore his work on Instagram (@tres_raices_arts), YouTube (@tres_raices_arts), at www.samimiranda.com and, www.tresraicesfilms.com.

Click HERE to catch Samuel's exclusive DC Radio interview which airs on Friday, July 10, 2026 at 2:00 pm ET available on our SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify.

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About FILMMAKER OF THE MONTH
The Office of Cable Television, Film, Music, and Entertainment (OCTFME) launched the "Filmmaker of the Month" initiative as a vehicle for highlighting the talents and creative contributions of filmmakers that make the District of Columbia their home. The "Filmmaker of the Month" initiative is part of OCTFME's mission to elevate the national and international profile of the District's talented filmmakers.

***If you know of a filmmaker that would make a great future "Filmmaker of the Month," please send OCTFME recommendations using this nomination form.

About OCTFME
The Office of Cable Television, Film, Music and Entertainment (OCTFME), an award-winning District of Columbia Government agency, leads the city's extensive efforts to build and support a sustainable film, music, and entertainment creative economy and labor market. Additionally, OCTFME serves as the city's cable television service provider regulator and as the customer service hub for cable subscribers.

OCTFME's extensive portfolio includes:

• The District's government cable access channels District Council Channel (D.C.C), the District of Columbia Network (D.C.N), and the District Knowledge Network (DKN)
• D.C. Radio (96.3 HD4), OCTFME's owned and operated digital radio station, in partnership with Howard University's WHUR.
• District of Columbia Entertainment Network (D.C.E), OCTFME's 24-hour streaming platform available worldwide on ROKU, Apple TV, and Amazon Fire TV as well as iPhone and Android mobile devices (download the D.C.E Network App or at D.C.ENetwork.com).
• The handling of all of the District's filmmaker production needs including permits, city services, and logistical support, job placement assistance, workforce development and the D.C. Film, Television, and Entertainment Rebate Fund (D.C. Rebate Fund).
• Providing additional support to the creative community through the Creative Affairs Office (CAO) and Mayor Muriel Bowser Presents: 202Creates initiative. CAO showcases and preserves the District of Columbia's rich creative communities throughout all 8 Wards.

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