Tamika Lamison

Tamika Lamison (born May 26, 1969) is an American filmmaker, writer, director, producer, actress, and humanitarian known for founding the Make A Film Foundation (MAFF), a nonprofit organization that helps children with serious medical conditions create short films. Born in Virginia, she won Miss Black Virginia in 1990.

She directed and produced the 2024 short film Superman Doesn't Steal, which received recognition at several festivals and award platforms. The film was acknowledged at the NAACP Image Awards, screened at the Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles, and also shown during the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. Lamison participated in the Miss Black Virginia1990 pageant, which she won. Her film, television and plays credits includes "Last Life", "Shear Madness" at the Kennedy Center in Washington. and serving as a writer and supervising producer for the television series "Monogamy".

Lamison's first screenplay, "The Jar By The Door," was a Sundance Finalist and won the Gordon Parks Indie Film Award, which carried a $10,000 cash prize. She later used the award prize money to relocate to Los Angeles.

Make A Film Foundation

In 2006, Lamison founded the Make A Film Foundation (MAFF), a nonprofit organization that grants film wishes to children with serious or life-threatening medical conditions by teaming them with noted actors, writers, and directors to create short film legacies. MAFF has produced over 100 short films through its Short Narrative Program and Vidz 4 Kidz Short Documentary Program.

Notable projects include "The Magic Bracelet," written by Rina Goldberg and adapted by Diablo Cody, featuring actors such as Bailee Madison and Hailee Steinfeld and "Deep Blue Breath," written by Clay Beabout and starring Sean Astin and Ernie Hudson.

Superman Doesn't Steal and awards success (2024–present)

In 2024, Lamison wrote and directed the coming-of-age short drama film Superman Doesn't Steal.

Inspired by true events, the film explores themes of Black ownership and takes place during the tragic era of the 1970s Atlanta child murders. It resonated deeply with audiences and made its way to several film festivals, including the Cleveland International Film Festival and the Tallahassee Film Festival.

In 2024, Superman Doesn't Steal'' received multiple nominations and won seven awards. It was also honored with the Outstanding Short Form award at the 56th NAACP Image Awards, held in 2025. In February 2018, Lamison publicly accused Hollywood talent manager Vincent Cirrincione of sexual misconduct. She alleged that in 1996, at the age of 27, she met Cirrincione at a Tony Awards dinner. He invited her to his hotel suite for an audition, during which he took a phone call from Halle Berry and put it on speakerphone. Lamison claimed that while she was performing a poem, Cirrincione grabbed and kissed her, then propositioned her by stating he would represent her if she agreed to have sex with him whenever he wanted. She rejected his advances and left the suite.

Miss Black Virginia Pageant Concerns In the early 1990s, Lamison, who held the title of Miss Black Virginia 1990, voiced concerns about the management of the pageant. She reported being frequently asked to solicit funds for the organization without transparency on how the money was used. Lamison also stated that two years after winning, she had not received the full prize money promised. She took action by sending numerous complaint letters to businesses, seeking accountability from the pageant organizers.

Filmography

Film / TV

Short films / Documentaries

Awards and recognition