Los Angeles’ one-of-a-kind celebration of storytelling and self-care is back. WalkGood LA will host the 3rd annual FilmGood Festival — the nation’s first and only film and wellness festival — from november 6–9, 2025 at The WalkGood Yard in Los Angeles.
Founded by actor, filmmaker, and wellness leader Etienne Maurice, FilmGood was created to uplift underrepresented storytellers while nurturing the mental, emotional, and physical well-being of creatives. What began as a community wellness movement born out of 2020’s racial justice protests has evolved into a national cultural force. Through WalkGood LA, Maurice and his siblings, Ivy Coco Maurice and Marley Ralph, have built a space where art, healing, and activism converge — and FilmGood is the embodiment of that mission.
This year holds special significance for Maurice. The festival’s closing day also marks his 12-year sobriety anniversary, a milestone following a life-altering journey that includes surviving a near-fatal car accident and a gunshot wound. Doctors once doubted he’d walk again. Instead, he healed, trained, ran a 5K, became a licensed yogi, and built a movement dedicated to community care.
‘I started FilmGood because I wanted our community to have a festival that not only celebrates our stories but also takes care of the storytellers,’ Maurice says. ‘So many of us are chasing the next project, but we rarely pause to ask how we’re actually doing. You can’t pour into your art if you haven’t poured into yourself.’
Alongside festival leadership, Maurice continues building his acting career — including a second holiday film releasing this november alongside Loretta Devine, his mother’s original ‘Dreamgirls’ co-star.
What to Expect at FilmGood 2025
FilmGood blends screenings, creative education, and wellness programming across four days, including:
- Short & feature screenings
- Filmmaker Q&As and industry panels
- Yoga, sound baths, and meditation sessions
- Creative workshops & community conversations
- Networking mixers and cultural activations
This year’s lineup includes sessions with notable creatives and executives such as:
- Raamla Mohamed (‘Reasonable Doubt’)
- Deniese Davis (‘Insecure,’ ColorCreative)
- Morgan Cooper (‘Bel-Air’)
- Chester Gregory (actor and wellness facilitator)
Opening Night & Special Programming
Opening night features:
- Meditation and sound bath with Namaste Marley Rae and Ivy Coco
- ‘Hoops, Hopes & Dreams’ directed by Glenn Kaino, produced by the late Michael Latt
- A special 25th anniversary screening of ‘Love & Basketball’ with the African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA)
Closing Night Highlight: ‘Ricky’
The festival concludes with a screening of Sundance-winning drama ‘Ricky,’ starring Sheryl Lee Ralph and Stephan James and directed by Rashad Frett. The film follows a man navigating life after a 15-year prison sentence, examining reentry, healing, and resilience.
Live jazz by The Don Brown Collective and the FilmGood Awards ceremony will cap the night.
Community Impact Continues
In a nod to his Jamaican roots, Maurice announced that a portion of festival proceeds will support Hurricane Melissa relief efforts in Jamaica, following the storm’s recent devastation. WalkGood LA has already launched a fundraiser and will expand support through FilmGood.
Tickets and full programming: www.WalkGoodLA.org/FilmGood
