Baltimore filmmaker Iman DuPree is making noise on the international festival circuit. They debut feature, Zaire, took home Best LGBT Film at the Sweden Film Awards for March 2026 — and the film is just getting started.
Zaire centers on two remote workers navigating grief, loneliness, and an unexpected connection during the pandemic. Shot largely in black and white, the film follows Zaire and Marcus as workplace pressures and personal loss push them toward each other in ways neither saw coming. DuPree also voices a supporting character, Jamar.
Leading the film is Carmen Banks, known to the culture from The Miss Pat Show, WandaVision, and The Game. Banks not only stars as Zaire but also produced the project. Her co-lead, Benji, steps into the role of Marcus. The supporting cast includes Baltimore-based Venus Kii Thomas, Aaron Davis, Miera Corey, India Ford, Janice Davis, and Johnathan Mitchell-Dixon — a deliberately diverse ensemble that includes queer and ally talent from across the country.
The film was independently produced by The Iman DuPree Arthouse, a collective of five artists and community organizers, and was funded in part by the Maryland State Arts Council. It clocks in at 75 minutes and was shot from fall 2025 through February 2026.
Actress Amiyah Scott (STAR, Operation: Aunties) had this to say: “Great representation with a stellar cast. Touching, funny and REAL. A must watch!!”
Beyond Sweden, Zaire has already landed selections in the UK through the International Celebration of Cinema, the Mega Movie Awards, and the Global Indie Filmmaker Awards. The film is eyeing festival runs in South Korea, South Africa, Australia, Brazil, Canada, and domestically across the U.S.
The Best LGBT Film monthly winners will compete in Sweden Film Awards’ annual competition on May 30, 2026 at the Saga Cinema.
Audiences can pre-order Zaire now at irisofiman.org for early access ahead of its release.