The first trailer for Old Gray Mare has arrived, giving audiences a chilling and deeply moving look at Courtney Glaudé’s latest short film ahead of its premiere at the 2025 American Black Film Festival (ABFF) in Miami.
Featuring a powerful cast—Charnele Brown (A Different World), Devale Ellis (Sistas), Larissa Dali, and Tyler Lepley (Harlem, P-Valley)—Old Gray Mare captures the intimate devastation of watching a loved one’s memory slip away. The short film centers on Steven and Robin, a couple fresh off a relaxing cruise, who stop by Eileen’s home only to be confronted with a new, harrowing reality. What begins as seemingly harmless forgetfulness becomes impossible to ignore, revealing the raw truth of dementia’s quiet devastation.
Written and directed by Glaudé, Old Gray Mare is the latest from the award-winning Houston filmmaker whose resume includes The Reading starring Mo’Nique on BET+ and recent directing stints on Tyler Perry Studios’ Zatima and Ruthless. With an overall deal under Tyler Perry Studios, Glaudé is also developing his first feature film for the studio, A Love, a psychological thriller exploring the dark roots of domestic violence.
Known for blending social commentary with suspense-driven narratives, Glaudé brings that same emotional depth to Old Gray Mare. The film, which made its debut at the Atlanta Film Festival earlier this year, will continue its festival run with stops at the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival (MVAFF) and the BronzeLens Film Festival in Atlanta later this summer.
In the trailer, viewers catch glimpses of Eileen’s home transformed from a safe haven to a haunting reminder of what’s been lost. Brown’s and Lepley’s performances particularly stand out—grounding the film’s heartbreak in tender, lived-in performances.
With its honest, compassionate portrayal of a family navigating dementia’s quiet chaos, Old Gray Mare is poised to resonate deeply with audiences. The trailer doesn’t just promise a story—it promises an experience that feels all too real for many.
Catch the trailer now and prepare for Old Gray Mare as it continues its powerful festival run. Let me know if you’d like me to whip up some social captions or pull quotes from the trailer for your posts!