704.777.5898 
Mediapreneur, Educator, Event Producer, Equity Builder
Tommy Lee Nichols a multi-talented creative, media and technology professional. who moved to Charlotte in 2009 has over twenty years of experience in technology, media, and community engagement. Nichols has managed multi-million dollar projects to include participation in a $10 million dollar district-wide computer and network integration project for the BDM/Dayton Public Schools; and the procurement of a $1.2 million dollar technology upgrade project for the Department of Defense. recipient of “The Business Journal’s 40 under 40, “The YMCA Achievers Awards, The Lifesaver award from Kennedy Charter school and recognized as a 2019 Charlotte Black History Maker. He has been featured on NBC, FOX, CBS the Charlotte Observer, Digital Journal, Market Watch, Charlotte Post, and Sophisticated Charlotte Magazines, just to name a few. His experience and reputation in technology, media, and business have made him a sought after, consultant, Speaker and Workshop Presenter. Tommy
My life work is to create empowering platforms and spaces for dope people to do amazing things - Tommy Nichols, CEO
2021 Impact & Year In Review
National Impact
Mr Nichols was hired by the NEA as a consultant to review and recommend grants to recipients across the United States. In 2020 - 2021 the house and Senate approved a budget of $162 million to the NEA.
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National Endowment for the Arts Supports the Arts with over $27.5 Million in Awards in First Round of FY2021 Funding
The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is the only arts funder in the United States—public or private—that provides access to the arts in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. jurisdictions. Each year, we award thousands of grants to provide everyone in the United States with diverse opportunities for arts participation.
Equity Impact
ABOUT CBFF
Welcome to the 12th annual Charlotte Black Film Festival. We proudly remain one of the Southeast’s largest gatherings of multi-cultural content producers, thought provokes, and creative innovators.
Our mission is to create economic empowerment for, heighten awareness of, promote the significance and need for African American cinema and be a voice for independent filmmakers of color.
Charlotte Black Film Festival Announces Streaming Platform for African American Creators to Showcase Their Work.
Read more: https://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/charlotte-black-film-festival-announces-streaming-platform-for-african-american-creators-to-showcase-their-work
Get cozy and watch a movie — or 100 — at this year’s Charlotte Black Film Festival
Read more at: https://www.charlotteobserver.com/entertainment/arts-culture/article251819553.html#storylink=cpy
Panel Discussions, Workshops and Filmmakers Meet & Greet
Studio Distribution Partnerships
The 11th Charlotte Black Film Festival selected best virtual even. in 2021 by Queen City Nerve
ART Impact
As a creative Mr. Nichols wanted to create a platform for independent artist and therefore create the inaugural Queen City Arts Festival. The Festival happened Labor Day weekend at University City Boardwalk Saturday, September 4, 2021, to Sunday, September 5, 2021. We paid over $20,000.00 to 20 artist and staff from around North Carolina. Big thanks to our partners, The Arts and Science Council, University City Partners, North Carolina Arts Council, and District 4 Councilwomen Renee Johnson. This 2-day event celebrated the best in Art, Culture, history and Music. We also had 24 vendors who celebrated their success over the two day event.
Youth Empowerment & Skill Training in
Entrepreneurship, Coding, Film & Gaming
Power Up USA is the leader in providing art, media, science and technology education to in and out of school youth and low-income adults. We provide on-site training for youth-based organizations, after schools programs, summer camps and consulting services. our Summer Camp and After School Program Sponsored by Culture Blocks.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDvbXyBE4WM
Economic upward mobility through film production & technology
Empowering African American content Creator in the Carolinas and beyond.
The Carolina Black Film Collective was started in 2011 as a network for African American creatives in Film, Music, New Media and Technology; to engage in conversations host Film Screenings, Workshops, Industry leaders and provide a platform for collaboration, and grow economically in the North and South Carolina.
https://charlotteblackfilmfestival.com/cbfc/
Film Premiere Partnerships
Mecklenburg County Impact
Our mission is to provide facilities and education that welcome and accommodate individuals to create and submit programming that expresses diverse opinions, talents, activities and interests in the Charlotte metropolitan area through non-commercial open access television.
https://www.tvaccess21.com/index.html
Tommy Nichols was appointed to the TV 21 CMPAC board of directors by the Mayor of Charlotte and has been board chair from 2019 to present.
The Charlotte Mecklenburg Public Access Corporation (CMPAC) is a private, non-profit corporation that was incorporated in May of 2000 for the purpose of operating the public access channel (Access 21) on the Spectrum cable system serving Mecklenburg County and the City of Charlotte.
Regional Impact
Mr Nichols is a co-founding organizing member of IMAS
Born from a national Independent Media Arts collective created by Sundance Institute and the National Endowment for the Arts, Indie Media Arts South is a regional organization working to support and uplift filmmakers and arts organizations across the greater south.
“Connecting artists across the south”
https://www.imasouth.org/
The New Orleans Second Line Film Festival is produced by Tommy Nichols. who also producers the South Carolina Cultural Film Festival, Queen City Arts Festival and The Charlotte Black Film Festival. After participating in the New Orleans cultural scene and serving as TV producer for the Real Caregivers of New Orleans, Tommy fell in love with the people of the city. As a result, he wanted to create a platform for independent filmmakers, preserve and promote the culture and history of the Second Line through Dance, Fashion, Film, and Music.
Tommy Filmworks was hired to produce, direct & stream the 7th annual "My Sister's Keepers Awards " for the National Coalition of 100 Black Women Inc.-Queen City Metropolitan Chapter
Tommy Filmworks produced the Christmas film screening of "
"Black Nativity"@
"The Ritz at Washington Height"
Tommy was hired by Atlanta based “South Arts” as the moderator for the documentary “Mother Universe”. Southern Circuit screenings are funded in part by a grant from South Arts, a regional arts organization, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. For more information about Southern Circuit and South Arts, please visit www.southarts.org
The NC Film Forum TONIGHT We’re talking all about NC Film Festivals, specifically.
Mary Dossinger: Program Manager at the RiverRun International Film Festival
Sadie Tillery: Interim Festival Director & Artistic Director at the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival
Sally Causey Bloom: Co-director at the Longleaf Film Festival
Tommy Nichols: Founder at Charlotte Black Film Festival
The NC Film Forum is a partnership between Cucalorus and the UNCW Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
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