by FilmInk Staff
Nyikina creatives Madison Prince and Sam Cook take Indigenous storytelling global with their LA Shorts selection for LEE.
In a monumental achievement for First Nations representation on the global stage, LEE, the directorial debut from Nyikina writer and director Madison Prince, has been officially selected for the 30th annual LA Shorts International Film Festival. Adding to the historic milestone, the film’s Executive Producer and Producer, Sam Cook, is also a proud Nyikina woman, marking a profound and powerful win for First Nations Australia in Hollywood.
LA Shorts ranks among the largest and most prestigious short film festivals in the world. As a rare quadruple-qualifying event for the Academy Awards® (OSCAR), BAFTA, the Canadian Screen Awards (ACCT), and Spain’s GOYA Awards, the festival is a proven springboard for cinematic greatness. To date, 69 LA Shorts alumni have earned Academy Award® nominations, with 18 taking home the Oscar.
A Visionary Debut: The Story of LEE
Written and directed by Madison Prince and produced alongside Sam Cook and Boima Anderson, LEE takes audiences into the golden era of music.
Synopsis: From the golden era of music, blind Grammy-nominated Lee Garrett rose to prominence as a performer, songwriter, and visionary without sight, his name etched into history through hits with Stevie Wonder, The Spinners, and Motown’s greatest. A story of triumph against the odds, LEE explores the price of success, the resilience of creativity, and the unbreakable spirit of a man who refused to fade away… Even when the record has stopped.
The film features stunning cinematography by Jairo “70mm” Cruz, location scouting by Cook and Prince, composition by O.I.AM Music, and filmed at Squeak E Clean Studios Los Angeles in Hollywood.
Amplifying First Nations Voices Internationally
Based between Los Angeles and Australia, Madison Prince and Sam Cook are among the co-founders of the United Stages Collective—the first U.S. based collective of Blak creatives dedicated to amplifying the untold stories of Australia through screen and the arts.
Following the success of LEE, Prince and Cook are already expanding their cinematic footprint. Their debut feature film, Objector, which explores themes of legacy and cultural identity, is currently in development. Additionally, their limited television series, Band B, a dramedy following a dysfunctional backing band in early 2000s Los Angeles, is also in active development.
Joining a legacy of Hollywood Greats
By screening at LA Shorts, Prince joins an elite alumnus of past festival filmmakers and honorees, including Jon Favreau, Sofia Coppola, Tim Burton, David Lynch, Scarlett Johansson, and Taika Waititi.
The 29th annual LA Shorts International Film Festival will take place from July 30 – August 12, 2026 in Los Angeles. LEE will be screened at the Laemmle NOHO in North Hollywood, on August 1 at 3:15pm, under Program 11, with a Q&A to follow. The festival will also feature an Opening Night Red Carpet Premiere, exclusive Industry Sessions, and the Closing Night Awards.
About the Filmmakers |
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Madison Prince (Writer/Director/Editor): A Black and First Nations Australian filmmaker from the Nyikina Nation of Western Australia. A powerful creative voice bridging continents, her credits include commercial collaborations with Nike and narrative work spanning film and television. Sam Cook (Executive Producer/Producer): A Nyikina woman, championing Indigenous stories and commercial excellence on the international stage. |
