Shine On: The Story of Tom Lee, short film
When the riverboat M.E. Norman capsized on May 8, 1925, Tom Lee was the first on the scene, saving the lives of 32 people in his small motorboat. Celebrated for his heroism, Tom Lee was honored after his death by the naming of Memphis's riverfront park in his honor. Produced by Last Bite Films. Written and scored by Amanzi Arnett Dowdy. Directed by Matteo Servente.
In 2021, Amanzi was awarded the Indie Memphis Screenwriting Fellowship for Black Memphis Filmmakers. The project, handpicked by notable filmmaker Numa Perrier, was a screenplay titled I’ll Fly Away about a Black Memphis family grappling with grief, loss, memory, and what haunts them in the wake of reconciliation.