Megan “Megz” Trufant Tillman is a writer-musician-director from the 7th Ward of New Orleans. Her debut short film little trumpet (2022), a 7th Ward coming-of-age story – which she wrote, directed, and scored – has won jury awards for Best Narrative Short (Bushwick Film Festival), Best Cinematography (Tacoma Film Festival), Best Louisiana Short (New Orleans Film Festival), and Best African-American Directed Short (Phoenix Film Festival). Her artistic practice extends beyond filmmaking: she’s one half of jazz/neosoul/hip hop outfit Magna Carda, and founder and editor of WATER, a Black literary and arts magazine. Additionally, she’s written for the music video “Fight For You” by H.E.R., and Amazon’s H.E.R. Prime Day episode.
Megz is the recipient of the 2024 Black Creators Forum Pitch Rally prize for her project THE BIRTHDAY SONG (in development). She is currently working on her forthcoming short film, NEWBIES, a Black queer coming of age story set in Brooklyn. Her work centers Black life, Black culture, and the Black South.