By Genoa Barrow | OBSERVER Senior Staff Writer

His name could very well join the likes of Spike Lee, Robert Townsend, Ryan Coogler and John Singleton. Local filmmaker Airric Qualls is putting in the work to see his cinematic dreams to fruition. Qualls’ work has been featured in a number of film festivals and is teased online through social media.​​ His short films range from humorous to poignant.

Qualls was featured in The OBSERVER in August 2023 in a story about an annual showcase, Cine Soul. Part of the California Film Festival, Cine Soul presents short films produced from a Black lens. The OBSERVER article gave him more local prominence and led to more independent film opportunities. He has since co-founded a business, AK Film Group, creating experimental micro short films, which has been well-received by the Sacramento and Bay Area film communities.

“We create experimental micro short films and we’ve gotten a lot of love and support from Sacramento and the Bay Area film community for our work,” Qualls says.

Airicc Qualls recently attended the renowned Sundance Film Festival in Utah, an event he calls the “mecca of independent film.” Photo courtesy of Airric Qualls.
Airicc Qualls recently attended the renowned Sundance Film Festival in Utah, an event he calls the “mecca of independent film.” Photo courtesy of Airric Qualls.

January saw Qualls and his AK Film Group partner Pharoah T.K.E. Harrington co-hosting a film mixer with a Bay Area film organization called Cinemama.

“Being featured [in The OBSERVER] did light a fire for me to go harder,” Qualls says. “I’m very aggressive with my career. I don’t like waiting around for someone to give me an opportunity. I go make it happen.”

Qualls is an all-around creative who works behind the camera as a filmmaker, screenwriter, director and producer, as well as in front of it.

“Being in the local paper provided more local notoriety for me as an actor,” he says. “I was humbled by how much support that was given to me and more independent film opportunities presented itself to me. People will look for you to give you opportunities if they know you exist.”

EDITOR’S NOTE: In this “Familiar Faces” series, OBSERVER Senior Staff Writer Genoa Barrow catches up with community members to find out “Where Are You Now?”

Note: An earlier version of this story included a misspelling of Airric Qualls’s name.