Biography
Ramfis Myrthil is a New York-based filmmaker known for bringing a city-honed work ethic to film and media. He has built his reputation by producing films featuring people of color, women, and the LGBTQ community, consistently emphasizing themes of passion and integrity. Ramfis began his career with his first short film, Love and the Small Print (2012), which premiered at the 65th Annual Cannes Film Festival and was subsequently acquired by Shorts International for global distribution. He then produced the music video "Any Other Way" for the iconic rock band The Zombies. Following this, Ramfis contributed to the feature film A Boy, A Girl, and A Dream (2018), which debuted at Sundance and was released theatrically by Samuel Goldwyn Films. As a co-founder of Beast of the East Productions, Ramfis established a strong portfolio as a producer. His acclaimed feature Cicada (2021) has won multiple international film festival awards and was picked up by Strand Releasing for North American distribution. The film secured theatrical releases in the UK, Poland, Germany, Switzerland, France, and Ireland in spring 2022 and earned an Independent Spirit Award nomination that same year. More recently, Ramfis achieved success with 5150 (2021), a project spotlighting mental illness in the Black community, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival Creators Market and was executive produced alongside David Oyelowo. He serves as an advisor for the Sundance Film Institute’s Collab producing program, where he supports diverse filmmakers, advances projects in development, and champions independent storytelling. Additionally, Ramfis co-founded the Hyphen Grant, a program dedicated to funding, developing, and promoting Caribbean filmmakers and the broader film industry across the Caribbean and West Indies.
Ramfis has garnered numerous honors for his contributions and mentorship in the industry. He was named to Stars’ 2018 40 Under 40 list and has participated as a panelist at various film festivals. He frequently speaks, advises, and mentors at renowned events including the Cannes Film Festival, the UK’s Raindance, South by Southwest, and the British Film Institute. Currently, he is co-president of the Black TV & Film Collective, where he advocates for greater Black representation in film and television. Ramfis pairs his passion for filmmaking with a commitment to educating emerging creators. He has judged the 2018 BAFTA Student Film Awards, served on the Program Advisory Committee at Five Towns College, and regularly lectures at institutions such as NYU, Columbia University, Hofstra University, and historically Black colleges and universities nationwide. As an adjunct professor at Five Towns College, he teaches Advanced Producing to upcoming filmmakers. Ramfis also volunteers with organizations including Mythic Bridge, The Parity Project, The "I Can Still Do That" Foundation, Teach for America, Schools That Can, Hofstra University’s Youth Film Day, and Blacks on Wall Street. He mentors students nationwide through NPower, a nonprofit assisting young graduates in entering the professional world. He maintains active memberships with BAFTA NY, Toastmasters International, SEC Roughriders, and serves on the boards of The Long Island Film and TV Foundation and the Hollywood Radio & Television Society (HRTS). Ramfis is proud to announce that his latest short film, RICKY (2022), will premiere at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. This event will also mark the launch of his new production company, Ramfis Productions, which is dedicated to Caribbean filmmakers and committed to uplifting BIPOC, women-led, and queer stories worldwide.
