Fusion Entertainment Signs Ryan DeForeest to Develop Feature From Short "My Brother & Me"
Fusion Entertainment has signed writer-director Ryan DeForeest and started developing a feature-length version of his short film My Brother & Me, according to Variety, which reported the news on 23 October 2026.
"Development" is the early stage of a film, when the story, team and financing are put together before any cameras roll. The company has not yet named a cast, and the feature's title will change. Casting and the new title are due to be announced at a later date.
The short began as a festival film. It premiered at the 2024 American Black Film Festival, and it went on to screen at the Micheaux Film Festival, the Oak Park Black Film Festival and NewFilmmakers Los Angeles. Zechariah Eubanks played Malik and Alexander Bello played Terrence.
The story follows two brothers who plan to rob their distant father of child support money he owes them. Child support is money a parent pays towards a child's upkeep after the family has separated. MovieMaker described the film as a coming-of-age story built around that plan.
The short also collected awards attention. It was nominated for outstanding short form (live action) at the 56th NAACP Image Awards, the ceremony run by the civil rights organisation NAACP. It also picked up 2026 Best of NFMLA Awards nominations for best short film (drama) and best cinematography, with NFMLA referring to New Filmmakers Los Angeles.
Fusion's co-founder Chris Evans will produce the feature alongside Adam Kersh, with Lexx Truss also producing. Two members of the short's crew are coming back for the longer version. Cinematographer Sade Ndya, who shoots the picture, and composer Evan Wright, who writes its music, will return.
Short films rarely move straight into feature development, so this project has taken a path many filmmakers hope for but few reach. For DeForeest, the next step is turning a short about two brothers and one missing father into a film that can fill a whole evening. Fusion has not said when that film will be shot or released.
