Lincoln Motion Picture Company, the country’s oldest Black motion picture company, is finally stepping into a new era. More than a century after its founding, the historic film house is being revived for a new generation of modern Black storytelling.
But how do you turn a century-old film studio into something new? Director, writer and producer Brennan DuBose believes the answer lies in carrying forward Lincoln Motion Picture Company‘s original mission by showcasing the range of our humanity and highlighting the richness of our experiences. Before looking at where Lincoln Motion is headed, the history behind it tells the real story.
Founded in 1916, this Black-owned film production company was created by and for African Americans during a time when Hollywood reduced Black folks to stereotypes, or left them out of the picture altogether. More than a century later, DuBose—known for “Death to A Creative” (2024) and “Happy” (2025)—is reclaiming the historic company as Lincoln Motion, leveraging its 110-year legacy to launch a new chapter in Black filmmaking.
How the Racist Film “The Birth of a Nation” Inspired Lincoln Motion Pictures
“The Birth of a Nation” was a box-office hit in 1915, but its vicious racist portrayal of Black Americans sparked fierce backlash and nationwide protests. The film made abundantly clear what was at stake when Black people had no control over their representation on screen. The following year, brothers and Black filmmakers Noble and George Perry Johnson set out to change that, creating pictures that challenged Hollywood’s stereotypes and reflected the depth and dignity of Black life. That mission led to the founding of Lincoln Motion Picture Company in 1916, the first Black-owned film company and the first independent film production company in America.
“These two brothers took it upon themselves to change the narrative and show African Americans in a positive light and full humanity. Films showing us in love, dressed to the nines,” DuBose said. “It was really important to showcase Black life in a way that hadn’t been done before.”
That need to capture the depth, diversity and complexity of Black life hasn’t disappeared. Black people telling Black stories remains just as relevant in 2026 and beyond, and DuBose’s Lincoln Motion is picking up that torch to help shape the future of Black cinema.
Black Filmmakers Took Control of the Narrative
While early Hollywood celebrated “The Birth of a Nation”—a film that portrayed Black men as violent, glorified the Ku Klux Klan and painted Reconstruction as a period of Black rule that needed to be defeated—Noble and George Johnson were working on something radically different.
In “The Trooper of Troop K,” a young man named Joe enlists in the U.S. Army’s all-Black Tenth Cavalry and becomes a war hero. Produced by the pioneering motion picture company, the film, alongside “The Law of Nature” (1916), “The Realization of a Negro’s Ambition” (1916) and “By Right of Birth” (1921)—a direct response to “The Birth of a Nation”—portrayed Black people as heroic, brave and empowered despite their circumstances. These films directly countered the racist stereotypes of cowardice and subservience that dominated Hollywood. DuBose seeks to follow in those footsteps, carrying that same commitment to portraying modern Black excellence in all its forms.
“We all have a range of who we are. The opportunity of film is to showcase that full range,” DuBose said. “Especially in today’s society, people not only want to see themselves, but they want to see the versatility in Black experiences.”
From Legacy to the Future — Reviving Lincoln Motion
Reviving Lincoln Motion isn’t just about reclaiming a historic name. It’s about raising the bar for African American filmmaking. That means conducting deep research to create fully realized characters we can feel, prioritizing accuracy and creating entertainment that highlights the beauty, complexity and richness of Black perspectives, unapologetically.
“We believe in accuracy. We believe in the partnership of research and film. Many people on my team are PhDs. We’re partnering with academic institutions across the United States,” DuBose said. “What does it mean to be both academic and creative? What does it mean to bridge those two to make sure we can bring forth a story that is beautiful, entertaining and engaging, as well as educate and initiate different conversations?”
Lincoln Motion is already bringing that vision to life. Its first short film, “The Barber,” is set to premiere at the Black Harvest Film Festival in Chicago. Three additional short films are in production, with plans to enter the film festival circuit in 2027, building momentum for what comes next for this historic revival.
“I just think that it’s a blessing to be able to do this,” DuBose expressed. “This is truly a blessing. I’m just grateful.”
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