A young man hopes that his father’s legacy of togetherness and creativity will continue to impact Memphis’ film community.
Kollin Coleman is the first-born son of Dellguan Coleman, the 2025 winner of WLOK’s Black Film Festival. Dellguan, was a director known for his projects such as Black n White and Staged and his advocacy for unity.
Dellguan Coleman entered two films in WLOK’s Festival earlier this summer, with Black n White winning. According to Dorrit Gilliam, COO of the Gilliam Foundation, the filmmakers were contacted about coming to the festival’s showing, which is when they found out that Dellguan had passed away.
WLOK then presented his family with the $1,000 prize, donated by the Memphis and Shelby County Film and Television Commission. Dellguan’s family then gave the money to Kollin.
“To be honest, I didn’t know who was going to win the film festival,” Kollin said. “For them to call my pops’ name, it was very surprising. It was a bittersweet moment. I had a lot of feelings in the moment.”
Kollin said the money itself doesn’t mean much to him. Kollin thought that his father cared about the benefits and praise of filmmaking, but in the wake of his passing, Kollin realized his father cared more about the message that his work conveyed.
“Whatver film he was shooting, he made sure it had a good, positive message to it,” Kollin said. “It’s no limit to where creativity can take and bring you.”
While Kollin Coleman saw his father’s impact first-hand, Dellguan’’s colleagues have also praised his work ethic, emphasizing the legacy he has left on his community.
“I didn’t realize the impact that he had on people with his films,” Kollin said. “It was something crazy at that moment.”
In a post remembering Dellguan, an Instagram user named Derrick Dean remembered him as not just a friend, but a “visionary filmmaker.”
“Dellguan truly had a one-of-a-kind spirit that will be deeply missed, but the legacy of his artistry will undoubtedly continue to inspire future generations of filmmakers and audiences alike,” Dean said.
Kollin said his father was always on the go, running multiple businesses, however his work was always reflective of his passion. He describes Black n White as a film about a Black rideshare driver who picks up a white passenger. The film focuses on the two discussing topics of race relations and how while each experiences life differently, they can still be brought together.
Kollin admitted that losing his father has been tough on him. As he’s been gathering his father’s memorabilia he’s reminded that anything is possible with dedication and fervor.
“Whatever you decide to put your mind to — [with] creativity, the passion, you can do it,” Kollin said.