Justin Goodrum is an award-winning filmmaker whose work is redefining the power of storytelling in creating social change. As a director, producer, and writer, Justin has consistently focused on stories that challenge our assumptions and broaden our understanding of the world.

Justin collaborated with NBC to direct and produce a short documentary on mental health disparities within Milwaukee’s Black community, a powerful exploration that has resonated with audiences and sparked vital conversations. His production company, Good Entertainment, was honored to present at the 2021 Culture, Health, and Wellbeing International Conference, further cementing the global impact of his work. 

In 2021, Justin was selected to participate in Firelight Media’s Groundwork Lab with his groundbreaking film, The Stigma of the Durag, which delves into his personal experience of being labeled a gang member for wearing a durag at a predominantly white college. This thought-provoking film premiered at the 2022 Milwaukee Film Festival, earning an Honorable Mention, and aired on Milwaukee PBS’s Black Nouveau in 2023.

For the past three years, Justin has been producing One Minute Remaining, an independent feature-length documentary that exposes the social and economic burdens of incarceration on women. Currently in post-production, this film aims for release in 2024 and promises to be a transformative narrative highlighting the overlooked impacts of the criminal justice system. In addition, Justin is in pre-production for his feature film, Christopher, which takes an innovative approach to tackling mental health disparities in the Black community through a familiar yet compelling genre.

Justin’s dedication to his craft and community has earned him a place in the 2023 Milwaukee Film Focus Finder Filmmaking Accelerator Program, as well as recognition as a 2024 Mary Nohl Fellow Emerging Artist. Most recently, Justin was named Milwaukee’s 2024 Artist of the Year, a testament to his relentless pursuit of change through film and his commitment to using storytelling as a tool for social impact and community empowerment.