How America’s First Black-Owned Film Production Company Is Ushering in a New Era of Cinema

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? The Root caught up with Brennan DuBose, who believes the answer lies in carrying forward Lincoln Motion’s original mission by showcasing the range of our humanity and highlighting the richness of our experiences. But before we look at where Lincoln Motion is headed, let’s unpack the history that started it all.

Founded in 1916, this Black-owned film production company based in the United States 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. Now, more than a century later, director, writer and producer Brennan 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 embark on a riveting 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 cold-hearted, racist portrayal of Black Americans was anything but favorable, sparking fierce backlash and nationwide protests. The film made 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 the Lincoln Motion Picture Company in 1916, the first Black-owned film company and the first independent film production company in America.

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“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, [and] dressed to the nines,” DuBose told The Root. “It was really important to showcase Black life in a way that hadn’t been done before.”

Today, 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 was busy celebrating “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 dedicated to creating 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 positive response to “The Birth of a Nation” — portrayed Black people as profoundly heroic, brave, and empowered despite their circumstances, directly countering 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 told The Root. “Especially in today’s society, people not only want to see themselves, but they want to see the versatility in [Black] experiences,” he added.

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 in-depth research to create fully realized characters we can feel — like Smoke and Stack in Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners” (2026) — 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. We really do this,” DuBose doubled down. “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?”

“I just think that it’s a blessing to be able to do this,” DuBose expressed. “Look how blessed I am to be able to pour my passion into this work and lean into this in a way that not everybody gets a chance to. This is truly a blessing,” he reiterated. “I’m just grateful.”

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.