Tramell Tillman Receives Rising Star Award at PAFF Filmmaker Awards Brunch, Presented by Apple TV+

By Natalie McCarty

In a celebration of artistry, resilience, and rising talent, the Pan African Film + Arts Festival (PAFF) proudly honored Severance star Tramell Tillman with the Rising Star Award at its prestigious Filmmaker Awards Brunch, presented by Apple TV+. Held at Palm Sophia in Culver City, the event recognized Tillman’s undeniable talent and magnetic screen presence, cementing his place among past honorees who have shaped the industry through bold storytelling and authentic representation.

Image Courtesy of The Hollywood Reporter

The PAFF Filmmaker Awards Brunch, hosted by Essence Atkins, was a morning dedicated to celebrating the power of storytelling. Speaking to a room filled with visionaries, Atkins reminded the audience, “It takes great audacity to be artists. It takes great strength to be vulnerable enough to be storytellers.” With an emphasis on independent filmmaking, she championed PAFF’s role in elevating groundbreaking creatives, adding, “Indie is where it’s at. And PAFF has the best creators.”

Presented by actress, producer, and Hollywood favorite Yvette Nicole Brown, the Rising Star Award is reserved for artists on the brink of superstardom—those whose work captivates, challenges narratives, and pushes creative boundaries. Tillman, known for his gripping performance as Mr. Milchek in Severance, has continued to make waves in the industry, proving himself a transformative force in entertainment. His performance is nuanced, and as Brown put it, as charismatic as it is tense. He’s magnetic, extraordinary, and impossible to ignore in the role.

Even better, Tillman is a fantastic human. Humble, kind, and exceptionally well-spoken, he is someone who deserves to be everywhere. It is very rare to meet someone in the industry as genuinely radiant as him.

I want him booked in every role. 

Image Courtesy of The Cut

Taking the stage with grace and conviction, Tillman delivered an acceptance speech that resonated deeply with the room. His words carried a call to action: one of responsibility, representation, and resilience.

“I don’t know if you realize this or not, but you have called me out by giving me this award. You have said to me, ‘Tramell, you are no longer a person who is going to sit by the wayside and allow someone else to tell your story. Instead, you are going to take a stand and bring people with you in order to uplift the voices that have not been heard.’”

He reflected on the difficulties of dreaming in uncertain times, acknowledging the courage it takes to step forward and claim space in an industry that often resists change.

“This task that you’ve given me here—you’ve asked me to dream forward. And I’ll tell you, it is very difficult in these times to dream at all. To have a sense of vision. To be brave enough to step forward and say that I am enough.”

But for Tillman, the award is not an endpoint. Instead, it’s a public commitment to creating safe spaces for all.

“I do not receive this award to rest on my laurels, but to make a public commitment to uplift our blessings. To provide safe spaces for everyone. Safe spaces for everyone. I’ll say it one more time: safe spaces for everyone—those who may not believe what you believe, who may not love the way you love, who may not stand the way you stand. I accept this challenge, and I hope that you all as a community will hold me up and continue to challenge me when I am not in the right frame.”

Tillman concluded with a nod to the beloved Severance, leaving the audience with a cryptic but humorous reference.

“Thank you so much. Thank you to Apple TV+ for this wonderful opportunity to spread my wings a little bit. And for those brothers who have pitched themselves to Apple TV+… I just want you to know—Lumon is listening.”

As PAFF continues its legacy of amplifying Black voices in film, Tillman’s Rising Star honor serves as a reminder of the power of authentic storytelling and the responsibility that comes with it. With his talent, conviction, and commitment to fostering change, Tramell Tillman is not just a rising star; he is a guiding light for the next generation of artists.

And if his words are any indication, he’s only just getting started.