Thicker Than Blood

The first in a three-part film series, Thicker Than Blood tells the story of the youngest of two sons who returns home for the first time in three years to celebrate his older brother’s promotion to partner in his law firm. During what’s supposed to be a joyous afternoon of family, friends, and food, secrets are revealed, masks are uncovered, and some things are said that can’t be taken back.

A once tight-knit family is left broken and faced with the task of trying to figure out how to pick up the pieces and put them back together before losing each other forever.

  • Anthony L. Williams
    Director
    Absolutely Positive
  • Anthony L. Williams
    Writer
    Absolutely Positive
  • Anthony L. Williams
    Producer
    Absolutely Positive
  • Nicole Beckwith (Consulting Producer)
    Producer
  • Douglas K. Griffin (Consulting Producer)
    Producer
  • Tony Bravado
    Key Cast
    "Richie Jr. "
    Let's Stay Together (Tyler Perry), Survivor's Remorse, Sindustry
  • Kevin Boles, Jr.
    Key Cast
    "Jordan"
    Redskins, Metropolitan, Distracted by Love
  • Christina Smith
    Key Cast
    "Marilyn"
  • Thom McKinney
    Key Cast
    "Richard Sr. "
    Door to Door, Walk Through the Valley, Morningside
  • Destiny Diamond McNeill
    Key Cast
    "Selena"
  • Florencio Martinez
    Key Cast
    "Cameron"
  • Carol McKenith
    Key Cast
    "Rhonda"
    Chicago Med (NBC), Outer Banks (Netflix), Till
  • Project Type:
    Feature
  • Genres:
    Drama, Public Health, LGBT, Religion, HIV, AIDS, African American, Love, Black Stories, BIPOC
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 15 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    February 1, 2017
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital, Sony A7S
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Positive Living Conference
    Ft. Walton Beach, FL
    United States
    August 27, 2022
  • Silicon Valley African Film Festival
    Silicon Valley, CA
    United States
    October 9, 2021
  • Delta Phi Upsilon Fraternity, Inc
    Houston, TX
    United States
    April 30, 2022
  • Impulse Group Chicago: An AIDS Healthcare Foundation Affinity Group
    Chicago, IL
    United States
    February 19, 2022
  • Southern AIDS Coalition (SAC) Black History Month/NBHAAD
    Virtual
    February 26, 2021
  • Chicago Filmmakers - Spirit of Chicago Fest
    Chicago, IL
    United States
    December 14, 2020
  • Atlanta Black Pride Film Festival
    Atlanta, GA
    United States
    September 5, 2020
    Georgia Premiere
    Official Selection
  • 17th Annual African Diaspora Film Festival
    New York
    United States
    December 7, 2019
    New York City
    Official Selection
  • 10th Annual Arlington International Film Festival
    Arlington, MA
    United States
    November 7, 2019
    Massachusetts
    Best Feature Film
  • Silicon Valley African Film Festival
    San Jose, CA
    United States
    October 4, 2019
    Finalist
  • Newark International Film Festival
    Newark, NJ
    United States
    September 4, 2019
    New Jersey
    Best Director in a Feature Film
  • OUTSOUTH Queer Film Festival / 24th North Carolina Gay & Lesbian Film Festival
    Durham, NC
    United States
    August 15, 2019
    Official Selection
  • 17th Annual NY African Diaspora Film Festival
    Chicago, IL
    United States
    June 27, 2019
    Chicago Premiere
    Official Selection
  • KBDB3 - Public Screening
    Cary, NC
    United States
    June 30, 2019
  • Alexandria, VA Public Health Dept - Public Screening
    Alexandria, VA
    United States
    May 1, 2019
  • 27th Annual Pan African Film Festival
    Los Angeles
    United States
    February 8, 2019
    California Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Carrboro Film Festival
    Carrboro, NC
    United States
    November 18, 2017
    Official Selection
  • GayCharlotte Film Festival
    Charlotte, NC
    United States
    June 3, 2017
    Official Selection
  • The Hollywood Theater - Public Screening
    Portland, OR
    United States
    February 26, 2017
    NW USA, Oregon
  • Eastern Carolina University
    Greenville, NC
    United States
    February 19, 2017
  • Us Helping Us Organization
    Washington DC
    United States
    February 18, 2017
  • Univ. of NC Chapel Hill
    Chapel Hill, NC
    United States
    February 8, 2017
  • Wake Forest University
    Winston Salem, NC
    United States
    February 8, 2017
  • Univ. of Illinois - Springfield
    Springfield, IL
    United States
    February 8, 2017
  • Benson Tower, LGBT Center of New Orleans
    New Orleans, LA
    United States
    February 8, 2017
  • Mansfield Technical College
    Mansfield, LA
    United States
    February 7, 2017
  • The Philadelphia Center
    Shreveport, LA
    United States
    February 7, 2017
  • Winston Salem University
    Winston Salem, NC
    United States
    February 7, 2017
  • Johnson C. Smith New Science Center
    Charlotte, NC
    United States
    February 7, 2017
  • The Cary Theater
    Cary, NC
    United States
    February 1, 2017
    North Carolina Premiere
  • The Best of the Best of the LGBTQ Fest Fest
    Palm Springs, CA
    United States
    August 12, 2019
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Anthony L. Williams

A native of Little Rock, Arkansas and founder of Second Glance Productions, Anthony Williams is an actor and award-winning director, writer, and producer living in Chicago.
​
His award-winning short film, Absolutely Positive, claimed the award for "Best Director" and took home a nominations for "Best Dramatic Short Film," "Best Actor," and "Best Actress" at the World Music & Independent Film Festival in Washington DC in 2013. ABPOZ also earned a personal invitation to the National HIV/AIDS Strategy Initiative at the White House in 2013. Now developed as a scripted series, the pilot for Absolutely Positive advanced as a Quarterfinalist in the 2020 TSL Screenplay Contest.
​
His directorial-debut feature film, Thicker Than Blood, has garnered him awards for "Best Director in a Feature Film" at the Newark International Film Festival in New Jersey and "Best Narrative Feature Film" at the Arlington International Film Festival in Boston in 2019. TTB has screened at numerous film festivals, public events, and private screenings hosted by community-based LGBT and African-American nonprofits, HBCUs, medical organizations, and state and local health departments in nearly 20 major cities across the country.
​
In addition to freelancing for networks such as HGTV, National Geographic, A&E, and MTV, Williams has developed and produced digital content for social media and nonprofit organizations, combining the art and creativity of storytelling with the realms of education.
​
When he's not working, you'll typically find Anthony whipping and burning in the kitchen, goofing around with his dog Dax, or trying to find more ways to get outside (when it's not subzero below negative zero out!). He enjoys traveling, aimlessly driving through the country, and to this day, still swears up and down he's going to be the next pop/rock icon (as he nurses newly sore fingers from teaching himself the acoustic).

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