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CIRILO, A Legacy Untold

Born into poverty in Panama, Cirilo McSween's journey is one of defiance, resilience, and triumph over systemic barriers. Against the backdrop of Jim Crow America, McSween confronts entrenched racism while pursuing the elusive American Dream. From his arrival in the United States as an ambitious immigrant to his ascent as a trailblazing entrepreneur and civil rights activist, McSween’s life becomes a testament to the power of determination and community.

Through his tireless advocacy for equality and opportunity, McSween plays pivotal roles in shaping both Panama's identity and Chicago's civil rights landscape. A confidant of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a groundbreaking insurance executive, and a philanthropist dedicated to empowering underserved communities, McSween’s story bridges nations and generations.

This documentary short, Cirilo, A Legacy Untold, weaves together archival footage, personal anecdotes, and expert insights to illuminate a transformative figure who continues to inspire across the Americas.

  • Justin O'Shea Cooper
    Director
  • Justin O'Shea Cooper
    Writer
  • Justin O'Shea Cooper
    Producer
  • Ann Nesby
    Key Cast
    "Narrator"
    The Ms. Pat Show, Queen Sugar, Atlanta, The Fighting Temptations
  • Rev. Janette Wilson
    Key Cast
    "Interviewee (Self)"
  • Blanton Canady
    Key Cast
    "Interviewee (Self)"
  • Jeanette Simpson
    Key Cast
    "Interviewee (Self)"
  • Cirilo McSween, Sr.
    Key Cast
    "Self (Archival Footage)"
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short
  • Genres:
    Documentary, biographical documentary, historical documentary, political documentary, civil rights documentary, international documentary
  • Runtime:
    25 minutes 38 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    January 15, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    30,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    4K UHD
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Black & White and Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • Limited Theatrical Release
    Atlanta
    United States
    February 14, 2025
    Oscar-Qualifying Theatrical Release – Tara Theatre, Atlanta, GA (Feb. 14–20, 2025)
  • Diversity in Cannes Short Film & Webseries Showcase
    Cannes
    France
    June 27, 2025
    Official Selection - Virtual Showcase
  • Freedom Festival International
    Columbia, SC
    United States
    August 22, 2025
    Official Selection
  • Detroit Black Film Festival
    Detroit, MI
    United States
    September 25, 2025
    Official Selection - Best Documentary Short Nominee
  • San Antonio Black International Film Festival
    San Antonio, TX
    United States
    October 2, 2025
    Winner - Best Documentary Short
  • Seattle Latino Film Festival
    Seattle
    United States
    October 10, 2025
    Official Selection
  • Liberación Film Festival
    New York City
    United States
    October 7, 2025
    Official Selection
  • NewFilmmakers Los Angeles — DocuSlate 2025
    Los Angeles
    United States
    November 14, 2025
    Los Angeles Premeire
    Official Selection
  • Pan African Film Festival
    Los Angeles
    United States
    February 22, 2026
    Official Selection
  • 57th NAACP Image Awards Nominee

    February 28, 2026
    Outstanding Short Form Documentary (Film)
Director Biography - Justin O'Shea Cooper

Justin O. Cooper is an NAACP Image Award–nominated filmmaker and founder of JOCMedia & Entertainment, a Los Angeles–based production company and strategic media consultancy operating at the intersection of film, television, and global production strategy. A director, producer, writer, and editor, Cooper brings a journalistic foundation and a disciplined development-through-distribution approach to culturally resonant storytelling.

He is the writer, director, and producer of CIRILO, A Legacy Untold, an Oscar-qualified documentary short that earned a nomination for Outstanding Short Form Documentary at the 57th NAACP Image Awards. The film won Best Documentary Short at the San Antonio Black International Film Festival and screened at the Pan African Film Festival, the Seattle Latino Film Festival, the Detroit Black Film Festival, the Diversity in Cannes Short Film & Webseries Showcase, the Freedom Festival International, and the Los Angeles Harbor International Film Festival, among others. Narrated and executive produced by two-time Grammy Award winner Ann Nesby, the film has positioned Cooper as a filmmaker capable of merging historical rigor with emotional precision.

Beyond directing, Cooper serves as a Los Angeles–based liaison for the Royal Film Commission – Jordan, advising on international production strategy and studio engagement. His work has supported major global productions including Aladdin, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Dune, and SEAL Team, and he has collaborated with leading studios across development, production coordination, and post-production planning.

In music, Cooper is an ASCAP Plus Award recipient for songwriting collaborations with Grammy-winning artists, including Tom Scott and Ann Nesby. His multidisciplinary career spans journalism, branded campaigns for Fortune 100 companies such as New York Life Insurance, and independent film production.

Cooper graduated with honors from Benedict College with a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication and holds UCLA Extension certifications in Film and Television Development and Film Editing. He is a member of Film Independent and the International Documentary Association and is listed on the IATSE Motion Picture Editors Guild Local 700 Industry Experience Roster as an Assistant Editor.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

I was drawn to Cirilo McSween’s story not simply because of its historical weight but because of its quiet magnitude. Here was a man born in Panama, navigating poverty and displacement, who entered the United States at the height of segregation and chose not only to survive but to build influence. His life moved between boardrooms, diplomatic corridors, and civil rights organizing spaces, yet much of his impact remained undocumented. That absence compelled me.

With CIRILO, A Legacy Untold, I approached the film as both excavation and reclamation. My intention was not to create a conventional biographical short but to construct a focused portrait of agency, strategy, and cross-border identity. Cirilo’s story bridges Panama and Chicago, business and activism, public power and private resolve. I wanted the filmmaking to reflect that duality, grounded in archival rigor while emotionally intimate.

At its core, this film asks what it means to build legacy in spaces not designed for your ascent. Cirilo understood that economic empowerment, diplomacy, and community leadership were inseparable. His life offers a framework for understanding influence beyond spectacle. My hope is that audiences leave not only informed but recalibrated, recognizing the enduring relevance of principled leadership across generations and geographies.