Breaking Boundaries: Kenny Lartey’s Amen Break Redefines Filmmaking with Innovation and Storytelling

Kenny Lartey

Kenny Lartey is a filmmaker with a vision, a creative mind constantly evolving and experimenting with new ways to tell stories through his craft. Recently, he wrapped up his short film Amen Break, a film that seamlessly blends his passion for technology, narrative, and visual aesthetics. 

The film, which premiered at the Gaithersburg Film Festival on April 26, will now make its debut at the New Jersey Golden Door International Film Festival between June 26 and 28, marking a major milestone in Lartey’s growing career.

For Lartey, filmmaking has always been a natural calling. His interest in film began in childhood when he was captivated by the immersive worlds presented on screen. “As a kid, I would sit so close to the TV that I ended up needing glasses,” he laughs, reflecting on his early obsession with film. “I just wanted to be in whatever world I was watching.” That childhood fascination eventually turned into something more concrete during his time at Virginia Commonwealth University, where he began to develop a deep interest in film. His creative journey was further shaped by his experiences in New York City, a setting that has become the backdrop for his cinematic aspirations.

His latest short film, Amen Break, is not just a standard project. It pushes the boundaries of visual storytelling by employing cutting-edge technology, including the use of a custom iPhone rig called the Palaflex, created by his Director of Photography, Colter Fellows. This rig has previously been used in music videos for artists such as Isabella Lovestory and Chanel Beads. Still, Lartey’s use of it in a short film is a testament to his commitment to innovation. “We were shooting on an iPhone, but we didn’t want it to look like your typical phone-shot footage,” Lartey explains. “We wanted to create something unique, and the Palaflex allowed us to achieve that while still maintaining a cinematic feel.”

The film takes place primarily at The Close Up, a jazz lounge in the Lower East Side, a location inspired by the Abbas Kiarostami film of the same name. Over the course of just two days last summer, Lartey and his team brought Amen Break to life, capturing a dynamic, fast-paced narrative where characters intersect in unexpected ways. 

The film follows a series of overlapping conversations in the lounge, an experience Lartey compares to his early days in New York, when he found himself involved in the myriad social interactions that filled the city’s spaces.

For Lartey, Amen Break is about more than just the visual impact; it’s about breaking conventions. “The movie isn’t very clean-cut in terms of who the main character is. It’s more about capturing that feeling of disorientation, mirroring my first year in New York,” he says. 

The storytelling method, combined with a gospel-infused soundtrack, creates a unique narrative experience that leaves room for viewers to interpret the film on their terms.

Looking ahead, Lartey is determined to continue pushing the boundaries of filmmaking, creating work that’s not only thought-provoking but also enjoyable. “I want to make films that stay with people,” he explains. “I want my work to be timeless, not just something you binge and forget.”

With Amen Break already making waves in the festival circuit and Lartey’s growing reputation as a filmmaker, it’s clear that this is just the beginning. His ability to blend storytelling with innovative technology is setting him apart in an increasingly competitive industry. 

The future is bright for Kenny Lartey, and Amen Break is only the beginning of what promises to be an exciting career.