CREATING CULTURE,
CREATES SPACE.
CREATING SPACE,
CREATES VOICES.
CREATING VOICES, 
MAKES CHANGE.

MILES NAASIR REUBEN is a award-winning independent filmmaker, screenwriter, cultural strategist and graphic designer. Growing up in Detroit, Miles is inspired by his forever changing city - from its past roots to the potential future. He combines his observations of his environment and the diverse people of the city of Detroit, MI with his admiration of black artistry of all forms, science fiction, comic books, and early 2000’s Cartoon Network’s Toonami shows, all while centering his work through the lens of blackness. Believing that Black stories are universal, and that they can translate to all people in multiple genres and forms of expression, Miles creates narrative films that provides humanity to those who exist on the intersection of blackness, queerness, spirituality, etc.  Deeming himself a modern-day “Renaissance Man” - Miles chooses to expand his reach outside of just filmmaking, striving to create lived-in experiences that build community, culture and spark conversation. Miles does this through building cultural specific events/workshops and curating digital designs that not just allows him to express himself, but for others to show their abilities and talents. 

 

Miles’ personal narrative, experiences and observations have influenced all forms of his work, allowing him to explore subjects of black fatherhood, black family structure, spirituality, coming-of-age, queer identities, and individual/collective grief - all integral subjects of his own life and family. 

 

Since the start of his freelance career in 2019, Miles has directed a number of short narrative films and commercial documentaries including the critically acclaimed NILE: A Visual Embodiment of a Sonic Experience which went on to be selected in 12 Film Festivals, including Detroit Narrative Agency, Cinema Detroit’s “Ethics & Aesthetics” Film Series 2021 & The Michaeux Film Festival, and nominated for “Best Picture” in four film festivals - winning People’s Choice Award for Best Experimental Short on the streaming platform, Argo. Miles is the founder of the production company,  filmTOY Studios, which strives not only to create films that are inclusive on screen and behind it, but also to provide access to anyone who wishes to come in and explore their own path within filmmaking.  

 

Miles has created cultural experiences and brand designed for institutions such as the DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center in Chicago, Wayne State University in Detroit, the Detroit Promise Scholarship, and various independent content creators/designers/filmmakers. 

 

Miles’ goal is to create permanent moments of inclusion, impactful experiences and true accessibility for underrepresented individuals in the industry of entertainment, film and art.