Floyd A.B. Rance III

Film festival founder Floyd A. B. Rance, III was born on February 9, 1967 in New York, New York to E. Jean Rance and Floyd Rance, Jr. In 1985, he graduated from Essex Catholic High School in East Orange, New Jersey and went on to earn his B.A. degree in communications and broadcast production from Howard University in Washington D.C. in 1989.

In 1990, Rance was hired as a freelance camera operator. He also interned as a camera trainee on Spike Lee’s film Mo’ Better Blues before being hired as second camera assistant, from 1991 to 1995, on Spike Lee’s films Jungle Fever and Malcolm X as well as first camera assistant on Crooklyn and Clockers Juice; the Red Hot Chili Peppers: Stadium Arcadium documentary; A Way Back Home; Who’s Your Caddy; Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby; and Taking Chances. His cinematography credits also include rapper Guru’s music video for “Loungin’” and “Beating Heart” by State of Art.

In 2002, Rance and his wife, Stephanie Tavares-Rance, founded Run & Shoot Filmworks and established the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival. He has served as chief executive officer and senior video producer of the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival since 2003. Run & Shoot Filmworks’ clients have included Family Dollar, Martell Cognac, Reebok, and Foot Locker. In 2014, the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival previewed HBO series The Knick and ABCs, Black-ish. In 2018, the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival was accepted as an Oscar qualifying festival in the short film category. That same year, Rance and his wife launched The Color of Conversation Film Festival through Run & Shoot Filmworks.

From 1990 to 2024, Rance was a member of the International Association of Theatrical and Stage Employees. In 2013, Rance and the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival won the AdColor MVP Award. He received a NAN Triumph Award in 2023.

Rance resides in Aurora, Colorado with his wife, Stephanie and they have two children, Ziare Rance and Zoey Rance.

Floyd A.B. Rance, III was interviewed by The HistoryMakers on July 28, 2024 and August 4, 2024.