Biography

Mike Sargent is an award-winning cultural critic, filmmaker, journalist, and broadcaster whose work spans radio, television, film, and podcasting. He made his feature writing and directing debut with Personals (aka Hook’d Up), starring Malik Yoba, Stacey Dash, and Rhonda Ross, and featuring the film debut of comedian Jim Gaffigan. The Los Angeles Times called it “both entertaining and provocative,” and it premiered as the opening night selection at the Pan African Film Festival in 1999. His most recent film, From The Shadows, a supernatural sci-fi thriller starring Keith David and Oscar® nominee Bruce Davison, was released theatrically in 2023 and began streaming in 2024. From 2014 to 2016, Mike created, hosted, and co-produced more than 60 episodes of Arise On Screen, the first nationally broadcast African-American-hosted movie review show. He is also the co-founder and co-president of the Black Film Critics Circle (BFCC), a founding member of the African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA), and a frequent voice on film culture and criticism. Mike is currently Chief Film Critic at WBAI Radio’s weekly review program ReelWorld, and host of the acclaimed late-night cultural show Niteshift. He co-hosts two podcasts: 2Fast 2Films and the Webby™ and SIGNAL™ Gold Award–winning Brown & Black podcast on the Sonoro Network. His commentary and criticism have appeared on PBS NewsHour, Fox Business News, Al Jazeera, i24News, WPIX, and The Tavis Smiley Show. Mike has written articles and interviewed filmmakers for Scriptmag.com, Blackfilm.com, and Tor.com, and lent his voice to numerous Blu-ray commentaries and film retrospectives. Throughout his career, Mike has interviewed many of the most influential names in film, music, and culture. His work reflects a deeply informed and original perspective, rooted in the dual experience of being both a creator and a critic of content and culture.