In this inspiring and transparent episode of DOTTIE’s House Podcast, I sit down with Stephanie and Floyd Rance, the powerhouse couple behind the iconic Run&Shoot Filmworks Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival (MVAAFF).
Married for 28 years, Stephanie and Floyd open up about the highs and lows of growing a business together, raising two children (a Morehouse Man and a current Howard University student), and turning a side hustle into a cultural institution that now attracts thousands of visitors, and boosts Vineyard tourism by nearly 40% every summer.
This isn’t just a story about a festival; it’s about partnership, perseverance, and what it really takes to thrive in marriage while building something that matters.
What You’ll Hear in This Episode:
• The Origin Story: How MVAAFF started as a small side project and the moment they knew it was going to be big.
• The Celebrity Factor: Spike Lee, Michael B. Jordan, Tracee Ellis Ross, Mara Brock Akil, and so many more who have graced their stage.
• Entrepreneurship & Marriage: The good, bad, and ugly of running a business with your spouse and the practices that have kept them together for nearly three decades.
• Tourism Game-Changer: How their festival transformed Martha’s Vineyard into a destination for film lovers and boosted the local economy.