Dara Frazier's Breakout Year: "Not Every Woman" and a Bold Creative Journey in 2026

Dara Frazier is not waiting for permission, timing, or validation. She is building, releasing, and expanding on her own terms. 2025 marked a defining year for the writer-director as her film Not Every Woman found its audience and firmly positioned her as a creative voice worth following. The film’s success was not quiet. It was intentional, layered, and honest. Much like the stories Frazier continues to tell.

Not Every Woman centers four Black women who gather over wine, laughter, and unfiltered conversation. What begins as casual dialogue opens into something deeper, an honest unpacking of anxiety, identity, and life in America. The film resists spectacle and leans into intimacy, allowing viewers to sit with the characters rather than consume them. That choice is precisely what made the project resonate.

The film’s momentum carried it across multiple platforms. Not Every Woman is now streaming on YouTube Movies & TV, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and recently released on Tubi. Its reach has also been amplified by features in SwagHer Magazine, BLK News, Vocal Media, Sheen Magazine, Entertainment Post, Los Angeles Wire, and Cultured Focus Magazine, coverage that reflects both the film’s cultural relevance and Frazier’s growing industry presence.

See trailer here:

Frazier’s work stands out because it does not over explain Black womanhood or dilute its complexity. Her characters are allowed to be layered, uncertain, joyful, frustrated, and reflective all at once. That honesty has become her signature.

In 2026, Frazier is already building on her momentum. Her animated short Jazzy Bells has been nominated for an NAACP Image Award, a milestone that reflects both her creative range and growing industry recognition. Public voting is now open through the NAACP Image Awards platform.

Jazzy Bells tells a warm, music-filled story about Christmas magic bringing a traveling jazz musician back into the lives of his grandchildren. The film stars Hawthorne James and blends heart, nostalgia, and generational connection through animation which is an impressive expansion of Frazier’s storytelling that remains emotionally grounded and unmistakably hers.

View the animation here: 

Frazier is also preparing audiences for her upcoming film Painted and Tainted, a psychological drama centered on a young artist whose relationship with her dream partner takes a dangerous turn when jealousy escalates. The project continues her exploration of intimacy, power, and emotional tension, this time through a sharper, suspense-driven lens. A trailer for the film is now available.

See the trailer here:

Behind these projects is 1642 Productions, Frazier’s production company, which reflects her commitment to ownership and long-term creative sustainability. She has built a body of work that prioritizes story, character, and cultural honesty. Dara Frazier’s trajectory is defined by consistency, risk-taking, and a refusal to soften narratives for comfort. From Not Every Woman to Jazzy Bells and beyond, she is expanding what it looks like to tell Black stories across genres and formats.

To stay connected with Dara Frazier and follow her ongoing creative journey, visit https://darawrites.com and http://1642studios.com.