Storm Saulter’s ‘Sprinter’ Takes Home Top Award at American Black Film Festival

Overbrook Entertainment and Mental Telepathy’s indie film Sprinter was the big winner at the 2018 American Black Film Festival Awards in Miami taking home three awards. The film, which was directed by Storm Saulter, was awarded the Grand Jury Prize for Best Narrative Feature, the Audience Award in the category Best Film and Storm took home an award for Best Director. 

The stars of the film are newcomer Dale Elliott, Kadeem Wilson, Shantol Jackson, Bryshere Y. Gray, Lorraine Toussaint, and David Alan Grier.

Overbrook Entertainment co-founder Will Smith, Jada Pinkett-Smith and Ne-Yo serve as producers for the film, and Ne-Yo also has original music featured on the film’s soundtrack

Sprinter story follows Akeem, a 17-year-old Jamaican track athlete. His goal is to qualify for the national youth team and go to the World Youth Championships in Los Angeles. There, Akeem hopes to reunite with his mother, who immigrated to the United States 10 years ago, with aspirations to provide a better life for her family. As Akeem continues to chase after his dreams, he learns family can be complicated, dreams deferred, but you must continue to run your race.

In addition to its ABFF Awards, SPRINTER also made its debut at ABFF in a screening which was followed by a Q&A with some of the cast, hosted by social media influencer Khadeen Ellis. 

On Friday, June 15, Sprinter followed its world debut screening with an afterparty which was attended by celebrities including Angela Rye, Norega, Ja Rule, Director X and Devale and Khadeen Ellis, Major Lazer’s Jillionaire, Amara La Negra and Denver Nuggets’ Richard Jefferson.Sprinters afterparty included signature drinks, Jamaican cuisine and lots of dancehall music played by DJ R-Tistic. The party was brought to the festival by sponsors Puma, Courvoisier, Red Stripe and Flow.

ABOUT SPRINTER:

Release Date: TBD

Studio: Overbrook Entertainment

Official MPAA Rating: TBD

Director: Storm Saulter

Producers: Will Smith, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Shaffer “Ne-Yo” Chimere Smith

Writer: Storm Saulter

Cast: Dale Elliott, David Alan Grier, Lorraine Toussaint, Bryshere Y. Gray, Shantol Jackson, Usain Bolt

Synopsis: Sprinter story follows Akeem, a 17-year-old Jamaican track athlete. His goal is to qualify for the national youth team and go to the World Youth Championships in Los Angeles. There, Akeem hopes to reunite with his mother, who immigrated to the United States 10 years ago, with aspirations to provide a better life for her family. As Akeem continues to chase after his dreams, he learns family can be complicated, dreams deferred, but you must continue to run your race.

ABOUT OVERBROOK ENTERTAINMENT: 
Overbrook Entertainment is a production company started by actor Will Smith and business partner James Lassiter in 1997, about the same time production started for the Wild Wild West remake, which stars Smith. The name “Overbrook” is derived from Will Smith’s childhood neighborhood in West Philadelphia. The company produces music, films and television shows.

THE 2018 HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH FILM FESTIVAL, June 14-21 @ FSLC & IFC

The Human Rights Watch Film Festival will present 15 timely and provocative films, from June 14-21, 2018, that shine a bright light on bravery and resilience in challenging times. In a year when women collectively raised their voices against discrimination and abuse, Human Rights Watch will present films offering incisive perspectives and critical insights on human rights issues impacting people around the world. 12 of the 15 films are directed or co-directed by women. 

Now in its 29th edition, the Human Rights Watch Film Festival is co-presented by the Film Society of Lincoln Center and IFC Center. All screenings will be followed by in-depth question-and-answer sessions with filmmakers, film subjects, Human Rights Watch researchers, and special guests. 

This year’s festival turns the spotlight on strong women who take great risks to push back against powerful forces within their respective societies. And, at a time when the use of personal data by institutions is front-page news, this year’s program explores governmental and corporate regulation of information, and how, by burying the truth and creating their own narratives, these gatekeepers are uniquely positioned to abuse their power and control the populace. 

“In a year when women have spoken out against abuse, harassment and oppression, the festival highlights the outstanding work of women filmmakers telling epic stories of women fighting injustice with resilience and courage.” said John Biaggi, the Human Rights Watch Film Festival creative director. “The festival will also probe the headline-breaking questions of corporate and government control of information at a time when the use of personal data has outrun the limits of the law and ethics.” 

The Opening Night screening of the documentary On Her Shoulders introduces Nadia Murad, a 23-year-old Yazidi survivor of atrocities by ISIS who makes it her life’s mission to fight for justice and freedom for her people. 

Two documentaries highlight women’s rights in Afghanistan. A Thousand Girls Like Me follows a young mother seeking justice from a legal system designed to criminalize sexual abuse survivors like her. Facing the Dragon (winner of the festival’s Nestor Almendros 2 Award) profiles two intrepid Afghan women — a member of parliament and journalist — who risk the safety of their families to bring change and accountability to their country. 

Naila and the Uprising features courageous Palestinian women activists who played a pivotal role in the First Intifada, and in Women of the Venezuelan Chaos, five resilient women find creative ways to defend their fellow citizens, their families and their own lives amid the national crisis that has enveloped their country. 

In the profoundly moving and poetic Angkar, a filmmaker traces her father’s journey home to Cambodia to seek out his Khmer Rouge persecutors while confronting his country’s collective amnesia regarding their horrifying past. In The Silence of Others, survivors of the Franco dictatorship’s crimes against humanity refuse to relent in their pursuit of justice, despite Spain’s “pact of forgetting,” which has denied Franco’s victims legal recourse. The Cleaners reveals a murky world of digital “cleaning,” in which giant social media companies employ workers to delete internet content deemed inappropriate, raising essential questions over internet control and the life-threatening impact of erasing entire resistance movements from the world’s gaze. 

As always, the festival features critical human rights issues in the U.S., this year with three timely films. Charm City moves between community members, police and local officials during a period of heightened violence in Baltimore, exposing layers of disconnect and distrust that need to be addressed to move their city forward. TransMilitary focuses on the largest employer of transgender people in the country – the U.S. military – and the efforts of four brave people as they come forward to demand much-needed change. The Closing Night film, The Unafraid, introduces three high school students in Georgia, banned by the state from attending top state universities due to their unauthorized immigration status, and their passionate fight to pursue their dreams of higher education. 

The festival continues its partnership with MUBI, a curated online streaming platform reaching a community of film lovers across the globe. MUBI will feature select films from the festival online while the New York program is in progress. Learn more at mubi.com.

Complete Program and Schedule Information at Human Rights Watch Film Festival.

Public screenings and special programs will take place at the Film Society of Lincoln Center’s Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center (144 W. 65th St) (FSLC) and at the IFC Center, 323 Avenue of the Americas (IFC). The opening night film, On Her Shoulders, will screen at the Film Society of Lincoln Center’s Walter Reade Theater, 165 W. 65th St. (WRT)(between Amsterdam and Broadway).

ONE MUSICFEST ANNOUNCES 2018 LINEUP; PERFORMERS INCLUDE NAS, CARDI B, MIGUEL, T.I., JEEZY, BIG SEAN, KELIS, BRANDY, GEORGE CLINTON & PARLIAMENT AND MORE

ONE Musicfest, the Southeast's premier urban progressive music and arts festival - has announced the lineup for its 2018 festival. Now a two-day experience taking place Saturday, September 8 and Sunday, September 9 at Central Park in Atlanta, GA, ONE Musicfest will feature Nas, Cardi B, Miguel, T.I., Jeezy, Big Sean, Kelis, Brandy, August Greene, Big KRIT, George Clinton & Parliament and more.

For additional information and tickets, visit ONEMusicfest.com.

Hailed as one of the nation's "Can't Miss Festivals," ONE Musicfest returns for its ninth year with an unforgettable weekend of high-energy performances and unique cultural experiences. Over 20,000 attended last year, generating over 1.8 billion impressions and rave reviews from USA Today, Associated Press, Huffington Post and VIBE.

This year, ONE Musicfest has curated a diverse lineup of music powerhouses, radio chart-toppers and icons. From the rap god Nas to hip-hop it-girl Cardi B to the legendary George Clinton & Parliament, the festival offers something for music lovers of all kinds. 

"We are all super excited about OMF 2018," says founder Jason "J" Carter. "Growing into a two-day festival allows us to expand our roster, highlight more of the music that we love and give our audience an experience unlike any!" 

Purchase your tickets today at ONEMusicfest.com.

Complete List of Currently Announced Performers for ONE Musicfest 2018 (in alphabetical order):

• August Greene featuring Common, Robert Glasper and Karriem Riggins
• Big KRIT
• Big Sean
• Brandy
• Cardi B
• Davido
• DJ Nabs' ATL Crunk Set featuring YoungBloodz, Ying Yang Twins, Eastside Boyz, Trillville, Kilo Ali and DJ Taz
• DVSN
• George Clinton & Parliament
• Goldlink
• Jeezy
• Jessie Reyez
• Kelis
• Miguel
• Nas
• Rapsody 
• St Beauty
• T.I.
• Teedra Moses

About ONE Musicfest

ONE Musicfest is the Southeast's largest annual urban progressive music festival, featuring a diverse range of music, including classic and next generation hip-hop, soulful R&B, alternative, and rock. Started in 2010, ONE Musicfest is now recognized as one of the most highly-anticipated celebrations of the arts in the Southeast, with this year's festival expecting an attendance of 20,000 music lovers from throughout the country.

Social:
Twitter: @onemusicfest #ONEMusicFest #OMF2018
Instagram: @onemusicfest #ONEMusicFest #OMF2018
Facebook: Facebook.com/ONEMusicFest
Website: onemusicfest.com

Dan Guillaro, DP to director w/ "KACHREWALA: Five Cents Each" at Manhattan Film Festival

Daniel Guillaro is a NYC-based filmmaker. Since graduating Fordham University in 2012, he has worked as a freelance cinematographer and editor for documentaries and short films. He also  produces videos for non-profits. Since he was young he's always wanted to tell stories that engage audiences and elevate our collective understanding of what it is to be human.

His first project as a director is "KACHREWALA: Five Cents Each". The short film is premiering at Manhattan Film Festival on April 24th. We talked to Dan, here are the excerpts.

What inspired you to get into the film business?
I think movies have a unique ability to shape the way people can view what's possible. Not just in a technological sense but in a more personal and emotional sense. I guess novels can do that too but making movies is more fun.

How was the process of making this film, and what did you learn in the process?
Making Kachrewala: five cents each was pretty hectic. We shot in all in two days on a pretty tight schedule with a very light crew in Manhattan. We even had to arrange the timing of shooting one of our scenes with alternate-side parking rules on that street. All in all I learned how helpful it is to surround yourself with a dedicated and competent crew, as our crew did a great job dealing with the challenges of shooting in the city.

How did working on this subject personally impact you?
Working on this project opened my eyes to this subculture of bottle collectors. It reminded me that there are all sorts of lives being lived in New York. Some are unfortunate enough to have to pick bottles for extra cash, but they are driven enough that they want to make that cash themselves by putting in the work. There's hard work being done everywhere in New York.

What are your favorite Filmmakers and films?
It's hard to say who my favorite filmmakers are because I don't think I gravitate toward any particular style. But here are three that are kind of representative of why I love movies: Wings of Desire, Ed Wood, and Blade Runner.

As a New Yorker, what's your most favorite and least favorite thing about New York?
My favorite thing about New York is it's full of life and in your all the time. My least favorite thing about New York is it's full of life and in your face all the time. So it kind of evens out.

You can follow the film on Facebook & Twitter at @KachrewalaFilm. To learn more and get your tickets for the screening, check out the link below.
http://manhattanff.com/event/kachrewala-five-cents-each

12th Manhattan Film Festival premieres 'KACHREWALA: Five Cents Each', a short film about bottlepickers in NYC

The 12th Manhattan Film Festival runs from April 18-29, bringing some wonderful feature, shorts and documentaries from NYC and around the world . One of the buzzed-about short films takes a look into the subculture of New York City bottle pickers, giving a rare glimpse into what it really means to pick up discarded bottles, and cans using the money as necessary income.

"KACHREWALA: Five Cents Each", Written, starring and produced by Indian immigrant Art Shrian Tiwari, takes a moment to step back and look at a “secretive” world that's taking place in plain sight, in the city, and being able to capture and present this as his first short film actually ushered in a sweeping change in the writers/actors' life.

There is another perspective that a person gains when they are "literally" getting their hands dirty and being viewed, by so many New Yorkers' as undesirable people in the city, performing an act that many, dare I suggest, would never do out of sheer pride, opting to beg.  As one character, an older white woman in her late 70 says in the short film, "begging is a lot harder than picking bottles, I tell you that!"

To get ready for the role, and to become a part of the fabric of this subculture Tiwari, did just that. He rolled up his sleeves, and picked up discarded cans and bottles, turning them in for 5 cents each in the drop off locations around the city.  It's hard work and it's messy. A far, far cry from the job that Tiwari, performed when he arrived, from India, years ago.

For a long time, in New York, Tiwari, worked as in software engineering and program management, with extensive experience in e-commerce and financial services as well as an expertise in web and mobile domains. In those roles, he’s worked for such well-established organizations as the Weight Watchers, Scholastic, Sprint, Starwood Hotels and New York Stock Exchange.

Now in his early 30s he decided to make a change.  He left the financial security of working in the i.t. field and stepped out, in faith, to pursue his writing and acting life, full time.  This along with being a husband, and new father.

Says Tiwari “I am proud of being an immigrant in America, an Indian-American.  I grew up in a middle-class family, with a happy upbringing surrounded by family, love, and support. My father was in Air Force, with a transferable job, thus we moved a lot. That opened me up to experiencing new cultures, people and be more open-minded in general”.

Writers write about what the know, or what they live.  For this, again, Tiwari took a look inside another part of a glamours city, that most New Yorkers never glimpse, or care to know about.

The core of “Kachrewala: Five Cents Each,”  is about a single day in the life of a bottle collector, and his challenges of navigating the streets of New York.  As Tiwari explained about wrestling his idea into a script, he learned quite a bit about bottle people. “We see these people around us in this great city every day. But we don't know anything about them. We just assume them to be homeless, scavengers or beggars of the sort. But in reality, they truly work hard for a meager amount of money. Of course, that little money can mean a lot, when you are in need."

The April 24th screening of the short film “Kachrewala: Five Cents Each,” will take place at Cinema Village East Theater at 5 pm. It stars Tiwari, Nitin Mandan, Ilissa Jackson, Dequan Deveraux, and Mary Lu Garmone, it was directed by Daniel Guillaro, written by Tiwari.  

You can follow the film on Facebook & Twitter at @KachrewalaFilm. To learn more and get your tickets for the screening, check out the link below.
http://manhattanff.com/event/kachrewala-five-cents-each

Official Trailer for the short film, "KACHREWALA: Five Cents Each". Starring: Art Shrian Tiwari, Nitin Mandan, Ilissa Jackson, Dequan Deveraux, Mary Lu Garmone Directed by: Daniel Guillaro Written & Produced by: Art Shrian Tiwari Co-Producer: Lapacazo Sandoval, Tani Fukui Director Of Photography: Frank Traggianese Sound: Carlo Albuin Editor: Michael Cruz Music: Knxwledge - MakeMoney An Art Approved Production.

About Manhattan Film Festival
Manhattan Film Festival was founded by independent filmmakers that learned first-hand how hard it is to find an independent film an audience. Originally launched as the start-up Independent Features, MFF evolved into a globally recognized brand. The festival is covered by local, national, and international media outlets. This includes The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Good Morning America, The New York Times, as well as international outlets such as The Sun, BBC, and The Guardian. The festival has been named both “25 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee” and “The Coolest Film Festivals in the World” by MovieMaker Magazine. Although we have grown into one of the largest independent film festivals on the circuit, we have stayed true to our principals. We have thrived by building our festival through the voices of filmmakers rather than corporate sponsors. That is one of the keys of our success and a main reason MFF was founded.
http://manhattanff.com

33rd Stellar Gospel Music Awards Announce Performances by Snoop Dogg, Mary Mary, Kierra Sheard, Tasha Cobbs Leonard & More

MARY MARY REUNION AND SNOOP DOGG STELLAR AWARDS DEBUT HIGHLIGHT AN UNFORGETTABLE NIGHT AT THIS YEAR’S 33RD ANNUAL STELLAR GOSPEL MUSIC AWARDS, WITH AN ALL-STAR LINE-UP OF PERFORMANCES BY TASHA COBBS LEONARD, TRAVIS GREENE, ANTHONY BROWN & group therAPy, TYE TRIBBETT, KIERRA SHEARD, RICKY DILLARD & NEW G AND MORE

RENOWNED ANNUAL SALUTE TO GOSPEL MUSIC SET TO TAPE ON SATURDAY, MARCH 24, 2018 AT THE LAS VEGAS ORLEANS ARENA PREMIERING ON TV ONE GOOD FRIDAY, MARCH 30 AT 9 P.M. ET/8C

L-R: Snoop Dogg (Performer), Erica Campbell (Performer), Tina Campbell (Performer) and Kirk Franklin (Host)

(CHICAGO) – Feb. 26, 2018 - Central City Productions announces a dazzling line-up of performers for the 2018 Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards, including the reunion of contemporary gospel music’s favorite sister act, Mary Mary (Erica Campbell and Tina Campbell), and the Stellar Award's debut of rapper, actor, and television personality Snoop Dogg, performing songs from his new gospel album “Songs of Love” at this year’s show. Celebrated as a "transcendent night of gospel music," the 33rd Annual Stellar Awards promises to surpass its ‘stellar' reputation, featuring performances by the genre’s hottest acts. Performers scheduled to appear include: Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Travis Greene, Tye Tribbett, Anthony Brown & group therAPy, Kierra Sheard, KeKe Wyatt, Jonathan McReynolds, Tasha Page-Lockhart, Todd Dulaney, Koryn Hawthorne and Ricky Dillard & New G, among others. Returning to Las Vegas' Orleans Arena on Saturday, March 24, 2018 the Stellar Awards welcomes the return of the undisputed crown prince of contemporary gospel music, Kirk Franklin, as host. 

The Stellar Awards telecast will premiere on TV One on Friday, March 30 at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT and air in broadcast syndication on 130 stations in more than 110 markets around the country March 31 - May 6, 2018.

Franklin is happy to be back in the role of host of the annual celebration. “Since my first step onto the Stellar Awards stage as a 23-year-old kid from Texas, I’ve lived, breathed and committed all I’ve had to this incredible genre called gospel,” he stated. “To find myself now still blessed to serve the community I love so dearly as their host of the 2018 Stellar Awards, that young kid feels alive again and more grateful than ever. We’re working hard to bring to the world the best and the brightest along with the icons and legends, the greatest night of God’s music at a time when the country needs our melody the most. Thank you and I’ll see you in Vegas.”   

This year’s spectacular show open will feature Stellar Awards alum Erica Campbell reuniting with her sister Tina Campbell as the hit gospel duo Mary Mary for the first time in more than six years. The show will include an all-star tribute to the late, great Edwin Hawkins, with his sister Lynette Hawkins accepting the Edwin Hawkins Icon Award in his honor. Also expected to deliver stand out moments are the multi-platinum award-winning Snoop Dogg performing material from his new gospel album and collaborating with Tye Tribbett. 

“Each year we strive to bring new and innovative performances and collaborations to the Stellar Awards and this year is no different, with the inclusion of mainstream hip-hop rapper and mogul, Snoop Dogg." stated Stellar Awards Founder, Don Jackson. "Snoop expressed his desire to release a gospel album in honor of his mom who is an evangelist and he's teamed up with Gospel superstar Tye Tribbett, there's no way we couldn't bring this explosive performance to the Stellar Awards stage."

2018 Stellar Award's multi-nominee and previous host, Anthony Brown, returns this year to perform and looks forward to sharing something special with the fans. "The Stellar Awards has always been such a blessing to gospel music creators and gospel music lovers worldwide. It provides for us a platform and opportunity to share our message and our gifts with the world,” shared Brown. “I am so excited to take the stage again at this year's Stellar Awards. It’s always so humbling and exciting. group therAPy and I are working on something special this year. I can’t wait for you to see it."

Don Jackson will bestow special honors upon gospel greats who have made significant contributions to the genre. The incomparable Tamela Mann is this year’s recipient of the James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award and the legendary Rev. Milton Biggham will receive The Ambassador Dr. Bobby Jones Legends Award. Stellar Honors Hall of Fame Inductees includes Kurt Carr, Ben Tankard, and Dr. Marabeth Gentry - President of the National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses.

The Stellar Awards show taping is open to the public, with ticket prices ranging from $50 - $200 at www.ticketmaster.com. 

The Stellar Gospel Music Awards Pre-Show is scheduled for Friday, March 23 hosted by Lexi Allen and Lonnie Hunter. Among the artists performing at the Orleans Showroom that evening: Next Generation Choir, Judah Band, Tasha Page Lockhart, Isaiah D. Thomas, Ruth La'Ontra, Bryan Popin and Jason Nelson. 

The Stellar Gospel Radio Awards & Showcase will be held earlier on Saturday, March 24, honoring the top radio stations and announcers who most notably serve urban gospel music audiences. This show is also full of spirit-stirring performances by newcomers Isabel Davis, Gene Moore and Kelontae Gavin; seasoned sensations Donishisa Ballard and Jason Champion; and quartet group The Virginia Aires. The event is hosted by VaShawn Mitchelland Meta Washington and is the perfect kickoff to the big show the same day. Tickets for each event can be purchased at www.ticketmaster.com.

More of the biggest names in gospel and a few additional surprises are being added to the growing list of top performers and presenters appearing in this year’s show. For more information visit us at www.thestellarawards.com. Follow us on social media for the latest news and updates about the greatest night in gospel!                     

About Central City Productions (CCP)

The Stellar Gospel Music Awards show is Executive Produced by Don Jackson, with Jennifer J. Jackson serving as Executive in Charge of Production. Michael Johnson will produce and direct this year's awards show. Erma Gray Davis is the President and Chief Operations Officer of Central City Productions. Founded in 1970 by Don Jackson, Chicago-based Central City Productions, Inc. is a distributor of original targeted programming to television and cable networks. CCP's award-winning television programs include the Black Music Honors, Stellar Tribute to the Holidays and Tribute to Mother's Day, The Black College Quiz Show Series, and Hispanic College Quiz, among many others. For more information, please visit www.ccptv.com. 

For More Information Visit: http://thestellarawards.com/

To view the complete list of nominees: http://thestellarawards.com/2017nominees.html

FOLLOW STELLAR AWARDS ON SOCIAL MEDIA FOR UPDATES AND MORE!

Facebook: www.facebook.com/StellarAwards

Twitter: www.twitter.com/thestellars

Instagram: www.instagram.com/thestellars

Diversity and Inclusion continues with 90th Oscars® ceremony airing live on Hosted by Jimmy Kimmel.

Diversity and inclusion continues to be the mandate of the Academy as new presenters  are added to the 90th Oscars® ceremony including Gael García Bernal, Mary J. Blige, Andra Day, Natalia LaFourcade, Miguel, Keala Settle, Sufjan Stevens and Oscar® winner Common will also perform this year's nominated songs at the 90th Oscars® ceremony, show producers which were announced by Michael De Luca and Jennifer Todd.

“We’re excited to have these talented artists showcase the powerful contribution music makes to filmmaking,” said De Luca and Todd. “It’s a privilege to welcome them to the 90th Oscars stage.”

Bernal, LaFourcade, and Miguel will perform the Oscar-nominated song “Remember Me” from “Coco”; Music and Lyric by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez.

Blige will perform “Mighty River,” from “Mudbound,” the Oscar-nominated song she co-wrote with Raphael Saadiq and Taura Stinson. Blige is also Oscar-nominated this year for Actress in a Supporting Role for “Mudbound.” She is the first person to be nominated for both a performance and Original Song in the same year. Additionally, she has won nine Grammy Awards, having been nominated 31 times.

Common and Andra Day will perform his Oscar-nominated song “Stand Up For Something” from “Marshall”; Music by Diane Warren; Lyric by Lonnie R. Lynn (Common) and Diane Warren. Common won an Oscar with John Stephens (John Legend), for Original Song for “Glory” from the film “Selma” (2014). He has received 20 Grammy Award nominations and has won three times. His recent acting credits include “John Wick: Chapter 2” (2017) and “Selma.” Day is a three-time Grammy Award nominee. Her acting credits include “Marshall” and “Cars 3” (2017).

Settle will perform the Oscar-nominated song “This is Me” from “The Greatest Showman”; Music and Lyric by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. Settle is a Tony Award®-nominated singer and actress. Her film credits include “The Greatest Showman” (2017) and “Ricki and the Flash” (2015).

Stevens will perform his Oscar-nominated song “Mystery of Love,” written for “Call Me by Your Name.” Stevens is a singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist. A prolific artist whose career spans nearly 20 years and 11 albums, his work has been featured on the soundtracks for “Whiskey Tango Foxtrot” (2016), “Demolition” (2015) and the Oscar-winning film “Little Miss Sunshine” (2006), among others.

The 90th Oscars will be held on Sunday, March 4, 2018, at the Dolby Theatre® at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood, and will be broadcast live on the ABC Television Network at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.  The Oscars, produced by De Luca and Todd and hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, also will be televised in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.  Additionally, “The Oscars: All Access” live stream from the red carpet and backstage will begin at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT on Oscar.com.

THE LAUNCH KICKS OFF NEWLY MINTED COLLEGIATE ‘MILLION DOLLAR SCREENPLAY FELLOWSHIP’

THE LAUNCH KICKS OFF NEWLY MINTED COLLEGIATE ‘MILLION DOLLAR SCREENPLAY FELLOWSHIP’

Grand Prize-Winning Screenplay to be Produced as a Feature Film with a Budget of at Least $1 Million, with Eight Student Finalists Awarded a Total of $100,000 in Grants

The LAUNCH, co-founded by Producers Jason Shuman (Rebel in the Rye, Lone Survivor) and Zachary Green (Spartan) is a first of its kind Million Dollar Screenplay Competition for college students, whose mission is to find the next generation of great screenwriters from around the world. The LAUNCH is awarding $100,000 in education grants to the eight (8) finalists, with the grand prize winner having his or her screenplay produced as a feature film with a budget of at least $1 million. This is an international competition open to students who are enrolled in an accredited two-year, four-year college/university or graduate program.

Accepting submissions from Thursday, March 1 through Thursday, May 31, 2018, The LAUNCH will be looking for screenplays with great stories, original voices and honest emotion in any genre. Winners will be announced in August with an anticipated start of production slated for Q4 2018.

The LAUNCH Board of Advisors, which will act as the final judging panel for the competition, includes Award-Winning Casting Director Barbara Fiorentino, Screenwriter Eduardo Cisneros, APA Agent Chris Ridenhour, Educator Madeleine Sherak, PhD, Valor Entertainment Manager Carlos Bobadilla and Actor Caitlin Mehner, amongst additional industry experts.

Co-Founders Jason Shuman and Zachary Green said: “We thank our wonderful donors for bringing The LAUNCH to fruition.  Never before has a screenwriting competition focused solely on students, not only awarding large grants, but guaranteeing at least $1 million dollars to produce the winning screenplay as a feature film.  Our goal is to motivate as many students as possible to pursue their writing dreams.”

ScreenCraft is the presenting sponsor of The LAUNCH competition and will be utilizing the industry-leading technology platform Coverfly to seamlessly manage screenplay submissions, professional readers, and the evaluation and scoring process to determine the finalists

For more information on additional prizes, rules of entry and to submit scripts please visit www.launchscreenplay.com. A reduced fee will be available to early entry applicants from Thursday, March 1st through Saturday, March 31st.

About The LAUNCH

The LAUNCH is a first of its kind Million Dollar Screenplay Fellowship co-created by Jason Shuman and Zachary Green to find the next generation of great screenwriters from around the world. The LAUNCH is awarding $100,000 in education grants with the grand prize winner having his or her screenplay produced as a feature film with a budget of at least $1 million. 

Jason Shuman is a writer and producer with an impressive slate including over 20 motion pictures grossing more than $500 million worldwide, and over 100 episodes of television produced. Past projects include:  Darkness Falls, The Messengers, Bangkok Dangerous, the critically acclaimed Lone Survivor, Rebel In The Rye, Little Black Book and Daddy Day Camp.

Zachary Green is an entrepreneur and film producer with extensive experience in brand storytelling with brands such as McDonald’s, Toys R Us, Warner Bros., Paramount, and more. He is collaborating with Jason Shuman on a slate of feature films and a handful of television shows, which are in various stages of development and production. Currently, Green and Shuman are producing the heist/thriller Panthers, and action/thriller Spartan, both scheduled to begin principal photography in 2018.

Shorts Awards at 2018 Sundance Film Festival

(L-R) Matria, Credit: Lucia C. Pan; Hair Wolf, Credit: Charlotte Hornsby; Would You Look At Her, Credit: Courtesy of Sundance Institute.

Park City, Utah — Winners of the 2018 Sundance Film Festival jury prizes in short filmmaking were announced on Jan 23, by Sundance Institute at a ceremony in Park City, Utah. The Short Film Grand Jury Prize, awarded to one film in the program of 69 shorts selected from 8,740 submissions, went to Matria, written and directed by Álvaro Gago. Full video of the ceremony is at youtube.com/sff. The Short Film program is presented by YouTube, as part of their ongoing support for emerging storytellers, unique voices and independent artists. 2018 marks the sixth year YouTube has been the official sponsor of the Sundance Film Festival Shorts program.

This year's Short Film jurors are Cherien Dabis, Shirley Manson and Chris Ware.

Short Film awards winners in previous years include And so we put goldfish in the pool. by Makato Nagahisa, Thunder Road by Jim Cummings, World of Tomorrow by Don Hertzfeldt, SMILF by Frankie Shaw, Of God and Dogs by Abounaddara Collective, Gregory Go Boom by Janicza Bravo, The Whistle by Grzegorz Zariczny, Whiplash by Damien Chazelle, FISHING WITHOUT NETS by Cutter Hodierne, The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom by Lucy Walker and The Arm by Brie Larson, Sarah Ramos and Jessie Ennis.

The short film program at the Festival is the centerpiece of Sundance Institute’s year-round efforts to support short filmmaking. Select Festival short films are presented as a traveling program in over 70 cities in the U.S. and Canada each year, one of the few theatrical releases of short films in North America. Short films and filmmakers also take part in regional Master Classes geared towards supporting emerging shorts-makers in cities around the country.

2018 Sundance Film Festival Short Film Jury Awards: 

The Short Film Grand Jury Prize was awarded to: Matria / Spain (Director and screenwriter: Álvaro Gago) — Faced with a challenging daily routine, Ramona tries to take refuge in her relationships with her daughter and granddaughter.

The Short Film Jury Award: U.S. Fiction was presented to: Hair Wolf / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Mariama Diallo) — In a black hair salon in gentrifying Brooklyn, the local residents fend off a strange new monster: white women intent on sucking the lifeblood from black culture.

The Short Film Jury Award: International Fiction was presented to: Would You Look at Her / Macedonia (Director and screenwriter: Goran Stolevski) — A hard-headed tomboy spots the unlikely solution to all her problems in an all-male religious ritual.

The Short Film Jury Award: Non-fiction was presented to: The Trader (Sovdagari) / Georgia (Director: Tamta Gabrichidze) — Gela sells secondhand clothes and household items in places where money is potatoes. 

The Short Film Jury Award: Animation was presented to: GLUCOSE / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Jeron Braxton) — Sugar was the engine of the slave trade that brought millions of Africans to America. Glucose is sweet, marketable and easy to consume, but its surface satisfaction is a thin coating on the pain of many disenfranchised people.

A Special Jury Award was presented to: Emergency / U.S.A. (Director: Carey Williams, Screenwriter: K.D. Dávila) — Faced with an emergency situation, a group of young Black and Latino friends carefully weigh the pros and cons of calling the police.

A Special Jury Award was presented to: Fauve / Canada (Director and screenwriter: Jérémy Comte) — Set in a surface mine, two boys sink into a seemingly innocent power game, with Mother Nature as the sole observer.

A Special Jury Award was presented to: For Nonna Anna / Canada (Director and screenwriter: Luis De Filippis) — A trans girl cares for her Italian grandmother. She assumes that her Nonna disapproves of her – but instead discovers a tender bond in their shared vulnerability.
 

The Sundance Film Festival®
The Sundance Film Festival has introduced global audiences to some of the most groundbreaking films of the past three decades, including Boyhood, Beasts of the Southern Wild, Fruitvale Station, Whiplash, Brooklyn, Twenty Feet from Stardom, Life Itself, The Cove, The End of the Tour, Blackfish, Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, Dope, Little Miss Sunshine, sex, lies, and videotape, Reservoir Dogs, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, An Inconvenient Truth, Precious and Napoleon Dynamite. The Festival is a program of the non-profit Sundance Institute®. 2018 Festival sponsors include: Presenting Sponsors – Acura, SundanceTV, and Chase Sapphire®; Leadership Sponsors – Adobe, Amazon Studios, AT&T, DIRECTV, Dropbox, Omnicom, Stella Artois® and YouTube; Sustaining Sponsors – Canada Goose, Canon U.S.A., Inc., Dell, Francis Ford Coppola Winery, GEICO, Google Pixel 2, Grey Goose Vodka, High West Distillery, IMDbPro, Lyft, Unity Technologies and the University of Utah Health; Media Sponsors - Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and Variety. Sundance Institute recognizes critical support from the Utah Governor's Office of Economic Development, and the State of Utah as Festival Host State. The support of these organizations helps offset the Festival’s costs and sustain the Institute's year-round programs for independent artists. Look for the Official Partner seal at their venues at the Festival. sundance.org/festival

Sundance Institute
Founded in 1981 by Robert Redford, Sundance Institute is a nonprofit organization that provides and preserves the space for artists in film, theatre, and new media to create and thrive. The Institute's signature Labs, granting, and mentorship programs, dedicated to developing new work, take place throughout the year in the U.S. and internationally. The Sundance Film Festival and other public programs connect audiences to artists in igniting new ideas, discovering original voices, and building a community dedicated to independent storytelling. Sundance Institute has supported such projects as Beasts of the Southern Wild, Fruitvale Station, Sin Nombre, The Invisible War, The Square, Dirty Wars, Spring Awakening, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder and Fun Home. Join Sundance Institute on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

Ariel Marx, composer of "The Tale" #Sundance

Featured as one of ASCAP's Composers to Watch and recipient of the ASCAP Foundation Henry Mancini Fellowship, Ariel Marx is an award-winning composer and multi-instrumentalist for film, TV, and multimedia. Most recently, Ariel completed the score for two projects that will premiere at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival, Jennifer Fox’s “The Tale” starring Laura Dern, Jason Ritter, and Common and “Hair Wolf” a short film that takes places in gentrifying Brooklyn. She has also scored dramas “West of Her” and “By Jingo.” Outside of film, she has scored television series including comedy series “UnChartered” and “The Pioneers.” Ariel has additionally contributed to “Blind” starring Demi Moore and Alec Baldwin, and assisted composer Marcelo Zarvos on Showtime’s “The Affair” starring Dominic West and Ruth Wilson, as well as, Amazon’s “Z: The Beginning of Everything” starring Christina Ricci and “Wonder” starring Julia Roberts and Owen Wilson.

Her scores have premiered alongside films at national and international film festivals, such as Sundance, Tribeca, and SXSW—winning awards at several for her musical contributions. Ariel draws from many different genres and often combines orchestral and folk instruments with electronics to create unique worlds of sound. Ariel earned her Masters of Music degree in composition with a concentration in film scoring from New York University's Steinhardt program, and is currently an Adjunct Faculty.

We had a chat with Ariel, here are the excerpts.

• What's your process of composing music for a film. Do you read the script, collaborate with director, and what more/else?

It really depends from project to project, and what stage of the process I come in at. For instance, on a film I’m currently working on, I was able to read the script before it was filmed and visit the set. With “The Tale,” the film had already been shot and edited, so I was working with a final product. Regardless of what stage I come in at, to me, the most important step is determining the palette. What is the tone of the score? What instrumentation? What sort of presence will it have? After these larger aesthetics are established, I dive into writing specific themes and scoring individual scenes, always keeping the bigger picture in mind. 

• What was the most challenging part of working on this particular film?

Perhaps the most challenging aspect of scoring this film was to convey the complexity of the mechanics of memory and perspective through music. I ultimately settled on writing a score that had several individualized, self-sustaining motors — or spinning gears — that could interlock and separate and join again, transformed — just like our memories, and perceptions of them. 

• What are your favorite films (from music perspective) and your favorite composers?

This is a hard question because there are so many incredible working composers. This answer could really change from day to day, but in this moment, my two answers are the collaborations between composer Jonny Greenwood and director Paul Thomas Anderson and director Joe Wright and composer Dario Marianelli. 

• What's your advice to other aspiring musicians and composers who want to break into this business?

The best advice I received was that no one gets into this business the same way — there is no formulaic strategy to success. This has always inspired me because there is no uniform checklist of pre-requisites, and therefore you have to be your own trailblazer. All of the opportunities that have come my way are from connections I made with new filmmakers in New York City while I was in school. My best advice is to develop a unique and authentic voice, find kindred collaborators that create stories that inspire you, and push yourself to grow as a composer and collaborator. 

WOMEN BREAKING BARRIERS by HFPA #Sundance

TINA LIFFORD, REED MORANO, SANDRA OH,  CATHY SCHULMAN AND OCTAVIA SPENCER PARTICIPATE IN  “WOMEN BREAKING BARRIERS” PANEL HOSTED BY  THE HOLLYWOOD FOREGIN PRESS ASSOCIATION

 PARK CITY, UT – JANUARY 21, 2018 – In celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Golden Globe® Awards, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) continued their series of special events, this time at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival. The HFPA hosted a special “Women Breaking Barriers” panel featuring accomplished women from various fields in the film industry, moderated by HFPA member Elisabeth Sereda, who opened the session by announcing a $50.000 HFPA grant to the Sundance Institute Women’s programs. Panelists included Tina Lifford (Award-winning actress currently starring in “Queen Sugar” and founder and motivational speaker of The Inner Fitness Project), Reed Morano (Award-winning cinematographer and director; “I Think We’re Alone Now"), Sandra Oh (Golden Globe-winner; starring in and associate producer of BBC America’s “Killing Eve”), Cathy Schulman (Award-winning producer and president of Women in Film), and Octavia Spencer (Golden Globe-winner; currently starring in “The Shape of Water"). The panel was held at the Sundance TV Headquarters.

The talk touched on personal experiences and practical aspects in achieving equality for women in the entertainment business from in-access, on-set morale, treatment and pay. 

“Seven years ago, I would call the trades and beg them to cover our issues and I couldn’t get a single article published,” said Schulman. “Now there isn’t a minute, a day, week or month that goes by that we don't talk about women’s issues. The most important thing is that we don't get all excited and then just brush everything under the rug again.”

Looming large was the industry-wide debate that’s currently taking place in Hollywood. Panelists concurred that it has been an important moment in starting the conversation but that the problem is more systemic than the abuse, which has come to light. 

The role of men in the conversation was also touched upon. Spencer expressed a sentiment on many people’s mind when she suggested quietly listening as an important first step. 

“This is a wonderful moment that's happening right now. It is making us confront deep-seated cultural issues, it’s a paradigm shift. That can be frightening but we just need to take baby steps, put one foot front of the other. It’s not going be easy but we’ll get there.”

Added Lifford, “I don't think we can underestimate the importance of conversation. Human beings tend to be afraid of change period. When we’re talking about huge cultural relationship changes it’s going to make everyone afraid. We need to create a space where everyone can express their feelings then we can move on to some sort of cooperation.” 

Sandra Oh concluded on a positive note. “There is a new generation of women who have less heaviness on them and I’m sure there are lot of women in this room who have a clear creative vision and will put it out there and they inspire me tremendously.”

Photos: https://amcnetworks.app.box.com/s/m6kkb18fgq48lomjxcwge22fxy411zin

Courtesy: Sundance TV

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About the Hollywood Foreign Press Association

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) was founded in 1943 as the Hollywood Foreign Correspondents Association (HFCA) by a group of entertainment journalists representing world media in Hollywood, who realized the need to unite and organize to gain the recognition and access to studios and talent accorded to the domestic press. All qualified journalists were accepted, with the bold goal of “Unity Without Discrimination of Religion or Race.” A year later, the HFCA created the Golden Globe Awards which, to this day, the entire membership selects, votes on and awards every year for outstanding achievements in motion pictures and television. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Golden Globe Awards. Members of the HFPA represent 56 countries with a combined readership of 250 million in some of the world’s most respected publications. Each year, the organization holds the third most watched awards show on television, the Golden Globe® Awards, which has enabled the organization to donate $30 million to entertainment-related charities, scholarship programs and humanitarian efforts over the last 25 years. Last year, the HFPA distributed $3 million in grants through their Charitable Trust to a diverse group of organizations and institutions within the entertainment industry. For more information, please visit www.GoldenGlobes.com and follow us on Twitter (@GoldenGlobes), Instagram (@GoldenGlobes), and Facebook (www.facebook.com/GoldenGlobes).

Outstanding Film and Television Performances Honored at the 24th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards

The Screen Actors Guild Awards® presented its coveted Actor® statuettes for the outstanding motion picture and television performances of 2017 at the 24th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards®, hosted by Kristen Bell, held Sunday, Jan. 21 at the Los Angeles Shrine Auditorium & Expo Hall.

Honored with individual awards were Frances McDormand, Gary Oldman, Allison Janney and Sam Rockwell for performances in motion pictures, and Nicole Kidman, Alexander Skarsgård, Claire Foy, Sterling K. Brown, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and William H. Macy for performances in television. The Screen Actors Guild Awards originated awards for the outstanding performances by a motion picture cast and by television drama and comedy ensembles. The Actor® for a motion picture cast performance went this year to “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri,” while the Actors® for television drama and comedy ensemble performances went this year to “This is Us” and “Veep.”

SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris and SAG Awards® Committee Chair JoBeth Williams revealed the honorees for outstanding television and film stunt ensemble action performances during the streamed PEOPLE, EW & TNT’s Official SAG Awards® Red Carpet Live Show pre-show.

Rita Moreno presented Morgan Freeman with the 54th Life Achievement Award, following a filmed salute to the Academy Award® winning actor, producer, voice actor and activist, which mirrored when Freeman presented Moreno with the 50th Life Achievement Award. Felicity Huffman introduced a filmed “In Memoriam” tribute to the SAG-AFTRA members lost during 2017. In keeping with the SAG Awards tradition of highlighting the work of SAG-AFTRA members, SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris introduced a montage that illustrated the union’s diversity and the wide range of its members’ professional skills.

PEOPLE magazine and the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF) hosted the Screen Actors Guild Post-Awards Gala for the 22nd year. They were joined this year for the first time by official co-sponsor TNT & TBS. This exclusive event, which was held immediately following the SAG Awards on a specially extended section of the Shrine’s auditorium stage honors the charitable efforts of actors in their communities and its hosts make an annual donation to the SAG-AFTRA Foundation.

Nominees chosen by their respective SAG Awards film and television nominating committees were announced on Dec. 13, 2017. Two nominating panels — one for television and one for film — each composed of 2,500 randomly selected union members from across the United States, chose this year’s nominees. Final voting information was sent to the 121,544 SAG-AFTRA members in good standing across the country. Balloting closed at noon on Friday, Jan. 19. Integrity Voting Systems, the Awards' official election teller, sealed the results until they were announced live during the 24th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards.

The 24th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards presented by SAG-AFTRA with Screen Actors Guild Awards®, LLC was produced by Avalon Harbor Productions. For more information about the SAG Awards, SAG-AFTRA, TNT and TBS, visit sagawards.org/about.

The complete list of recipients for the 24th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards® follows:

The 24th ANNUAL SCREEN ACTORS GUILD AWARDS® RECIPIENTS

The Theatrical Motion Picture Recipients are:

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role

FRANCES McDORMAND / Mildred – “THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI” (Fox Searchlight)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role

GARY OLDMAN / Winston Churchill – “DARKEST HOUR” (Focus Features)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role

ALLISON JANNEY / LaVona Golden – “I, TONYA” (Neon)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role

SAM ROCKWELL / Dixon – “THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI” (Fox Searchlight)

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture

THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI (Fox Searchlight)
ABBIE CORNISH / Anne
PETER DINKLAGE / James
WOODY HARRELSON / Willoughby
JOHN HAWKES / Charlie
LUCAS HEDGES / Robbie
ŽELJKO IVANEK / Desk Sgt.
CALEB LANDRY JONES / Red Welby
FRANCES McDORMAND / Mildred
CLARKE PETERS / Abercrombie
SAM ROCKWELL / Dixon
SAMARA WEAVING / Penelope

The Television Recipients are:

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series

NICOLE KIDMAN / Celeste Wright – “BIG LITTLE LIES” (HBO)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series

ALEXANDER SKARSGÅRD / Perry Wright – “BIG LITTLE LIES” (HBO)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series

CLAIRE FOY / Queen Elizabeth II – “THE CROWN” (Netflix)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series

STERLING K. BROWN / Randall Pearson – “THIS IS US” (NBC)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series

JULIA LOUIS-DREYFUS / Selina Meyer – “VEEP” (HBO)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series

WILLIAM H. MACY / Frank Gallagher – “SHAMELESS” (Showtime)

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series

THIS IS US (NBC)ERIS BAKER / Tess Pearson
ALEXANDRA BRECKENRIDGE / Sophie
STERLING K. BROWN / Randall Pearson
LONNIE CHAVIS / Young Randall
JUSTIN HARTLEY / Kevin Pearson
FAITHE HERMAN / Annie Pearson
RON CEPHAS JONES / William Hill
CHRISSY METZ / Kate Pearson
MANDY MOORE / Rebecca Pearson
CHRIS SULLIVAN / Toby Damon
MILO VENTIMIGLIA / Jack Pearson
SUSAN KELECHI WATSON / Beth Pearson
HANNAH ZEILE / Teenage Kate

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series

VEEP (HBO)
DAN BAKKEDAHL / Roger Furlong
ANNA CHLUMSKY / Amy Brookheimer
GARY COLE / Kent Davison
MARGARET COLIN / Jane McCabe
KEVIN DUNN / Ben Cafferty
CLEA DUVALL / Marjorie Palmiotti
NELSON FRANKLIN / Will
TONY HALE / Gary Walsh
JULIA LOUIS-DREYFUS / Selina Meyer
SAM RICHARDSON / Richard Splett
PAUL SCHEER / Stevie
REID SCOTT / Dan Egan
TIMOTHY SIMONS / Jonah Ryan
SARAH SUTHERLAND / Catherine Meyer
MATT WALSH / Mike McLintock

About the 24th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards®

The 24th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards® presented by SAG-AFTRA with Screen Actors Guild Awards, LLC and hosted by Kristen Bell, is produced by Avalon Harbor Entertainment. Inc. and was simulcast live on TNT and TBS on Sunday, January. 21, 2018 at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT. TNT and TBS subscribers also had the option to watch the SAG Awards live through the networks' websites, mobile apps (iOS, Android), and connected device apps (Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire). The telecast is available internationally, including to U.S. military installations through the American Forces Network.

One of the awards season’s premier events, the SAG Awards® annually celebrates the outstanding motion pictures and television performances from the previous calendar year. Of the top industry honors presented to actors, only the SAG Awards are selected entirely by performers’ peers in SAG-AFTRA, which this year number 121,544. The SAG Awards was the first televised awards show to acknowledge the work of union members and the first to present awards to motion picture casts and television ensembles. For more information about the SAG Awards®, SAG-AFTRA, TNT and TBS, visit sagawards.org/about.

Connect with the SAG Awards®
Hashtag: #sagawards
Website: sagawards.org
Facebook: facebook.com/sagawardsofficialpage/
Twitter: twitter.com/sagawards/
Instagram: instagram.com/sagawards/

THE WINNERS OF THE 49th NAACP IMAGE AWARDS

THE WINNERS OF THE 49th NAACP IMAGE AWARDS ANNOUNCED DURING LIVE BROADCAST ON TV ONE TWO-HOUR SPECIAL WAS HOSTED BY ANTHONY ANDERSON

PRESENTERS INCLUDED: STERLING K. BROWN, MARY J. BLIGE, MICHAEL B. JORDAN, DANIEL KALUUYA, ISSA RAE, CHADWICK BOSEMAN, TERRY CREWS, YARA SHAHIDI, ANGELA RYE, DANAI GURIRA, ISAIAH WASHINGTON, JACOB LATIMORE, JAY PHAROAH, JEMELE HILL, JOSH GAD, LORETTA DEVINE, META GOLDING, MICHAEL SMITH, TYLER JAMES WILLIAMS, SONEQUA MARTIN-GREEN, JUDGE GREG MATHIS AND MIKE COLTER

Performances by Common and Andra Day

Ava DuVernay Announced as NAACP Entertainer of the Year Charlie Wilson Honored with Music Makes a Difference Honor

Special #TIMESUP Presentation Featuring Angela Robinson, Kerry Washington, Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Laverne Cox, Lena Waithe and Tracee Ellis Ross

Additional Talent Included: Halle Berry, Mandy Moore, Chris Sullivan, Omari Hardwick, and more

(LOS ANGELES, CA) – January 16, 2018 – The winners of the 49th NAACP Image Awards were announced tonight during the live broadcast from the Pasadena Civic Auditorium which aired on TV One (see complete winners list below). The two-hour live special was hosted by Anthony Anderson and opened with a powerful moment in support of #TIMESUP featuring Angela Robinson, Kerry Washington, Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Laverne Cox, Lena Waithe and Tracee Ellis Ross. There was a live pre-show from the red carpet hosted by Terrence J with special correspondent, Tanika Ray.

Ava DuVernay was honored as the NAACP Entertainer of the Year. NAACP Chairman Leon W. Russell presented the NAACP Chairman’s Award to William Lucy, NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson presented the NAACP President’s Award to Danny Glover and several members of the Memphis Sanitation “I Am A Man” Workers were also in attendance – they were presented with the NAACP Vanguard Award earlier in the week during a press conference at the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, TN. Charlie Wilson was honored with the Music Makes a Difference honor which is bestowed upon an individual within the recording industry who has achieved worthwhile success and inspiration for civic engagement, criminal justice, education, economic opportunity, or criminal justice.

In addition, some of the biggest names in film, television and music appeared in the LIVE telecast including: Sterling K. Brown, Halle Berry, Mary J. Blige, Michael B. Jordan, Daniel Kaluuya, Issae Rae, Mandy Moore, Chadwick Boseman, Terry Crews, Tracee Ellis Ross, Yara Shahidi, Angela Rye, Danai Gurira, Isaiah Washington, Jacob Latimore, Jay Pharoah, Jemele Hill, Josh Gad, Loretta Devine, Meta Golding, Michael Smith, Tyler James Williams, Omari Hardwick, Ava DuVernay, Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Chris Sullivan, Sonequa Martin-Green, Judge Greg Mathis and Mike Colter.

The 49th NAACP Image Awards production team included Executive Producers Reginald Hudlin and Phil Gurin, Tony McCuin as Director, Byron Phillips as Producer, and Robin Reinhardt as Talent Producer.

The winners of the 49th NAACP Image Awards in the non-televised categories were announced during a gala dinner celebration that took place Sunday, January 14, 2018, at the Pasadena Conference Center – the event was hosted by The Real’s Adrienne Houghton, Loni Love, Jeannie Mai and Tamera Mowry-Housley.

The NAACP Image Awards is the premiere multicultural awards show. It celebrates the accomplishments of people of color in the fields of television, music, literature and film, and also honors individuals or groups who promote social justice through creative endeavors. 

Below are all of the winners for the 49th NAACP Image Awards:

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR

Ava DuVernay

Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture

Daniel Kaluuya - "Get Out" (Universal Pictures)

Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture

Octavia Spencer - "Gifted" (Fox Searchlight Pictures)

Outstanding Motion Picture

"Girls Trip" (Universal Pictures)

Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series

Anthony Anderson - "`black-ish" (ABC)

Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series

Tracee Ellis Ross - "`black-ish " (ABC)

Outstanding Comedy Series

"`black-ish" (ABC)

Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series

Omari Hardwick - "Power" (Starz)

Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series

Taraji P. Henson - "Empire" (FOX)

Outstanding Drama Series

"Power" (Starz)

The winners of the Non-Televised Categories for the 49th NAACP Image Awards are:

Television   

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

Jay Ellis - "Insecure" (HBO)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

Marsai Martin - "`black-ish" (ABC)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

Joe Morton - "Scandal" (ABC)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Naturi Naughton - "Power" (Starz)

Outstanding Television Movie, Limited - Series or Dramatic Special

"The New Edition Story " (BET)

Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special

Idris Elba - "Guerrilla" (Showtime)

Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Limited -Series or Dramatic Special

Queen Latifah - "Flint" (Lifetime)

Outstanding News/ Information - (Series or Special)

"Unsung" (TV One)

Outstanding Talk Series

"The Real" (Syndicated)

Outstanding Reality Program/Reality Competition Series

"The Manns" (TV One)

Outstanding Variety or Game Show - (Series or Special)

"Lip Sync Battle" (Spike)

Outstanding Children's Program

"Doc McStuffins" (Disney Junior)

Outstanding Performance by a Youth (Series, Special, Television Movie or Limited Series)

Caleb McLaughlin - "Stranger Things" (Netflix)

Outstanding Host in a Talk or News/Information (Series or Special) - Individual or Ensemble

Roland Martin - "News One Now" (TV One)

Outstanding Host in a Reality/Reality Competition, Game Show or Variety (Series or Special) - Individual or Ensemble

LL Cool J - "Lip Sync Battle" (Spike)

Recording  

Outstanding New Artist

SZA (RCA Records/Top Dawg Entertainment)

Outstanding Male Artist

Bruno Mars (Atlantic Records)

Outstanding Female Artist

Mary J. Blige (Capitol Records)

Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration

Kendrick Lamar feat. Rihanna (TDE/Aftermath/Interscope)

Outstanding Jazz Album

"Petite Afrique" - Somi (Sony Music/OKeh)

Outstanding Gospel/Christian Album (Traditional or Contemporary)

"Greenleaf Soundtrack Volume 2" - Greenleaf Soundtrack (RCA Inspiration)

Outstanding Music Video/Visual Album

"That's What I Like" - Bruno Mars (Atlantic Records)

Outstanding Song – Traditional

"That's What I Like" - Bruno Mars (Atlantic Records)

Outstanding Album

"DAMN." - Kendrick Lamar (TDE/Aftermath/Interscope)

Outstanding Song – Contemporary

"HUMBLE." - Kendrick Lamar (TDE/Aftermath/Interscope)

Literature

Outstanding Literary Work – Fiction  

"The Annotated African American Folktales" - Henry Louis Gates Jr. (Editor),Maria Tatar (Editor), (Liveright Publishing Corporation)

Outstanding Literary Work - Non-Fiction

"Defining Moments in Black History: Reading Between the Lies" - Dick Gregory (Author), (HarperCollins Publishers)

Outstanding Literary Work - Debut Author

"No One Is Coming to Save Us" - Stephanie Powell Watts (Author), (HarperCollins Publishers)

Outstanding Literary Work - Biography / Autobiography

"Becoming Ms. Burton - From Prison to Recovery to Leading the Fight for Incarcerated Women" - Susan Burton (Author), Cari Lynn (Author), Michelle Alexander (Foreword By), (The New Press)

Outstanding Literary Work – Instructional

"The Awakened Woman: Remembering & Reigniting our Sacred Dreams " – Dr. Tererai Trent (Author), Oprah Winfrey (Foreword By), (Simon and Schuster)

Outstanding Literary Work – Poetry

"Incendiary Art: Poems" - Patricia Smith (Author), (TriQuarterly Books/Northwestern University Press)

Outstanding Literary Work – Children

"Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History " - Vashti Harrison (Author), (Hachette Book Group)

Outstanding Literary Work - Youth / Teens

"Clayton Byrd Goes Underground" - Rita Williams-Garcia, (Author), Frank Morrison (Illustrator), (Amistad/HarperCollins Publishers)

Motion Picture

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture

Idris Elba - "THOR: Ragnarok" (Marvel Studios)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture

Tiffany Haddish - "Girls Trip" (Universal Pictures)

Outstanding Independent Motion Picture

"Detroit" (Annapurna Pictures)

Documentary

Outstanding Documentary (Film)

"STEP" (Fox Searchlight Pictures)

Outstanding Documentary (Television)

"The 44th President: In His Own Words" (History)

Writing

Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series

Janine Barrois – “Claws” – Batsh*t (TNT)

Outstanding Writing in a Dramatic Series

Gina Prince-Bythewood - "Shots Fired" – Hour One: Pilot (Fox)

Outstanding Writing in a Television Movie or Special  

Abdul Williams - "The New Edition Story " – Part 2 (BET)

Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture

Jordan Peele - "Get Out" (Universal Pictures)

Directing

Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series

Anton Cropper - "`black-ish" - Juneteenth (ABC)

Outstanding Directing in a Dramatic Series

Carl Franklin - "13 Reasons Why" - Tape 5, Side B (Netflix)

Outstanding Directing in a Television Movie or Special

Allen Hughes - "The Defiant Ones" (HBO)

Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture

Jordan Peele - "Get Out" (Universal Pictures)

ANIMATED/CGI

Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance

Tiffany Haddish – “Legends of Chamberlain Heights” (Comedy Central)

Nominees for the NAACP Image Awards are determined by the number of entries received by the deadline. To be eligible, projects must have had a national distribution date between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2017.  From those entries, a nominating committee selects five nominees in each of the 56 categories. To determine the winners, the members of the NAACP vote via a secured online site. The results are tabulated by the Image Awards auditors, Bert Smith & Co., and the results are confidential until the envelope is opened LIVE on stage during the TV One telecast.

For all information and the latest news, please visit the official NAACP Image Awards website at: http://www.naacpimageawards.net.

FB: /naacpimageaward | Twitter: @naacpimageaward (#ImageAwards)

About NAACP:

Founded in 1909, the NAACP is the nation’s oldest and largest nonpartisan civil rights organization. Its members throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities. Read more about the NAACP’s work and our six “Game Changer” issue areas at NAACP.org.

About TV One:

Launched in January 2004, TV One serves 59 million households, offering a broad range of real-life and entertainment-focused original programming, classic series, movies and music designed to entertain and inform a diverse audience of adult black viewers. The network represents the best in black culture and entertainment with fan favorite shows Unsung, Rickey Smiley For Real, Fatal Attraction, and The NAACP Image Awards.  In addition, TV One is the cable home of blockbuster drama Empire. In December 2008, the company launched TV One High Def, which now serves 14 million households. TV One is solely owned by Urban One, Inc., formerly known as Radio One, Inc. [NASDAQ: UONE and UONEK, www.urban1.com], the largest African-American owned multi-media company primarily targeting Black and urban audiences.For more information about TV One, viewers can join the conversation by visiting the network’s companion website at www.tvone.tv.

Winners of Non-Televised 49th NAACP Image Awards

THE WINNERS OF THE NON-TELEVISED CATEGORIES FOR THE 49th NAACP IMAGE AWARDS ANNOUNCED AT GALA DINNER

Event Hosted by The Real’s Adrienne Houghton, Loni Love, Jeannie Mai and Tamera Mowry-Housley Attendees included: Sterling K. Brown, Susan Kelechi Watson, Yvette Nicole Brown, Samira Wiley and more

(LOS ANGELES, CA) – January 15, 2018 – The winners of the 49th NAACP Image Awards in the non-televised categories were announced during a gala dinner celebration that took Sunday, January 14, 2018, at the Pasadena Conference Center – the event was hosted by The Real’s Adrienne Houghton, Loni Love, Jeannie Mai and Tamera Mowry-Housley.

Talent attending included: Abdul Williams, Amanda Lipitz, Andrew Finkelstein, Angela Jollivette, Angie Edgar, Anthony Sparks, Beverly Bond, Brad Bernstein, Chelsea Hettrick, Chris Robinson, Damien Escobar, Damon Davis, Daniel Mooney, David Karabinas, Debra Lee, Dondre Whitfield, Emily V. Gordon, Erica Anderson, Ethan Hutchinson, Fredricka Whitfield, Iyanla Van Zant, James Ward, Janine Sherman Barrois, Jemele Hill, Jill Dickerson, John David Washington, Joshua Dubois, Julie Anderson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karissa Valencia, Kay Hanley, Keegan Kuhn, Keesha Sharp, Keith David, Ken Whittingham, Kevin Hooks, Kip Andersen, Kristin Robinson, Kumail Nanjiani, Kwyn Bader, Ledisi, Lena Waithe, Lonnie Chavis, Lynn Whitfield, Major, Mark Ford, Mark Nicholson, Marvin Sapp, May Chan, Mekita Faiye, Merle Dandridge, Michael Armstrong, Michael Smith, Michelle Lewis, Morgan Di Stefano, Natalie Paul, Paula Dofat, Pinky Cole, Reginald Hudlin, Rodney Scott, Sabaah Folayan, Salli Richardson, Samira Wiley, Scott Mills, Somi, Stacey Kim, Stella Meghie, Sterling K. Brown, Susan Gray, Susan Kelechi Watson, Tara Montgomery, Tina Lifford, Tituss Burgess, Woody McClain and Yvette Nicole Brown. 

Winners in 47 categories were announced during the event (see complete winners list below).  The remaining 9 categories and Entertainer of the Year will be announced LIVE on stage during the two-hour star-studded49th NAACP Image Awards which will broadcast LIVE on TV One on Monday, January 15, 2018, the national holiday honoring the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., at 9pm/8c as a two-hour special hosted by Anthony Anderson.  The one-hour pre-show airs live from the red carpet at 8pm/7c.

For all information and the latest news, please visit the official NAACP Image Awards website at: http://www.naacpimageawards.net.

FB: /naacpimageaward | Twitter: @naacpimageaward (#ImageAwards)

About NAACP:

Founded in 1909, the NAACP is the nation’s oldest and largest nonpartisan civil rights organization. Its members throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities. Read more about the NAACP’s work and our six “Game Changer” issue areas at NAACP.org.

About TV One:

Launched in January 2004, TV One serves 59 million households, offering a broad range of real-life and entertainment-focused original programming, classic series, movies and music designed to entertain and inform a diverse audience of adult black viewers. The network represents the best in black culture and entertainment with fan favorite shows Unsung, Rickey Smiley For Real, Fatal Attraction, and The NAACP Image Awards.  In addition, TV One is the cable home of blockbuster drama Empire. In December 2008, the company launched TV One High Def, which now serves 14 million households. TV One is solely owned by Urban One, Inc., formerly known as Radio One, Inc. [NASDAQ: UONE and UONEK, www.urban1.com], the largest African-American owned multi-media company primarily targeting Black and urban audiences.

For more information about TV One, viewers can join the conversation by visiting the network’s companion website at www.tvone.tv.

49th NAACP Image Awards, Jan 15 (MLK Day) on TV ONE

STERLING K. BROWN, MARY J. BLIGE, MICHAEL B. JORDAN, DANIEL KALUUYA, ISSA RAE, CHADWICK BOSEMAN, TERRY CREWS, YARA SHAHIDI, DANAI GURIRA, ISAIAH WASHINGTON, JACOB LATIMORE, JAY PHAROAH, JEMELE HILL, JOSH GAD, LORETTA DEVINE, META GOLDING, MICHAEL SMITH, TYLER JAMES WILLIAMS, SONEQUA MARTIN-GREEN, JUDGE GREG MATHIS AND MIKE COLTER, TO PRESENT AT THE 49TH NAACP IMAGE AWARDS
ON THE NATIONAL HOLIDAY HONORING DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.
MONDAY, JANUARY 15 ON TV ONE

Performances by Common and Andra Day
Additional Talent Scheduled to Appear Include Halle Berry, Mandy Moore, Octavia Spencer, Chris Sullivan, Tracee Ellis Ross, Ava DuVernay, Jurnee Smollett-Bell, and more

Anthony Anderson to Host LIVE Two-Hour Special at 9:00pm ET/8:00pm C
Terrence J to Host LIVE Red Carpet Pre-Show at 8:00pm ET/7:00pm C
With Tanika Ray as Special Correspondent

Los Angeles, CA – January 12, 2018 – Sterling K. Brown, Mary J. Blige, Michael B. Jordan, Daniel Kaluuya, Issae Rae, Chadwick Boseman, Terry Crews, Yara Shahidi, Danai Gurira, Isaiah Washington, Jacob Latimore, Jay Pharoah, Jemele Hill, Josh Gad, Loretta Devine, Meta Golding, Michael Smith, Tyler James Williams, Sonequa Martin-Green, Judge Greg Mathis and Mike Colter are scheduled to present at the 49th NAACP Image Awards. Performances by Common and Andra Day. Additional talent scheduled to appear include Halle Berry, Mandy Moore, Octavia Spencer, Chris Sullivan, Tracee Ellis Ross, Ava DuVernay, Jurnee Smollett-Bell, and more. The all-star celebration will be hosted by Anthony Anderson and will broadcast LIVE from the Pasadena Civic Auditorium at 9pm/8c on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday, January 15, on TV One. A one-hour pre-show hosted by Terrence J will air live from the red carpet at 8pm/7c with Tanika Ray as special correspondent.

In addition, the NAACP “Entertainer of the Year” will be revealed. This special honor is bestowed upon an individual within the entertainment industry who has achieved notable success in multiple projects and mediums. The nominees include Ava DuVernay, Bruno Mars, Chadwick Boseman, Chance the Rapper, Issa Rae, and JAY Z. 

As previously announced, actor, producer, and humanitarian Danny Glover will receive the “President’s Award” which is bestowed in recognition of special achievement and distinguished public service. In addition, William Lucy, prominent labor union organizer and leader, will be honored with the prestigious “NAACP Chairman’s Award” which is bestowed in recognition of individuals who demonstrate exemplary public service and use their distinct platforms to create agents of change.

The NAACP Image Awards is the preeminent multicultural awards show celebrating the accomplishments of people of color in the fields of television, music, literature and film, and also honors individuals or groups who promote social justice through creative endeavors. Winners will be announced during the two-hour star-studded event hosted by Anthony Anderson, which will be broadcast LIVE on TV ONE at 9pm/8c on Monday, January 15, 2018, the federal holiday honoring the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. A one-hour pre-show will air live from the red carpet at 8pm/7c.

For all information and the latest news, please visit the official NAACP Image Awards website at: http://www.naacpimageawards.net.

FB: /naacpimageaward | Twitter: @naacpimageaward (#ImageAwards)

About NAACP:
Founded in 1909, the NAACP is the nation’s oldest and largest nonpartisan civil rights organization. Its members throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities. Read more about the NAACP’s work and our six “Game Changer” issue areas at NAACP.org.

About TV One:
Launched in January 2004, TV One serves 59 million households, offering a broad range of real-life and entertainment-focused original programming, classic series, movies and music designed to entertain and inform a diverse audience of adult black viewers. The network represents the best in black culture and entertainment with fan favorite shows Unsung, Rickey Smiley For Real, Fatal Attraction, and The NAACP Image Awards.  In addition, TV One is the cable home of blockbuster drama Empire. In December 2008, the company launched TV One High Def, which now serves 14 million households. TV One is solely owned by Urban One, Inc., formerly known as Radio One, Inc. [NASDAQ: UONE and UONEK, www.urban1.com], the largest African-American owned multi-media company primarily targeting Black and urban audiences.

For more information about TV One, viewers can join the conversation by visiting the network’s companion website at www.tvone.tv. TV One viewers can also join the conversation by connecting via social media on Twitter<https://twitter.com/TVONETV>, Instagram<https://www.instagram.com/tvonetv/> and Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/tvonetv>.

Select "Black Films" at Sundance 2018 (Jan 18-28)

There will never be a shortage of creativity to come from African American community.  The annual Sundance Film Festival, taking place January 18 to 28 is just one piece of compelling evidence to back up this aforementioned statement.

Festival premieres include a new work by Boots Riley, “Sorry to Bother You”, starring Lakeith Stanfield, Tessa Thompson, and Omari Hardwick and a documentary on Sri Lankan artist and musician M.I.A.  We also get two special events: Spike Lee’s PassOver and RuPaul’s Drag Race: A Retrospective of the Cultural Phenomenon.

There are 27 feature length films and 10 shorts offered.  Here are our picks for films to check out at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival.

Blindspotting

A buddy comedy in a world that won't let it be one. Starring Daveed Diggs, Rafael Casal, Janina Gavankar , and Jasmine Cephas Jones.

Burden

After opening a KKK shop, Klansman Michael Burden falls in love with a single mom who forces him to confront his senseless hatred. Starring Forest Whitaker and Usher Raymond.

The Miseducation of Cameron Post

Circa 1993: after being caught having sex with the prom queen, a girl is forced into a gay conversion therapy center. Based on Emily Danforth's acclaimed and controversial coming-of-age novel.

Monster

“Monster” is what the prosecutor calls 17 year old honors student and aspiring filmmaker Steve Harmon. Charged with felony murder for a crime he says he did not commit.  Starring Kelvin Harrison Jr., Jeffrey Wright, and Jennifer Hudson.

Monsters and Men

This interwoven narrative explores the aftermath of a police killing of a black man. Starring Anthony Ramos.

Sorry to Bother You

In an alternate present-day version of Oakland, black telemarketer Cassius Green discovers a magical key to professional success – which propels him into a macabre universe. Starring Tessa Thompson, Steven Yeun, and Omari Hardwick.

TYREL

Tyler spirals out of control when he realizes he’s the only black person attending a weekend birthday party in a secluded cabin. Starring Jason Mitchell.

Crime + Punishment

Over four years of unprecedented access, the story of a brave group of black and Latino whistleblower cops and one unrelenting private investigator who, amidst a landmark lawsuit, risk everything to expose illegal quota practices and their impact on young minorities.

MATANGI / MAYA / M.I.A.

An intimate look into the life of Sri Lankan artist and musician M.I.A using personal footage spanning decades.

A Boy, A Girl, A Dream

Directed by Qasim Basir. On the night of the 2016 Presidential election, Cass, an L.A. club promoter, takes a thrilling and emotional journey with Frida, a Midwestern visitor. Starring Omari Hardwick, and Meagan Good.

Night Comes On

Angel LaMere is released from juvenile detention on the eve of her 18th birthday. Haunted by her past, she embarks on a journey with her 10 year-old sister.

I Am Not a Witch

After a minor incident, nine-year old Shula is exiled to a witch camp where she is told that if she escapes, she'll be transformed into a goat.

King In The Wilderness

A portrait of the last years of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s remarkable life.

Come Sunday

Internationally-renowned pastor Carlton Pearson — experiencing a crisis of faith — risks his church, family and future when he questions church doctrine and finds himself branded a modern-day heretic. Based on actual events. Starring Chiwetel Ejiofor, Danny Glover, and Condola Rashad.

Pass Over / U.S.A

This special event is created by Spike Lee, Danya Taymor and Antoinette Nwandu

A provocative riff on Waiting for Godot, capturing the poetry, humor and humanity of this urgent and timely play about two young black men talking shit, passing the time and dreaming of the promised land. Starring Jon Michael Hill, Julian Parker, Ryan Hallahan, and Blake DeLong.

RuPaul’s Drag Race: A Retrospective of the Cultural Phenomenon

A retrospective of VH1’s Emmy-winning “RuPaul’s Drag Race” on the heels of its10th season, and a panel hosted by RuPaul with executive producers Randy Barbato and Fenton Bailey, along with Tom Campbell and Pamela Post, senior vice president of Original Programming for MTV, VH1 and Logo.

Leimert Park

Directed by producer Mel Jones. Things get complicated when three friends share a house in South LA’s Leimert Park.

Dinner Party

A short virtual reality thriller that dramatizes the incredible story of Betty and Barney Hill, who in the 1960's reported the first nationally known UFO abduction case in America.

Masters of the Sun

In1983, Los Angeles was spared from utter destruction driven by an ancient evil. The ghetto became ground zero for drug epidemic that transformed citizens into soul-sucking zombies.

Halle Berry, Dakota Fanning, Lupita Nyong'o, Emma Stone and Kelly Marie Tran To Present at the 24th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards®

Halle Berry, Dakota Fanning, Lupita Nyong'o, Emma Stone and Kelly Marie Tran
To Present at the 24th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards®

―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

The 24th Annual SAG Awards® will air live on TNT and TBS, Sunday, Jan. 21, 2018

LOS ANGELES (Jan. 11, 2018) — Halle Berry, Dakota Fanning, Lupita Nyong'o, Emma Stone and Kelly Marie Tran will be presenters at the 24th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards®, Executive Producer Kathy Connell announced today.  The 24th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards, hosted by Kristen Bell, will be simulcast live on TNT and TBS on Sunday, January 21, 2018 at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT. AG AW

Halle Berry (Monster’s Ball, the X-Men franchise) is a two-time Actor® recipient. The first recognized her Outstanding Performance inIntroducing Dorothy Dandridge, in the Female Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series category. She subsequently was honored with an Actor® and an Oscar® for her lead performance in Monster’s Ball.

Dakota Fanning (The Alienist, American Pastoral) became the youngest-ever individual SAG Award nominee for her supporting role I Am Sam, when she was just seven. In subsequent nods to her early start, she introduced the SAG Awards’ tribute to child actors in 2002 and presented the SAG Life Achievement Award to Shirley Temple Black in 2006.

 Lupita Nyong'o (12 Years a Slave, upcoming Black Panther) is an Actor® recipient and two-time Screen Actors Guild Award nominee. She received the Actor® and an Oscar® for her Supporting Role in 12 Years a Slave, a performance that also earned her a SAG Awards nomination as a cast member.

Emma Stone (La La Land, Birdman or The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) is a three-time Actor® recipient. One of her SAG Awards was for her lead role in La La Land, a performance that also earned her an Oscar® and a Golden Globe. Her other two Actors® were for her performance in the casts of Birdman (or The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) and The Help. Her supporting role Birdman garnered nominations for an Actor®, an Oscar® and a Golden Globe.

Kelly Marie Tran (Star Wars: The Last Jedi, CollegeHumor Originals) will be a first-time presenter at this year’s Screen Actors Guild Awards. Her breakthrough role was as the skilled mechanic and Resistance fighter Rose Tico in Star Wars: The Last Jedi. 

About the 24th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards®

The 24th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards® presented by SAG-AFTRA with Screen Actors Guild Awards, LLC and hosted by Kristen Bell, will be produced by Avalon Harbor Entertainment. Inc. and will be simulcast live on TNT and TBS on Sunday, January. 21, 2018 at8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT. TBS and TNT subscribers can also watch the SAG Awards live through the networks' websites and mobile apps. Additionally, TNT will present a special encore broadcast of the ceremony at 11 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. PT. The telecast is available internationally, including to U.S. military installations through the American Forces Network.

SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris and SAG Awards® Committee Chair JoBeth Williams will reveal the honorees for outstanding television and film stunt ensemble action performances during the first half-hour of PEOPLE, EW & TNT’s SAG Awards® Red Carpet Live pre-show, which will live-stream on tntdrama.com/sagawards, sagawards.org, People.com, PeopleTV.com, EW.com, InStyle.comand Time.com, beginning at 5:30 p.m. (ET) / 2:30 p.m. (PT).

One of the awards season’s premier events, the SAG Awards® annually celebrates the outstanding motion pictures and television performances from the previous calendar year. Of the top industry honors presented to actors, only the SAG Awards are selected entirely by performers’ peers in SAG-AFTRA, which this year number 121,544. The SAG Awards was the first televised awards show to acknowledge the work of union members and the first to present awards to motion picture casts and television ensembles. For more information about the SAG Awards®, SAG-AFTRA, TNT and TBS, visit sagawards.org/about.

Connect with the SAG Awards®

Hashtag: #sagawards
Website: sagawards.org
Facebook: facebook.com/sagawardsofficialpage/
Twitter: twitter.com/sagawards/
Google +: google.com/+SAGawards/
Instagram: instagram.com/sagawards/

The Toscars 2018, Golden Fist comes on Feb 28th!

The red carpet is ready, the paparazzi are prepping their lenses, the stunning dresses are being chosen, and the golden awards are ready to be handed out to the lucky winners. Yes, it’s time again for the Toscars ceremony. No, that’s not a misprint. The Oscars are being held in March, but a few days before that on February 28th, Brits in LA’s 11th annual Toscars will be held in Hollywood at the Renberg Theatre.

This affectionate, spoofy homage is based around this year’s Oscar nominations for best movie. After the Oscar nominations are announced, in three weeks, parodies are made, judged by the Whacademy and then shown at the awards ceremony.

It has been said of this annual event that it is “like the Oscars, only funnier.” 

Past presenters and hosts have included Skeet Ulrich (Riverdale), Academy and Golden Globe nominee Eric Roberts, Alex Newell (Glee), Candis Cayne (Dirty Sexy Money), Craig Young (The Last Ship), Jai Rodriquez (Queer Eye), Brianna Brown (Dynasty), Asian Oscar winner Bai Ling, Sean Maguire (Once Upon a Time), DJ Paul Oakenfold, Academy Award Winners, Hakeem Kae-Kazim (Dynasty), Ruth Connell (Supernatural), Luke Evans (Dracula Untold), Rex Lee (Young and Hungry), Janina Gavankar (Sleepy Hollow), Emmy Winner Bruce Vilanch, Brit Award Winner Siobhan Fahey (Bananarama), Bradley Walsh (Law & Order: UK) and the BAFTA winning comedian Jim Tavaré. 

Who will take home the coveted ‘Golden Fist’ for Best Whactress, Best Whactor, Best Scribbler, Best Tunes and more? All will be revealed on February 28th.

Actor® Statuettes Have Been Cast for the 24th Annual SAG Awards®

Actor® Statuettes Have Been Cast for the 24th Annual SAG Awards®

Honorees to be revealed at the 24th Annual SAG Awards on Sunday, Jan. 21, 2018
at 8 p.m. (ET), simulcast live on TNT and TBS

LOS ANGELES (Jan. 9, 2018) —Ann Dowd (The Handmaid's Tale, The Leftovers) and Clea Duvall (Veep, Argo), were at the American Fine Arts Foundry in Burbank, Calif. today to watch the molten bronze being poured for The Actor® statuettes, representing this year’s class of nominees for the 24thScreen Actors Guild Awards. The Actor® is presented to those honored by the SAG Awards for outstanding performances in the previous calendar year.

Attending on behalf of the SAG Awards were SAG Awards Committee Vice Chair Daryl Anderson and Committee Member Elizabeth McLaughlin.

Each Actor statuette is individually cast in solid bronze using the lost wax process, then is given a green-black patina finish and mounted on a base of polished black granite by a small team of fine arts professionals under the direction of American Fine Arts Foundry’s Brett Barney and Angel Meza.

The completed work of art weighs 12 pounds and stands 16 inches tall. Each Actor® statuette carries a unique number engraved at its base, with The Actor® No. 1 kept on display at SAG-AFTRA headquarters in Los Angeles. Since 1995, when the first Actor® statuettes were presented, 1,032 statuettes have been awarded.

The Actor® was sculpted by Edward Saenz and designed by Jim Heimann and Jim Barrett.

About the 24th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards®

The 24th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards® presented by SAG-AFTRA with Screen Actors Guild Awards, LLC and hosted by Kristen Bell, will be produced by Avalon Harbor Entertainment. Inc. and will be simulcast live on TNT and TBS on Sunday, January. 21, 2018 at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT. TBS and TNT subscribers can also watch the SAG Awards live through the networks' websites and mobile apps. Additionally, TNT will present a special encore broadcast of the ceremony at 11 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. PT. The telecast is available internationally, including to U.S. military installations through the American Forces Network.

SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris and SAG Awards® Committee Chair JoBeth Williams will reveal the honorees for Outstanding Action Performances by Film and Television Stunt Ensembles during the first half-hour of PEOPLE, EW & TNT’s SAG Awards® Red Carpet Live pre-show, which will live-stream on tntdrama.com/sagawards, sagawards.org, People.com, PeopleTV.com, EW.com, InStyle.com and Time.com, beginning at 5:30 p.m. (ET) / 2:30 p.m. (PT).

One of the awards season’s premier events, the SAG Awards® annually celebrates the outstanding motion pictures and television performances from the previous calendar year. Of the top industry honors presented to actors, only the SAG Awards are selected entirely by performers’ peers in SAG-AFTRA, which this year number 121,544. The SAG Awards was the first televised awards show to acknowledge the work of union members and the first to present awards to motion picture casts and television ensembles. For more information about the SAG Awards®, SAG-AFTRA, TNT and TBS, visit sagawards.org/about.

Connect with the SAG Awards®
Hashtag: #sagawards
Website: sagawards.org
Facebook: facebook.com/sagawardsofficialpage/
Twitter: twitter.com/sagawards/
Instagram: instagram.com/sagawards/

Multi-GRAMMY® winner and music icon Missy Elliott to be honored Essence 2018 ‘Black Women in Music'

Dear Missy Elliott — you don’t know me, yet but I was just sharing the fact, that I, listen to your music whenever I have to “pump it up” and go out to a swanky entertainment event. I’m shy.  For example, the New York Amsterdam News has covered the Academy Awards® since 2015 and as I get dressed to attend the formal event, I listen to Work It, The Rain and Get ur Freak On . Since I've been blessed to walk actually walk to the Kodak Theater, where the Oscar® ceremonies are held, I take you on that walk and last year — playing on loop was—I’m Better.

The ‘Mistress of Funk and Fun’ Missy Elliott will be honored by Essence with the 2018 ‘Black Women in Music’ event [honor] taking place on January 25, 2018, at the Highline Ballroom in New York City.

A multi-GRAMMY Award-winning rapper, singer, songwriter and producer, Elliott has consistently pushed the boundaries of R&B, hip-hop and pop music with a string of classic hits—including Get Ur Freak On, Work It, Lose Control, Lady Marmalade, Pep Rally and WTF (featuring Pharrell), among many more. 

Additionally, Elliott has collaborated with entertainment giants such as Timbaland and Pharrell, as well as produced chart-topping hits for the late Whitney Houston, Beyoncé and Mary J. Blige. 

2015’s legendary Super Bowl Halftime show performance with Katy Perry solidified Missy’s global influence across generations. Now, following nearly a decade-long focus on behind-the-scenes production work, she has re-emerged stronger than ever with the release of I’m Better (featuring Lamb, and another version with hip-hop heavyweights Eve, Lil Kim and Trina), as well as a planned documentary on her life in music. Considered a seminal force in the entertainment industry, Elliott is also a positive role model: projecting strength, confidence and female empowerment to her legion of fans. 

Missy Elliott is a formidable businesswoman and retains full creative control over her music and multimedia content. After more than two decades in hip-hop, she is still at the top of her game.

“The artistry of Missy Elliott cuts across generations—underscored by her vast creative accomplishments and contributions to the culture,” said Vanessa De Luca, ESSENCE Editor-in-Chief. “So prolific is her work, she is an inspiration to women all over the world. Missy’s energetic presence is truly magnetic, and we can’t wait to celebrate her as one of the artistic masterminds of our time.”

In just eight short years the ESSENCE ‘Black Women in Music’  honor has become a distinguished award, as it recognizes the accomplishments of both emerging and established artists and influencers during GRAMMY week. Previous celebrants include GRAMMY Award winners Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, Mary J. Blige, Kelly Rowland and GRAMMY Award nominee Andra Day, as well as music industry veteran Sylvia Rhone and singer/songwriter Emeli Sandé.

The 2018 ESSENCE ‘Black Women in Music’ event is sponsored by Lincoln. To learn more go to Essence.com for highlights and behind-the-scenes access. Twitter and Instagram:  @essence #BlackWomeninMusic.