Urbanworld Film Festival 2016: from the Red Carpet

The 20th Annual Urbanworld Film Festival (www.urbanworld.org), presented by REVOLT with founding sponsor HBO, ran from September 21-25. One of the largest competitive film festivals designed to advance the presence and impact of diverse content creators screened over 68 films and will took place at Manhattan's AMC Empire 25 on 234 West 42nd Street.

Here is what we saw and heard at Urbanworld 2016, from the red carpet:

Mira Nair at premiere of Queen Of Katwe, UrbanWorld Film Festival 2016, NYC

Mira Nair, Director of Disney’s “Queen Of Katwe”
“This film is very much, left & center, is the UrbanWorld, except set in Africa, my other home in Kampala, Uganda. So welcome to Queen of Katwe.”

Mira Nair & David Oyelowo introduce Queen of Katwe at UrbanWorld Film Festival 2016, in NYC

"Queen of Katwe" panel discussion with Mira Nair & David Oyelowo at UrbanWorld Film Festival 2016 in NYC. Recorded by Art Shrian, for MyNewYorkEye

David Oyelowo, star of Disney’s “Queen Of Katwe”
“This film is significant, because intolerance is something that’s very much at the front at thsi moment. And the way you breakdown intolerance is through understanding. If you can relate to a young black girl in Uganda, who goes through a journey that’s akin to yours, that breaks down prejudice.”

David Oyelowo, talks about Queen of Katwe, at UrbanWorld Film Festival 2016, NYC

Gina Prince-Bythewood, co-creator of FOX’s new show “Shots Fired”

“I have 2 boys and this issue is so urgent, I mean, every month there seems like there’s another hashtag. We just wanted to be part of the conversation, and try and spark change, because change is absolutely urgent right now.”

Gina Prince-Bythewood brings SHOTS FIRED to UrbanWorld FilmFest 2016 NYC, and talks to Art Shrian

Reggie Rock Bythewood, co-creator of FOX’s new show “Shots Fired”
“My son was with me, when a cop pulled us over and it was very awkward situation. But it was also an opportunity for him to see how dad handles it. Shortly afterwards, George Zimmerman verdict came out. And few years later, we put together Shots Fired, and here we are.”

Issa Rae, creator and star of HBO’s new show “Insecure”
"HBO pretty much left me alone when I was creating my series, and that's a great feeling.”

Prentice Penny, Executive Producer of HBO’s new show “Insecure”
"I can  confirm that when it comes to casting her show, it's easy. She's like 'no, my home girl has this role; yo, my other homegirl has the role.  Wait, I know the actor for this part.  He's my homeboy."

Taunt Chopra, director and Sunkrish Bala, actor from "Chee and T"
"As brown or Indian people, we need to be able to tell our true stories."

Tanuj Chopra the director & Sunkrish Bala the star of "Chee and T", talk to Art Shrian, at UrbanWorld Film Festival 2016 in NYC

icky Judy, star of Netflix's "Orange Is the New Black"
"It's wonderful working with all my friends. It's a great group of people, and that's something I'm very grateful for."

Vicky Jeudy of Orange Is the New Black, talks to Art Shrian, at UrbanWorld Film Festival 2016, NYC

20TH ANNIVERSARY URBANWORLD FILM FESTIVAL adds "INSECURE" & "SHOTS FIRED"

“INSECURE” and “SHOTS FIRED” ADDED TO 20TH ANNIVERSARY

URBANWORLD® FILM FESTIVAL IN NEW YORK Ava DuVernay, Issa Rae, David Oyelowo, Sanaa Lathan, Gina Prince-Bythewood, Stephan James, Reggie Rock Bythewood, Russell Simmons, Jonathan Demme and Many More Confirmed to Attend Events

The 20th Annual Urbanworld Film Festival (www.urbanworld.org), presented by REVOLT with founding sponsor HBO, announced additions to its schedule including HBO’s “Insecure” and Fox’s “Shots Fired” that will happen during the anniversary events that will take place from September 21-25, 2016 at Manhattan's AMC Empire 25 on 234 West 42nd Street.

HBO’s highly anticipated series “Insecure,” created by Issa Rae (“The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl”), is a comedy starring Rae, Yvonne Orji (“Love That Girl”), Jay Ellis (“The Game) and Lisa Joyce (“The Following”), that looks at the friendship of two black women, their uncomfortable experiences and racy tribulations. Melina Matsoukas (Beyonce’s “Formation”) directed the episode of the series that will be screened at Urbanworld on Friday, September 23, 2016 at 8:00 p.m. A Q&A with Rae, Ellis and Matsoukas, which will be moderated by Bevy Smith, will immediately follow.

Examining the dangerous aftermath of two racially charged shootings in a small Southern town, Fox’s “Shots Fired,” starring Sanaa Lathan (Best Man Holiday) and Stephan James (Selma), is a dramatic new event series that is a “why done it?” and a “who done it?” From creators and executive producers Gina Prince-Bythewood (Love & Basketball) and Reggie Rock Bythewood (“New York Undercover”), “Shots Fired” is an explosive look at the criminal justice system. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with the showrunners and stars including Lathan, James, Tristan Mack Wilds (The Secret Life of Bees), Prince-Bythewood and Bythewood on Saturday, September 24, 2016 at 7:30 p.m. Academy Award® winning director Jonathan Demme (Silence of the Lambs) will moderate the panel.

Also confirmed to attend the 2016 events are festival ambassadors Ava DuVernay and David Oyelowo as well as actors Cory Hardict, Aisha Hinds, DeWanda Wise and LaLa Anthony. Tickets and passes are available now at www.urbanworld.org/films.

Urbanworld Digital, presented by HBO since 2010, will return to highlight industry experts sharing their insights on the evolving landscape of content creation, financing, distribution and marketing, all through the lens of digital opportunity. This year, Urbanworld Digital’s series of conversations and industry networking reception will begin on Thursday, September 22, 2016 at 1:00 p.m. at the HBO Theater on 1100 6th Avenue. The highlights include a conversation with HBO Chairman & CEO Richard Plepler and entertainment entrepreneur Russell Simmons, as well as a session featuring legendary DJ and audio engineer Young Guru introducing his new production company, Era of the Engineer Films, and its respective partnerships with Warner Bros. Films and Time Warner Inc.'s 150 Incubator. Festival filmmakers, digital influencers, executives, entrepreneurs and content creators attend annually. “HBO is thrilled to host the 6th annual Urbanworld Digital, which embodies the everchanging digital landscape’s impact on how we interact, communicate and consume entertainment. This medium of viewing further elevates the power of multicultural storytellers who skillfully use various digital platforms and social media outlets,” said Dennis Williams, Vice President, Corporate Social Responsibility, HBO. Guests may RSVP on Urbanworld’s official website on September 7, 2016.

At Time Warner on Friday, September 23, 2016 at 3:30 p.m., Overstand, the premiere consultancy for advising diverse storytellers and financial partners, will launch The Stand, an intimate consultative financing event at Urbanworld. The company has vetted and selected two creative projects and their respective teams to pitch their projects to a curated roundtable of industry experts and investors.

Through this opportunity, investors and filmmakers benefit from introductory connections, relationship building and knowledge share. This year’s inaugural event will highlight scripted project D-Days (directed by Tamika Guishard and produced by Julius Pryor and Marttise Hill), interactive project The Art of Dying Young (directed by Shawn Peters and produced by Barry Cole) and a reception hosted by Ghetto Film School’s program The Roster. “Overstand is honored to partner with best in class creative leaders like Urbanworld and Ghetto Film School to launch a new system for diverse storytellers to connect with investors. This is the time to lift up excellent storytellers and diverse stories to engage audiences in new ways,” said Sharese Bulock-Bailey, Founder, Overstand.

Also to celebrate the 20th anniversary, Urbanworld has collaborated with genius visual artist and storyteller, Shantell Martin (www.urbanworld.org/shantell-martin), on an exclusive work of art encompassing the essence of the festival. “We are so proud to partner with Shantell Martin around this milestone year for the festival,” said Gabrielle Glore, Festival Director & Head of Programming,

Urbanworld.  “Shantell’s vision and innovation around storytelling perfectly represent Urbanworld’s desire to convey the blurred lines of creativity and artistic expression that prevail in our world.”

Shantell’s unique work and wisdom will be highlighted across the festival in various ways, including her participation in a community event at BRIC in Brooklyn on Sunday, September 25, 2016.

REVOLT is the presenting partner of the 2016 Urbanworld Film Festival. Along with founding partner HBO, key supporters include prestige partner BET Networks, premiere partners Comcast NBCUniversal, Africa Creative Agency, Fox Audience Strategy and Time Warner. Industry partner supporters are AMC Independent, Directors Guild of America, MoviePass, Urban Movie Channel and Writers Guild of America East. Essence, The Mayor's Office of Media & Entertainment / Made in NY,

Power 105.1, Village Voice, Amsterdam News, Uptown Magazine and WNYC are the media partners for Urbanworld.

For additional announcements later this month, go to www.urbanworld.org. Follow @UWFilmFest and use #UW20 to join the conversation about Urbanworld on social media.

###

For more information, please visit:

THE URBANWORLD® FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES 2016 FESTIVAL SLATE | DISNEY’S QUEEN OF KATWE TO BE FEATURED

Festival Runs September 21-25, 2016 in New York

The 20th Annual Urbanworld Film Festival (www.urbanworld.org), presented by REVOLT with founding sponsor HBO, announced its 2016 film slate today. One of the largest competitive film festivals designed to advance the presence and impact of diverse content creators will screen over 68 films and will take place September 21-25,

2016 at Manhattan's AMC Empire 25 on 234 West 42nd Street.

Disney’s Queen of Katwe will be featured on Thursday, September 22 at 7:45 p.m. The film is based on the vibrant true story of a young girl from the streets of rural Uganda whose world rapidly changes when she is introduced to the game of chess, and, as a result of the support she receives from her family and community, is instilled with the confidence and determination she needs to pursue her dream of becoming an international chess champion. Directed by Mira Nair, the film stars Golden Globe® nominee David Oyelowo, Tony® nominee and Academy Award® winner Lupita Nyong’o and newcomer Madina Nalwanga. A Q&A with Oyelowo, recently announced as one of Urbanworld’s 2016 festival ambassadors, and Nair will immediately follow the screening of the film.

"With REVOLT as our presenting partner and HBO as founding partner, we are honored to elevate and showcase an inclusive representation of talented storytellers," said Gabrielle Glore, Festival

Director & Head of Programming, Urbanworld Film Festival. "In our 20th anniversary year, Urbanworld's curated selections highlight content from around the world, enabling the festival to further expand the gaze on the many distinct voices that deserve to be heard. We are proud to be a welcoming home for filmmakers, film enthusiasts and industry partners, all of whom return to Urbanworld to celebrate the artistry and craft of filmmaking."

Also featured in this year’s festival is the highly anticipated REVOLT Young Filmmakers Showcase, which celebrates up and coming content creators and provides emerging young filmmakers with a larger platform to share their stories. Via Urbanworld Film Festival’s partnership with the 2nd Annual REVOLT Film Festival, three filmmakers and their films will be selected as finalists to attend the

REVOLT Music Conference in Miami, October 13 – 16, 2016.

“The Urbanworld Film Festival has showcased the creative vision and storytelling from some of the world’s most recognized names in film for the past two decades,” said Keith T. Clinkscales, CEO,

REVOLT. "We are excited to partner with Urbanworld on the REVOLT Film Festival as we continue to provide a platform for inclusive storytelling both in front of and behind the camera for young diverse filmmakers to be seen and heard. At REVOLT, we feel it is our mission to elevate content creators and broaden their reach to help shape and shift the culture.”

REVOLT is the presenting partner of the 2016 Urbanworld Film Festival. Along with founding partner HBO, key supporters include prestige partner BET Networks, premiere partners Comcast NBCUniversal, Africa Creative Agency, Fox Audience Strategy and Time Warner. Industry partner supporters are AMC Independent, Directors Guild of America, MoviePass, Urban Movie Channel and Writers Guild of America East. Essence, The Mayor's Office of Media & Entertainment / Made in NY, Power 105.1, Amsterdam News, Uptown Magazine and WNYC are the media partners for Urbanworld.

Tickets and passes for the festival are on sale now. For additional announcements in September, go to www.urbanworld.org. Follow @UWFilmFest and use #UW20 to join the conversation about

Urbanworld on social media.

URBANWORLD 2016 FILM SLATE

*As of 08.25.16*

SPOTLIGHT PRESENTATIONS

Queen of Katwe – Directed by Mira Nair, Presented by Disney

Class Divide – Directed by Marc Levin, Presented by HBO Documentary Films

Black – Directed by Adil El Arbi & Bilall Fallah, Presented by Saboteur Media

Honeytrap – Directed by Rebecca Johnson, Presented by ARRAY

TITLE VII: First Look Clips & Conversation – Directed by Nicole Franklin

THE REVOLT YOUNG FILMMAKERS SHOWCASE

Loved Like This – Directed by Christopher Lewis Dawkins (U.S. Premiere)

Madaran – Directed by Rayka Zehtabchi (East Coast Premiere)

Hush – Directed by Whitney Clinkscales (New York Premiere)

AMERIKKKA – Directed by Sheila Wilson (New York Premiere)

The Bench – Directed by Cameron Burnett

A Silent Night – Directed by Gino Ricardo Green (World Premiere)

U.S. NARRATIVE FEATURES

72 Hours: A Brooklyn Love Story? – Directed by Raafi Rivero (New York Premiere)

Chee & T – Directed by Tanuj Chopra (East Coast Premiere)

Destined – Directed by Qasim Basir (New York Premiere)

Lucky – Directed by Bari Kang (World Premiere)

My B.F.F. – Directed by Greg Carter (World Premiere)

No Regrets – Directed by Mark Harris (World Premiere)

Sepulveda – Co-Directed by Jena English & Brandon Wilson (World Premiere)

She’s Got A Plan – Co-Directed by Fatima Washington & Corey Johnson (World Premiere)

Steps – Directed by Jay Rodriquez and Rock Davis

WORLD NARRATIVE FEATURES A Moving Image (UK) – Directed by Shola Amoo (New York Premiere)

Brotherhood (UK) – Directed by Noel Clarke (U.S. Premiere)

Dar Noir (Tanzania) – Directed by Hamadi Mwapachu (U.S. Premiere)

Gidi Blues (Nigeria) – Directed by Femi Odugbemi (U.S. Premiere)

Like Cotton Twines (Ghana) – Directed by Leila Djansi (East Coast Premiere)

The Farm / La Granja (Puerto Rico) – Directed by Angel Manuel Soto Vazquez (New York Premiere)

DOCUMENTARY FEATURES

Beatbox Boom Bap Around The World (France/Germany/U.S.) – Directed by Pascal Tessaud (U.S. Premiere)

Daddy Don’t Go (U.S.) – Directed by Emily Abt

Jewel’s Catch One (U.S.) – Directed by C. Fitz

Martha & Niki (Sweden) – Directed by Tora Mkandawire Mårtens

The Revival Movie: Women and the Word (U.S.) – Directed by Sekiya Dorsett (East Coast Premiere)

Until 20 (U.S.) – Directed by Geraldine Moriba Meadows & Jamila Paksima Rowell

SHORT FILMS

[Re]defined – Directed by Danae Grandison (New York Premiere)

A Gentleman Always – Directed by Drue Metz (New York Premiere)

A Silent Night – Directed by Gino Ricardo Green (World Premiere)

AMERIKKKA – Directed by Sheila Wilson (New York Premiere)

After The Storm – Directed by Jessica Oyelowo (World Premiere)

And Nothing Happened – Directed by Naima Ramos-Chapman

Balcony – Directed by Toby Fell-Holden

Blessed – Directed by Jennifer Derwingson (East Coast Premiere)

Bird - Directed by Booker T Mattison

Born In Battle – Directed by Yangzom Brauen (New York Premiere)

Buried Deep – Directed by Timothy Naylor (World Premiere)

Chameleon – Directed by Reza Dahya (New York Premiere)

Class 15 – Directed by Dean Leon Anderson (World Premiere)

Flowers – Directed by Yvonne Michelle Shirley, Nikyatu Jusu (New York Premiere)

Hush – Directed by Whitney Clinkscales (New York Premiere)

I Rise – Directed by Yoruba Richen (World Premiere)

Leche – Directed by Gabriella A. Moses (New York Premiere)

Lilly's Secret – Directed by Emanuele Michetti (World Premiere)

Loved Like This – Directed by Christopher Lewis Dawkins (U.S. Premiere)

Madaran – Directed by Rayka Zehtabchi (East Coast Premiere)

Mast Qalandar – Directed by Divij Roopchand

Mixtape: An Unauthorized Biography – Directed by David F. Mewa – (New York Premiere)

Mrs. Nebile's Wormhole – Directed by Pinar Yorgancioglu (World Premiere)

Olde E – Directed by Xavier L. Neal-Burgin (East Coast Premiere)

On Time – Directed by Xavier L. Neal-Burgin (East Coast Premiere)

One Per Person – Directed by Nasheet Zaman & Jacquelyn 'Jac' Piette (East Coast Premiere)

Peace the Policy – Directed by Kervin Marseille & William Leonard (U.S. Premiere)

Post Life – Directed by Salli Richardson-Whitfield (World Premiere)

Samaria – Directed by Kiel Adrian Scott (World Premiere)

Second Words – Directed by Jake Hull (New York Premiere)

 

Slumflower – Directed by Tremaine Romeo & Nicole Taylor Roberts (New York Premiere)

Sugar – Directed by Dime Davis (World Premiere)

The Bench – Directed by Cameron Burnett

The Jump – Directed by Jamal Hodge (New York Premiere)

The Suit – Directed by Jarryd Coetsee (U.S. Premiere)

Three Minute Warning – Directed by Iqbal Mohammed (East Coast Premiere)

Univitellin – Directed by Terence Nance (New York Premiere)

Victor XX – Directed by Ian Garrido

SCREENPLAYS

Fried Catfish – Written by Inda Craig-Galván

Generational Curses – Written by Kenya Branch

Take the L – Written by Kim Washington

The Turnpike – Written by Keith Josef Adkins

###

For more information, please visit: