The 18th Annual Urbanworld Film Festival (www.urbanworld.org),
presented by BET Networks with founding sponsor HBO, kicks off today, running from September 17-21 at Manhattan’s AMC Loews 34th Street 14, and various other locations in New York, with a roster of over 70 films, including a whopping 12 world premieres, as well as host of panels, conversations and more.
"Beyond the Lights," the latest from writer/director Gina Prince-Bythewood, will be the opening night film, screening tonight, Thursday, September 18
at the SVA Theater, at 333 W. 23rd Street.
The BET/Relativity Media-backed next feature film tells the story of Noni Jean, a hot new artist who has just won a Grammy and is primed for stardom. But the pressures of success compel her to nearly end her life until she is saved by a young police officer. They fall hard for each other, despite the protests of their parents who want each to focus on their own career ambitions. But he might be the missing piece to unlock her artistic potential.
"Beyond the Lights" stars Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Nate Parker. Danny Glover and Minnie Driver co-star.
The film will be released theatrically by Relativity, with an official release date now set for November 14, 2014. So consider this an early look at the film for those who’ll be attending tonight’s screening.
This will be Bythewood’s first feature film directorial effort since 2008’s "The Secret Life of Bees."
Other Urbanworld screening highlights of films we’ve previously covered on this blog include: "Difret," directed by Zeresenay Berhane Mehari (Ethiopia), "In the Morning," directed by Nefertite Nguvu, which will be making its world premiere (USA); and in the documentary feature section, "SODIQ," directed by Adeyemi Michael (UK), "The Hip-Hop Fellow," directed by Kenneth Price, making its NYC premiere (USA), "God Loves The Fighter," directed by Damian Marcano, making its NYC (Trinidad & Tobago), and several others, including short works from Frances Bodomo ("Afronauts"), Booker T. Mattison ("Habeas Corpus"), Moon Molson ("The Bravest, The Boldest"), and much more.
Additional event highlights of the festival include a spotlight conversation with acclaimed festival alumni, writer/director Ava DuVernay, in her first public dialogue about her upcoming film, "Selma," during which she’ll also present never-before-seen clips from the film exclusively at Urbanworld. This special event, moderated by Urbanworld Executive Producer Gabrielle Glore, will take place on Saturday, September 20, 2014 at 8:00 p.m.an exclusive look at scenes from the upcoming Lionsgate/
originally produced award-winning Habla series on what it means to be Latino in the United States; Urban Action Showcase night, which will include a screening of Michael Jai White’s latest actioner, "Falcon Rising," as well as a conversation on diversity in action movies, featuring White, Taimak and others. There’s also Urbanworld
Underground, a platform that to highlight and encourage maverick content creators who are
transcending conventional filmmaking with innovative storytelling, and Urbanworld Digital a festival component that addresses technology’s impact on the creation and marketing of content, with gaming, social media, and production executives sharing their expertise.
“Our 2014 film slate reflects the significance and esteem the festival has achieved over the past 17 years. As the
largest multicultural festival, we continue to strive to make Urbanworld ‘THE’ destination for filmmakers and
studios to connect with a diverse movie-going audience," said Gabrielle Glore, Executive Producer and Head
of Programming, Urbanworld. "This year, we are excited to add an even deeper variety of international films,
as well as content that targets the Latino community. With BET and HBO as our partners, we are able to continue
to highlight stories that the world needs to see.”
S&A will be at the festival this year, so expect reviews/write-ups of some of the films that will screen.
Full details on all the festival’s offering can be found on its website: www.urbanworld.com.
OPENING NIGHT FILM
Beyond the Lights – Directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood (USA) – US Premiere
SPOTLIGHT EVENTS
Avenues – Directed by Aaref Rodriguez (USA) – Hosted by HBO Latino
Blood and Bone – Directed by Ben Ramsey (USA) – Hosted by Cinemax – Curated by Urban Action Showcase
Habla Men – Hosted by HBO Latino
Purple Rain – Directed by Albert Magnoli (USA) – 30th Anniversary Sing-A-Long
Sleep Dealer – Directed by Alex Rivera (Mexico) – Hosted by The National Association of Latino Independent Producers
Urbanworld Underground – Curated by Project Catalyst
– Jo – Directed by April A. Wilson (USA)
– La Solitaria – Directed by Nelson Isava (USA)
– Page 36 – Directed by Nelsan Ellis (USA)
– The Unseen Beauty – Directed by Gabriel de Urioste (USA)
– Touch – Directed by Shola Amoo (United Kingdom)
– Trust & Estates – Directed by Jeanette Bonds (USA)
NARRATIVE FEATURE FILMS
Brooklyn – Directed by Pascal Tessaud (France) – US Premiere
Christmas Wedding Baby – Directed by Kiara Jones (USA) – World Premiere
Cry Now – Directed by Alberto Barboza (USA) – New York Premiere
Difret – Directed by Zeresenay Berhane Mehari (Ethiopia)
God Loves The Fighter – Directed by Damian Marcano (Trinidad & Tobago) – New York Premiere
In the Morning – Directed by Nefertite Nguvu (USA) – World Premiere
Lake Los Angeles – Directed by Mike Ott (USA) – New York Premiere
Los Angeles – Directed by Damian John Harper (Mexico) – New York Premiere
Love Magical – Directed by Justin Foran & Jason Sokoloff – World Premiere
Montana – Directed by Mo Ali Out of Comp (UK) – US Premiere
Night Has Settled – Directed by Steve Clark (USA)
Unsound – Directed by Darious Britt (USA)
What It Was – Directed by Daniel Armando (USA)
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE FILMS
12 Months – Charysse Tia Harper (USA) – World Premiere
Finding Samuel Lowe – Directed by Jeanette Kong (USA)
Hating Obama – Directed by Marquis Smalls (USA) – World Premiere
Lucky – Directed by Laura Checkoway (USA)
Sewing Hope – Directed by Derek Watson (Uganda) – New York Premiere3
SODIQ – Directed by Adeyemi Michael (UK)
The Hip-Hop Fellow – Directed by Kenneth Price (USA) – New York Premiere
DOCUMENTARY SHORT FILM
Bookin – Directed by John Kerkscey (USA)
ANIMATED SHORT FILM
Nine – Directed by Wanichaya Phraejunya & Chawalit Kaewmanee (Thailand)
NARRATIVE SHORT FILMS
Afronauts – Directed by Frances Bodomo (USA)
Anatomy of Assistance – Directed by Cory Bowles (Canada) – New York Premiere
Barrio Boy – Directed by Dennis Shinners (USA)
Berea – Directed by Vincent Moloi (South Africa) – East Coast Premiere
Celluloid Dreams – Directed by Jonathan Dillon (USA) – New York Premiere
Contamination – Directed by R. Shanea Williams (USA) – New York Premiere
ContentMode x J. Cooper Present “206” Starring David Oyelowo – Directed by J. Cooper (USA)
For The Birds – Directed by Tara Atashgah (USA/Iran)
Full-Windsor – Directed by Faraday Okoro (USA) – New York Premiere
Habeas Corpus – Directed by Booker T. Mattison (USA) – New York Premiere
Hechki (Hiccups) – Directed by Kartik Singh (USA) – World Premiere
Hermanas – Directed by Cristina Kotz Cornejo (Mexico) – East Coast Premiere
Hypebeasts – Directed by Jessica dela Merced (USA)
Isaiah’s Birthday – Directed by Shawn Gerrard (Canada) – World Premiere
J-1 – Directed by Geoffrey Guerrero (USA)
Jaya – Directed by Puja Maewal (India) – New York Premiere
Jenny & Lalo – Directed by Janine Salinas Schoenberg (USA) – East Coast Premiere
L’Autre Feme – Directed by marie KA (Senegal) – East Coast Premiere
Midday Crisis – Directed by Jeff Man (USA) – New York Premiere
Milk & Honey – Directed by Daniel Pfeffer (USA)
Missing Grandma – Directed by Adel L. Morales (USA) – World Premiere
Muted – Directed by Rachel Goldberg (USA)
One Past – Directed by Juli S. Kobayashi (USA) – World Premiere
Pitahaya – Directed by Albert Espinosa (Spain) – New York Premiere
Present Trauma – Directed by Mark D. Manalo (USA) – East Coast Premiere
Serena Strong – Directed by Philiane Phang (USA) – World Premiere
Seventh Grade – Directed by Stefani Saintoge (USA)
Silencio Chino – Directed by Javier Melero De Luca (Venezuela) – US Premiere
Sketch – Directed by Stephen T. Barton (USA) – New York Premiere
Strings Attached – Directed by Nelcie Souffrant (USA) – New York Premiere
The Bravest, The Boldest – Directed by Moon molson (USA) – New York Premiere
The End Again – Directed by Crystle C. Roberson (USA) – New York Premiere
Tobacco Burn – Directed by Justin Liberman (USA) – New York Premiere
Tonsure – Directed by Fred Bumaye (USA) – World Premiere
Woman In Fragments – Directed by Qun Xhou (USA/China/Japan) – New York Premiere
Your Love – Directed by Laila Petrone (USA) – World Premiere
You’re Dead To Me – Directed by Wu Tsang (USA) – New York Premiere4
More at www.urbanworld.com.
