18th Annual Urbanworld Film Festival Preview
Posted by Wilson Morales
September 17, 2014
The 18th Annual Urbanworld Film Festival (www.urbanworld.org), presented by BET Networks with founding sponsor HBO, beings today, running from September 17-21, 2014 at Manhattan’s AMC Loews 34th Street 14, and various other locations in New York. The festival will screen over 70 films, including a whopping 12 world premieres.
Opening up the festival will be Gina Prince-Bythewood’s “Beyond the Lights,” starring Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Nate Parker, Danny Glover and Minnie Driver. Best Man Holiday director Malcom Lee will moderate the panel discussion with the stars and filmmakers after the screening.
An exclusive look at scenes from the upcoming Lionsgate/Codeblack Films release, Addicted and a Q & A with the stars and filmmakers will be showcased at the festival.
Addicted, based on the best-selling novel by Zane and a screenplay by Christina Welsh and Ernie Barbarash, is a sexy and provocative thriller about desire and the dangers of indiscretion. Successful businesswoman Zoe Reynard (Sharon Leal) appears to have attained it all – the dream husband she loves, two wonderful children and a flourishing career. As perfect as everything appears from the outside, Zoe is still drawn to temptations she cannot escape or resist. As she pursues a secretive life, Zoe finds herself risking it all when she heads down a perilous path she may not survive. Boris Kodjoe, Tyson Beckford and William Levy star in the film and will join Zane and director Bille Woodruff at a Q & A and exclusive look at scenes from the film on Friday, September 19, 2014 at 7:30pm at Manhattan’s AMC Loews 34th Street 14. Addicted will open nationwide on October 10th.
A screening of ISA, hosted by Comcast NBCUniversal Telemundo, has also been added to the festival. The film is directed by Jose Nestor Marquez and follows Isa Reyes (Jeanette Samano) who thinks she’s a normal American teenager until she discovers that a chip in her brain is causing her dreams to merge with reality. When Isa is kidnapped by a company that wants to exploit her powerful dreams, her friends Nataly Gomez (Sabi) and Officer Diaz (Eric Ochoa) come to her aid. Together they uncover a conspiracy that spans from the forests of Mexico to Wall Street. Sabi is confirmed to host the special late night screening on Friday, September 19, 2014 at 11:00 p.m.
Focusing on diversity in the urban action film genre, Michael Jai White will be a featured guest at a Q&A session that will follow a screening of his film Falcon Rising, the story of an ex-marine (played by White) who travels to the slums of Brazil to hunt down the Yakuza after the brutal beating of his sister (Laila Ali). Cinemax® and The Urban Action Showcase & Expo are sponsoring the event slated for Friday, September 19, 2014 at 10:00 p.m.
There will be a spotlight conversation with acclaimed festival alumni, writer/director Ava DuVernay, in her first public dialogue about her upcoming film, SELMA. One of the most exciting new voices in American cinema, DuVernay will also present behind the scenes clip presentation of SELMA 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. at Manhattan’s AMC Loews 34th Street 14.
SELMA, from Paramount Pictures, Pathe and Harpo Films, stars David Oyelowo, Carmen Ejogo, Tim Roth, Lorraine Touissant, Common, Giovanni Ribisi, Andre Holland, Colman Domingo, Wendell Pierce, Tessa Thompson, Keith Stanfield, Stephan James and Alessandro Nivola with Tom Wilkinson and Oprah Winfrey and chronicles Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s historic struggle to secure voting rights for all people – a dangerous and terrifying campaign that culminated with an epic march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. The film will be released by Paramount Pictures on December 25, 2014.
OPENING NIGHT FILM
Beyond the Lights – Directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood (USA) – US Premiere
Starring Gugu Mbatha-Raw in the lead role, the film also featuresNate Parker, Danny Glover, Minnie Driver, Aisha Hinds, Aml Ameen, and rapper Machine Gun Kelly, making his film debut.
Beyond The Lights is 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.
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
Coralie runs away from Switzerland. She arrives in Paris to take her chance into Hip Hop music. She’s hired as a cook in a local association in the parisian suburb of Saint-Denis. Coralie meets Issa, the rising star of the hood. Coralie wants to be Brooklyn…
Christmas Wedding Baby – Directed by Kiara Jones (USA) – World Premiere
Romantically ready Andrea is days from marrying picture perfect Brent, when her first love, Gabriel, walks in to her pre-wedding photo shoot, turning her libido up and her world upside down. Andrea reaches out to successful oldest sister, Lori who is having her own problems as she is suffering, alone, through premature labor. Middle sister Charlotte is overwhelmed by her career, kids and commitment-phobic boyfriend, Isaac and wonders if now is the time to break free of their relationship. Surprisingly, these three intelligent, charismatic, independent women are all manipulated by their overbearing Mother, Miranda, and her archaic archetypes of womanhood.
Cry Now – Directed by Alberto Barboza (USA) – New York Premiere
VINCENT (Miguel Angel Caballero), a restless street artist in search for inspiration meets his muse, LUZY (Iliana Carter), a tattoo artist, at a backyard boogie. But, when SOFIA (Mina Olivera), his vengeful ex-girlfriend finds out, she uses his art against him and accuses him of criminal vandalism. With the LAPD in close pursuit, Vincent embarks on a journey where he meets LOBO (Sal Lopez), a musician, who helps him get away. While on the run, ROSARIO (Lupe Ontiveros), a wise elder, talks to him about the importance of love and community and reveals to him what inspiration is really about.
Difret – Directed by Zeresenay Berhane Mehari (Ethiopia)
Executive Producer: Angelina Jolie
In Addis Ababa, lawyer Meaza Ashenafi has established a network providing poor women and children with free legal representation. Courageously, she stands up to all manner of harassment from the police and male members of the government. However, she really goes for broke when she takes on the case of 14-year-old Hirut who is abducted and raped on her way home from school and shoots dead her tormentors as she escapes. Accused of murder, Hirut may face the death penalty even though she was acting in self-defence – for in rural Ethiopia the tradition of ‘Telefa’ or marriage by abduction still exists.
Zeresenay Berhane Mehari, who was born in Ethiopia and educated in the USA, filmed this 35mm production – only the fourth to have ever been made in his country – in the official language, Amharic.
The word ‘difret’ has two meanings: ‘courageous’ but also ‘to be raped’. Based on actual events, the film enquires about the nation’s possible emergence into the modern world and about what happens when centuries-old traditions are broken and belief systems are abandoned.
God Loves The Fighter – Directed by Damian Marcano (Trinidad & Tobago) – New York Premiere
TRINIDAD – King Curtis, a vagrant on the streets of Port of Spain, is constantly ignored by passersby. He speaks and if he has to – sometimes shouts the truth about the stories behind the newspaper headlines. As the conductor of our story, King Curtis introduces us to a young man named Charlie…
Charlie, a resident east of the lighthouse, is trying his best to stay on the right path. However, with no job in sight, he is finding it hard to say no to other “opportunities”. A chance of redemption presents itself when Dinah, a professional streetwalker, crosses his path in need of help.
As the story unfolds, King Curtis reveals the ripple effect created by a person’s decision making; leading to moments of triumph and moments of tragedy.
In the Morning – Directed by Nefertite Nguvu (USA) – World Premiere
In The Morning is about love and its inevitable change/decline. It charts the emotional anatomy of several relationships over the course of one day: Friends: Ravi, Fez, Bly and Amara, gather to bid farewell to Harper and consequentially debate the loss of their youthful ideals about marriage, fidelity, and love. Lovers: Malik and Cadence, meet to end a whirlwind romance that has collapsed under the weight of fear, obligation and regrets. A couple: Zuri and Leal, sift through the remains of their broken relationship as they try to make a life altering decision. For everyone, life will be indelibly altered in the morning.
Lake Los Angeles – Directed by Mike Ott (USA) – New York Premiere
After crossing into the U.S. with no family to speak of, young Cecilia finds herself in the charge of Francisco, a lonely Cuban immigrant long separated from his own family. Francisco operates a way station for border crossers on the outskirts of Lake Los Angeles, a surreal, desiccated lakebed in the California desert. While he copes with the alienation of living alone in a foreign land and the impossibility of realizing the American dream, Cecilia aimlessly wanders the dusty landscape, accompanied only by her fantastical imagination and distant memories of motherly love.
Los Angeles – Directed by Damian John Harper (Mexico) – New York Premiere
Mateo lives in a small, tightly knit rural community in southern Mexico. He lives alone with his mother and younger brother, as his father has moved to Los Angeles to provide the family with a better income, although he hasn’t been in touch for a while. Having turned 16, Mateo is expected to prepare his own migration to the city and joins a gang so that he can draw on their support in Los Angeles. To be accepted into their circles, he has to commit wicked crimes. One gang member in particular spreads malevolent feeling around the village, affecting even the highest-ranking men, while rumours of violent pressure being exerted on a young gang member in Los Angeles are put about. As Mateo begins to regret his decision and senses the danger waiting for him there, he starts seeing the village with new eyes, developing a sweet sense of melancholy for his surroundings and appreciation for its way of life. The older villagers still hold on to their ancient values, maintaining a healthy connection to their roots, each supporting the other in their own way. Director Damian John Harper shows a sure hand in avoiding clichés when depicting this angelic struggle against demons.
Love Magical – Directed by Justin Foran & Jason Sokoloff – World Premiere
David Justice (Foran) aspires to be the greatest R&B songwriter in the universe. But in order to appease his loan officer (Craig muMs Grant) and get a loan to record his album, he has to compete for a janitorial position at his friend Stan’s (Solo) elementary school against the evil Plaxico Diamond Phillips (DC Benny), a wannabe Mexican soap opera actor. With the help of Beth (Urista), the school’s stunning, new art teacher he battles the evil Plaxico and his sidekick, El Debarge (Navaja), but can he overcome his greatest fear – love – and escape his idol’s (Keith Sweat) shadow?
Montana – Directed by Mo Ali Out of Comp (UK) – US Premiere
In the mean streets of London’s East End, fourteen-year old MONTANA discovers that the powerful crime lord and ruthless lieutenants for whom he works secretly killed his father. At the same time, DIMITRIJE, a former Serbian commando, comes looking for the gangster in order to take revenge for the death of his wife and son. Realising that they share a bloody purpose, the commando now mentors the boy in the dark arts of assassination and relearns the value of life as he teaches the boy the true meaning of friendship, honour and respect.
Night Has Settled – Directed by Steve Clark (USA)
In 1983, thirteen-year-old Oliver Nicholas is well-poised to enter the precocious teenage world of sex, vodka, and possible love in New York City.
What was supposed to be an exhilarating and somewhat fearful rite of passage— diving into the exciting, fast-paced world of first experiences—quickly becomes skewed by an incomprehensible depression and a house of interior horrors.
Surrounded by women, Oliver struggles to maintain his role as “man of the house.” But between his untraditional Spanish mother, who seems more interested in the role of a confidante than maternal figure, and his sister, who is a comedic, door-slamming tormentor marked by her parents’ divorce, Oliver struggles to steady himself at the heart of his mental storms.
With his chain-smoking, cynical, foul-mouthed best friends, Oliver struggles through manic attacks, drunkenness, first loves, betrayal, and virginity—all the while striving to survive this uniquely New York City baptism.
Unsound – Directed by Darious Britt (USA)
Regi, a young filmmaker, works on his passion project, a documentary about classic Volkswagens, when he receives a call from a stranger. Darolyn (Regi’s mother) was found lying in the back of the stranger’s pick-up truck. Regi takes his mother home and urges her to take her medication but she refuses. Due to Darolyn’s history of disturbing the neighbors, Regi is given 24 hours to remove his mother from the apartment complex or face evict from management.
What It Was – Directed by Daniel Armando (USA)
Taking a break from her high-flying career, Adina J. Spencer, a successful Latina starlet, takes refuge from Hollywood and the collapse of her marriage, at her ex-girlfriend Toni’s modest Brooklyn flat. While the movie star becomes the subject of curiosity among Toni’s friends, Adina is inspired to do some soul searching. In the here and now, she has choices to make: go back to her comfortable but arid old life, rekindle her relationship with old flame Toni, or maybe start something new with sexy butch body artist Hilary. But the return to her native New York also occasions a look back at the journey that has brought her to this crossroads: her risk-taking youth where she imperiled body and soul to be true to herself, and early friendships with people like Toni that helped her break free of her troubled past.
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 Premiere
For the complete slate of films, film synopsis, ticket information and daily updates on the nation’s largest competitive multicultural film festival, September 17-21, 2014 in New York, visit www.urbanworld.org.
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