lifestyle
July 3-9, 2013
THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE
Award-winning films and celebrities abound at 17th Annual American Black Film Festival
Page D-5
STAR CHART
By RJ Barnhill
Film Life’s 17th Annual American Black Film Festival (ABFF) wrapped an engaging five days, June 19-23, of a substantive program of diverse films, industry panels and educational workshops and events. Celebrating 10 years in Miami Beach, the festival was created to support the promotion of diversity within the film and television industry, both in front of and behind the camera. The festival drew to a close with the ABFF Awards Presentation where this year’s film and talent competition winners were revealed. The five-day celebration was heavily supported by Hollywood’s top actors and was led by this year’s Celebrity Ambassador, Omari Hardwick. Spike Lee, Robert Townsend, Bill Duke, Nia Long, Derek Luke, Salli Richardson-Whitfield, Nick Cannon, Morris Chestnut, Boris Kodjoe, David E. Talbert, Roger Bobb, Sanaa Lathan, Anthony Anderson, Terrence Jenkins, Shaun Robinson, Reggie Bythewood, George Tillman, Jr. and Kevin Hart all participated in lively panel discussions and other festival events. This year’s ABFF was also attended by the Miami Heat’s Dwyane Wade, Udonis Haslem and Lebron James, 2013 NBA Finals champions. The ABFF Awards Presentation recognizes and rewards filmmakers, writers and actors for excellence through its Grand Jury Prizes and Talent Competitions, supported by major corporations. ABFF founder and CEO of Film Life, Inc., Jeff Friday, presented the awards, along with corporate partners and filmmakers. In what was an emotional event, winners shared intimate stories about their personal journeys and diligent efforts to pursue their craft through moving acceptance speeches, which emphasized the importance of the American Black Film Festival’s mission to promote Black film and to expose Black filmmakers.
The first day of the festival commenced with a press conference and unveiling of the Miami Film Life Center at The Chapman House. Attended by Jeff Friday, City of Miami Commissioner Michelle Spence-Jones and ABFF’s celebrity ambassador, Omari Hardwick, it celebrated the recent collaboration of the Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency (SEOPWCRA) and the City of Miami, Miami-Dade County Public Schools (MDCPS), along with the Black Archives History and Research
Horoscope
Symbol: The Crab
Your relationships have a very competitive quality at this time, and conflicts over power and dominance may erupt. You won’t want compromise with anybody. On the other hand, you may begin a new relationship or job now, boldly taking the initiative to pursue whatever it is you want.
Ruling Planet: The (ever-changing) Moon Element: Water Quality: Cardinal Mission: Domestic Bliss Famous Geminis: Nelson Mandela, Lena Horne, Della Reese
Spike Lee and GM Diversity Communications Manager Crystal Wilson presented the Cadillac Grand Jury Award for Best Narrative Feature to Stephen Lloyd Jackson for ‘Sable Fable’
Cancer, this month you will look within and examine your emotions and motivations. Try to write down your thoughts in a journal to find out what may be the root of your fears. This may not be a comfortable process, but you will benefit from some soul searching or talking it out. Pluto, opposite your sign, will continue to bring chaos and transformation regarding your relationships. Career matters will be unpredictable again this month.
Cancer Weekly Horoscope
ABFF Founder Jeff Friday, Crystal Wilson and Actor Anthony Anderson at the Cadillac Lounge “As an artist, do I glamorize the violence that is going on? I’m not going to diminish the value of life and I don’t want to create any art that diminishes the value of life. That’s genocide,” said Lee.
Jeff Friday with his wife, Nicole, at the ABFF Opening Night event sponsored by Cadillac
“It is deeply rewarding to be able introduce new storytellers and artists from all over the world and watch them ascend from here, through connections they make or awards they receive at ABFF. Our ultimate goal is to be the most direct pipeline to Hollywood for Black talent,” said Friday. The festival was headlined by the opening day presentation of “The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete,” courtesy of Codeblack Films, a Lionsgate company. The film, directed by George Tillman Jr., and written by Michael Starrbury, received high praise for its poignant portrayal of two boys’ struggle to survive a summer without their parents in a Brooklyn housing development. The red carpet ceremony was attended by Tillman, Julito McCullum, who stars as “Dipstick” in the film, Sufe Bradshaw (HBO’s “VEEP”), Nelsan Ellis (HBO’s “True Blood”) and others who came out to support the film, which was co-executive produced by GRAMMY® Award-winning singer Alicia Keys.
Cancer (June 21 – July 22)
Cloves Campbell II, Jeff Friday, Jocelyn Allen, Hiram Jackson at the ABFF Opening Night event sponsored by Cadillac. Foundation of South Florida, and Film Life, Inc., to open the Miami Film Life Center (MFLC). The center’s purpose is to develop awareness and accessibility of cinema and the art of filmmaking to the residents of the area, by providing resources, training programs and opportunities to network and connect to the industry in a progressive way. The press conference ended with an overview of the week’s power-packed schedule, as well as an in imperative to continue the dialogue of ABFF’s commitment to Miami and the Overtown community. At the height of the Festival, Regina King, known for her charisma and dedication to her craft, was the very special featured guest of one of ABFF’s marquee panels, “A Conversation With...,” presented by American Airlines. King discussed her Hollywood journey, the arc of her ambitious career and exchanged advice and wisdom with festivalgoers. Luxury automotive brand, Cadillac, sponsored the 2013 American Black Film Festival (ABFF), expressed a deep commitment to the African-American community
and proudly stood behind the ABFF’s mission to inspire and coach aspiring and active actors, filmmakers and industry executives. Cadillac’s sponsorship of the festival included, co-sponsoring the opening night event with HBO, vehicle displays and shuttles featuring the brand’s latest products and sponsoring the Grand Jury Award for Best Narrative Feature. On behalf of Cadillac, Spike Lee presented the award to Stephen Lloyd Jackson for his film “Sable Fable.” Lee and ABFF founder Jeff Friday also joined Don Butler, Cadillac vice president of Global Strategic Development, at “Cadillac Conversations,” a media dinner highlighting Cadillac’s support of the Festival and the brand’s strong ties to the African-American community. Festival attendees also had the unique opportunity to learn from and trade ideas with Spike Lee, who is best known for his edgy and provocative films, during a panel presented by Grab Media and HuffPost Black Voices, “The Artist’s Vision: Cultural Criticism and the Filmmaker’s Voice,” which discussed the question of artistic responsibility in Black filmmaking.
Another festival highlight and crowd favorite was the Alumni Spotlight Screening of “Fruitvale Station,” courtesy of The Weinstein Company. This film is a true story about the final day of 22- yearold Oscar Grant, who was infamously shot to death by a BART transit police officer in the San Francisco Bay area on New Year’s Day in 2008. In 2011, Ryan Coogler, who wrote and directed the film, was the winner of the prestigious HBO® Short Film Competition at ABFF for his film “Fig.” As if the ABFF weekend could not get any better, one of the most anticipated events of the week was the coveted closing night screening of “Kevin Hart: Let Me Explain,” the concert film that captures one of the fast-talking, high-energy performances on Hart’s comedy tour of the same name. His celebrity friends, 2013 NBA Champions Dwyane Wade and LeBron James of the Miami Heat, the Chicago Bulls’ Rip Hamilton, rapper Flo Rida, actress Claudia Jordan, Spike Lee, music mogul Irv Gotti, Jeff Clanagan of Codeblack Films and actor Michael K. Williams walked the red carpet prior to the screening and showed support of ABFF and Kevin Hart. The festival wrapped with the “Films Over Miami” Community Showcase, which was held on Sunday, June 23, at the Colony Theatre. The day consisted of a screening of local emerging filmmakers’ films, as well as two sold out premiere screenings of Robert Townsend’s “Playin’ For Love.” This initiative between the ABFF and the Southeast Overtown Parkwest Community Redevelopment Agency (SEOPWCRA), included 20 local Overtown students participating in the ABFF Youth Filmmaker’s program, as well as a tour for ABFF Filmmakers to the Miami Film Life Center to see key filming locations in the city of Miami. The 17th Annual American Black Film Festival’s effort to educate, and entertain festival attendees and the ability showcase one of the best slate of films in recent years, affirms the festival’s support of Black film.
Showing your feelings may not be the best thing to do right now. Keeping to yourself could save you from unwanted entanglements. Be staunch, do not stoop to complain, and you will gain the respect of all for your worldly reticence. Love probability: 28% Lucky Numbers: 16, 22, 15, 44, 18, 19
Leo Weekly scope
Horo
Look to others, especially a close partner, for inspiration this week, as they may be a fountain of new and original approaches to life and circumstances. You may find them somewhat abrupt in explaining themselves, but that’s impatience born of the fact that they may see things very clearly at the moment. Love probability: 20% Lucky Numbers: 5, 17, 16, 10, 13, 2
Virgo Weekly Horo scope At this time you are objective and can make some clear decisions about where you are headed or what the next step to achieve your important personal goals should be. Your judgment is sound at this time. You may have an important professional conference or a conversation about your career. Love probability: 26% Lucky Numbers: 23, 18, 33, 2, 7, 13
Libra Weekly Horo scope Lack of confidence can put you in an emotionally bad place right now, so believe in yourself even when others don’t. Believe in yourself today and ignore the sometimes jealous remarks of others who would see you give up. Small, multiple moves are favored over big leaps; they mount up and you go just as far. Love probability: 62% Lucky Numbers: 25, 14, 5, 1, 20, 45
Scorpio Weekly Horoscope Compatible energy surrounds you today and it pays not to make demands on others at this time. Welcome the help and share the wealth in whatever you have going on at the moment. Try to be diplomatic and considerate of others and you will get farther for it, so be on your best behavior. Love probability: 21% Lucky Numbers: 18, 25, 11, 17, 8, 29
Sagittarius Weekly
Love probability: 90% Lucky Numbers: 48, 41, 8, 49, 18, 17
Capricorn Weekly Horoscope Make sure you plan everything completely before venturing forward. Some unexpected problems will disturb you and you’ll later realize that these could have been avoided with a little more forethought on your part. Someone you thought was going to be reliable will be a thorn in your side. Love probability: 49% Lucky Numbers: 8, 10, 45, 35, 38, 27
Aquarius Weekly Horoscope Taking care of business is a major theme where your emotional orientation is concerned now. You crave organization and practicality and you want to get things accomplished. You aim to have a place for everything and everything in its place, and anything that gets in the way gets on your nerves. Love probability: 87% Lucky Numbers: 10, 1, 33, 19, 27, 17
Pisces Weekly Horoscope There is an activation of your subconscious energies now that can result in a number of possible consequences. You certainly will encounter many events and situations that bring old, buried memories to the surface. Love probability: 57% Lucky Numbers: 3, 30, 45, 10, 28, 14
Aries Weekly Horo scope Opportunities for friendship, pleasant associations and enjoyable social interactions occur now. Personal relationships are harmonious and rewarding. Also, financial transactions go smoothly for you and material benefits are possible at this time. Love probability: 80% Lucky Numbers: 36, 42, 15, 21, 18, 11
Taurus Weekly Horoscope Small aberrations and wanderings from the main highway will get you everything. Explore those byways, there may be gold in “them thar hills.” Just off the well-beaten path you’ll find the scenic route where you can stake your claim ahead of the pack. In short, it’s time to cash in on the mildly unusual. Tune in. Love probability: 70% Lucky Numbers: 13, 41, 44, 22, 1, 36
Gemini Weekly Horoscope Someone you haven’t set eyes on for ages helps you out regarding a favor you are desperately hoping for. It’ll be a real thrill to catch up on old times and reconnect in ways that used to make you smile. An unexpected piece of news may make a trip in order. Love probability: 71% Lucky Numbers: 40, 13, 19, 33, 24, 35