Presented By
September 18-22 | NYC
Executive Producer Welcome
4
Presenting Sponsor Welcome
5
Special Screenings
6
Narrative Features
8
Narrative Shorts
9
Documentary Features
14
Documentary Shorts
15
Screening Schedule
16
Shorts Programs | Ticket Information
18
TABLE OF CONTENTS
2013 URBANWORLD FILM FESTIVAL MINI GUIDE
Executive Producer Welcome
Welcome to the 16th Annual Urbanworld Film Festival! We’re back with a slate of independent films that our team is incredibly proud to present to the New York community. Each year, my excitement is amplified, as the bar is raised as progressive filmmakers continue to redefine the “urban” in Urbanworld. Transcending judgment and limitation, these content creators share culturally relevant stories that represent a range of experiences, characters, and themes. The commonality that exists is their authenticity — each film leads with courage, conviction, and an undeniable swagger. The style and substance on screen is empowering; the innovation and ingenuity is unencumbered. Urbanworld remains fiercely dedicated to quality, above all else, enhanced by a prevailing desire to expand the perception of urban — a term traditionally relegated to ethnicity. Our festival is driven by a cross-cultural sensibility that represents America today and reflects a diversity that is invisible because it is organic. We seek out the untold, the unexpected, and the unflinching accounts of our experiences, which often ring universally true for audiences. What started as a subculture under the bold leadership of Stacy Spikes, has grown into an independent film movement with power beyond measure — the power to expose, elevate, and inspire a filmmaking community. Without the ongoing support of Presenting Sponsor BET Networks and Founding Sponsor HBO, Urbanworld’s ability to impact change is limited at best. These partners enable us to truly make a difference by supporting our institution building efforts across the industry. These are the collaborations that make us collectively stronger and enable us to not only curate conversations, but also magnify them. Our progress is not without challenge, but we fail forward and persevere in the process. It is indeed our time! We are extremely grateful to our sponsors, media and industry partners, staff and volunteers, and Urbanworld Board of Directors — all of whom make this festival a reality each year. It is indeed a labor of love, fueled by the passion of many. We have 5 fantastic days in store for you, so enjoy! Onward & Upward, Gabrielle Glore Executive Producer / Head of Programming
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EXECUTIVE PRODUCER WELCOME
2013 URBANWORLD FILM FESTIVAL MINI GUIDE
PRESENTING SPONSOR WELCOME
Welcome to the 17th Annual Urbanworld® Film Festival! As BET Networks enters its sixth year in partnership with this amazing event, we are honored to again celebrate the creativity and thoughtfulness of talented and innovative filmmakers. Urbanworld Film Festival celebrates established multi-cultural screenwriters, producers and directors and aims to empower hopefuls by bringing new and diverse films to our community. BET believes Urbanworld Film Festival is an undeniable platform for emerging filmmakers, and because we pride ourselves on having our finger on the pulse of what’s important to our audience, this makes our partnership even more exciting. This year, we are proud to present our second original movie to premiere at Urbanworld: Gun Hill. Directed by Reggie Rock Bythewood, Gun Hill stars Larenz Tate, Emayatzy Corinealdi and Aisha Hinds and is a gritty Cain and Abel drama set and shot in New York City. This year’s festival will feature sixty film selections, including four world premieres and two U.S. premieres, as well as present the work of five Urbanworld Screenplay Competition finalists in live readings. BET Networks is again proud to sponsor the Screenplay and Teleplay Competitions, each delivering a $5,000 prize to the winner in each category. We commend the Urbanworld® Foundation Inc. for its commitment to showcasing diverse films and thank everyone who contributed to making this festival a success. Kind regards, Loretha Jones President of Original Programming BET Networks
PRESENTING SPONSOR WELCOME
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2013 URBANWORLD FILM FESTIVAL MINI GUIDE
Opening Night Film
Spotlight Screenings
BAGGAGE CLAIM
BOARDWALK EMPIRE
Determined to get engaged before her youngest sister’s wedding, flight attendant Montana Moore (Paula Patton) finds herself with only 30 days to find Mr. Right. Using her airline connections to “accidentally” meet up with eligible ex-boyfriends and scour for potential candidates, she racks up more than 30,000 miles and countless comedic encounters, all the while searching for the perfect guy.
Boardwalk Empire chronicles the life and times of Enoch “Nucky” Thompson, Atlantic City’s undisputed czar at a time when Prohibition proved to be a major catalyst in the rise of organized crime in America. Season 4 picks up eight months after the end of Season 3, in February 1924—the year jazz “really came into being,” with fictional dancers/singers as well as the ubiquitous Charleston dance. Having barely survived an overthrow by Gyp Rossetti in Season 3, Nucky Thompson is laying low at the end of the Boardwalk as the season begins.
USA/2013/97mins/Color DIRECTOR: David E. Talbert
THUR., SEPTEMBER 19, 8:00PM I SVA THEATER
Closing Night Film
USA/2013/60mins/Color CREATOR: Terence Winter
SAT., SEPTEMBER 21, 7PM I AMC 34TH STREET THEATER 10
FINDING THE FUNK THE INEVITABLE DEFEAT OF MISTER AND PETE USA/2013/120mins/Color DIRECTOR: George Tillman, Jr.
During a sweltering summer in New York City, 13-year-old Mister’s (Skylan Brooks) hard-living mother (Jennifer Hudson) is apprehended by the police, leaving the boy and nine-year-old Pete (Ethan Dizon) alone to forage for food while dodging Child Protective Services and the destructive scenarios of the Brooklyn projects. Faced with more than any child can be expected to bear, the resourceful Mister nevertheless feels he is an unstoppable force against seemingly unmovable obstacles. But what really keeps the pair in the survival game is much more Mister’s vulnerability than his larger-than-life attitude. SAT., SEPTEMBER 21, 8:30pm | AMC 34TH STREET, THEATER 9
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SPOTLIGHT SCREENINGS
USA/2013/64mins/Color DIRECTOR: Nelson George Filmmaker-historian Nelson George conducts a passionate archeology of funk music—the crucial bridge between ’60s soul and ’80s hip hop—replete with loving testimonials about Dayton, Ohio, and Detroit, Michigan, in their funk heydays, where in the basements of now-mythical music makers like Sly Stone and P-Funk, the funk explosion was catalyzed. With The Roots member Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson as our guide, and warm regaling from notable musicians such as Bootsy Collins, George Clinton, Sheila E. and Mike D of the Beastie Boys, we’re transported to the hippieish ’70s when a mad fever of savvy creativity saw the transmutation of jazz, soul and R&B into infectiously danceable funk. FRI., SEPTEMBER 20, 6:30PM I AMC 34TH STREET THEATER 10
2013 URBANWORLD FILM FESTIVAL MINI GUIDE
GUN HILL (NEW YORK PREMIERE)
USA/2013/84mins/Color DIRECTOR: Reggie Rock Bythewood Larenz Tate stars as Bird and Trane, identical twins on opposite sides of the law. Bird is an undercover agent with a secret task force. Trane is a recently released convict who plays by a different set of rules. When Bird is brutally murdered, Trane assumes his brother’s identity in hopes of finding the killer, and gaining a second chance at life. Grappling with morality, fatherhood and love, Gun Hill asks this question: Can someone who is unredeemable become redeemed? FRI., SEPTEMBER 20, 8PM I AMC 34TH STREET THEATER 9
URBANWORLD UNDERGROUND WHAT MATTERS MOST SHORTS PROGRAM DIRECTOR: Kahlil Joseph
BLACK UP
USA/2011/5mins/Color Black Up is a short film that portrays a fever dream induced by the music of Shabazz Palaces.
UNTIL THE QUIET COMES USA/2012/4mins/Color
A short film featuring music from the Flying Lotus album that was filmed on 35mm in Los Angeles, CA.
THE MODEL PART 1 USA/2010/4mins/B&W
and João de Aquino’s Cirandar and Kraftwerk’s The Model) and features the members of his band Almaz, producer Mario C and keyboardist Money Mark.
THE MODEL PART 2 USA/2010/8mins/B&W
In Part 2, we get treated to Marcello’s (Seu Jorge) hypnotic take on his dreams and how they involve music and the image of a mysterious woman that have come to consume him. Struggling to decipher his dreams from reality, Marcello attempts to make sense of it all.
WILDCAT
USA/2013/7mins/B&W Wildcat is a state of mind; an experiment inspired by the composition and performance of jazz music. The characters that populate this world are actual—cowboys; and envisioned—angels. FRI., SEPTEMBER 20, 7:30PM I AMC 34TH STREET THEATER 11
THEY DIE BY DAWN (NEW YORK PREMIERE) USA/2012/52mins/ Color DIRECTOR: Jeymes Samuel
They Die by Dawn is a featurette based on the true life African American Cowboys of the old west. With an all star cast including Golden Globe winner Giancarlo Esposito, Boardwalk Empire’s Michael K. Williams, Greys Anatomy’s Jessie Williams, Grammy award winning Erykah Badu and Hollywood A lister Rosario Dawson, the film sets out to tell the story of a fictionalized showdown between the real life characters. FRI., SEPTEMBER 20, 7:30PM I AMC 34TH STREET THEATER 11
The Model is a pairing of short films featuring the renowned Brazilian singer and actor Seu Jorge (City Of God, The Life Aquatic). The Model is inspired by the music from the self-titled Seu Jorge and Almaz album. The first part Chapter 1: Marcello in Limbo is a one-take affair that follows Jorge as he weaves through a cliffside mansion in the Hollywood Hills. The film showcases three cover songs from the album (Roy Ayers’ Everybody Loves The Sunshine, Martinho da Vila
SPOTLIGHT SCREENINGS
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2013 URBANWORLD FILM FESTIVAL MINI GUIDE
Narrative Features AN AMERICAN IN HOLLYWOOD (WORLD PREMIERE) USA/2013/89mins/Color DIRECTOR: Sai Varadan
New York-born Writer/Director, Josiah, leads childhood friends, Paul, a Producer/Assistant Director, Angelo, an aspiring actor, and Dorian and Trilok, aspiring Actors/Stand-Up Comedians, to Los Angeles to pursue their collective artistic goals. Through Josiah’s relationship with a feisty young actress, Ayoka, and their shared trials of cracking Hollywood’s glass ceiling, the team of Artists soon realizes the commercial system they are up against, and the price of being a “hero” in America today. FRI., SEPTEMBER 20, 10:30PM I AMC 34TH STREET THEATER 9
CALLOUSED HANDS (NEW YORK PREMIERE) USA/2013/97mins/Color DIRECTOR: Jesse Quinones
12-year-old Josh is a mixed race boy and a promising baseball player. He is abused by his mother’s boyfriend Byrd, and neglected by his mother Debbie. He manages to forge his own path in life when his estranged grandfather Solomon insists he study for his Bar Mitzvah. SAT., SEPTEMBER 21, 9:15PM I AMC 34TH STREET THEATER 11
FULL CIRCLE
USA/2011/86mins/Color DIRECTOR: Solvan Naim and Olli Koivula A young pizza delivery boy, Anthoni, faces a lifechanging crisis when he stumbles across a large sum of money in the aftermath of what seems to be a drug deal gone bad. After taking the money, his life is thrown into turmoil as everyone he knows and cares about is put in jeopardy. His focus turns to revenge when his close friend is killed. Anthoni goes on a comically charged journey for vengeance as outlandish characters banter throughout in this musically infused, urban set comedy-action-drama. Anthoni is set on avenging the death of his close friend even if it means going up against the neighborhood’s most notorious thug. SAT., SEPTEMBER 21, 7PM I AMC 34TH STREET THEATER 11
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NARRATIVE FEATURES
HOME AGAIN (NEW YORK PREMIERE)
Canada/2012/103mins/Color DIRECTOR: Sudz Sutherland A searing drama in the vein of City of God, Home Again tells the story of three young people deported ‘home’ to Jamaica after being raised abroad since infancy. Once in Kingston and without a compass of any kind, each of the characters embarks on a journey that pushes their endurance beyond measure and forces them to discover who they truly are. On the most fundamental level, Home Again asks the question, “How would you survive?” FRI., SEPTEMBER 20, 8:45PM I AMC 34TH STREET THEATER 10
KNOCKAROUND KIDS (NEW YORK PREMIERE)
USA/2013/82mins/Color DIRECTOR: John Oluwole Adekoje Anita, Tommy and Stacey. All they want is to go home. All they have to do is behave. But it’s hard when there are so many triggers. Knockaround Kids follows the lives of three troubled kids caught between their dysfunctional families and the social welfare system. SAT., SEPTEMBER 21, 12:00PM I AMC 34TH STREET THEATER 11
SABLE FABLE (NEW YORK PREMIERE)
UK/2012/83mins/Color DIRECTOR: Stephen Jackson SABLE FABLE is a beautiful story exploring the complex psychology of love, sex and race amongst four very different couples whose lives intertwine with one another through a series of unfortunate events. FRI., SEPTEMBER 20, 2PM I AMC 34TH STREET THEATER 10
THE LAST LETTER (WORLD PREMIERE)
USA/2013/97mins/Color DIRECTOR: Paul D. Hannah The Last Letter tells the intriguing tale of Cathrine (Sharon Leal) and Michael Wright (Omari Hardwick) who are lovers in the purest sense, although Cathrine harbors a dark secret
2013 URBANWORLD FILM FESTIVAL MINI GUIDE
born of her ominous past. She suffers from a debilitating sleep disorder that blurs the line between her dream world and the real world. Michael, carrying the weight of the real world, is forced to find a way to reach his wife and help protect her from herself and their child. FRI., SEPTEMBER 20, 9:45PM I AMC 34TH STREET THEATER 11
THE MAGIC CITY (NEW YORK PREMIERE)
USA/2013/83mins/Color DIRECTOR: R. Malcolm Jones The summer begins to look up when two sisters are placed in the care of their foster mother. “Aunt Georgia” gives the girls a place they can call home and feel safe. They make friends with Amiya who is staying next door with her Aunt Jennifer (Jenifer Lewis) and the girls begin having fun. When their beloved Aunt Georgia suddenly dies, leaving them alone they panic. Attempting to avoid being returned to the foster system, the girls plot to conceal the death. They use their street smarts to obtain money and do whatever it takes survive on the harsh streets of Liberty City. SAT., SEPTEMBER 21, 2:30PM I AMC 34TH STREET THEATER 11
THE VOLUNTEER (NEW YORK PREMIERE) USA/2012/95mins/Color DIRECTOR: Vicky Wight
After dramatically leaving her successful but soul-crushing career, forty-something Leigh finds herself wondering if there’s more to life, to love, to everything. Overwhelmed by apathy and a vague sense of guilt, she decides to volunteer at a local soup kitchen. There, she begins an unexpected and electric affair with a homeless man, Ethan. Leigh attempts to hide Ethan from her long-time boyfriend, her family, and her new co-workers. However, after a series of troubling encounters, she realizes Ethan’s charm may be masking a troubled past. FRI., SEPTEMBER 20, 4PM I AMC 34TH STREET THEATER 10
THINGS NEVER SAID (NEW YORK PREMIERE) USA/2013/112mins/Color DIRECTOR: Charles Murray
KALINDRA STEPNEY (Kal, Shanola Hampton) is an aspiring Los Angeles poet who yearns to perform on New York’s most acclaimed spoken word stage. Haunted by dreams deferred and a dangerous marriage, Kal’s inner turmoil is escalated by the surprise and uncertainty of new love. Kal is inspired to dig deeper, discover her voice, and ultimately reclaim her sense of self-worth. SAT., SEPTEMBER 21, 3:45PM I AMC 34TH STREET THEATER 10
NARRATIVE Shorts A DIFFERENT TREE (NEW YORK PREMIERE)
US/ 2013/15mins/Color DIRECTOR: Steven Caple Jr. A Different Tree is a short film about an eightyear-old girl’s journey to build a relationship with her absent father, through a class assigned family tree. IN SHORTS PROGRAM 2 FRI., SEPTEMBER 20, 2:30PM I AMC 34TH STREET THEATER 9 SUN., SEPTEMBER 22, 4:15PM I AMC 34TH STREET THEATER 9
AMATEUR (NEW YORK PREMIERE) USA/2013/9mins/Color DIRECTOR: Ryan Koo
A basketball recruiter employs under-the-table methods to convince a high school player to transfer schools. AMATEUR is a short prequel for the forthcoming feature film MANCHILD, which follows a middle school star as he is discovered by the basketball recruiting machine. IN SHORTS PROGRAM 2 FRI., SEPTEMBER 20, 2:30PM I AMC 34TH STREET THEATER 9 SUN., SEPTEMBER 22, 4:15pm I AMC 34TH STREET THEATER 9
NARRATIVE SHORTS
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2013 URBANWORLD FILM FESTIVAL MINI GUIDE
BAGHDAD MESSI (US PREMIERE)
Belgium - UAE/2013/19mins/Color DIRECTOR: Sahim Omar Kalifa Iraq, 2009. Little Hamoudi is totally obsessed with football. Just as the rest of the world, he and his friends are eagerly looking forward to the Champions League finale FC BarcelonaManchester United. The long awaited clash between Messi and Ronaldo. But then Hamoudi’s television breaks down… IN SHORTS PROGRAM 4 FRI., SEPTEMBER 20, 5PM I AMC 34TH STREET THEATER 9 SAT., SEPTEMBER 21, 12PM I AMC 34TH STREET THEATER 9
BONESHAKER
USA/2013/13mins/Color DIRECTOR: Frances Bodomo An African family, lost in America, travels to a Louisiana church to find a cure for its problem child. IN SHORTS PROGRAM 2 FRI., SEPTEMBER 20, 2:30PM I AMC 34TH STREET THEATER 9 SUN., SEPTEMBER 22, 4:15pm I AMC 34TH STREET THEATER 9
EL DOCTOR is a drama about an undocumented day laborer in Arizona, the family that hires him, and the storm of fear that unleashes. IN SHORTS PROGRAM 1 FRI., SEPTEMBER 20, 12PM I AMC 34TH STREET THEATER 9 SUN., SEPTEMBER 22, 2PM I AMC 34TH STREET THEATER 9
EL INVENTO (NEW YORK PREMIERE)
Colombia/2012/20mins/Color DIRECTOR: Giovanni Granada Mónica has made it clear, she wants to be just friends... Feeling sad, Danny starts working with his friend Andrés in their workshop on a new invention. A big challenge for 12 year old boys: to solve the magic of photography and the mysteries of women. On a golden afternoon in 1976 they discover the power of friendship and love. It all starts with a magnifying glass, a small flashlight and a broken heart... IN SHORTS PROGRAM 2 FRI., SEPTEMBER 20, 2:30PM I AMC 34TH STREET THEATER 9 SUN., SEPTEMBER 22, 4:15PM I AMC 34TH STREET THEATER 9
FIVE YEARS
CHANCE ENCOUNTER (NEW YORK PREMIERE)
USA/2013/13mins/Color DIRECTOR: Durier Ryan
During a routine stop, a cop comes across a dangerous criminal.
On the first day of his Probation sentence, Will gets a desperate call for help from a friend in crisis. Met with suspicion by his friends, and driven ultimately towards a confrontation with a young teenage mother, Will is forced to weigh his own needs and security with the compassion he has for others.
USA/2012/5mins/Color DIRECTOR: Eric Richardson-Hagans
IN SHORTS PROGRAM 1 FRI., 20, 12PM I AMC 34TH STREET THEATER 9 SUN., SEPTEMBER 22, 2pm I AMC 34TH STREET THEATER 9
CRESCENDO
USA - Mexico/2012/13mins/Color DIRECTOR: Alonso Alvarez In 18th century Holy Roman Empire, a series of events will turn an ordinary day into an extraordinary experience for a woman who’s life will never be the same. IN SHORTS PROGRAM 1 FRI., SEPTEMBER 20, 12pm I AMC 34TH STREET THEATER 9 SUN., SEPTEMBER 22, 2pm I AMC 34TH STREET THEATER 9
EL DOCTOR
USA/2012/11mins/Color DIRECTOR: Heather de Michele
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NARRATIVE SHORTS
IN SHORTS PROGRAM 2 FRI., SEPTEMBER 20, 2:30PM I AMC 34TH STREET THEATER 9 SUN., SEPTEMBER 22, 4:15PM I AMC 34TH STREET THEATER 9
FLY ON OUT (WORLD PREMIERE)
USA/2013/6mins/Color DIRECTOR: Robert Kolodny Fly on Out follows 11 year old Dayvon after he rescues a caged pigeon from two older boys on a Brooklyn rooftop. Being pursued by the boys, Dayvon must dodge and weave his way through the vibrant and diverse streets of Bed-Stuy Brooklyn, passing by true to life neighborhood characters, all in an attempt for free the bird. The film was shot using visually stunning high speed cinematography and cinematic camera movement.
2013 URBANWORLD FILM FESTIVAL MINI GUIDE
IN SHORTS PROGRAM 4 FRI., SEPTEMBER 20, 5PM I AMC 34TH STREET THEATER 9 SAT., SEPTEMBER21, 12PM I AMC 34TH STREET THEATER 9
FREE.LUNCH (NEW YORK PREMIERE) USA/2013/14mins/Color DIRECTOR: Ricky Horne
Free.Lunch is a dramedy about a hard lucked military vet, Strick, who has decided to break into a house to obtain food that he feels his time served abroad has earned. Sophie arrives home from a day at work and finds Strick, a complete stranger has invaded her home. Though unfamiliar, their interaction quickly reveals two people who needed to crash into each other. IN SHORTS PROGRAM 4 FRI., SEPTEMBER 20, 5PM I AMC 34TH STREET THEATER 9 SAT., SEPTEMBER 21, 12PM I AMC 34TH STREET THEATER 9
JOURNEYMEN
USA/2012/12mins/Color DIRECTOR: Sarah Jenkins After a conversation with fellow trainers opens an old wound, Fitz is forced to confront his guilt over losing a fighter, Booby, 10 months earlier following a brutal bout. When Booby shows up in the gym, the two hash out what happened the night he died, who was to blame, and if there was any way to stop it. After an impromptu sparring session, Fitz is momentarily hurt. It is here, vulnerable and exposed, when Fitz realizes that the fighter he thought of as a son is at peace and it’s time for him to try and do the same. IN SHORTS PROGRAM 3 FRI., SEPTEMBER 20, 2:15pm I AMC 34TH STREET THEATER 11 SUN., SEPTEMBER 22, 6:45pm I AMC 34TH STREET THEATER 9
JUARITOS
USA - Mexico/2013/11mins/Color DIRECTOR: H. F. Crum Ivan is a reclusive narcoblogger anonymously documenting the drug war from the safety of his home in Juarez, Mexico. When basic necessity forces him into the outside world Ivan sets in motion a series of events that leads to a confrontation with an infamous member of the local drug cartel. Forced to make a choice between life and death—Ivan discovers a new way to fight back against the drug cartel’s reign of terror.
IN SHORTS PROGRAM 3 FRI., SEPTEMBER 20, 2:15PM I AMC 34TH STREET THEATER 11 SUN., SEPTEMBER 22, 6:45PM I AMC 34TH STREET THEATER 9
LA HORA SENALADA (HIGH NOON) (NEW YORK PREMIERE)
Venezuela/2013/14mins/Color Director: Ivan Mazza
In a school playground, Figueroa, a small and lonely boy, is accidentally pushed against the biggest kid of his class: Almendros. The boys around them decide they should fight, so it’s decreed the two of them must face each other, outside the school when the noon bell rings. The ticking clock will become Figueroa’s worst enemy, while he has to face his fears and insecurities as well as the pressure of his peers, in order to confront his enemy just outside the school at high noon. IN SHORTS PROGRAM 3 FRI., SEPTEMBER 20, 2:15PM I AMC 34TH STREET THEATER 11 SUN., SEPTEMBER 22, 6:45PM I AMC 34TH STREET THEATER 9
LAST REMARKS (NEW YORK PREMIERE)
Pakistan, USA/2012/17mins/Color DIRECTOR: Umar Riaz On the eve of the creation of Pakistan in 1947, the British rulers of the Indian subcontinent prepare to depart the region amidst waves of ethnic violence. Arastu Jan, a troubled and isolated native servant to a British master, takes a dose of poison and finds himself with ten minutes to record the confession of his brief lifetime. IN SHORTS PROGRAM 1 FRI., SEPTEMBER 20, 12pm I AMC 34TH STREET THEATER 9 SUN., SEPTEMBER 22, 2pm I AMC 34TH STREET THEATER 9
LITTLE BLACK BOY WONDER (NEW YORK PREMIERE) USA/2013/4mins/Color DIRECTOR: Mo McCrae
Little Black Boy Wonder is a dedication to the life of Trayvon Martin and a call to action. IN SHORTS PROGRAM 4 FRI., SEPTEMBER 20, 5PM I AMC 34TH STREET THEATER 9 SAT., SEPTEMBER 21, 12pm I AMC 34TH STREET THEATER 9
NARRATIVE SHORTS | 11
2013 URBANWORLD FILM FESTIVAL MINI GUIDE
LU
USA/2013/14mins/Color DIRECTOR: Korstiaan Vandiver Based on true events, LU is a marine diagnosed with PTSD who searches for an innocent woman who was wounded during a firefight in Iraq to ask for her forgiveness. IN SHORTS PROGRAM 3 FRI., SEPTEMBER 20, 2:15PM I AMC 34TH STREET THEATER 11 SUN., SEPTEMBER 22, 6:45PM I AMC 34TH STREET THEATER 9
NAMELESS (NEW YORK PREMIERE) USA/2013/15mins/Color DIRECTOR: Jacquin Deleon
NAMELESS follows the story of six bullets, and how each of them view society/the world from their own perspective. What the bullets really represent is society as a whole, and the pain that different attitudes can cause towards others. The bullets are played by six different people sitting inside the barrel of a revolver waiting to be expelled. Dressed as special forces ready to touch down in a hot zone, we get to go inside the inner workings and minds of our psyche through them. IN SHORTS PROGRAM 3 FRI., SEPTEMBER 20, 2:15PM I AMC 34TH STREET THEATER 11 SUN., SEPTEMBER 22, 6:45PM I AMC 34TH STREET THEATER 9
OJALA (NEW YORK PREMIERE) USA/2012/20mins/Color DIRECTOR: Ryan Velasquez
Ana, a young medical student, and Olga, her quietly resentful mother, struggle to come to terms with each other and see one another for who they truly are. IN SHORTS PROGRAM 4 FRI., SEPTEMBER 20, 5PM I AMC 34TH STREET THEATER 9 SAT., SEPTEMBER 21, 12PM I AMC 34TH STREET THEATER 9
PROSPECT
USA/2012/12mins/Color DIRECTOR: Derrick Perry A Brooklyn photographer searching for inspiration, has a chance encounter with a mysterious woman in Prospect Park. What starts as a simple acquaintance winds down a complicated path, that will leave him forever changed.
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NARRATIVE SHORTS
IN SHORTS PROGRAM 4 FRI., SEPTEMBER 20, 5pm I AMC 34TH STREET THEATER 9 SAT., SEPTEMBER 21, 12pm I AMC 34TH STREET THEATER 9
ROSITA LOPEZ FOR PRESIDENT (NEW YORK PREMIERE) USA/2012/9mins/Color DIRECTOR: Rachel Goldberg
Rosita Lopez for President is about a 14-year-old girl running for President of the United States of America. As she tries to garner votes, she renews more than just a faith in democracy in the people she meets. IN SHORTS PROGRAM 2 FRI., SEPTEMBER 20, 2:30PM I AMC 34TH STREET THEATER 9 SUN., SEPTEMBER 22, 4:15PM I AMC 34TH STREET THEATER 9
SAY YES (NEW YORK PREMIERE) USA/2013/7mins/Color DIRECTOR: Ava DuVernay
SAY YES explores the power of the affirmative, and the beauty that blossoms from embracing life. Inspired by the Fashion Fair lip color called Say Yes, award-winning filmmaker Ava DuVernay created this vision of what happens when you welcome the unexpected. SAT., SEPTEMBER 21, 4PM I AMC 34TH STREET THEATER 10
SWEET HONEY CHILE’
USA/2013/18mins/Color DIRECTOR: Talibah Newman Sweet Honey Chile’ is a film about a young boy who is larger than life, but is trapped within the confines of an absurd, suffocating world weighed down by the trappings of poverty and a shortfused ailing mother. Honey is a kid entangled in his own imagination and fascination with embracing his own identity in the wake of his grandfather’s recent and untimely death. Honey seeks to honor his grandfather’s wishes with the help of a mystical neighborhood friend, Mr. Jolene and a spiritual adventure ensues. IN SHORTS PROGRAM 3 FRI., SEPTEMBER 20, 2:15PM I AMC 34TH STREET THEATER 11 SUN., SEPTEMBER 22, 4:15PM I AMC 34TH STREET THEATER 9
2013 URBANWORLD FILM FESTIVAL MINI GUIDE
THE BASh (NEW YORK PREMIERE) USA/2013/6mins/Color DIRECTOR: Tyson FitzGerald
A couple on the verge of breaking up suddenly find themselves in a life or death situation, exposing the depths of their love for each other. IN SHORTS PROGRAM 1 FRI., SEPTEMBER 20, 12PM I AMC 34TH STREET THEATER 9 SUN., SEPTEMBER 22, 2PM I AMC 34TH STREET THEATER 9
THE GROWN-UPS
USA/2012/17mins/Color DIRECTOR: Kaliya Warren Zadie and Tavio are recent college graduates. As community organizers in their Brooklyn neighborhood, they fight to make it through the ups and downs of everday life. Frustrated by their troubles, Zadie decides to return to the comfort of her childhood home with her former Civil Rights activist parents. However, Zadie and Tavio begin to understand that life doesn’t necessarily grow easier with age, and that there comes a time when you can no longer rely upon your elders to alleviate your struggles. IN SHORTS PROGRAM 3 FRI., SEPTEMBER 20, 2:15PM I AMC 34TH STREET THEATER 11 SUN., SEPTEMBER 22, 6:45PM I AMC 34TH STREET THEATER 9
THE PAINTER (NEW YORK PREMIERE) USA/2013/15mins/Color DIRECTOR: Kevin Cooper
A boy, barely 12-years-old, lives in a world where violence surrounds him. His sole means of survival is to escape the outside world by creating art. He is alone - abandoned for as long as he can remember. He begins this day like every other: quietly sipping a cup of coffee in his run-down kitchen, walls covered with newspaper clippings that chronicle the epidemic death toll in the inner city. Amid wailing sirens and a squawking police scanner, he sits uncomfortably...cleaning a paintbrush. An interviewer’s voice, unsure of what he is witnessing, asks the boy to explain his existence...his art. Step inside the line...his art - a world at war. Are you ready?
THE REBEL PRINCE (NEW YORK PREMIERE) USA/2012/7mins/Color DIRECTOR: Fabian Davis
A ruthless street-hardened criminal is not the typical role model and cool lifestyle to admire. But, for an eleven-year-old boy with no guidance, it seems like the perfect life. He has the potential to be a prince and a scholar because he’s smart and talented. However, his princely personality is conflicted until he witnesses the menacing mentality it takes to live such a lifestyle. In the end, the choice he then faces determines what kind of man he wants to be. IN SHORTS PROGRAM 1 FRI., SEPTEMBER 20, 12pm I AMC 34TH STREET THEATER 9 SUN., SEPTEMBER 22, 2pm I AMC 34TH STREET THEATER 9
TRACES OF JOY (US PREMIERE)
Canada/2012/8mins/Color DIRECTOR: Jeff Tran and Louis Yeum This tale puts the crystal clarity of computer animation to the task of depicting the gritty and ambiguous reality confronting kids seeking life’s simplest joys on the wrong side of the social divide. IN SHORTS PROGRAM 1 FRI., SEPTEMBER 20, 12PM I AMC 34TH STREET THEATER 9 SUN., SEPTEMBER 22, 2PM I AMC 34TH STREET THEATER 9
TWENTY BUCKS (NEW YORK PREMIERE) USA/2013/14mins/Color DIRECTOR: Jesus Beltran
An unemployed single dad struggles to raise his kid right until a confrontation with a neighbor goes wrong. IN SHORTS PROGRAM 2 FRI., SEPTEMBER 20, 2:30PM I AMC 34TH STREET THEATER 9 SUN., SEPTEMBER 22, 4:15PM I AMC 34TH STREET THEATER 9
IN SHORTS PROGRAM 4 FRI., SEPTEMBER 20, 5pm I AMC 34TH STREET THEATER 9 SAT., SEPTEMBER 21, 12pm I AMC 34TH STREET THEATER 9
NARRATIVE SHORTS | 13
2013 URBANWORLD FILM FESTIVAL MINI GUIDE
DOCUMENTARY FEATURES A LOVELY DAY (NEW YORK PREMIERE) USA/2012/73mins/Color DIRECTOR: Kerri Gawryn
In 2009 independent filmmaker Kerri Gawryn teamed up with Beats, Rhymes and Life and the Oakland High School Fifth Element Hip Hop Club to produce a feature-length film documenting the trials, tribulations, and achievements of a group of Oakland youth. The young rappers embark on a six-month journey to find their voice, their talent, and their path to healing within Hip Hop culture. The result is A LOVELY DAY, which chronicles the lives of the nine youth as they set out to make music that communicates their experiences of adversity and hope for change as they build a stronger community. FRI., SEPTEMBER 20, 12PM I AMC 34TH STREET THEATER 11
AMERICAN BEATBOXER
USA/2013/85mins/Color DIRECTOR: Manauvaskar Kublall On July 31, 2010, in Brooklyn, New York, the first ever American Beatbox Championship took place. Beatboxers and beatbox fans from all over the world converged at Littlefield, Performance and Art Space, to witness and participate in this historical event. Contestants of all races, and from all across the United States competed. Now it’s down to the eight finalists! This documentary honors the evolution of the most neglected genres of Hip Hop culture, juxtaposed against the final day of competition to crown the first American beatboxing champion! The judges include Rahzel, Jarobi White, Parrish Smith, and Masai Electro. SAT., SEPTEMBER 21 4:45PM I AMC 34TH STREET THEATER 11
BROTHERS HYPNOTIC
Netherlands - USA/2013/85mins/Color DIRECTOR: Reuben Atlas For the eight young men in the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, “brotherhood” is literal: they’re all sons of anti-establishment jazz legend, Phil Cohran. Cohran and their mothers raised them together on Chicago’s South side on a strict diet of jazz, funk and Black Consciousness. Family band practice began at 6 AM. Now grown, as they
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DOCUMENTARY FEATURES
raise eight brass horns to the sky—while playing in the streets of New York City, collaborating with Mos Def, or wowing a jazz festival— they find the values their father bred into them constantly tested. They must decide whether his principles really are their own. “Brothers Hypnotic” is a coming of age story, for eight brothers, and for an ideal. FRI., SEPTEMBER 20, 5PM I AMC 34TH STREET THEATER 11
CHILDREN OF THE WIND (NEW YORK PREMIERE)
Netherlands, Antilles - USA - Germany/ 2013/95mins/Color DIRECTOR: Daphne Schmon Narrated by Gbenga Akinnagbe (HBO’s The Wire), Children of the Wind tells the story of the Bonaire windsurfers, a group of native Caribbean kids, who under the mentorship of the remarkable Elvis Martinus, overcame insuperable odds to not only dominate an inherently elitist sport but to revolutionize it. The film focuses on brothers Tonky and Taty Frans and their cousin Kiri who come from a poor fishing family and began windsurfing before the age of ten, using whatever broken or discarded equipment they could scrounge, and who are now, twenty years later, global superstars. FRI., SEPTEMBER 20, 12PM I AMC 34TH STREET THEATER 10
IN SEARCH OF THE BLACK KNIGHT (NEW YORK PREMIERE) USA/2013/73mins/Color DIRECTOR: Tamarat Makonnen
‘In Search of the Black Knight’ is a relationship documentary that takes a humorous look at a topic on the tongues of professional black women everywhere…the shortage of eligible black men. There are many theories on why this problem exists: education, prison and the ‘down low’ to name a few. We follow director Tamarat Makonnen as he travels across the country in an attempt to find the truth behind this hot button topic. Combining professional advice, street interviews and sketch comedy; this funny and thought-provoking film will have you rethinking what you assumed about the opposite sex. SAT., SEPTEMBER 21, 2:30PM I AMC 34TH STREET THEATER 9
2013 URBANWORLD FILM FESTIVAL MINI GUIDE
LITTLE BALLERS (NEW YORK PREMIERE) USA/2013/78mins/Color DIRECTOR: Crystal McCrary
Set against the backdrop of New York City, LITTLE BALLERS tells the story of 4 diverse eleven-year old boys and their legendary coach as they set out to win an AAU National Championship. For these young men, basketball is more than a game. It is a deep passion that holds a special meaning for each of them: escaping poverty, getting an education, living the American dream and bonding with a father, but more than anything, basketball offers them hope. SAT., SEPTEMBER 21 5:30PM I AMC 34TH STREET THEATER 9
THE NEW BLACK (NEW YORK PREMIERE) USA/2012/80mins/Color DIRECTOR: Yoruba Richen
The New Black tells the story of how the AfricanAmerican community is grappling with the gay rights issue in light of the recent gay marriage movement and the fight over civil rights. The film documents activists, families and clergy on both sides of the campaign to legalize gay marriage and examines homophobia in the black community’s institutional pillar—the Black church—and reveals the Christian right wing’s strategy of exploiting this phenomenon in order to pursue an anti-gay political agenda. SAT., SEPTEMBER 21, 12:00PM I AMC 34TH STREET THEATER 10
THE NEW PUBLIC
USA/2012/87mins/Color DIRECTOR: Jyllian Gunther In fall 2006, former DJ, point-guard and teacher turned first-time principal, James O’Brien, opened a small public high school in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, where 1/3 of residents live below the poverty line and the graduation rate is 40%. With infectious optimism, O’Brien and his staff of eight undertook a new and unconventional approach–– emphasizing strong individual support with an arts & media-based focus. Initially, the buzz from the community was that this was a dream come true. But conflicts soon arose when old realities surface. Through the prism of one inner-city public
school, we witness complexities faced by urban public schools and communities everywhere. SAT., SEPTEMBER 21, 2PM I AMC 34TH STREET THEATER 10
DOCUMENTARY SHORTS COLORED MY MIND: THE DIAGNOSIS (NEW YORK PREMIERE) USA/2013/19mins/Color DIRECTOR: Nia T. Hill
This powerful Short Docu-feature is by awardwinning writer and director Nia T. Hill, and the women of Colored My Mind including an educator, an actress, a lawyer, a music manager, and a homemaker, they serve as our guides as we explore the overlooked world of autism, in particular in the Black and Brown communities. IN SHORTS PROGRAM 1 FRI., SEPTEMBER 20, 12PM I AMC 34TH STREET THEATER 9 SUN., SEPTEMBER 22, 2PM I AMC 34TH STREET THEATER 9
NAILGASM: THE NAIL ART DOCUMENTARY (WORLD PREMIERE) USA/2013/30mins/Color DIRECTOR: Ayla Montgomery
What costs as little as 99 cents and is a fanatical obsession shared by pop superstars, celebrities and millions of ordinary women around the globe? Nail Art, the one-time staple of 80’s Hip-Hop B-girls that has suddenly reached mainstream notoriety from your local drugstore to Chanel runways at Fashion Week. Kickstarter funded and directed by Documentarian, Ayla “Brass” Montgomery, the documentary NAILgasm explores how this trend went from being championed by niche communities to the world’s biggest popstars, and its surprising impact on women entrepreneurship. SAT., SEPTEMBER 21, 2:30PM I AMC 34TH STREET THEATER 9
DOCUMENTARY SHORTS | 15
2013 URBANWORLD FILM FESTIVAL MINI GUIDE
THURS 19
screening schedule THEATER
12pm
1pm
2pm
3pm
4pm
11am
12pm
1pm
2pm
3pm
4pm
SVA THEATRE
THEATERS
FRIDAY 20
11am
SHORTS PROGRAM 1 (91)
AMC 34th St.
THEATER 9 AMC 34th St.
CHILDREN OF THE WIND (95)
THEATER 10 AMC 34th St.
SATURDAY 21
11am
THEATER 9 AMC 34th St.
AMC 34th St.
SCREENING SCHEDULE
SUN 22
2pm
11am
12pm
3pm
THE NEW PUBLIC (87)
1pm
4pm
NAILGASM (35) IN SEARCH OF THE BLACK KNIGHT (73)
KNOCKAROUND KIDS (82)
THEATER 11
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1pm
THE NEW BLACK (80)
THEATER 10
SVA THEATER
SHORTS PROGRAM 3 (96)
SHORTS PROGRAM 4 (90)
AMC 34th St.
THEATERS
12pm
THE VOLUNTEER (95)
SABLE FABLE (83)
A LOVELY DAY (73)
THEATER 11
THEATERS
SHORTS PROGRAM 2 (94)
SAY YES (7) THINGS NEVER SAID (111)
THE MAGIC CITY (83)
2pm
3pm
SHORTS PROGRAM 1 (91)
4pm
2013 URBANWORLD FILM FESTIVAL MINI GUIDE
5pm
6pm
7pm
8pm
9pm
10pm
11pm
12am
1am
10pm
11pm
12am
1am
11pm
12am
1am
11pm
12am
1am
OPENING NIGHT FILM: BAGGAGE CLAIM (98)
5pm
6pm
7pm
8pm
SHORTS PROGRAM 4 (90)
9pm GUN HILL (84)
FINDING THE FUNK (64)
BROTHERS HYPNOTIC (87)
AN AMERICAN IN HOLLYWOOD (89)
HOME AGAIN (103)
URBANWORLD UNDERGROUND
THE LAST LETTER (97)
WHAT MATTERS MOST SHORTS BLOCK (28) THEY DIE BY DAWN (50)
5pm
6pm
7pm
8pm
9pm
10pm
CLOSING NIGHT FILM: THE INEVITABLE DEFEAT OF MISTER AND PETE (120)
LITTLE BALLERS (78)
BOARDWALK EMPIRE (60)
AMERICAN BEATBOXER (85)
5pm SHORTS PROGRAM 2 (94)
FULL CIRCLE (86)
6pm
7pm
CALLOUSED HANDS (97)
8pm
9pm
10pm
SHORTS PROGRAM 3 (96)
SCREENING SCHEDULE | 17
2013 URBANWORLD FILM FESTIVAL MINI GUIDE
Shorts Program 1
Shorts Program 3
Colored My Mind
La Hora Senalada (High Noon)
Chance Encounter
The Grown Ups
Crescendo
LU
Traces of Joy
Nameless
El Doctor
Juaritos
The Bash
Sweet Honey Chile’
Last Remarks
Journeymen
The Rebel Prince
Shorts Program 2
Shorts Program 4
Boneshaker
Free.Lunch
Five Years
Prospect
A Different Tree
Baghdad Messi
Rosita Lopez for President
Fly On Out
Amateur
Ojala
El Invento
The Painter
Twenty Bucks
Little Black Boy Wonder
Ticket Information ADMISSION: $15.00 WEBSITE: urbanworld.org BOX OFFICE: AMC 34th Street Box Office Rush line tickets will be available 30 minutes prior to scheduled screenings for sold out films on a first come, first serve basis as available (CASH ONLY). Schedule Subject To Change
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SHORTS PROGRAM OVERVIEW | TICKET INFORMATION
Urbanworld Closing Night Film
Saturday, Sept 21, 2013 8:30 pm, AMC 34th Street. Director’s Q&A to follow.
BOYS TO MITCHES
PREMIERES OCTOBER 15
TUESDAYS 10P/9C
#RHOH