Dubbed “The Black Sundance,” the Hollywood Black Film Festival (HBFF) is an annual 4-day celebration of Black Cinema drawing together established filmmakers, popular film and TV stars, writers, directors, industry executives, emerging artists, and diverse audiences from Southern California and around the world. HBFF’s INFOTAINMENT CONFERENCE features a wealth of informational panels and workshops covering a wide variety of topics which include: film production, distribution and marketing, pitching, writing for television and film, in addition to specific programs designed to inform and educate actors.
CLICK on film or panel titles to get more information. SORT by category by clicking on the category name on the right side of the page.
Registration will take place @ Station Hollywood inside the W Hollywood Hotel on their outdoor deck.
**TICKET SALES ON-SITE ONLY**
Director - Trey Haley
Writer - Christian Keyes
Producers - ND Brown, Eric Tomosunas, Veronica Nichols, Keith Neal
Executive Producers - Brett Dismuke, Christian Keyes
Co-Producer - Jeff Lam
Associate Producers - Gregory Anderson, Reginald Jones
Principal Cast - Christian Keyes(Tyler Perry's Madea Goes to Jail, BET’s Let’s Stay Together), LeToya Luckett (Grammy Recording Artist, Preacher’s Kid), Richard T. Jones (Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married), Brian McKnight (Platinum Recording Artist) Eva Marcille (America’s Top Model), Clifton Powell (Ray), Valarie Pettiford (Jumping the Broom), Jason Weaver (Drumline, The Lion King), Brely Evans (Sparkle), Sebastian Siegal (Tyler Perry’s The Family that Preys), Willie Taylor (MTV’s Day 26), Mishon Ratliff (Lincoln Heights), Brian McKnight Jr. and more.
View the TRAILER
Synopsis:
As the Summer has come to a close, the Fall season returns, and with it brings the College Sports Season, Back to School, and all the trappings that come with Autumn, from weather to romance. This Fall, Tri Destined Studios welcomes the Season of Love with the romantic coming of age film “Note to Self”, presented along with Image Entertainment, One Village Ent., and Swirl Films. In the vein of “Love and Basketball” meets “Good Will Hunting”, “Note to Self” follows a handsome and popular student athlete coming of age during his senior year of college, as his world begins to fall apart due to his mom’s failing health and the reappearance of his father after 16 years. Curtis confides in a therapist whom he interns for, about the things he is going through, who recommends that Curtis start writing it all down in his journal so he can explore his thoughts and feelings ala a note to self. While struggling with his issues, Curtis is caught in a love triangle between his “friend with benefits” and a student nurse who happens to be a full time pessimist on the subject of love and men. Curtis inevitably learns in this journey of self-realization that he must release his mother, regain his father, find true love, graduate, and finally understand his note to self.
HBFF 2012 Opening Night Film & After-Party
Sponsored by One Village Entertainment, Tri Destined Studios, Swirl Films, Southern Girl Desserts, and D’s Orginal Take Out Grill
**TICKET SALES ON-SITE ONLY**
It's time for the Old School College Jam: Represent Your Yard at the Hollywood Black Film Festival 2012 Opening Night!
The Hollywood Black Film Festival 2012 Opening Night will present a fun-filled night of college flashbacks with the opening night film, "Note to Self." The film centers around a handsome and popular student-athlete who embarks on a journey of self-realization while navigating the choppy waters of a love triangle.
What can be better than watching a film that reminds you of your college days, than an after-party that allows you to relive it!
Join the cast and crew of "Note to Self" as they REPRESENT their colleges, universities, fraternities and sororities at the themed 2012 Hollywood Black Film Festival Opening Night and After-Party. How will you represent your yard?
Don't be scared to reach into the back of your closet and pull out that favorite college sweatshirt, don that HBCU hat hiding on the top shelf or dust off your fraternity or sorority jacket and join us for our "Old School College" night.
Get in the spirit of college days and represent your yard!
Get a little taste of southern hospitality from co-owners Shoneji Robison and Catarah Hampshire of Southern Girl Desserts. Our “Dessert Divas” will be tantalizing those taste buds with southern inspired decadent delicacies at our opening night film and gala.
D’s Original Take Out Grill, owned and operated by Chef "D" Damon & Wendy Stalworth, invites you to enjoy a taste of THE BEST SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SOUL CUISINE at our opening night film and gala where they will present savory bites of their soulfood selections.
HBFF 2012 Opening Night Film & After-Party
Sponsored by One Village Entertainment, Tri Destined Studios, Swirl Films, Southern Girl Desserts, and D's Original Take Out Grill
Registration will take place in the Great Room Foyer
What are you pitching? Who are you pitching to? And why? As artrepreneurs, wearing more hats everyday, sometimes our passion and urgency can cause us to skip critical steps or blow precious opportunities. As technologies converge, the screen lines blur and obfuscate the delineation between studio and independent. It is increasingly important for you to be able to distill, engagingly communicate and stay focused on your end game. Come get a GPS overview of the lay of the land that is "Hollywood" and the players and niches in our ever-shrinking global media marketplace. Discover new and more effective ways of presenting and promoting yourself and your projects - and adjusting your marketing materials or verbal spiel to whomever you can position yourself to pitch to. Whether you're a writer/director/producer of - or an actor in - indie films, webseries or TV series proposals, pitching your concept to the networks, cable outlets or cobbling together your budget through private investors and brand sponsorship or even later in the process, launching (or rekindling) a social media marketing campaign for a pre-existing intellectual property - you're selling every step of the way. Come learn some cutting edge insights mixed with good old fashioned common sense to help you rethink how you might better creatively collaborate in the highest and best interests of your projects' and career goals.
Independent film financing and distribution of a film can be tricky. You can pitch a film project, but you must also be able to dance to music of the investor. It’s their stage, and they don’t like indie filmmakers looking for funding. Come find out how the availability of commercial distribution opportunities for films at any budget level is changing as the industry embraces an explosion of new and unconventional resources for financing, producing and distributing independent films.
**TICKET SALES ON-SITE ONLY**
Director - Dean Tapia
Producer - Lisa Boags
Executive Producers - Jarita Holbrook, Romeel Davé
Exact Running Time - 27:00
Country of Production - USA
View the Trailer
Website: http://www.hdumovie.com/
Synopsis:
The scientific research and experiences of six African American and three Hispanic American astronomers and astrophysicists are presented in this documentary. 'Diverse' refers to both the ethnic diversity of the scientists who appear in the film and the diverse set of astronomy topics explored. The film has four chapters: Science, Diversity, Mentoring and Outreach, and NASA's Contributions. The astronomers discuss their scientific projects and the role of the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) in their research. They share what it takes to succeed as an astrophysicist and talk about the people who have helped them along the way. Though their lives have included challenges, they provide an inspirational message to future students of astronomy.
**TICKET SALES ON-SITE ONLY**
Producer - Dana Hanna
Producer - Joy Sudduth
Exact Running Time - 47:00
Country of Production - USA
Synopsis:
This edgy documentary will explore drug use, prostitution, gang-banging and other issues that make up the lives of three young girls. This is for teenagers that may be headed down the wrong path, those that are already on it and those that need to know that it is never too late to return to innocence.
This workshop and panel discussion will focus on resources for the beginner actor,writer, director producer, will discuss the importance of networking, and give information on developing your talent so when they opportunity comes, you’re ready.
**TICKET SALES ON-SITE ONLY**
Producer/Director - Dalton Narine
Exact Running Time - 89:00
Country of Production - Trinidad and Tobago, U S A
View the TRAILER
Website: http://www.masmanthemovie.com
Synopsis:
It is the only film made about the man who reached 80 per cent of the planet in a single night. Mas Man (The Complete Work) explores Peter Minshall's leap from designer in the Trinidad Carnival to an artistic director of the Opening Ceremonies for three Olympic Games, based on his knack for 'making what is small seem big in an Olympic stadium.' Minshall served as an artistic director in the 1992 Barcelona Games; Atlanta, 1996; and Salt Lake City, 2006. Olympic producers found his genius for staging grand spectacles in his native Trinidad, where his themes usually play on good and evil. Where his stage has been the mas, which he brings to the street as theater, way beyond the horizon of masquerade.
There are a multitude of business opportunities in the studio and network systems for talent in the areas of acting, directing, writing and producing. However, there are also behind the scenes jobs ranging from accounting, development, graphic design, legal and printing services to marketing, video production and editing. This session is geared toward up and coming creative and business professionals who want to learn the secrets to obtaining opportunities to share your talent to the major studios and networks.
Diversity executives from NBC, CBS, ABC, WB & the WGA will discuss how to be seen by studios/networks. They will answer a wide range of questions including: What does it take to be taken seriously by the studios/networks? How to cultivate contacts within the studio and network systems? How does a studio/network go about selecting diverse talent? How can diversity representatives help me? How do I meet and find the right advocates within the studio and network?
Open to 2012 HBFF Storyteller Semi-Finalists & Finalists only
In this intensive, two-day workshop, writers bring with them 3-5 pitches for potential, not-yet-written feature film projects. Each pitch should be typed on a sheet of paper and should be no longer than 2-3 sentences in length. Always pitch from the point of view of story’s protagonist. All pitches are discussed for their viability as a motion picture, able to move and entertain audiences. The most viable pitch presented by each writer will then be further developed with an eye to working up a strong narrative through-line, affecting characters, character arcs, subplot, and a sense of what writer’s story is about most, i.e. what the writer is trying to communicate most in telling the story being told. The start of the workshop will commence with a brief lecture on screenwriting theory. The goal of the workshop is to help inform, develop, support, and encourage the next works of each HBFF Storyteller finalist.
Open to 2012 HBFF Storyteller Semi-Finalists & Finalists only
In this intensive, two-day workshop, writers bring with them 3-5 pitches for potential, not-yet-written feature film projects. Each pitch should be typed on a sheet of paper and should be no longer than 2-3 sentences in length. Always pitch from the point of view of story’s protagonist. All pitches are discussed for their viability as a motion picture, able to move and entertain audiences. The most viable pitch presented by each writer will then be further developed with an eye to working up a strong narrative through-line, affecting characters, character arcs, subplot, and a sense of what writer’s story is about most, i.e. what the writer is trying to communicate most in telling the story being told. The start of the workshop will commence with a brief lecture on screenwriting theory. The goal of the workshop is to help inform, develop, support, and encourage the next works of each HBFF Storyteller finalist.
This session will address the new landscape and opportunities facing content creators working across platforms in film, television and new media technologies.
**TICKET SALES ON-SITE ONLY**
Director - Deborah Riley Draper
Exact Running Time - 91:00
Country of Production - U S A
View the TRAILER
Website: http://www.versailles73movie.com/
Synopsis:
In an era known for protests and sit-ins, the 1973 Grand Divertissement at Versailles made a statement of its own- a fashion statement. The legendary event pitting the five lions of French couture Givenchy, Dior, Ungaro, Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Cardin with five American designers Halston, Oscar de la Renta, Anne Klein, Stephen Burrows and Bill Blass created a cross-stitch of change across fashion, race, business and catwalks. When African American models Bethann Hardison, Pat Cleveland, Alva Chinn, Billie Blair, Norma Jean Darden, Barbara Jackson, Jennifer Brice, Romana Saunders and Amina Warsuma boarded the plane to Paris, they had no idea they would help change the course of fashion and pull off its biggest coup. Versailles '73: American Runway Revolution tells this story.
If you're interested in finding financing your film, you've got to start with a business plan which connects the creative process and the business side of filmmaking. In this workshop you will learn how to utilize tools and access the information needed to develop a business plan that can actually get your project funded. From packaging your project with "marketable" talent and "saleabe" producing and production partners to providing "realistic" financial data and comparables, you will leave this workshop armed with all the information you need to show an investor who you are, where you are going, and how you are going to get there.
**TICKET SALES ON-SITE ONLY**
Director - Rob Underhill
Producer: Aravind Ragupathi
Producer: Mike Wiley
Exact Running Time - 70:00
Country of Production - U S A
View the TRAILER
Website: http://www.DarHeMovie.com
Synopsis:
In an acting tour de force, one man performs 36 roles in the telling of the Emmett Till tragedy. In DAR HE: The Lynching of Emmett Till (6 Best Film Awards), experience the true story, trial, and unbelievable confessions of those accused of Emmett's murder in this riveting drama. 'His death was a spark that ignited the Civil Rights Movement in America,' Ed Bradley, Emmy Award-winning journalist. 'A masterful performance by Mike Wiley.'-20th Pan African Film Festival.
Mix * Mingle * Relax
Via social media, Crowd Funding has emerged in recent years as the new alternative to traditional routes of funding. Sites such as Kickstarter and Indiegogo have become the standard bearers for filmmakers seeking to raise money through the internet. This panel will discuss how Crowd Funding works, advantages v. disadvantages, success v. failure stories, the JOBS Act and the ability to sell equity online after January 1, 2013.
**TICKET SALES ON-SITE ONLY**
Director - Monica Mingo
Producer: Rich Volin
Exact Running Time - 98:00
Country of Production - U S A
View the TRAILER
Website: http://www.TeamSizzleWorldwide.com
Synopsis:
The bad boys club is really not all that bad. Young, rich and handsome...the boys know how to have a good time. They love women, fast cars and doing whatever they want to do. There comes a time in life, however, when karma is helped along. When it's done by a group of scorned women...it can prove to be devastating.
**TICKET SALES ON-SITE ONLY**
Director - Ibrahim Yilla
Producers - Dan Garcia, Wendy Wiltz and Jason Hewitt
Writers - Jalene Mack & Gary B. Wilkins, Screenplay by Robert Irvin
Key Cast - Tichina Arnold, Darrin Dewitt-Henson, Richard T. Jones, Golden Brooks, Rocsi Diaz, Clyde Jones
Exact Running Time - 86:00
Country of Production - USA
View the TRAILER
Website: http://newkingdompictures.com/
Synopsis:
Tosha Landry, eccentric wife and nucleus of a circle of very ethnically diverse friends, is a student of the ancient Indian teachings of the Tantra and Kama Sutra. One Friday evening at the monthly get-together, Tosha introduces a game designed to elicit feelings and impressions men and women have about each other.
You Are Cordially Invited To The Monster's Ball Masquerade Party Friday, October 26th | From 9pm - 2am at Cafe Entourage Official After Party For The Hollywood Black Film Festival RSVP or VIP Table Reservation Required | Upscale Attire & Mask Requested | Costumes Optional For Mature Audiences Only | 21+
Registration will take place in the Great Room Foyer
Joanne Baron (Part 1) 9:30-‐10:30am
Joanne Baron is known for her dedication to the work of Sanford Meisner and is a teacher of the Meisner Technique. She trained with Neighborhood Playhouse alum and master Meisner teacher, William Esper, who founded the MFA and BFA Professional Actor Training Programs at Rutgers University. Her past students include Halle Berry, Robin Wright, Mariska Hargetay, Patrick Dempsey, Leslie Mann, and directors Martha Coolidge and Tom Shadyac.
Presenter DMA/Donna Michelle Anderson will discuss how filmmakers, writers, directors, actors and other industry professionals can network online and promote their brand and build audiences online. Will talk about how to capitalize online at the click of a mouse. The Internet can help you generate word of mouth "buzz," promote your products and talents, and to build a world-wide audience and fan base.
Aaron Speiser (Part 2) 10:30-‐11:30am
Aaron Speiser has been training and coaching actors for over 25 years. Working with the most acclaimed actors, directors, and producers in the industry, Mr. Speiser helps actors by bringing his vast experience and depth of knowledge of the craft of acting to his students in a simple, straightforward, practical and inspirational way. Aaron Speiser coaches Will Smith and Virginia Madsen, both of whom have recently been nominated for Academy Awards with Mr. Speiser’s help. He has also coached Jennifer Lopez from the beginning of her career. LL Cool J, Mandy Moore, The Rock (Dwayne Johnson), Brooke Shields, Jeff Foxworthy, Shanny Sossamon, Ashley Johnson, Shawn, Marlon, and Kim Wayans are some of the accomplished actors who round out the list. Working with such renowned directors as Oliver Stone, Michael Mann, F. Gary Gray, Adam Shankman, Wayne Wang, and Peter Berg to name a few, has enabled Mr. Speiser to bring the latest Film and Television techniques to his studio and clients.
Television writer and producer Bentley Kyle Evans who has been behind the scenes of some of television’s most popular TV productions such as Martin, The Parkers, One On One, The Jamie Foxx Show and is currently the creator and executive producer of TV One's Love That Girl, will host our Master Class for Writers. Bentley will share insight into the television writing, producing & development process, and hopefully demystify what it takes to turn a good idea into a great television show. There may also be surprise visits from celebrity guests.
**TICKET SALES ON-SITE ONLY**
Director - Paul van Zyl
Producer: Stacy Ekstein
Exact Running Time - 22:00
Country of Production - U S A
View the TRAILER
Website: http://www.elegy-movie.com
Synopsis:
Two friends oppose the apartheid-era government in South Africa. Their choice to use violence tears their relationship apart.
**TICKET SALES ON-SITE ONLY**
Writer/Director/Executive Producer - Denzel Whitaker
Executive Producer/Writer - Barnaby Barrilla
Producer: Kasey Shirk
Exact Running Time - 8:00
Country of Production - U S A
Synopsis:
Operation: CTF is about a futuristic, weapon-based game of Capture the Flag, following four combative team members through a maze-structured warehouse in effort to complete their objective and win the game
**TICKET SALES ON-SITE ONLY**
Producer/Director - Darious Britt
Exact Running Time - 9:00
Country of Production - U S A
View the TRAILER
Synopsis:
A son is tired of bailing his mother out of trouble. In order to save her from herself, he must resort to extreme measures to confront her with the truth.
**TICKET SALES ON-SITE ONLY**
Producer/Director - Eric Richardson-Hagans
Producer: Michael Francis
Exact Running Time - 22:00
Country of Production - U S A
Website: http://thebubblegumhit.com/
Synopsis:
A hired female assassin, with a impulsive fetish for the kill, becomes entangled between the target and the people that hired her to complete the hit.
**TICKET SALES ON-SITE ONLY**
Director - Deatra Harris
Producer: Bryan Johnson
Exact Running Time - 20:00
Country of Production - U S A
View the TRAILER
Website: http://www.whataboutus-themovie.com
Synopsis:
A family desperate to find their missing daughter soon realize their daughter's significance in society is based on their social and economic status.
Open to 2012 HBFF Storyteller Semi-Finalists & Finalists only
In this intensive, two-day workshop, writers bring with them 3-5 pitches for potential, not-yet-written feature film projects. Each pitch should be typed on a sheet of paper and should be no longer than 2-3 sentences in length. Always pitch from the point of view of story’s protagonist. All pitches are discussed for their viability as a motion picture, able to move and entertain audiences. The most viable pitch presented by each writer will then be further developed with an eye to working up a strong narrative through-line, affecting characters, character arcs, subplot, and a sense of what writer’s story is about most, i.e. what the writer is trying to communicate most in telling the story being told. The start of the workshop will commence with a brief lecture on screenwriting theory. The goal of the workshop is to help inform, develop, support, and encourage the next works of each HBFF Storyteller finalist.
A panel of agents and managers discuss what they look for in taking on a new client, and how to get in front of agents and managers and be taken seriously.
**TICKET SALES ON-SITE ONLY**
Director - Edrei Hutson
Producer: J'Vanne Yancy
Exact Running Time - 14:00
Country of Production - U S A
View the TRAILER
Synopsis:
A mother and father are devastated to find out that their recently deceased daughter signed up to be an organ donor without their knowing. The family is divided as the father and two remaining daughters find comfort in corresponding with the organ recipients, while the mother sees the correspondence as a betrayal.
**TICKET SALES ON-SITE ONLY**
Producer/Director - Brian Shackelford
Producer - Joyce Fitzpatrick
Exact Running Time - 16:00
Country of Production - U S A
Synopsis:
'Animal Control' is an outrageously funny, over-the-top mock reality show that pulls the veil off of reality television and shows exactly how these pieces of crap get made! Down and out Hollywood producer Allen Davies owes a lot of people money. After the unsuccessful attempts of his last few projects, let's just say finding work has been pretty slow. That is, until foreign investors hire Allen to produce a new reality show for American television.
**TICKET SALES ON-SITE ONLY**
Director - Jeffrey Elmont
Producers - Bryan Smiley, Christina Northup, Marcus Dúpree
Exact Running Time - 11:00
Country of Production - U S A
View the TRAILER
Synopsis:
Seven years after a police raid gone wrong, a detective is confronted with the consequence of his past mistake.
**TICKET SALES ON-SITE ONLY**
Director - Evita Castine
Producer: Wentao Wang
Exact Running Time - 6:00
Country of Production - U S A
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaudadeTheMovie
Synopsis:
James, lynched at the turn of the century, seeks his bride Sarah, whom he stumbles across in the present day. Dead set on having her see him, he haunts her, but it brings unexpected results.
**TICKET SALES ON-SITE ONLY**
Director - Paul Aspuria
Writer - Juan Sotelo
Producers - Juan Sotelo, Raymund Aranda
Principal Cast - James Davis, Jr.; Raymund Aranda; and Vivian Yeung
Exact Running Time - 7:00
Country of Production - U S A
Synopsis:
An inside look at the wacky world of rival Staring champions as they train for the next World Championship and the affection of their Master guru.
**TICKET SALES ON-SITE ONLY**
Director - A.R. Hilton
Producer: Joseph Francis
Exact Running Time - 24:00
Country of Production - U S A
View the TRAILER
Synopsis:
When a troubled teen stumbles upon an ancient book he is confronted with his past, present and future through the life and death of a young African Prince. Now he must take actions to alter his fate or succumb to the same fate as the prince before him.
Actors discuss their films and careers, the industry, and the building blocks needed to successfully develop an acting career.
All projects face the same basic challenges – from developing material, finding the money, building strong collaborative teams, and ultimately, taking the project from script to screen. This is a roundtable discussion with seasoned and successful film and television producers and production executives who share their experience and offer concrete advice on producing for film.
**TICKET SALES ON-SITE ONLY**
Producer/Director - Megan Ebor
Exact Running Time - 24:00
Country of Production - U S A
Website/Trailer - http://www.evenmefilm.com/
Synopsis:
Even Me confronts the overwhelming crisis of HIV/AIDS among older adults 50+. Defying the myth that HIV/AIDS is a gay or young person's disease, this revealing documentary depicts the devastating impact of this epidemic on the heterosexual, older adult population and communities of color. These brave men and women speak candidly about their experiences, sexual history, HIV status, and help to uncover the misconceptions about aging, sexuality and HIV/AIDS.
**TICKET SALES ON-SITE ONLY**
Director - Xl Greene
Producer - Michael Watkins
Exact Running Time -6:00
Country of Production - U S A
Website/Trailer - http://www.djdog.tv/
Synopsis:
With the help of the mystical Brotha Vance, Tiger Woods embraces his African-American heritage to make a comeback and win the heart of the ultimate sista--Michelle Minaj
**TICKET SALES ON-SITE ONLY**
Producer/Director - Andrea Ashton
Producer - Andrew Stoneham
Exact Running Time -16:00
Country of Production - U S A
Synopsis:
Two twenty-something strangers accidentally encounter one another in a park and forge an unexpected connection. Following which a spontaneous but yet short lived romance develops between the two.
**TICKET SALES ON-SITE ONLY**
Directors - Sedric Veal, Jorge Sanchez
Producers - Carl Herard, Lanre Idewu, Tobijah Tyler
Exact Running Time -13:00
Country of Production - U S A
Synopsis:
Is true love escaping you? Has the love of your life passed you by because you couldn't get past her nagging friends? Well suffer no more, 'the Ultimate Wingmen' are here. No situation is too tough for the Ultimate Wingmen. This fearless, secretive, private, group of men are on call 24/7 to step in and interfere, occupy, or remove nagging friends so that hopeful men can meet their possible wives. But can they ultimately help their own founder Cain find true love? Time will tell, but the Ultimate Wingmen are here to stay!
**TICKET SALES ON-SITE ONLY**
Director - Maya Washington
Producers - Freddy F. Hakimi, Samantha Manalang
Exact Running Time -9:00
Country of Production - U S A
Website/Trailer - http://whitespacepoetry.blogspot.com/
Synopsis:
White Space follows the inner life of a deaf performance poet as he makes his debut at an open-mic night for a hearing audience. Can the language of the heart emancipate the inner voice, transcending the white space between a hearing audience and a deaf man's soul?
All projects face the same basic challenges – from developing material, finding the money, building strong collaborative teams, and ultimately, taking the project from script to screen. This is a roundtable discussion with seasoned and successful film and television producers and production executives who share their experience and offer concrete advice on producing for television.
**TICKET SALES ON-SITE ONLY**
Producer/Director - Donre Walker
Producer - Joanna Ellenbeck
Exact Running Time -20:00
Country of Production - U S A
View the TRAILER
Synopsis:
A team of military soldiers partner with state officials, to deal with social issues of returning troops from combat.They partner together and search for one individual to join their ranks. One interviewee has a dark secret that both defines her need to be on the team, but the horrors of war the team must face as a whole.
**TICKET SALES ON-SITE ONLY**
Director - Bobby Mardis
Music Producer - Cholly J
Writer - Cholly J, Stephen Ashford & Bobby Mardis
Exact Running Time - 6:00
Country of Production - USA
Website: http://brotha2brotha.com/
Synopsis:
Young Black men in major metropolitan cities all around America are dying. Rappers from the San Francisco Bay Area have gotten together to express the issue via this music video. “Peace on the Streets” is a part of a film called "Black Male: An Endangered Species" which is an electrifying doc geared to address this issue and offer some solutions from felons, hit men, the Clergy, educators, crack heads, Bangers, community leaders and politicians.
**TICKET SALES ON-SITE ONLY**
Producer/Director/Writer - Logan Williams
Exact Running Time -10:00
Country of Production - U S A
Synopsis:
When a depressed and introverted man comes home to his happy son, he has to recount the tales of the past in which an extortionist controlled his life.
**TICKET SALES ON-SITE ONLY**
Producer/Director/Writer - Harold Jackson III
Exact Running Time -16:00
Country of Production - U S A
View the TRAILER
Synopsis:
Best Selling Author Ezekiel Anderson is at a spiritual crossroads that is costing him his marriage. On the brink of divorce, a divine intervention hopes to remind Ezekiel of life's true gifts.
**TICKET SALES ON-SITE ONLY**
Producer/Director/Writer - Harrell D. Williams, Sr.
Exact Running Time -28:00
Country of Production - U S A
View the TRAILER
Synopsis:
A young man is upset that his father is set to re-marry. To stop the father from making what he thinks is a big mistake the young man devises a devastating plan which backfires.
Mix * Mingle * Relax
Actors will have a chance to show off their acting skills by performing a 1-minute monologue of their choice in front of a panel of judges. The panel will offer feedback to the actor and give them notes on improving their audition. Actors should treat this like an audition. Must bring your own monologues. Led by Celebrity Casting Director, Tracy "Twinkie" Byrd of In the Twink of an Eye Casting (Sparkle, Jumping the Broom, Notorious).
Separate MONOLOGUE SLAM REGISTRATION required to audition. Register early, limited to 20 auditions. $30 fee to audition. All festival-goers are welcome to watch for free.
Follow Twinkie’s Blog: Twinkie Is Casting
**TICKET SALES ON-SITE ONLY**
Producer/Director/Writer - Tariq Nasheed
Writer - Aaron Strongoni
Exact Running Time -72:00
Country of Production - U S A
View the TRAILER
Synopsis:
The Eugenist is a feature length horror film from director and author Tariq Nasheed following a group of college students who discover strange activities going on in a mysterious abandoned school.
This is always a SRO event. This year you have to pre-register to secure your seat! Admission is FREE if you pre-register. On-site registration is $30 if you don't pre-register before midnight on Oct. 26th. PRE-REGISTER HERE!
Live staged reading of the 3 finalist scripts in the Hollywood Black Film Festival's Storyteller Competition. Presented by Michael Baisden, the readings will be directed and cast by veteran stage director/writer/producer Don Welch ("The Bachelor Party" and "The BacheloretteParty"). SPONSORED BY BAISDEN FILMWORKS
Starring...
Kenny Lattimore
Keith Burke
Jermaine Jacox
Alexia Peebles
Danny Delloyd
Sy Richardson Roger Payano
Marvin Gay
Adenrele Ojo-Allen
Performing scenes from the HBFF Storyteller Competition finalist scripts:
Blu's Country by Corey Moore
Six Figures by Regina Junior
Raped by Malcolm Rector
The Puppy Cure (honorable mention) by Michael & Sherry Compton
**TICKET SALES ON-SITE ONLY**
Producer/Director/Writer - Elias Mael
Executive Producer - Mayon Denton
Exact Running Time -87:00
Country of Production - U S A
View the TRAILER
Synopsis:
Isaiah Johnson, an inner-city kid from Oakland, California, has an opportunity to attend an elite University. In his first year of college, he struggles to maintain his grades, attempts to remain loyal to his troubled childhood friends, and valiantly tries to capture the heart of his dream-girl. But when he arrives at a crossroad, he's forced to choose between his past and his future.
Registration will take place in the Great Room Foyer.
Thanks to the generous support of WELLS FARGO, admission to this event is FREE if you pre-register. Seating is limited so pre-register early at http://hbff2012-faith-in-film-with-devon-franklin.eventbrite.com.
You’ve seen him on “Super Soul Sunday” with Oprah Winfrey, now producer and preacher Devon Franklin takes centerstage at the Hollywood Black Film Festival in “Faith in Film: A Conversation with Devon Franklin.”
Ten years ago Devon started in the business as an assistant and today he is a rarity: an African-American studio executive at the forefront of Hollywood. He currently serves as Vice President of Production for Columbia Pictures, a division of Sony Pictures Entertainment where he oversaw the remake of one of the summer's biggest hits, The Karate Kid, starring Jackie Chan and Jaden Smith, which grossed over $350 million worldwide. He also worked on The Pursuit of Happyness and Hancock starring Will Smith, the faith-based hit Not Easily Broken, produced by Bishop T. D. Jakes,the romantic comedy, Jumping the Broom starring Angela Bassett and Paula Patton, and the musical drama Sparkle, starring Jordin Sparks and the late Whitney Houston.
In this up-and-close and personal conversation, Devon sits down with Tanya Kersey, HBFF Founder/Executive Director to discuss Faith in Films, the secret to successfully balancing life in Hollywood and faith. Following the discussion, Devon will be signing copies of his book, Produced by Faith.
Thanks to the generous support of WELLS FARGO, admission to this event is FREE if you pre-register. Seating is limited so pre-register early at http://hbff2012-faith-in-film-with-devon-franklin.eventbrite.com.
**TICKET SALES ON-SITE ONLY**
Director/Executive Producer - Ralph K. Scott
Writer/Producer - Kiara C. Jones
Exact Running Time - 20:00
Country of Production - USA
View the TRAILER
Website: http://www.socialcinemaproject.com/
Synopsis:
A story about a man that desires a bond with his elderly father. He realizes that he is running out of time due to his father slipping further into dementia.. What he comes to realize is he needs to now turn his attention toward his own son.
**TICKET SALES ON-SITE ONLY**
Writer/Director - Marquette Williams
Producers - Desi Green & Moni Boyce
Exact Running Time - 20:00
Country of Production - USA
View the TRAILER
Synopsis:
Set in the dark futuristic world of Pearl City year 2040, “MALACHI IX” is a sci-fi supernatural drama about an alcoholic priest consumed with rage who struggles with the vow he has made to protect the city from vicious vampires and his lack of faith in the human race. His commitment is tainted by the breach of the blood source treaty, made 900 years ago, between the two governing bodies, the Holy Order Church and the Royal Republic of the Vicoy, inciting vampires to attack and leaving Malachi IX with no choice but to resentfully fulfill his commitment. Unfortunately, his crimes negligently executed push Daren Corbet, an arrogant but brilliant detective, to involve Malachi IX in his investigation to find the murderer. Daren’s only clue has been a list of seven names! Six of which are already dead… The seventh, Katlin Stone, is the name of a beautiful mysterious blood lab scientist, who he believes will be the next victim of the serial killer. Will he realize in time that “MALACHI IX” is the killer he desperately wants to catch?
**TICKET SALES ON-SITE ONLY**
Director/Writer - Theron Smith
Exact Running Time -3:00
Country of Production - U S A
Synopsis:
The popular stories featuring the trickster Brer Rabbit can be traced back to the oral storytelling tradition of African slaves who brought this device to the plantation. Upon hearing these stories while working as a newspaper apprentice on the plantation, a white journalist by the name of Joel Chandler Harris became so fascinated that he adapted and compiled them in book form in 1881, creating the fictional character Uncle Remus to narrate the stories. In the film, the character of Brer Rabbit is portrayed by Craig, and Brer Wolf is played by Gregory. The original title is A Tar Baby is Born. The plot is the same, but I adapted my own script with a rhyming theme.
**TICKET SALES ON-SITE ONLY**
Producer/Director - Solomon Onita Jr.
Exact Running Time -13:00
Country of Production - U S A
View the TRAILER
Synopsis:
When a rumor sprouts up questioning Matthew's little brother Nathaniel's sexuality, Matthew is faced with the choice of either accepting Nathaniel for whom he is or breaking the bond of their relationship forever.
**TICKET SALES ON-SITE ONLY**
Producer/Director - Samantha Knowles
Exact Running Time -25:00
Country of Production - U S A
View the TRAILER
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/whydoyouhaveblackdolls
Synopsis:
'Why Do You Have Black Dolls?' is a documentary that explores the history, beauty, and pride that is the black doll. Through its characters it reveals that the black doll is more than a plaything; it is a cultural artifact that represents the history of the people it depicts.
Presented by Mozell Entertainment Group
A panel of seasoned writers, producers and executives discuss how to craft a compelling pitch in 30-60 seconds, how to excite and entice your listener in order to get them to want to read your script, and more. Reserve your spot to pitch your project and receive feedback from the panel on how to make the pitch more sellable.
Separate PITCHATHON REGISTRATION required to pitch. Festival attendees are welcome to come and watch for free. LIMITED to 20 PITCHES. $30 Pitch Fee.
The Winner of the Pitchathon receives the following:
-MOZELL ENTERTAINMENT GROUP will present a private reading of the script at 1010 Wilshire in front of a host of celebrity and high level guests (but it has to be cast by the writer).
-MOZELL ENTERTAINMENT GROUP will give the writer $250 to help produce the reading.
-The reading will take place before December 1, 2012.
**TICKET SALES ON-SITE ONLY**
Producers/Directors - Martha Burr, Mei-Juin Chen
Exact Running Time -57:00
Country of Production - U S A
View the TRAILER
Synopsis:
This action-packed documentary chronicles kungfu's black pioneers and heroes, exploring a dynamic intersection of African-American and Chinese culture. From Bruce Lee to Blaxploitation to African martial arts, the film traces the rise of the black kungfu experience in the 1960s and 70s to present day through the personal stories of four unique kungfu masters. Their collective journey poses a subtle challenge to political and social persecution -- and a demonstration that martial arts is frequently less about flash and style, kicks and punches, than it is about community, identity and bridges.
**TICKET SALES ON-SITE ONLY**
Director/Writer - Ervin Riggs
Producer - Ivan Anderson
Exact Running Time -100:00
Country of Production - U S A
Website/Trailer: http://www.heheardmycry.com/
Synopsis:
Jay is faced with a dilemma while torn between two best friends, his fiance' allege infidelity/pregnancy, and the new apple in his eyes, he must make a decision between heaven and hell.
**TICKET SALES ON-SITE ONLY**
Writer – Don B. Welch
Director – Fred Thomas
Producer(s) – Eric Tomosunas, Don B. Welch
Running time: 91 minutes
Synopsis:
The greatest feeling in the world is when you learn to love! This feature showcases seven stories of everyday people experiencing love, laughter, life and relationships of the heart. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly….It’s all here. 24-Hour Love…what a difference a day makes!
Cast
MALINDA WILLIAMS
TATYANA ALI
KEITH ROBINSON
EVA MARCILLE
ANGELL CONWELL
FLEX ALEXANDER
CHICO BENYMON
with LYNN WHITFIELD
and DARIUS MCCRARY
