DISNEY’S QUEEN OF KATWE TO BE FEATURED
The 20th Annual Urbanworld Film Festival (www.urbanworld.org), presented by REVOLT with founding sponsor HBO, announced its 2016 film slate today. One of the largest competitive film festivals designed to advance the presence and impact of diverse content creators will screen over 68 films and will take place September 21-25, 2016 at Manhattan’s AMC Empire 25 on 234 West 42nd Street.
Disney’s Queen of Katwe will be featured on Thursday, September 22 at 7:45 p.m. The film is based on the vibrant true story of a young girl from the streets of rural Uganda whose world rapidly changes when she is introduced to the game of chess, and, as a result of the support she receives from her family and community, is instilled with the confidence and determination she needs to pursue her dream of becoming an international chess champion. Directed by Mira Nair, the film stars Golden Globe® nominee David Oyelowo, Tony® nominee and Academy Award® winner Lupita Nyong’o and newcomer Madina Nalwanga. A Q&A with Oyelowo, recently announced as one of Urbanworld’s 2016 festival ambassadors, and Nair will immediately follow the screening of the film.
With REVOLT as our presenting partner and HBO as founding partner, we are honored to elevate and showcase an inclusive representation of talented storytellers,” said Gabrielle Glore, Festival Director & Head of Programming, Urbanworld Film Festival. “In our 20th anniversary year, Urbanworld’s curated selections highlight content from around the world, enabling the festival to further expand the gaze on the many distinct voices that deserve to be heard. We are proud to be a welcoming home for filmmakers, film enthusiasts and industry partners, all of whom return to Urbanworld to celebrate the artistry and craft of filmmaking.”
Also featured in this year’s festival is the highly anticipated REVOLT Young Filmmakers Showcase, which celebrates up and coming content creators and provides emerging young filmmakers with a larger platform to share their stories. Via Urbanworld Film Festival’s partnership with the 2nd Annual REVOLT Film Festival, three filmmakers and their films will be selected as finalists to attend the REVOLT Music Conference in Miami, October 13 – 16, 2016
The Urbanworld Film Festival has showcased the creative vision and storytelling from some of the world’s most recognized names in film for the past two decades,” said Keith T. Clinkscales, CEO, REVOLT. “We are excited to partner with Urbanworld on the REVOLT Film Festival as we continue to provide a platform for inclusive storytelling both in front of and behind the camera for young diverse filmmakers to be seen and heard. At REVOLT, we feel it is our mission to elevate content creators and broaden their reach to help shape and shift the culture.”
REVOLT is the presenting partner of the 2016 Urbanworld Film Festival. Along with founding partner HBO, key supporters include prestige partner BET Networks, premiere partners Comcast NBCUniversal, Africa Creative Agency, Fox Audience Strategy and Time Warner. Industry partner supporters are AMC Independent, Directors Guild of America, MoviePass, Urban Movie Channel and Writers Guild of America East. Essence, The Mayor’s Office of Media & Entertainment / Made in NY, Power 105.1, Amsterdam News, Uptown Magazine and WNYC are the media partners for Urbanworld.
Tickets and passes for the festival are on sale now. For additional announcements in September, go to www.urbanworld.org. Follow @UWFilmFest and use #UW20 to join the conversation about Urbanworld on social media.
URBANWORLD 2016 FILM SLATE (As of 08.25.16)
SPOTLIGHT PRESENTATIONS
Queen of Katwe – Directed by Mira Nair, Presented by Disney
Class Divide – Directed by Marc Levin, Presented by HBO Documentary Films
Black – Directed by Adil El Arbi & Bilall Fallah, Presented by Saboteur Media
Honeytrap – Directed by Rebecca Johnson, Presented by ARRAY
TITLE VII: First Look Clips & Conversation – Directed by Nicole Franklin
THE REVOLT YOUNG FILMMAKERS SHOWCASE
Loved Like This – Directed by Christopher Lewis Dawkins (U.S. Premiere)
Madaran – Directed by Rayka Zehtabchi (East Coast Premiere)
Hush – Directed by Whitney Clinkscales (New York Premiere)
AMERIKKKA – Directed by Sheila Wilson (New York Premiere)
The Bench – Directed by Cameron Burnett
A Silent Night – Directed by Gino Ricardo Green (World Premiere)
U.S. NARRATIVE FEATURES
72 Hours: A Brooklyn Love Story? – Directed by Raafi Rivero (New York Premiere)
Chee & T – Directed by Tanuj Chopra (East Coast Premiere)
Destined – Directed by Qasim Basir (New York Premiere)
Lucky – Directed by Bari Kang (World Premiere)
My B.F.F. – Directed by Greg Carter (World Premiere)
No Regrets – Directed by Mark Harris (World Premiere)
Sepulveda – Co-Directed by Jena English & Brandon Wilson (World Premiere)
She’s Got A Plan – Co-Directed by Fatima Washington & Corey Johnson (World Premiere)
Steps – Directed by Jay Rodriquez and Rock Davis
WORLD NARRATIVE FEATURES
A Moving Image (UK) – Directed by Shola Amoo (New York Premiere)
Brotherhood (UK) – Directed by Noel Clarke (U.S. Premiere)
Dar Noir (Tanzania) – Directed by Hamadi Mwapachu (U.S. Premiere)
Gidi Blues (Nigeria) – Directed by Femi Odugbemi (U.S. Premiere)
Like Cotton Twines (Ghana) – Directed by Leila Djansi (East Coast Premiere)
The Farm / La Granja (Puerto Rico) – Directed by Angel Manuel Soto Vazquez (New York Premiere)
DOCUMENTARY FEATURES
Beatbox Boom Bap Around The World (France/Germany/U.S.) – Directed by Pascal Tessaud (U.S. Premiere)
Daddy Don’t Go (U.S.) – Directed by Emily Abt
Jewel’s Catch One (U.S.) – Directed by C. Fitz
Martha & Niki (Sweden) – Directed by Tora Mkandawire Mårtens
The Revival Movie: Women and the Word (U.S.) – Directed by Sekiya Dorsett (East Coast Premiere)
Until 20 (U.S.) – Directed by Geraldine Moriba Meadows & Jamila Paksima Rowell
SHORT FILMS
[Re]defined – Directed by Danae Grandison (New York Premiere)
A Gentleman Always – Directed by Drue Metz (New York Premiere)
A Silent Night – Directed by Gino Ricardo Green (World Premiere)
AMERIKKKA – Directed by Sheila Wilson (New York Premiere)
After The Storm – Directed by Jessica Oyelowo (World Premiere)
And Nothing Happened – Directed by Naima Ramos-Chapman
Balcony – Directed by Toby Fell-Holden
Blessed – Directed by Jennifer Derwingson (East Coast Premiere)
Bird – Directed by Booker T Mattison
Born In Battle – Directed by Yangzom Brauen (New York Premiere)
Buried Deep – Directed by Timothy Naylor (World Premiere)
Chameleon – Directed by Reza Dahya (New York Premiere)
Class 15 – Directed by Dean Leon Anderson (World Premiere)
Flowers – Directed by Yvonne Michelle Shirley, Nikyatu Jusu (New York Premiere)
Hush – Directed by Whitney Clinkscales (New York Premiere)
I Rise – Directed by Yoruba Richen (World Premiere)
Leche – Directed by Gabriella A. Moses (New York Premiere)
Lilly’s Secret – Directed by Emanuele Michetti (World Premiere)
Loved Like This – Directed by Christopher Lewis Dawkins (U.S. Premiere)
Madaran – Directed by Rayka Zehtabchi (East Coast Premiere)
Mast Qalandar – Directed by Divij Roopchand
Mixtape: An Unauthorized Biography – Directed by David F. Mewa – (New York Premiere)
Mrs. Nebile’s Wormhole – Directed by Pinar Yorgancioglu (World Premiere)
Olde E – Directed by Xavier L. Neal-Burgin (East Coast Premiere)
On Time – Directed by Xavier L. Neal-Burgin (East Coast Premiere)
One Per Person – Directed by Nasheet Zaman & Jacquelyn ‘Jac’ Piette (East Coast Premiere)
Peace the Policy – Directed by Kervin Marseille & William Leonard (U.S. Premiere)
Post Life – Directed by Salli Richardson-Whitfield (World Premiere)
Samaria – Directed by Kiel Adrian Scott (World Premiere)
Second Words – Directed by Jake Hull (New York Premiere)
Slumflower – Directed by Tremaine Romeo & Nicole Taylor Roberts (New York Premiere)
Sugar – Directed by Dime Davis (World Premiere)
The Bench – Directed by Cameron Burnett
The Jump – Directed by Jamal Hodge (New York Premiere)
The Suit – Directed by Jarryd Coetsee (U.S. Premiere)
Three Minute Warning – Directed by Iqbal Mohammed (East Coast Premiere)
Univitellin – Directed by Terence Nance (New York Premiere)
Victor XX – Directed by Ian Garrido
SCREENPLAYS
Fried Catfish – Written by Inda Craig-Galván
Generational Curses – Written by Kenya Branch
Take the L – Written by Kim Washington
The Turnpike – Written by Keith Josef Adkins
