YORK, NY (August 21, 2013) – The 17th Annual Urbanworld Film Festival (www.urbanworld.org), presented by BET Networks, announced its 2013 slate today. The nation’s largest competitive multicultural film festival, Urbanworld will take place September 18-22, 2013 at midtown Manhattan’s AMC 34th Street and will screen 60 films, including 4 world premieres and 2 U.S. premieres.
The Opening Night Film – taking place September 19 at the SVA Theater in Chelsea (333 W 23rd St New York, NY 10011) – is the highly anticipated David E. Talbert’s Baggage Claim, a romantic comedy starring Paula Patton (Precious, Jumping the Broom, Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol), Derek Luke (Notorious, Sparkle),Taye Diggs (Rent,”Private Practice”), Grammy®-winner Jill Scott (Why Did I Get Married?, “Steel Magnolias”), Boris Kodjoe (Soul Food, Resident Evil: Retribution), Tremaine Neverson (Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3D, Step Up: The Streets), Adam Brody (Seeking a Friend for the End of the World, “The O.C.”), Jenifer Lewis (Think Like a Man, Cars), Ned Beatty (Toy Story 3), Lauren London (Madea’s Big Happy Family),Tia Mowry (“The Game”), La La Anthony (Think Like a Man), Christina Milian (Be Cool), Affion Crockett (Never Back Down), Terrence J (Think Like a Man Too), Rickey Smiley (First Sunday), Thomas Miles (Think Like a Man) and Academy Award®-nominee Djimon Hounsou (In America, Blood Diamond).
Talbert is an Urbanworld alum, winning “Best Dramatic Feature” at the 1997 film festival for his comedy A Woman Like That. Baggage Claim opens nationwide on September 27.
BET Networks proudly presents its second original movie to premiere at Urbanworld: Gun Hill (directed by Reggie Bythewood and starring Larenz Tate, Emayatzy Corinealdi and Aisha Hinds), a gritty Cain and Abel drama set and shot in New York City.
Additional highlights of Urbanworld 2013 include: a Season 4 episode of the HBO® drama “Boardwalk Empire” (starring Michael Kenneth Williams and Jeffrey Wright); the black western They Die by Dawn (starring Erykah Badu, Rosario Dawson, Idris Elba, Giancarlo Esposito, Jesse Williams, Michael Kenneth Williams, and Isaiah Washington); and the documentary Finding the Funk (starring George Clinton, Bootsy Collins, D’Angela, Sheila E., Sly Stone and Questlove).
Urbanworld is also announcing the launch of Urbanworld Underground, a platform designed to highlight maverick content creators who are transcending conventional filmmaking with innovation in their storytelling. In addition to Jeymes Samuel’s They Die by Dawn, Urbanworld Underground will feature Kahlil Joseph’s What Matters Most Shorts Block, which includes “Black Up,” “Until the Quiet Comes,” “The Model (Parts 1 & 2),” and “Wildcat.”
BET returns for a sixth year as presenting sponsor along with founding sponsor HBO®, who will host the Urbanworld Digital program again this year, with sessions presented by HBO, Interactive One, and MoviePass.
“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,” said Loretha Jones, President of Original Programming. “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.”
“Our 2013 slate indicates what I’ve known all year: that this is an exciting time for multicultural films,” said Gabrielle Glore, executive producer and head of programming for Urbanworld. “We are always honored to be able to connect audiences with the artistic excellence of the filmmakers who have participated in Urbanworld for 17 years. And the continued support of our partners BET and HBO make it possible for us to keep shining a light on the diversity of stories that the world needs to see.”
URBANWORLD 2013 FILM SLATE
OPENING NIGHT FILM
Baggage Claim – Directed by David E. Talbert
CLOSING NIGHT FILM
The Best Man – Directed by Malcolm D. Lee
SPOTLIGHTS
Gun Hill – Directed by Reggie Rock Bythewood(NY Premiere)
Boardwalk Empire – Season 4, Episode 3 – Created byTerence Winter
Finding the Funk – Directed by Nelson George
URBANWORLD UNDERGROUND
What Matters Most Shorts Block – Directed by Kahlil Joseph
* Black Up
* Until The Quiet Comes
* The Model part 1
* The Model part 2
* Wildcat
They Die By Dawn – Directed by Jeymes Samuel (NY Premiere)
NARRATIVE FEATURES
An American in Hollywood – Directed by Sai Varadan (World Premiere)
Calloused Hands – Directed by Jesse Quinones (NY Premiere)
Full Circle – Directed by Solvan Naim
Home Again – Directed by Sudz Sutherland (NY Premiere)
Knockaround Kids – Directed by John Oluwole Adekoje (NY Premiere)
Sable Fable – Directed by Stephen Jackson (NY Premiere)
The Last Letter – Directed by Paul D. Hannah (World Premiere)
The Volunteer – Directed by Vicky Wight (NY Premiere)
The Magic City — Directed by R. Malcolm Jones (NY Premiere)
Things Never Said – Directed by Charles Murray (NY Premiere)
DOCUMENTARY FEATURES
A Lovely Day – Directed by Kerri Gawryn (NY Premiere)
American Beatboxer – Directed by Manauvaskar Kublall
Brothers Hypnotic – Directed by Reuben Atlas
Children of the Wind – Directed by Daphne Schmon (NY Premiere)
In Search of the Black Knight – Directed by Tamarat Makonnen (NY Premiere)
Little Ballers – Directed by Crystal McCrary (NY Premiere)
The New Black - Directed by Yoruba Richen (NY Premiere)
The New Public – Directed by Jyllian Gunther
DOCUMENTARY SHORTS
“Colored My Mind” – Directed by Nia Hill (NY Premiere)
“NAILgasm: The Nail Art Documentary” – Directed by Ayla Montgomery
