The Martha's Vineyard African American Film Festival Unveils Film Slate for 2013

The Run & Shoot Filmworks Martha's Vineyard African American Film Festival Takes Place August 6 - August 10, 2013
By: Run & Shoot Filmworks - MVAAFF
 
MARTHA'S VINEYARD, Mass. - Aug. 1, 2013 - PRLog -- Stephanie and A.B. Rance III, founders of the The Run & Shoot Filmworks Martha's Vineyard African-American Film Festival (MVAAFF), have unveiled the film titles set to screen at the 11th MVAAFF.  The slate of films includes 38 shorts (5 in HBO’s Short Film Competition), 6 Documentaries (4 in HBO’s Best Documentary Competition) and 8 Features (5 in HBO’s Best Feature Competition). This year the film festival features special screenings and “sneak peaks” of: Black Nativity, 12 Years A Slave and Robert Redford’s The March.  The MVAAFF will also screen Fox Searchlight’s, highly anticipated Baggage Claim on August 9 at Edgartown Cinemas.  

“The films being screened this year are diverse in topic and highlight stories of those we interact with everyday,” states Floyd Rance III. Special screenings and panel discussions will take place for Anita (Anita Hill will be present), 42 and Whoopi Goldberg presents Moms Mabley.  Amongst the films identified for HBO’s Best Documentary Film Competition are two premieres:  Living Thinkers: An Autobiography of Black Women in the Ivory Tower (Directed by: Roxana Walker-Canton) and White Scripts and Black Supermen: Black Masculinities in American Comics (Directed by: Jonathan Gayles).

The 11th Run & Shoot Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival runs from August 6 – August 10, 2013.  A detailed schedule and of the festival can be found on the website by visiting http://www.mvaaff.com.  Tickets can be purchased for the festival on the website or at the Martha’s Vineyard Performing Arts Center in Oak Bluff from August 6 - August 10, 2013 starting at 11 AM. A video promo for the festival can be found here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUD-GILyTHw. The short film slate includes films both in and out of competition. Listed are those in competition.



HBO SHORT FILM COMPETITION

A Different Tree
/ (Director: Steven Caple Jr,) When Pearl Washington receives a family tree assignment at school, she must face the pain of having grown up without a father, her resentment towards her mother, Jada, and her jealousy of best friend, Mia. She sets out on a journey to meet her dad but the road takes her somewhere unexpected.

Breaking Night / (Director: Yolonda Ross) – A young girl, going nowhere fast, flees her small town with her boyfriend. By circumstance; in the middle of the night, in the middle of nowhere, she meets a couple like none she's ever seen before. That chance meeting changes her outlook. As night gives way to morning, she abandons the young 'fast girl' she was, emerging as a young woman with purpose, into the light.

Dara Ju / (Director: Anthony Onah) - A young Nigerian-American desires a better life for himself and for his mother. But when a lie he tells leads to an unexpected reckoning, he's forced to confront a deeply personal truth.

Faux Pas / (Director: Raphael Nash) – Three years ago, Cedric and Tiffany promised to break up with their respective mates and give love a chance. One of them ended up breaking that promise. Having minimal contact since, they are forced to deal with the inevitable when a mutual friend invites them both to his party on purpose.

Sweet Honey Chile' / (Director: Talibah Newman) – A young boy, Honey, explores identity and grief with his mystical neighbor, while in the midst of the struggle to help his mother lay his grandfather to rest.

HBO BEST DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION

Living Thinkers: An Autobiography of Black Women in the Ivory Tower  /  (
Director: Roxana Walker-Canton) - Black women professors stroll downmemory lane connecting issues of race, class, and gender from girlhood to present experiences in the Ivory Tower. PREMIERE

White Scripts and Black Supermen: Black Masculinities in American Comics / (Director: Jonathan Gayles) - This film examines the degree to which early Black superheroes generally adhered to common stereotypes about Black men. PREMIERE

Letters to My Sister: Chenee Speaks! / (Director: Rhasaan Nichols) -  A young woman born with multiple disabilities teaches her family some valuable life lessons.

Colored My Mind: The Diagnosis / (Director: Nia T. Hill) - This powerful Short Docu-feature is by award-winning 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.

HBO BEST FEATURE FILM COMPETITION

Home / (
Director: Jono Oliver) - The story of a man, recovering from mentalillness, who tries to rebuild his life by movingout of the group home where he resides and moves into an apartment of his own in an attempt to reconnect with his estranged son.

Zero One / (Director: Kareem N. Gray) - Devon Owens - a man that has discovered something amazing hidden in the data streams of the internet.

Things Never Said / (Director: Charles Murray) - An aspiring poet in a troubled marriagesparks with a new man who helps herfind her artistic voice.

SNEAK PEAKS

The March
- PBS / (Director: John Akomfrah) – The March recounts the story behind the 1963 March on Washington, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered the final stirring rendition of his “I Have a Dream” speech in front of more than 250,000 people gathered on the National Mall.  Co-produced by Robert Redford.

Black Nativity – Fox Searchlight / (Director: Kasi Lemmons) - A street-wise teen from Baltimore who has been raised by a single mother travels to New York City to spend the Christmas holiday with his estranged relatives, where he embarks on a surprising and inspirational journey. Starring: Forest Whitaker, Angela Bassett, and Jennifer Hudson.

12 Years A Slave – Fox Searchlight / (Director: Steve McQueen) – In the pre-Civil War United States, Solomon Northup, a free black man from upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery. Starring: Brad Pitt, Michael Fassbender, and Chiwetel Ejiofor.

About Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival MVAAFF is a five day film festival that showcases the works of independent and established African-American filmmakers. Established in 2002, the MVAAFF is one of the fastest growing film festivals. Visit http://www.mvaaff.com.

Social Media

Twitter @MVFILMFESTIVAL (http://www.twitter.com/mvfilmfestival)
Hashtags #SHINEBRIGHT #MVAAFF
Facebook: Facebook.com/Marthas-Vineyard-AA-Film-Festival (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Marthas-Vineyard-AA-Film-Festival/332614476765824%20)

Sponsors 
The 2013 Run & Shoot Filmworks Martha's Vineyard African American Film Festival (MVAAFF) is sponsored and supported by Saatchi & Saatchi, HBO, Macy’s, Lacoste, and PBS. Additional support is provided by 92.7 WBUA, SagIndie, Xfinity, Wharton Sports Business Academy and Sociologie Wines. http://www.mvaaff.com/sponsors
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