WILLiFEST Is Back With Four Days Of Premieres, Music And A Blockbuster Party

NEW YORK - Sept. 5, 2013 - PRLog -- WILLiFEST (http://www.willifest.com/2013/), an annual film and music festival, is back for its fourth outing in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The four day event’s film component, Williamsburg International Film Festival will kick off its Opening Night (http://www.willifest.com/2013/openingnight) on Thursday, September 19^th at the new Williamsburg Cinemas. This year WILLiFEST presents the world premiere of Alec Toller’s raucous comedy Play starring up-and-coming Kristian Bruun.

Friday brings a full day and night of entertainment with screenings at two venues, Williamsburg Cinemas and returning partner El Puente, and a concert featuring the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble at the legendary Knitting Factory.

Saturday is our family day at WILLiFEST with a kick off of family films at El Puente at 11:30 am. Then head over to our all-day Blockbuster Party (http://willifest.com/2013/blockparty) on Grand Street to enjoy the Brooklyn Nets’ Mobile Experience and many local restaurants and businesses sharing their unique style and flavors. This year’s Industry Panel (http://willifest.com/2013/panels), Getting it Made: Production Tips from Women Who Make Film, presented by Center for Active Learning, will take place at Sandbox Williamsburgat 3:00 PM.

This year is the 40th Anniversary of Hip Hop and WILLiFEST has chosen to celebrate with "BiG Saturday 9.21" a special red carpet screening and live music event presented by Lifeupwear (http://www.lifeupwear.com/), featuring Fast Life (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StYPgiGbIEw&feature=yo...) by director Prince Sprauve and The Alpha Appeal (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZkDSvdZHP0&feature=youtu.be&hd=1) by celebrated New York director, Matthew D. Kelly. In May 2013 WILLiFEST also released #submissive13, a rap single starring the WILLiFEST Dream Team (http://rapgenius.com/The-willifest-dream-team-submissive-13-lyrics) led by Sony Music Recording artist, Young Smilez. After the screening we move to the Producers' After Party at 8:30pm at the Knitting Factory. Music will be provided by celebrity DJ Young Cee followed by The Wi Music Series with live music performances by Joya Bravo, The J GriffBand, Young Smilez, Hakim Green, Rahzel and Maleek.

Sunday is wrap-up day. This year’s Closing Day (http://willifest.com/2013/closingday) film is Jed Rothstein’s Before the Spring: After the Fall, a daring documentary that follows the filmmakers as they travel to Egypt to film young rock musicians fighting for free expression in a repressive society.

WILLiFEST has grown into Brooklyn’s premiere film and music festival and promises the best of independent film, music and just plain fun for its quickly growing audience. This year the festival has forged strong new partnerships with Telemundo NY, Industry Magazine, NY Daily News and the Brooklyn Nets. The festival is under the direction of an award-winning entertainment team led by founders Michael Helman and Robin Adams. As stated by Helman, "The festival provides artists of multiple disciplines the opportunity to enhance their careers by exposing their film and music to a powerful audience, gaining crucial media exposure and strengthening industry relationships. The festival also incorporates an educational component by partnering with leading New York City non-profits and offering panels and workshops by industry professionals.” Adams adds, “With the music series and local-focused block party, we bring the most diverse offerings of any major festival and each year we try to introduce something new. People have come to expect the best in arts and culture from Williamsburg and New York City and we intend to meet those expectations.”

The complete schedule can be seen at willifest.com/2013/overview (http://www.willifest.com/2013/overview), this year’s films at willifest.com/2013/films (http://www.willifest.com/2013/films) and 2013 sponsors at willifest.com/2013/sponsors (http://www.willifest.com/2013/sponsors). For media inquiries, please contact Michael Helman at press@willifest.com or 212.744.2845.

WILLiFEST, Wi Music Series and Williamsburg International Film Festival are trademarks of Willifest Holdings, LLC. All other trademarks are those of their respective owners.