Martha's Vineyard African American Film Festival A Great Success

Sept. 6, 2011 - PRLog -- The Ninth Annual Run and Shoot Filmworks’ Annual Martha's Vineyard African American Film Festival (MVAAFF August 9-13 wrapped its ninth year by honoring independent filmmakers and producers. Co-founded by husband and wife team, Floyd and Stephanie Rance, the five day festival brought in thousands of guests  filmmakers, directors, writers, actors, and as in past years has been a great boon to tourism in Martha's Vineyard. Films were showcased at the Katherine Cornell Theatre, 54 Spring Street, Vineyard haven. CNN debuted a documentary entitled Pictures Don’t Lie about iconic famed civil rights photographer and FBI informant Ernest Withers. Talk Show Host, radio personality ,and author Michael Baisden also debuted his new documentary What Women Want. Mr Baisden when speaking about his documentary said”My Goal is to promote dialogue between men and women about topics that impact all of our relationships… such as sexual compatibility, the influence of girlfriends, interracial dating, and, of course… infidelity and dishonesty."
"We congratulate the 2011 winners and applaud the talent and creativity shown throughout this year's event.  Floyd and I are extremely excited about our upcoming 10th year celebration," said Stephanie Rance " at the wrap up party held at Lola’s, “We will also be launching a new addition to the Run and Shoot family in Feb 2012. So stay tuned!" Macy's returned as the festival's premier sponsor and Hot Stepz magazine correspondents were on hand to experience the five day festival which highlighted 57 independent films, Other sponsors included HBO, Lacoste SAGIndie, Martha Vineyard's Savings Bank, and Flavors.of.Her.
2011 MVAAFF Honors were awarded to: Bree Newsome, B.F.A., New York University and director of WAKE, a tale steeped in the southern gothic tradition.
Christine Acham and Clifford Ward, directors of ‘Infiltrating Hollywood: The Rise and Fall of The Spook Who Sat by the Door,’ the  independent documentary on the controversial  FBI repressed 1973 black film.  HBO Short Film - 'Slow' directed by Darius Clark Monroe awarded a $1,000 cash prize.   HBO Feature Film – ‘Payin' The Price' about teen violence  directed by 15-year old Jordan Coleman won a five hundred dollar prize. HBO Documentary - 'Separate, But Equal'  directed by Shawn D. Wilson won a five hundred dollar prize. "Since 2002 Martha’s Vineyard African-American Film Festival (MVAAFF) has honored the best African-American films. We encourage all those with a story to share to submit their film and be a part of this exciting event next year”, said husband and wife team Floyd and Stephanie. “Martha’s Vineyard is known as a home to current and past talents such as Spike Lee, Henry Louis Gates Jr., Paul Robeson, and the late Harlem Renaissance writer Dorothy West.”  For  information on the film festival, visit www.mvaaff.com and for sponsorship inquiries, contact 718-715-8096 or Check out the in depth article in the winter 2011 edition of Hot Stepz Magazine.

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