A Look At Urban World Film Festival 2012

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September brought another Urban World Film Festival. This annual film festival brings together many filmmakers, actors, directors and film fans out to 34 St and 8th Avenue in Manhattan to network and watch the newest films created by minorities. This year the fest opened with a screening of “ Being Mary Jane” starring Gabrielle Union and Tika Sumpter. Both attended the opening for photos and talk about the new flick coming to BET. The producer, Mara Brock Akil who also produced The Game was in attendance. Opening night brought a lot of excitement, attendance and energy, then cooled down a little Friday but the energy went back up by Saturday, which was closing night. The fest is filled with many new stars; and the next big movie makers and directors is also in the building. That title went this year to Ava DuVernay who has generated lots of headlines and also closed the show with her movie “Middle of Nowhere” starring Emayatzy Corinealdi. The showing of “Middle of Nowhere” filled the theater and had garnered great interest since day one. It was a great flick to close the show.

Filmmaking is big business and the goal of the fest is to make people aware of films created for the urban audience. In the past the UWFF has been able to that. We wait and see what impact this year’s crop of films will have but to round it up UWFF 2012 was a successful event.