Black Press sponsors 3rd Annual Atlanta Hip Hop Film Festival
News: DC Livers invited to Young & Restless set. Meet the cast starting July 24.
(BlackPressMagazine.com) - The Historical Black Press Foundation has signed on to sponsor the upcoming Atlanta HipHop Film Festival (AHFF) which is hosted by actor/singer Malik Yoba and rap veteran Yo Yo and will take place in Atlanta, Ga., August 24 - 26, 2007.
The festival will include films like Biggie Smalls: Bigger than Life, WU: The Story of the Wu Tang Clan and the recently added world premiere of Stomping Grounds: The Story of Biz Markie.
"Like it or not, hip hop media is saving the Black Press," said DC Livers, managing editor for the Historical Black Press Foundation which publishes Who's Who in Black Media and produces BlackPressRadio.com.
"HIp Hop publications, websites and films like the Hip Hop Project are breathing new life into our industry and delivering younger and younger readers," said Livers. “Advertisers and marketers are taking notice and we're seeing a growing trend of hip hop's infiltration of the mainstream Black Press. That's I'm excited that Black Press Magazine and BlackPressRadio.com have been asked to be the media sponsor of this worthy event."
Black Press will conduct pre-, during and post-event podcast interviews, write articles on the event and help promote the event as part of the media sponsorship commitment.
The third annual film festival's selection committee joined by the AHFF staff has chosen 24 submissions comprised of films, videos and documentaries that will be screened Friday through Sunday.
“Previous AHFF winners have since signed deals with HBO and Warner Brothers,” says Shameka Gumbs, event founder.
"You have to support the dreams of filmmakers because they enrich all of our lives," said Livers. “Shameka’s vision is honorable and seeks to bring a positivistic view to the hip hop industry that doesn’t always see good press.”
Black Press Magazine has also interviewed Carl West for the State of Hip Hop: The Podcast and filmmaker Camille Holder Brown, a former Spike Lee intern who recently won the Paul Robeson Award and Janaya Black who was one of the original members of BET's Teen Summit Posse as part of its series on hip hop film and entertainment.
The festival includes:
WORLD PREMIERE - Film: Stomping Grounds - Director: Rob Schroeder - Synopsis: This is the story of a pioneering emcee, the Diabolical Biz Markie, and the places that made him…him.
Film: Biggie Smalls: Bigger than Life - Director: Peter Spirer - Synopsis: This tribute is the most in depth look at Biggie’s life as an artist, rapper, father, and husband. We have interviews ranging from Method Man to Common to Easy Mo Bee.
Film: WU: The Story of The Wu Tang Clan - Director: GB (Gerald Barclay) - Synopsis: In the summer of 1993, the Wu-Tang Clan emerged from the slums of Staten Island and took the hip-hop world by storm. This is their story.
Film: Turn Off Channel Zero - Director: Opio Sokoni - Synopsis: The aim of Turn Off Channel Zero is to kick the hell out of the creators of negative images. Professor Griff of the legendary hip hop group Public Enemy is running with the most capable group of activists, artists, filmmakers and everyday people. There are solutions, actions and some real things that get said . . .
Film: Ministry vs. Industry - Director: Shekinah Apedo
Film: Rhyme Spitters 2 - Director: Rich Seng
Film: Memoirs of an Undiscovered Artist: A Choreographer’s Story - Director: Edward “DAQ” Adjepong
Film: Rent-A-White Folk - Director: Charles A. Burks & Lyn-Don McCray
Judges, Sponsors and Panelists wanted for Hip Hop Journalism Summit and Black Press All Star Awards
Black Press will conduct pre-, during and post-event podcast interviews, write articles on the Hip Hop Journalism Summit and Black Press All Star Awards event that will be held on Sept. 14-15, 2007 and help promote the event as part of the media sponsorship commitment. The 3rd annual Hip Hop Journalism Summit and Black Press All Star Awards is currently accepting application for individuals who want to be apart of the panels, sponsorship list or judging selection committee to help determine the winners among the submissions comprised of newspapers, magazines, websites, publicists, authors and others in the Black media industry. To be considered, send your bio, weblink and photo to [email protected] by July 31, 2007.
Volunteers and interns are needed for Podapalooza: Podcasting Workshops to be held on Sept. 14-15, 2007 in Washington, DC. To be considered send your resume, cover letter, work samples, web links and goals to [email protected]
