2007 INAUGURAL MID ATLANTIC BLACK FILM FESTIVAL
FILMMAKERS AWARDS ANNOUNCED
Norfolk, VA – The winners of the 2007 Inaugural Mid Atlantic Black Film Festival (MABFF) were announced Saturday, July 28 at the closing award ceremony at the Attucks Theatre in Norfolk, Virginia. The award winning films were selected by jurors in the categories of Best Documentary, Best Short and Best Student Film. In addition, Audience Awards were bestowed on films within each of these categories based on the results of ballots cast by Festival filmgoers. The Festival is a premier showcase for multicultural and international independent film and screens films that embody
risk-taking, diversity and artistic innovation.
“We have been very pleased with how the broad spectrum of films has played in the Festival this year, and these awards recognize that range of genre, style of storytelling and originality, said Gail Easley, Executive Producer of the Mid Atlantic Black Film Festival.
The MABFF Grand Jury Prize was given to POP FOUL directed by Moon Molson and written by Anthony Eleftherion. The MABFF Grand Jury Prize recognizes a film in the Documentary, Short or Student Film categories as the best from the independent film community.
The Best Documentary Award was given to ALL IN THE NAME OF GOD, directed and written by Lance Gibson with additional writing credit to Crystal Joseph. Honorable Mentions in the Best Documentary category were awarded to QUEENS OF SOUND: HERSTORY OF REGGAE AND DANCEHALL, directed by Sandra Krampelhuber from Austria. The Audience Award for Best Documentary was given to GIVING ANGELS WINGS, directed and written by Terrance Afer Anderson.
Both the Best Short and Audience Award for the Short Competition were presented to the same film, HAPPY ANNIVERSARY PUNK!, directed and written by Michael Ajakwe, Jr. The Shorts Jury also awarded Honorable Mentions in Short Filmmaking to CANOPY, directed
and written by Heejoo Yoon from Canada.
The Student Jury presented the Best Student Film award to THAT’S GOOD, THAT’S ENOUGH, directed by Jessiline Berry, Columbia University. The Student Jury also awarded Honorable Mentions in Student Filmmaking to THE SCENT OF SANGUINITY, directed by Richmond Felton, Regent University. The Student Film Audience Award was presented to RUNNING, directed by Calvin Jamison, Hampton University.
Festival Sponsors
The 2007 Mid Atlantic Black Film Festival sponsors help sustain the Attucks Theatre’s year-round multicultural arts educational programs, community outreach initiatives and encourage diversity in the arts. This year’s Festival community includes: Official Sponsor – the City of Norfolk; Principal Sponsors – TowneBank, The Virginian-Pilot, MacArthur Center, Hampton Roads Ventures, and Tazewell Hotel; Supporting Sponsors – Virginia Commission for the Arts, Cox Communications, WHRO, Clear Channel Radio, Batts Communications, LLC, Hampton Roads Film Office, Virginia Production Alliance and Virginia Film Office.
Mid Atlantic Black Film Festival
The next Mid Atlantic Black Film Festival will take place July 24 – 26, 2008 in Norfolk, Virginia.
MABFF is a juried competition and showcase for independent filmmakers from all over the world and core program of Crispus Attucks Cultural Center Inc, (CACC) a non-profit cultural arts organization operating year-round at the Attucks Theatre. The CACC is dedicated to the development of
artists and the exhibition in film and cultural arts, including dance, literary, music, theatre, and visual art forms.
ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
Bringing together the best from coast to coast, the Mid Atlantic Black Film Festival (MABFF) is a
premier showcase for independent film that will take place over three days at the beautifully restored Historic Attucks Theatre located in the cultural district of Norfolk. The festival runs from July 26 – 28, 2007, offering the best in black and multicultural independent films, powerful narratives, compelling historical and contemporary documentaries, innovative films by students, colorful animation shorts,
music videos and discussions and workshops with distinguished guests from the film industry.
The Mid Atlantic Black Film Festival's mission is to support independent artists and the presentation of independent film and to promote the art of filmmaking itself with a focus on education and the development of creativity and ideas.
The magic of film transports us through time and place. The Mid Atlantic Black Film Festival will use this magic to bring its audience on a journey through the stories and places depicted in the films. Along this journey, films will offer viewers insight about African American subcultures, breaking through stereotypes and strengthening intercultural relations between the African American community and other ethnic and multicultural groups.
While the festival will recognize artistic achievement by independent filmmakers, the panel discussions and workshops are aimed at providing a supporting networking environment to educate and focus on various elements of filmmaking to diverse audiences. It will be a place to network, enjoy, learn and discover.
TheMABFF salutes excellence in the past, present and future of black cinema, and bound to have something that will entertain and enlighten.
The MABFF is a core program of Crispus Attucks Cultural Center Inc. (CACC) a nonprofit cultural arts organization founded in 1990 and owns the Attucks Theatre. The CACC is dedicated to the development of artists independent vision and to the exhibition in film and cultural arts, including literary, music, theatre, and visual art forms.
The is supported by the City of Norfolk, Virginia Film Office, Virginia Production Alliance, Hampton Roads Film Office, Norfolk Convention and Visitors Bureau, Another Sure Shot Entertainment, LLC, and Hampton University Department of English Cinemas Studies Program.
