Several films from previous years have gone on to win additional awards at other film festivals. More importantly, seven films that premiered at the San Diego Black Film Festival are either in negations or have already wrapped up distribution deals including the films "Locked in a Room," now with Echo Bridge Entertainment, and our Best Comedy winner "The Donut Shop," now with Viva Films. Good things await our 2017 filmmakers as well. See you in 2017.
Films - Saturday, April 29:
11:00 AM to AMC Fashion Valley 18
• Before The Trees Was Strange: Feature Documentary, 86 mins., USA, 2016; Dir. Derek Burrows. A journey of race and identity.
11:00 AM to UltraStar Cinemas, Mission Valley Hazard Center
• The Silent Killer: Feature Documentary, 84 mins., USA, 2016: Dir. Landi Maduro A man travels the US interviewing medical experts, scientist and prostate cancer survivors to promote awareness in the African American Community.
11:00 AM to AMC Fashion Valley 18
• Community Doctors: Feature Documentary, 100 mins., Cuba/USA, 2016; Dir. Kunie Ekunkonye. A look into Cuba's medical scholarship program.
12:00 PM to AMC Fashion Valley 18
Matinee I featuring:
• Live A Little: Feature Drama, 75 mins., USA, 2016; Dir. David Jaffe. (Starring Reggie Melbrough. After being robbed, a young man chases down the robber only to be implicated in a murder.
12:00 PM to AMC Fashion Valley 18
Matinee II featuring:
• Jackson Not Just a Name: Feature documentary, 90 mins., USA, 2016; Dir. Harold J. Wetton. In the 1970s, a grassroots organization, borne out the death of a black revolutionary in a California prison, brings awareness to injustices.
12:30 PM to UltraStar Cinemas, Mission Valley Hazard Center
• The 30th of May: Feature documentary, 40 mins., USA, 2016; Dir. James Theres. For over 100 years, the city of Natchez had two Memorial Day celebrations---one black and one white.
1:00 PM to AMC Fashion Valley 18
• Masters With Rhythm (Addendum): Documentary, Short, 20 mins., USA, 2015. Dir. Eve A. Ma. Afro-Peruvian percussion greats show their stuff and talk about their upbringing.
1:00 PM to AMC Fashion Valley 18
HISTORICAL SHORTS PACKAGE (68 mins.) FEATURING:
• The Sarah Spencer Washington Story: Short, Documentary, 29 mins., USA, 2016; Dir. Royston Scott. In the 1930's, a black woman parlayed her line of hair and beauty products into cosmetology schools affording thousands of black women financial independence.
• Padlock Men: Drama, Short, 17 mins., USA, 2016: Dir. Lewis Powell. (Starring Jermaine Willisams, Antonio D. Charity). A secret pact between John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King and Malcolm X sparked one of the greatest untold stories in Civil Rights history.
• Black Majick: Drama, Short, 15 mins., USA, 2016; Dir. Terrence Jones. (Starring Kamryn Johnson, Damien Moses). Freedom is jeopardized when a family of runaway slaves encounter a witch in a Louisiana swamp.
• The Anti-Slavery Alphabet: Drama, Short, 7 mins., USA, 2016; Dir. Beau Spinks. A look at slavery in the 1840s.
• Blackface: Drama, Short, 7 mins, USA, 2016; Dir. Malcolm Baity. A man grapples with acting on stage in black face.
1:30 PM to AMC Fashion Valley 18
• What?s In A Name: Feature drama, 73 mins., USA, 2016; Dir. Elva Nelson Hayes. (Starring Alexandria Milan, Omani Aigheyisi). A girl comes of age while struggling with issues of identity.
• b00: Thriller, Short, 16 mins., USA, 2015: Dir. Teresa Lu. (Starring Amir Royale, Emma Hedrick). A little girl exacts revenge against a drug dealer in the aftermath of her brother's overdose.
2:00 PM to AMC Fashion Valley 18
GREAT SHORTS PACKAGE (86 mins.) FEATURING:
• Instance: Drama, Feature short, 30 mins, USA, 2016; Dir. Nicholas Casucci.(Starring Teria Birlon,Karim Diane). An art teacher befriends a troubled 17 year old and is accused of inappropriate behavior.
• The Untimely End of Ms. Xing: Drama, Short, 25 mins., USA, 2016; Dir. Jeff Cohen
An aspiring surgeon learns the value of surrender when she crashes into a free spirited care giver.
• XXIII Boss: Drama, Short, 23 mins., USA, 2016; Dir. Philip Marlatt.(Starring Thomas Hobson, Alvin Lam). A former gang member finds himself charged with murder after committing a minor crime.
• The Things We Have To Fear: Drama, Short, 8 mins., USA, 2016; Dir. Jalea Jackson. (Starring Nicole Collins, Garrett Prest). A young woman remembers her aunt on the 50th anniversary of her murder only to realize that nothing has changed.
2:00 PM to AMC Fashion Valley 18
• Soul On Ice (Past, Present & Future): Feature Documentary, 82 mins., Canada, 2015;Dir. Damon Mason. A look at the unknown contributions of black athletes in ice hockey.
• Cocoa Butter: Short, Drama, 15 mins., USA, 2016; Dir. Dominique Gilbert. A young man impulsively changes his ethnic identity in hopes of gaining his love's interest.
2:00 PM to UltraStar Cinemas, Mission Valley Hazard Center
THE GLBT SHORTS PACKAGE FEATURING:
• Caged: Comedy, Short, 18 mins., USA, 2016; Dir. Massimo Bordonaro. (Starring Karimah Westbrook, Karen Malina White). A happily married woman discovers her marriage is not so happy after all.
• Behind Closed Doors: Drama, Short, 10 mins., USA, 2016; Dir. Max Cole. A couple struggles with their son?s decision to come out of the closet.
• Stay Here: Drama, Short, 10 mins., USA, 2016: Dir. Lauren Schacher. (Starring Jess Nurse, Melanie Recker). A woman and her partner check in to a getaway only to be haunted by the one who pulled them apart.
2:30 PM to AMC Fashion Valley 18
• The Sand Box: Feature short, Drama, 47 mins., USA, 2016: Dir. Jennifer Kramer. (Starring Sayeed Shahid, Mark Collier). A boy struggles to reconnect with his dad who returns from Iraq.
3:00 PM to AMC Fashion Valley 18
• Cain-Abel: Feature Drama, 101 mins., USA, 2016; Dir. Eric Ramsey. (Starring Gary Anthony Sturgis, Rhonda Morman). A family torn apart by a father?s ill-fated decision sparks a battle between good and evil.
3:30 PM to AMC Fashion Valley 18
SUPER SHORTS PACKAGE (77 mins.) FEATURING:
• Forgotten Sunset: Drama, Short, 25 mins., USA, 2016; Dir. Alex Costello. (Starring Kelcey Watson, Jasmine Hester). Released from prison, a man tries to reconnect with his daughter.
• The Cloud?s View: Drama, Short, 23 mins., USA, 2016; Dir. Preston Curley. (Starring Seth Bowling). A young man looking for a new life discovers hard truths about his new job.
• Federal: Drama, Short 18 mins., USA, 2016; Dir. Wil Haynes. A detective comes to terms with the death of her father and the pursuit of happiness.
• Unnecessary Distractions: Short, Drama, 11 mins., USA, 2016; Dir. Rhonda Clark. (Starring Cedric Greenway, Rhonda Clark). Sometimes you?re distracted from what?s important in life.
3:30 PM to UltraStar Cinemas, Mission Valley Hazrd Center
• Products of the American Ghetto: Feature Drama, 127 mins., USA, 2016: Dir. Henderson Maddox. (Robin Givens, Darrin Dewitt Henson.) A young boy fighting to protect his mother ends up joining Atlanta?s drug game during the height of the city?s urban drug war.
• Love: Drama, Short 14 mins., USA, 2016; Dir. Marcellus Cox. (Starring Stephen Cofield, Jr.). A young man exacts revenge on the murderer of his mother.
3:30 PM to AMC Fashion Valley 18
• Banger: Feature drama, 86 mins., USA, 2016; Dir. Mike Berry. (Starring Robert Hunter Angjela Randle). A turf dispute leads to the death of a Haitian immigrant. Revenge is coming.
• 55 and 7: Drama, Short, 15 mins., USA, 2015; Dir. Ari Dassa. (Starring Tony Tambi, Mark Naji). Nigerians contemplate a bank heist in order to change their misfortunes.
4:00 PM to AMC Fashion Valley 18
• Take Me Out: Feature drama, 83 mins., USA, 2016; Dir. Joe Shanks. A Chicago teenager struggles to find his way as he deals with sibling rivalry and a baseball-obsessed father.
• Dreams My Master: Drama, Short, 15 mins., USA, 2015; Dir. Michael Krehan. (Starring Rico E. Anderson, Chris Gann). Two single fathers attempt to give their kids the life they want them to have.
5:30 PM to AMC Fashion Valley 18
• Postal: Feature short, 45 mins., USA, 2016; Dir. Peter McNeil. A thirty-something year old lady with a sketchy past is impacted by her new position as a letter carrier at a Manhattan post office.
Admission/Cost: Starting at $10
Locations:
AMC Fashion Valley 18
7037 Friars Road
San Diego, CA 92108
Ongoing Thursday, April 27 to Sunday, April 30
For more information, please visit: www.sdbff.com
Films - Saturday, April 29:
11:00 AM to AMC Fashion Valley 18
• Before The Trees Was Strange: Feature Documentary, 86 mins., USA, 2016; Dir. Derek Burrows. A journey of race and identity.
11:00 AM to UltraStar Cinemas, Mission Valley Hazard Center
• The Silent Killer: Feature Documentary, 84 mins., USA, 2016: Dir. Landi Maduro A man travels the US interviewing medical experts, scientist and prostate cancer survivors to promote awareness in the African American Community.
11:00 AM to AMC Fashion Valley 18
• Community Doctors: Feature Documentary, 100 mins., Cuba/USA, 2016; Dir. Kunie Ekunkonye. A look into Cuba's medical scholarship program.
12:00 PM to AMC Fashion Valley 18
Matinee I featuring:
• Live A Little: Feature Drama, 75 mins., USA, 2016; Dir. David Jaffe. (Starring Reggie Melbrough. After being robbed, a young man chases down the robber only to be implicated in a murder.
12:00 PM to AMC Fashion Valley 18
Matinee II featuring:
• Jackson Not Just a Name: Feature documentary, 90 mins., USA, 2016; Dir. Harold J. Wetton. In the 1970s, a grassroots organization, borne out the death of a black revolutionary in a California prison, brings awareness to injustices.
12:30 PM to UltraStar Cinemas, Mission Valley Hazard Center
• The 30th of May: Feature documentary, 40 mins., USA, 2016; Dir. James Theres. For over 100 years, the city of Natchez had two Memorial Day celebrations---one black and one white.
1:00 PM to AMC Fashion Valley 18
• Masters With Rhythm (Addendum): Documentary, Short, 20 mins., USA, 2015. Dir. Eve A. Ma. Afro-Peruvian percussion greats show their stuff and talk about their upbringing.
1:00 PM to AMC Fashion Valley 18
HISTORICAL SHORTS PACKAGE (68 mins.) FEATURING:
• The Sarah Spencer Washington Story: Short, Documentary, 29 mins., USA, 2016; Dir. Royston Scott. In the 1930's, a black woman parlayed her line of hair and beauty products into cosmetology schools affording thousands of black women financial independence.
• Padlock Men: Drama, Short, 17 mins., USA, 2016: Dir. Lewis Powell. (Starring Jermaine Willisams, Antonio D. Charity). A secret pact between John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King and Malcolm X sparked one of the greatest untold stories in Civil Rights history.
• Black Majick: Drama, Short, 15 mins., USA, 2016; Dir. Terrence Jones. (Starring Kamryn Johnson, Damien Moses). Freedom is jeopardized when a family of runaway slaves encounter a witch in a Louisiana swamp.
• The Anti-Slavery Alphabet: Drama, Short, 7 mins., USA, 2016; Dir. Beau Spinks. A look at slavery in the 1840s.
• Blackface: Drama, Short, 7 mins, USA, 2016; Dir. Malcolm Baity. A man grapples with acting on stage in black face.
1:30 PM to AMC Fashion Valley 18
• What?s In A Name: Feature drama, 73 mins., USA, 2016; Dir. Elva Nelson Hayes. (Starring Alexandria Milan, Omani Aigheyisi). A girl comes of age while struggling with issues of identity.
• b00: Thriller, Short, 16 mins., USA, 2015: Dir. Teresa Lu. (Starring Amir Royale, Emma Hedrick). A little girl exacts revenge against a drug dealer in the aftermath of her brother's overdose.
2:00 PM to AMC Fashion Valley 18
GREAT SHORTS PACKAGE (86 mins.) FEATURING:
• Instance: Drama, Feature short, 30 mins, USA, 2016; Dir. Nicholas Casucci.(Starring Teria Birlon,Karim Diane). An art teacher befriends a troubled 17 year old and is accused of inappropriate behavior.
• The Untimely End of Ms. Xing: Drama, Short, 25 mins., USA, 2016; Dir. Jeff Cohen
An aspiring surgeon learns the value of surrender when she crashes into a free spirited care giver.
• XXIII Boss: Drama, Short, 23 mins., USA, 2016; Dir. Philip Marlatt.(Starring Thomas Hobson, Alvin Lam). A former gang member finds himself charged with murder after committing a minor crime.
• The Things We Have To Fear: Drama, Short, 8 mins., USA, 2016; Dir. Jalea Jackson. (Starring Nicole Collins, Garrett Prest). A young woman remembers her aunt on the 50th anniversary of her murder only to realize that nothing has changed.
2:00 PM to AMC Fashion Valley 18
• Soul On Ice (Past, Present & Future): Feature Documentary, 82 mins., Canada, 2015;Dir. Damon Mason. A look at the unknown contributions of black athletes in ice hockey.
• Cocoa Butter: Short, Drama, 15 mins., USA, 2016; Dir. Dominique Gilbert. A young man impulsively changes his ethnic identity in hopes of gaining his love's interest.
2:00 PM to UltraStar Cinemas, Mission Valley Hazard Center
THE GLBT SHORTS PACKAGE FEATURING:
• Caged: Comedy, Short, 18 mins., USA, 2016; Dir. Massimo Bordonaro. (Starring Karimah Westbrook, Karen Malina White). A happily married woman discovers her marriage is not so happy after all.
• Behind Closed Doors: Drama, Short, 10 mins., USA, 2016; Dir. Max Cole. A couple struggles with their son?s decision to come out of the closet.
• Stay Here: Drama, Short, 10 mins., USA, 2016: Dir. Lauren Schacher. (Starring Jess Nurse, Melanie Recker). A woman and her partner check in to a getaway only to be haunted by the one who pulled them apart.
2:30 PM to AMC Fashion Valley 18
• The Sand Box: Feature short, Drama, 47 mins., USA, 2016: Dir. Jennifer Kramer. (Starring Sayeed Shahid, Mark Collier). A boy struggles to reconnect with his dad who returns from Iraq.
3:00 PM to AMC Fashion Valley 18
• Cain-Abel: Feature Drama, 101 mins., USA, 2016; Dir. Eric Ramsey. (Starring Gary Anthony Sturgis, Rhonda Morman). A family torn apart by a father?s ill-fated decision sparks a battle between good and evil.
3:30 PM to AMC Fashion Valley 18
SUPER SHORTS PACKAGE (77 mins.) FEATURING:
• Forgotten Sunset: Drama, Short, 25 mins., USA, 2016; Dir. Alex Costello. (Starring Kelcey Watson, Jasmine Hester). Released from prison, a man tries to reconnect with his daughter.
• The Cloud?s View: Drama, Short, 23 mins., USA, 2016; Dir. Preston Curley. (Starring Seth Bowling). A young man looking for a new life discovers hard truths about his new job.
• Federal: Drama, Short 18 mins., USA, 2016; Dir. Wil Haynes. A detective comes to terms with the death of her father and the pursuit of happiness.
• Unnecessary Distractions: Short, Drama, 11 mins., USA, 2016; Dir. Rhonda Clark. (Starring Cedric Greenway, Rhonda Clark). Sometimes you?re distracted from what?s important in life.
3:30 PM to UltraStar Cinemas, Mission Valley Hazrd Center
• Products of the American Ghetto: Feature Drama, 127 mins., USA, 2016: Dir. Henderson Maddox. (Robin Givens, Darrin Dewitt Henson.) A young boy fighting to protect his mother ends up joining Atlanta?s drug game during the height of the city?s urban drug war.
• Love: Drama, Short 14 mins., USA, 2016; Dir. Marcellus Cox. (Starring Stephen Cofield, Jr.). A young man exacts revenge on the murderer of his mother.
3:30 PM to AMC Fashion Valley 18
• Banger: Feature drama, 86 mins., USA, 2016; Dir. Mike Berry. (Starring Robert Hunter Angjela Randle). A turf dispute leads to the death of a Haitian immigrant. Revenge is coming.
• 55 and 7: Drama, Short, 15 mins., USA, 2015; Dir. Ari Dassa. (Starring Tony Tambi, Mark Naji). Nigerians contemplate a bank heist in order to change their misfortunes.
4:00 PM to AMC Fashion Valley 18
• Take Me Out: Feature drama, 83 mins., USA, 2016; Dir. Joe Shanks. A Chicago teenager struggles to find his way as he deals with sibling rivalry and a baseball-obsessed father.
• Dreams My Master: Drama, Short, 15 mins., USA, 2015; Dir. Michael Krehan. (Starring Rico E. Anderson, Chris Gann). Two single fathers attempt to give their kids the life they want them to have.
5:30 PM to AMC Fashion Valley 18
• Postal: Feature short, 45 mins., USA, 2016; Dir. Peter McNeil. A thirty-something year old lady with a sketchy past is impacted by her new position as a letter carrier at a Manhattan post office.
Admission/Cost: Starting at $10
Locations:
AMC Fashion Valley 18
7037 Friars Road
San Diego, CA 92108
Ongoing Thursday, April 27 to Sunday, April 30
For more information, please visit: www.sdbff.com
