Urbanworld Film Festival Update

VIBE MAGAZINE AND URBANWORLD ANNOUNCE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP
TO PRESENT THE
“URBANWORLD VIBE FILM FESTIVAL”

FESTIVAL ISSUES A CALL FOR ENTRIES

New York, NY (January 17, 2006) – VIBE magazine, the preeminent brand in urban music and culture, and Urbanworld, the leading showcase for urban, ethnic, and multicultural cinema, announced today a strategic partnership to present the cobranded Urbanworld VIBE Film Festival. The unique partnership, bolstered by VIBE’s brand recognition and credibility, will further establish the festival, now in its 10th year, as the premier platform for the urban film community as well as extend its reach within the marketplace. The Manhattan-based festival will begin on June 21 and run through June 25, 2006.

The five-day event will feature studio premieres, independent film screenings, panels, screenplay readings, talent spotlights, and an awards brunch honoring the festival’s winners. As a result of the new collaboration, this year’s festival will be a larger and more exciting experience with a host of new elements that include: more films, expanded panels, video game sidebar, enhanced sponsorship opportunities and nightlife.

During its tenure, the festival has screened more than 500 urban-themed independent films and has been a launching pad for a host of major breakout films such as Collateral, Hustle and Flow, Hero, Soul Food, Rush Hour 2, and Barbershop,and has also attracted the industry’s hottest stars, including Jamie Foxx, Halle Berry,  and Tom Cruise, to name a few . Urbanworld is the world’s largest competitive film festival to redefine and enhance the roles of multicultural constituents in contemporary cinema.

As part of the alliance, VIBE will serve as the exclusive national urban consumer magazine, providing pre- and post-event exposure in the magazine and on VIBE’s Web site in support of the festival. In addition, VIBE will work in lock-step with Urbanworld to expand their offerings throughout the year and into new media outlets, aggressively cross promoting the festival to consumer and trade constituents.

“As one of the fastest growing festivals, we are thrilled to partner with Urbanworld,” says VIBE Group Publisher Len Burnett. “With VIBE’s participation and influence in the urban space, we are going to establish the festival as one of the most anticipated film events of the year.”

"We are very excited to be reuniting forces with our friends at VIBE,” says Urbanworld Foundation Chairman Emeritus Stacy Spikes. “The partnership will add new passion and opportunities for the Urban Film Community.”

The Urbanworld VIBE Film Festival is currently accepting entries. Submissions forms are available at http://www.urbanworld.org/, with competitive categories that include feature film, short film, documentary film, screenplay, and music video.