Storm Saulter’s ‘Sprinter’ Takes Home Top Award at American Black Film Festival 2018Posted by Wilson Morales
June 18, 2018
Overbrook Entertainment and Mental Telepathy’s indie film Sprinter was the big winner at the 2018 American Black Film Festival Awards in Miami taking home three awards. The film, which was directed by Storm Saulter (Better Mus’ Come), was awarded the Grand Jury Prize for Best Narrative Feature, the Audience Award in the category Best Film and Storm took home an award for Best Director.
SPRINTER stars newcomer Dale Elliott (Akeem), Kadeem Wilson (Ghett’ A Life), Dennis Titus (The Mighty Quinn) Shantol Jackson (Yardie), Bryshere Y. Gray (Empire, The New Edition Story), with Lorraine Toussaint (Orange is The New Black), and David Alan Grier (Jumanji, In Living Color).
Producers are Robert Maylor, Clarence Hammond and Jamal Watson. Overbrook Entertainment Partners Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith are Executive Producers along with NBA Veteran and Media Personality Richard Jefferson and Ne-Yo. Ne-Yo also has original music featured on the film’s soundtrack.
Sprinter story follows Akeem, a 17-year-old Jamaican track athlete. His goal is to qualify for the national youth team and go to the World Youth Championships in Los Angeles. There, Akeem hopes to reunite with his mother, who immigrated to the United States 10 years ago, with aspirations to provide a better life for her family. As Akeem continues to chase after his dreams, he learns family can be complicated, dreams deferred, but you must continue to run your race.
In addition to its ABFF Awards, SPRINTER also made its debut at ABFF in a screening which was followed by a Q&A with some of the cast, hosted by social media influencer Khadeen Ellis.
On Friday, June 15, Sprinter followed its world debut screening with an afterparty which was attended by celebrities including Angela Rye, Norega, Ja Rule, Director X and Devale and Khadeen Ellis, Major Lazer’s Jillionaire, Amara La Negra and Denver Nuggets’ Richard Jefferson. Sprinters afterparty included signature drinks, Jamaican cuisine and lots of dancehall music played by DJ R-Tistic. The party was brought to the festival by sponsors Puma, Courvoisier, Red Stripe and Flow.
