{"id":63292,"date":"2012-05-16T11:11:12","date_gmt":"2012-05-16T11:11:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/0de2709a84.nxcli.net\/0-kjasnb\/2012\/05\/16\/abff-announces-2012-grand-jury-nominations\/"},"modified":"2018-12-18T10:57:33","modified_gmt":"2018-12-18T10:57:33","slug":"abff-announces-2012-grand-jury-nominations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/abff-announces-2012-grand-jury-nominations\/","title":{"rendered":"ABFF Announces 2012 Grand Jury Nominations"},"content":{"rendered":"

ABFF Announces 2012 Grand Jury Nominations<\/strong>Posted by Wilson Morales<\/p>\n

May 16, 2012<\/p>\n

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Film Life Inc., today announced the Narrative Features Competition selections and Grand Jury Award nominees for the 16th<\/sup> Annual American Black Film Festival<\/strong> (ABFF) taking place in South Beach Miami, FL, June 20th<\/sup> \u2013 23rd<\/sup><\/strong>.\u00a0 Kimberly Elise<\/strong>, Isaiah Washington<\/strong>, Common<\/strong> and S. Epatha Merkerson<\/strong> are among the stellar list of thespians nominated to receive the Grand Jury prize for their work.<\/p>\n

The films in ABFF\u2019s 2012 Narrative Features section reflect a creative multiplicity which can be seen, felt and heard in controversy through rhythmic Jamaican patois (Better Mus\u2019 Come<\/em><\/strong>) to a young Parisian woman\u2019s search for her father (Elza<\/em><\/strong>).\u00a0 Struggle and disappointment between generations is candidly explored (LUV<\/em><\/strong>) and two men of the cloth face consequences (The Undershepherd<\/em><\/strong>).<\/p>\n

Each film in the narrative features section must be directed by a person of African descent, tell a story of the Black experience or feature a person of African descent in a leading role. Films that are submitted for consideration are reviewed by a team of film industry professionals, which comprises the ABFF\u2019s screening committee. Each film is graded on artistic merit and impactful subject matter. \u00a0As this year\u2019s Grand Jury President, Actor, Mekhi Phifer<\/strong> (\u201cLie to Me,\u201d \u201cER\u201d), will serve as a judge and will present prizes in front of the festival audience at The Winners Circle awards presentation<\/em> on the closing day of the festival.<\/p>\n

The complete list of the 2012 Narrative Feature films is as follows:<\/strong><\/p>\n

BETTER MUS\u2019 COME<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Written and directed by Storm Saulter, produced by Paul Bucknor
\nCAST: Sheldon Shepherd, Nicole \u2018Sky\u2019 Grey, Everaldo Creary, Ricardo Orgill and Roger Guenveur Smith
\nSYNOPSIS: The film follows warring political factions in 1970s Jamaica as they enlist the support of gangs to enforce their policies, and advanced their political agenda.<\/p>\n

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THE DARK PARTY<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Written by William Wells, Kadeem Hardison, Salenta Baisden and Terry Wilkerson, produced by Terry Wilkerson, Deji LaRay, Salenta Baisden and William Wells, directed by Kadeem Hardison
\nCAST: Kadeem Hardison, Marcus Patrick and Tiffany Hines
\nSYNOPSIS: When two best friends want to find true love, a radio talk psychologist helps them throw the ultimate blind date party and serous social experiment.<\/p>\n

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THE LAST FALL<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Written and directed by Matthew Cherry, produced by Ellis Hobbs, Monique Hobbs, Nikki Love and Scott Hebert
\nCAST: Lance Gross, Nicole Behari, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Obba Babatund\u00e9, Darrin DeWitt Henson, Michael Moss, Harry Lennix, Keith David
\nSYNOPSIS: An NFL journeyman struggles to deal with life\u2019s complexities after his professional career is over at twenty-five.<\/p>\n

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LUV<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Written and directed by Sheldon Candis and Justin Wilson, produced by Jason Berman, Datari Turner, W. Michael Jenson, Gordon Bijelonic, Joel Newton, James Rosenthal, Common and Derek Dudley
\nCAST: Common, Michael Rainey Jr., Dennis Haysbert, Danny Glover, Charles S. Dutton, Michael Kenneth Williams and Meagan Good
\nSYNOPSIS: An orphaned eleven-year-old boy is forced to face an unpleasant truth about his beloved uncle during one harrowing day in the streets of Baltimore.<\/p>\n

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ELZA<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Written and directed by Mariette MonPierre and Mama Keita, produced by Mariette MonPierre, Gerard LaCroix, Eric Basset
\nCAST: Stana Roumillac, Vincent Byrd Le Sage, Christophe Cherki, Sophie Berger
\nSYNOPSIS: A young Parisian woman of Caribbean descent returns to her native island of Guadeloupe in search of the father she has never known.<\/p>\n

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THE UNDERSHEPHERD<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Produced and directed by Russ Parr, produced by Russ Parr, Eric Tomosunas, Scott Aronson and Isaiah Washington
\nCAST: Isaiah Washington, Louis Gossett Jr., Lamman Rucker, Malinda Williams, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Elise Neal, Robinne Lee, Clifton Powell, Keith David and John Wesley
\nSYNOPSIS: Two minister\u2019s opposing decisions destroy their friendship as the ascension of evil verses the struggle of an honest church impact the entire community.<\/p>\n

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The specific nominees are as follows:<\/strong>
\nGrand Jury Prize for Best Screenplay, presented by Ciroc<\/strong><\/p>\n

Storm Saulter \u2013 BETTER MUS\u2019 COME
\nMatthew Cherry \u2013 THE LAST FALL
\nMariettte MonPierre and Mama Keita \u2013 ELZA
\nRuss Parr \u2013 THE UNDERSHEPHERD<\/p>\n

Grand Jury Prize for Best Director, presented by Cadillac<\/strong>
\nSheldon Candis \u2013 LUV
\nMatthew Cherry \u2013 THE LAST FALL
\nRuss Parr \u2013 THE UNDERSHEPHERD
\nStorm Saulter \u2013 BETTER MUS\u2019 COME<\/p>\n

Grand Jury Prize Best Performance by an Actor (Male or Female), presented by Gold Peak Tea<\/strong>
\nCommon \u2013 LUV
\nLance Gross \u2013 THE LAST FALL
\nSheldon Sheppard \u2013 BETTER MUS\u2019 COME
\nIsaiah Washington \u2013 THE UNDERSHEPHERD
\nNicole Behari \u2013 THE LAST FALL
\nKimberly Elise \u2013 TIES THAT BIND
\nMalinda Williams \u2013 THE UNDERSHEPHERD<\/p>\n

Grand Jury Prize for Narrative Feature, presented by BET Networks<\/strong>
\nTHE LAST FALL
\nELZA
\nLUV
\nTHE UNDERSHEPHERD<\/p>\n

Grand Jury Prize for Documentary<\/strong><\/p>\n

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THE CONTRADICTIONS OF FAIR HOPE<\/strong> 2012 USA 67 min Written by Rockell Metcalf, Produced by S. Epatha Merkerson Directed by S. Epatha Merkerson and Rockell Metcalf<\/p>\n

FORCE M.D.s RELIVED<\/strong> 2012 USA 98 min Written by Antoine Elliott, Rodney Lundy, Produced by Rodney Lundy Directed by Frazier Prince<\/p>\n

THINK NFL, LOVE DAD<\/strong> (The DeSean Jackson Story) 2012 USA 107 min Produced by Byron Jackson, DeSean Jackson and Kip Konwiser Co-directed by Byron Jackson and Kern Konwiser<\/p>\n

SOUL FOOD JUNKIES<\/strong> 2012 USA 63 min Written and directed by Byron Hurt, Produced by Lisa Durden.<\/p>\n

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