{"id":63452,"date":"2012-06-20T13:51:46","date_gmt":"2012-06-20T13:51:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/0de2709a84.nxcli.net\/0-kjasnb\/2012\/06\/20\/2012-abff-preview\/"},"modified":"2018-12-18T10:51:51","modified_gmt":"2018-12-18T10:51:51","slug":"2012-abff-preview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/2012-abff-preview\/","title":{"rendered":"2012 ABFF Preview"},"content":{"rendered":"

2012 ABFF Preview<\/strong>Posted by Wilson Morales<\/p>\n

June 20, 2012<\/p>\n

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The 16th annual American Black Film Festival<\/strong> gets rolling today, and the opening night film will be the Sundance award-winning film, Cannes award-winning film, ‘Beasts of the Southern Wild.’ <\/strong><\/p>\n

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Directed by Benh Zeitlin, the film stars the sensational Quvenzhan\u00e9 Wallis, Dwight Henry, Levy Easterly, Lowell Landes, Pamela Harper, Gina Montana, Nicholas Clark<\/strong>, and Jovan Hathaway<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

In a forgotten but defiant bayou community cut off from the rest of the world by a sprawling levee, a six-year-old girl exists on the brink of orphanhood. Buoyed by her childish optimism and extraordinary imagination, she believes that the natural world is in balance with the universe until a fierce storm changes her reality. Desperate to repair the structure of her world in order to save her ailing father and sinking home, this tiny hero must learn to survive unstoppable catastrophes of epic proportions.<\/p>\n

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The closing night film will be Roger M. Bobb<\/strong>‘s feature film directorial debut, ‘Raising Izzie,’ starring Vanessa Williams,<\/strong> Rockmond Dunbar, Kyla Kenedy<\/strong> and Victoria Staley.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/strong>When their mother passes away leaving them without an adult guardian, sisters Izzie (Kyla Kenedy) and Gertie Nash (Victoria Staley) are forced to grow up fast. Afraid her daughters will be separated if they are placed in the foster care system, their mother makes the necessary arrangements for Gertie and Izzie to live on their own, with a bank account, apartment and small on-line business to support themselves. Older sister Gertie takes care of her little sister in addition to working and attending school. For a year, the girls are able to hide their predicament from their neighbors, their landlord and even their teachers. But when Tonya Freeman (Vanessa Williams), Gertie\u2019s new teacher, becomes suspicious, the girls have to come up with a new plan to protect their secret. After Tonya confronts the girls and they confess to their situation, Tonya has to decide how to protect them and keep them together against the will of her husband Greg (Rockmond Dunbar).<\/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<\/p>\n

CAST: Sheldon Shepherd, Nicole \u2018Sky\u2019 Grey, Everaldo Creary, Ricardo Orgill and Roger Guenveur Smith<\/p>\n

SYNOPSIS: 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<\/p>\n

CAST: Kadeem Hardison, Marcus Patrick and Tiffany Hines<\/p>\n

SYNOPSIS: 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<\/p>\n

CAST: Lance Gross, Nicole Behari, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Obba Babatund\u00e9, Darrin DeWitt Henson, Michael Moss, Harry Lennix, Keith David<\/p>\n

SYNOPSIS: 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<\/p>\n

CAST: Common, Michael Rainey Jr., Dennis Haysbert, Danny Glover, Charles S. Dutton, Michael Kenneth Williams and Meagan Good<\/p>\n

SYNOPSIS: 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<\/p>\n

CAST: Stana Roumillac, Vincent Byrd Le Sage, Christophe Cherki, Sophie Berger<\/p>\n

SYNOPSIS: 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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TIES THAT BIND<\/strong> USA
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Written and Directed by Leila Djansi, Produced by Dave Harper<\/strong><\/p>\n

Adobea, Buki and Theresa are women from different walks of life bound together by a similar pain\u2013the loss of a child. In a destined meeting in a small village in Kroboland, West Africa, the women journey to love, life and redemption as they renovate a dilapidated clinic for the village.<\/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<\/p>\n

CAST: Isaiah Washington, Louis Gossett Jr., Lamman Rucker, Malinda Williams, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Elise Neal, Robinne Lee, Clifton Powell, Keith David and John Wesley<\/p>\n

SYNOPSIS: 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><\/p>\n

Grand Jury Prize for Best Screenplay, presented by Ciroc<\/strong><\/p>\n

Storm Saulter \u2013 BETTER MUS\u2019 COME<\/p>\n

Matthew Cherry \u2013 THE LAST FALL<\/p>\n

Mariettte MonPierre and Mama Keita \u2013 ELZA<\/p>\n

Russ Parr \u2013 THE UNDERSHEPHERD<\/p>\n

Grand Jury Prize for Best Director, presented by Cadillac<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sheldon Candis \u2013 LUV<\/p>\n

Matthew Cherry \u2013 THE LAST FALL<\/p>\n

Russ Parr \u2013 THE UNDERSHEPHERD<\/p>\n

Storm 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><\/p>\n

Common \u2013 LUV<\/p>\n

Lance Gross \u2013 THE LAST FALL<\/p>\n

Sheldon Sheppard \u2013 BETTER MUS\u2019 COME<\/p>\n

Isaiah Washington \u2013 THE UNDERSHEPHERD<\/p>\n

Nicole Behari \u2013 THE LAST FALL<\/p>\n

Kimberly Elise \u2013 TIES THAT BIND<\/p>\n

Malinda Williams \u2013 THE UNDERSHEPHERD<\/p>\n

Grand Jury Prize for Narrative Feature, presented by BET Networks<\/strong><\/p>\n

THE LAST FALL<\/p>\n

ELZA<\/p>\n

LUV<\/p>\n

THE 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

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

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

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