{"id":66878,"date":"2013-09-19T13:31:51","date_gmt":"2013-09-19T13:31:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/0de2709a84.nxcli.net\/0-kjasnb\/2013\/09\/19\/2013-urbanworld-begins-today\/"},"modified":"2018-12-18T08:57:36","modified_gmt":"2018-12-18T08:57:36","slug":"2013-urbanworld-begins-today","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/2013-urbanworld-begins-today\/","title":{"rendered":"2013 Urbanworld Begins Today"},"content":{"rendered":"

2013 Urbanworld Begins Today<\/strong>
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The 17th<\/sup> Annual<\/strong> Urbanworld Film Festival <\/strong>(www.urbanworld.org<\/a>), presented by BET Networks<\/strong>, starts its 2013 slate today. The nation\u2019s largest competitive multicultural film festival, Urbanworld will take place September 18-22, 2013<\/strong> at midtown Manhattan\u2019s AMC 34th Street and will screen 60 films, including 4 world premieres and 2 U.S. premieres.<\/p>\n

\u201cBaggage Claim,\u201d<\/strong> <\/a>the David E. Talbert<\/strong> movie based on Talbert\u2019s best-selling debut novel about a flight attendant with thirty days and thirty thousand miles to find a husband, will open the 2013 Urbanworld Film Festival in New York.<\/p>\n

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Cast includes Paula Patton, Derek Luke, Taye Diggs, Jill Scott, Boris Kodjoe, Tremaine Neverson, Adam Brody, Jenifer Lewis, Ned Beatty, Lauren London, Tia Mowry, La La Anthony, Christina Milian, Affion Crockett, Terrence J, Rickey Smiley<\/strong>, and Djimon Hounsou<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

With her mother having just tied the knot for a record-breaking fourth time and her baby sister, Sheree, rushing to jump the broom, five-time maid of honor Montana Moore is dangerously close to becoming not only the oldest, but the only woman in her entire family never to be married.<\/p>\n

Having convinced herself that there\u2019s no way in heaven or hell she\u2019s showing up at her sister\u2019s Christmas Eve engagement party without a prospect of her own, Montana concocts her wildest and most romantically ridiculous plan yet: a thirty-day, thirty-thousand-mile trek in search of a husband.<\/p>\n

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Will it be Damon Diesel, a young hip-hop producer whose motto is \u201cMaking the green scream and the dolla holla!\u201d? Or will she win over the Reverend Curtis P. Merewether, pastor and founder of Greater House of Deliverance, Tabernacle of Praise, Worship, and Miracles? Of course Langston Jefferson Battle III, superattorney turned city councilman, needs a wife now that his sights are set on the United States Congress. Or perhaps her lifelong mate is Quinton Jamison, a multimillionaire textile guru twenty years her senior. Only time \u2014 or the lack of it \u2014 will tell.<\/p>\n

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BET Networks proudly presents its second original movie to premiere at Urbanworld: Gun Hill <\/em>(directed by Reggie Bythewood<\/strong> and starring Larenz Tate, Emayatzy Corinealdi<\/strong> and Aisha Hinds<\/strong>),<\/em> a gritty Cain and Abel drama set and shot in New York City.<\/p>\n

Additional highlights of Urbanworld 2013 include: a Season 4 episode of the HBO\u00ae<\/sup> drama \u201cBoardwalk Empire\u201d (starring Michael Kenneth Williams <\/strong>and Jeffrey Wright<\/strong>); the black western They Die by Dawn <\/em>(starring Erykah Badu, Rosario Dawson, <\/strong>Idris Elba, Giancarlo Esposito, Jesse Williams, <\/strong>Michael Kenneth Williams, and Isaiah Washington<\/strong>); and the documentary Finding the Funk <\/em>(starring George Clinton, Bootsy Collins, D\u2019Angela, Sheila E., Sly Stone <\/strong>and Questlove<\/strong>).<\/p>\n

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Urbanworld is also announcing the launch of Urbanworld Underground<\/strong>, a platform designed to highlight maverick content creators who are transcending conventional filmmaking with innovation in their storytelling. In addition to Jeymes Samuel\u2019s<\/strong> They Die by Dawn, <\/em>Urbanworld Underground will feature Kahlil Joseph\u2019s<\/strong> What Matters Most Shorts Block<\/em>, which includes \u201cBlack Up,\u201d \u201cUntil the Quiet Comes,\u201d \u201cThe Model (Parts 1 & 2),\u201d and \u201cWildcat.\u201d<\/p>\n

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BET returns for a sixth year as presenting sponsor along with founding sponsor HBO\u00ae<\/sup><\/strong>, who will host the Urbanworld Digital<\/strong> program again this year, with sessions presented by HBO, Interactive One, and MoviePass.<\/p>\n

\u201cUrbanworld Film Festival celebrates established multi-cultural screenwriters, producers and directors and aims to empower hopefuls by bringing new and diverse films to our community,\u201d said Loretha Jones<\/strong>, President of Original Programming. \u201cBET believes Urbanworld Film Festival is an undeniable platform for emerging filmmakers, and because we pride ourselves on having our finger on the pulse of what\u2019s important to our audience, this makes our partnership even more exciting.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOur 2013 slate indicates what I\u2019ve known all year: that this is an exciting time for multicultural films,\u201d said Gabrielle Glore<\/strong>, executive producer and head of programming for Urbanworld. \u201cWe are always honored to be able to connect audiences with the artistic excellence of the filmmakers who have participated in Urbanworld for 17 years. And the continued support of our partners BET and HBO make it possible for us to keep shining a light on the diversity of stories that the world needs to see.\u201d<\/p>\n

URBANWORLD 2013 FILM SLATE<\/strong><\/p>\n

OPENING NIGHT FILM<\/strong><\/p>\n