{"id":66903,"date":"2013-09-23T12:31:56","date_gmt":"2013-09-23T12:31:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/0de2709a84.nxcli.net\/0-kjasnb\/2013\/09\/23\/winners-and-pics-of-17th-annual-urbanworld-film-festival\/"},"modified":"2018-12-18T08:56:47","modified_gmt":"2018-12-18T08:56:47","slug":"winners-and-pics-of-17th-annual-urbanworld-film-festival","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/winners-and-pics-of-17th-annual-urbanworld-film-festival\/","title":{"rendered":"Winners and Pics of 17th Annual Urbanworld Film Festival"},"content":{"rendered":"

Winners and Pics of 17th Annual Urbanworld Film Festival<\/strong>Posted by Wilson Morales<\/p>\n

September 23, 2013<\/p>\n

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The 17th Annual Urbanworld Film Festival<\/strong>, presented by BET Networks, has announced the winners of the narrative feature, documentary feature, documentary short, narrative short, screenplay, teleplay and audience award categories. The five-day festival was held September 18-22 and concluded today with an awards reception at Tribeca Grill Loft hosted by style and beauty expert Tai Beauchamp<\/strong> and actor\/producer Gbenga Akinnagbe<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Urbanworld, which screened 60 films this year (including 4 world premieres and 2 U.S. premieres), is the largest internationally competitive festival dedicated to the exhibition of independent cinema by and about people of color. Urbanworld thanks its partners BET Networks- presenting sponsor, HBO- founding sponsor, Universal premiere sponsor, their industry circle partners and media partners.<\/p>\n

The 17th Annual Urbanworld Film Festival winners are: <\/strong><\/p>\n

Best Narrative Feature – Presented by Fox Audience Strategy – $5,000 Cash Prize<\/strong><\/p>\n

THE VOLUNTEER <\/strong> Directed by Vicky Wight<\/p>\n

After quitting her stable but soul-crushing job, Leigh passes her days in an apathetic fog. Bored and feeling a vague sense of guilt, she volunteers at a local soup kitchen where she begins an electric but troubled affair with a young homeless man. The film stars Scott Wolf, Hill Harper<\/strong> and Aunjanue Ellis<\/strong>.<\/div>\n

Honorable Mention:<\/strong> Sable Fable – Directed by Stephen Jackson<\/p>\n

Best Documentary Feature<\/strong><\/p>\n

THE NEW BLACK<\/strong> Directed by Yoruba Richen<\/p>\n

In this timely documentary, filmmaker Yoruba Richen questions the assumptions about homophobia in the African-American community, setting off an impassioned conversation about gay rights, family history, the role of the Church and the legacy of the civil rights movement.<\/div>\n

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Honorable Mention:<\/strong> Brother’s Hypnotic – Directed by Reuben Atlas<\/p>\n

Best Narrative Short – Presented by HBO – $5,000 Cash Prize<\/strong><\/p>\n

“CRESCENDO” <\/strong>Directed by Alonso Alvarez<\/p>\n

Set in the 18th century during the latter years of the Holy Roman Empire, the pro-life Crescendo follows an extraordinary day in the life of one particular woman of the era. The short film was written and directed by Alonso Alvarez and stars Ali Landry, Montserrat Espalde, Patrick Nuo and Jennifer Cadena.<\/p>\n

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Honorable Mention:<\/strong> Baghdad Messi – Directed by Sahim Omar Kalifa<\/p>\n

Best Screenplay – Presented by BET Networks – $5,000 Cash Prize<\/strong><\/p>\n

“YEAR OF OUR LORD” <\/strong>– Written by Darius Clark Monroe<\/p>\n

Best Teleplay – Presented by BET Networks – $5,000 Cash Prize
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“MEL & MISSY”<\/strong> Written by Allison Bonner Shillingford<\/p>\n

Audience Award – Feature<\/strong><\/p>\n

FULL CIRCLE <\/strong>Directed by Solvan “Slick” Naim<\/p>\n

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Full Circle is a wildly entertaining urban-action tale about a young pizza delivery boy, Anthoni (with an \u201ci\u201d not a \u201cy\u201d) who faces a life-changing crisis when his curiosity pulls him away from his delivery order into an adjacent apartment\u2019s open door. When he stumbles across a large sum of money in the aftermath of what seems to be a drug deal gone bad\u2026he simply can\u2019t resist the temptation. After taking the money, his life is thrown into turmoil as everyone he knows and cares about is put in jeopardy. His focus turns to revenge, when a close friend is mistakenly killed for his actions. Anthoni goes on a comically charged journey for vengeance as outlandish characters banter throughout in this musically in-fused Anthoni goes on a comically charged journey for vengeance as outlandish characters banter throughout in this musically in-fused, escapade. Anthoni is set on avenging the death of his close friend even if it means going up against the neighborhood\u2019s most notorious thug.<\/p>\n

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Audience Award – Short<\/strong><\/p>\n

“FLY ON OUT” <\/strong>Directed by Robert Kolodny<\/p>\n