{"id":69821,"date":"2014-09-17T14:31:40","date_gmt":"2014-09-17T14:31:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/0de2709a84.nxcli.net\/0-kjasnb\/2014\/09\/17\/18th-annual-urbanworld-film-festival-preview\/"},"modified":"2018-12-18T03:58:45","modified_gmt":"2018-12-18T03:58:45","slug":"18th-annual-urbanworld-film-festival-preview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/18th-annual-urbanworld-film-festival-preview\/","title":{"rendered":"18th Annual Urbanworld Film Festival Preview"},"content":{"rendered":"

18th Annual Urbanworld Film Festival Preview<\/strong>Posted by Wilson Morales<\/p>\n

September 17, 2014<\/p>\n

\"Urbanworld<\/a><\/p>\n

The 18th Annual Urbanworld Film Festival (www.urbanworld.org), presented by BET Networks with founding sponsor HBO, beings today, running from September 17-21, 2014 at Manhattan’s AMC Loews 34th Street 14, and various other locations in New York. The festival will screen over 70 films, including a whopping 12 world premieres.<\/p>\n

Opening up the festival will be Gina Prince-Bythewood’s “Beyond the Lights,” starring Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Nate Parker, Danny Glover and Minnie Driver. Best Man Holiday director Malcom Lee <\/strong>will moderate the panel discussion with the stars and filmmakers after the screening.<\/p>\n

\"Addicted<\/a><\/p>\n

An exclusive look at scenes from the upcoming Lionsgate\/Codeblack Films release, Addicted<\/strong> and a Q & A with the stars and filmmakers will be showcased at the festival.<\/p>\n

Addicted, based on the best-selling novel by Zane and a screenplay by Christina Welsh and Ernie Barbarash, is a sexy and provocative thriller about desire and the dangers of indiscretion. Successful businesswoman Zoe Reynard (Sharon Leal) appears to have attained it all – the dream husband she loves, two wonderful children and a flourishing career. As perfect as everything appears from the outside, Zoe is still drawn to temptations she cannot escape or resist. As she pursues a secretive life, Zoe finds herself risking it all when she heads down a perilous path she may not survive. Boris Kodjoe, Tyson Beckford and William Levy star in the film and will join Zane and director Bille Woodruff at a Q & A and exclusive look at scenes from the film on Friday, September 19, 2014 at 7:30pm at Manhattan’s AMC Loews 34th Street 14. Addicted will open nationwide on October 10th.<\/p>\n

\"Isa<\/a><\/p>\n

A screening of ISA, hosted by Comcast NBCUniversal Telemundo, has also been added to the festival. The film is directed by Jose Nestor Marquez and follows Isa Reyes (Jeanette Samano) who thinks she\u2019s a normal American teenager until she discovers that a chip in her brain is causing her dreams to merge with reality. When Isa is kidnapped by a company that wants to exploit her powerful dreams, her friends Nataly Gomez (Sabi) and Officer Diaz (Eric Ochoa) come to her aid. Together they uncover a conspiracy that spans from the forests of Mexico to Wall Street. Sabi is confirmed to host the special late night screening on Friday, September 19, 2014 at 11:00 p.m.<\/p>\n

\"Michael<\/a><\/p>\n

Focusing on diversity in the urban action film genre, Michael Jai White will be a featured guest at a Q&A session that will follow a screening of his film Falcon Rising, the story of an ex-marine (played by White) who travels to the slums of Brazil to hunt down the Yakuza after the brutal beating of his sister (Laila Ali). Cinemax\u00ae and The Urban Action Showcase & Expo are sponsoring the event slated for Friday, September 19, 2014 at 10:00 p.m.<\/p>\n

\"Selma<\/a><\/p>\n

There will be a spotlight conversation with acclaimed festival alumni, writer\/director Ava DuVernay<\/strong>, in her first public dialogue about her upcoming film, SELMA. <\/strong>One of the most exciting new voices in American cinema, DuVernay will also present behind the scenes clip presentation of SELMA exclusively at Urbanworld. This special event, moderated by Urbanworld\u00ae Executive Producer Gabrielle Glore, will take place on Saturday, September 20, 2014 at 8:00 p.m. at Manhattan\u2019s AMC Loews 34th Street 14.<\/p>\n

SELMA, from Paramount Pictures, Pathe and Harpo Films, stars David Oyelowo, Carmen Ejogo, Tim Roth, Lorraine Touissant, Common, Giovanni Ribisi, Andre Holland, Colman Domingo, Wendell Pierce, Tessa Thompson, Keith Stanfield, Stephan James and Alessandro Nivola<\/strong> with Tom Wilkinson<\/strong> and Oprah Winfrey<\/strong> and chronicles Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.\u2019s historic struggle to secure voting rights for all people \u2013 a dangerous and terrifying campaign that culminated with an epic march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. The film will be released by Paramount Pictures on December 25, 2014.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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

\"Beyond<\/a><\/p>\n

Beyond the Lights<\/strong> \u2013 Directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood (USA) \u2013 US Premiere<\/p>\n

Starring\u00a0Gugu Mbatha-Raw<\/strong>\u00a0in the lead role, the film also featuresNate Parker, Danny Glover, Minnie Driver, Aisha Hinds, Aml Ameen<\/strong>, and rapper\u00a0Machine Gun Kelly<\/strong>, making his film debut.<\/p>\n

Beyond The Lights is the story of Noni Jean, a hot new artist who has just won a Grammy and is primed for stardom. But the pressures of success compel her to nearly end her life until she is saved by a young police officer. They fall hard for each other, despite the protests of their parents who want each to focus on their own career ambitions. But he might be the missing piece to unlock her artistic potential.<\/p>\n