The Hollywood Black Film Festival
Now in its 8th Year: June 5-10, 2007
Beverly Hills, California

8TH ANNUAL HOLLYWOOD BLACK FILM FESTIVAL WRAPS; JURY AND AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARDS ANNOUNCED

HBFF 2007 Plays to Standing-Room-Only Screenings and Record Crowds; Prince, Sheila E, Kimberly Elise, Sheryl Underwood, Tommy Davidson, Mike Tyson and Elise Neal Among Celebrity Sightings

(l to r) Jacqueline Blaylock, Director of Programming, HBFF; Audience Choice Award winner from “Sister's Keeper” writer/director Kent Faulcon; Tanya Kersey, Founder/Executive Director, HBFF.

(l to r) HBFF 2007 Feature Film winners “I'm Through With White Girls” Producers Lia and Phyllis Johnson; Honorable Mention “Sarbane's Oxley” writer Bennitta Jean-Louis and writer/director Ramcess Jean-Louis; Tanya Kersey, Founder/Executive director, HBFF; Jacqueline Blaylock, director of programming, HBFF.

The Short Film winners from the film, “Fu*ck You, Pay Me!”

(l to r) HBFF 2007 Storyteller Competition winners Terrilyn Phillips (3rd place for “E-Sins”), Tanya Kersey (HBFF founder/executive director), Christienne Best (winner for “Rudy Tooty”), Jacqueline Blaylock (HBFF programming director) and Sid Holmes (2nd place for “Eleven”)

After six days and 126 films, top honors were awarded at the 2007 Hollywood Black Film Festival's closing night festivities on Sunday, June 10th at the Fine Arts Theatre in Beverly Hills, CA.   Tanya Kersey , Founder  Executive Director, HBFF and Jacqueline Blaylock , HBFF's Programming Director, announced the winning films.

“We are so pleased to be able to present awards to these filmmakers who have displayed an amazing array of cinematic talent and vision,” said Kersey.  “The 2007 Hollywood Black Film Festival award-winners reflect the full breadth of talent, diversity, and evolution of independent black film.”

"Our filmmakers this year displayed an extraordinary range and depth to their storytelling, which attracted record breaking audiences, and I am pleased to know that HBFF continues to garner a well deserved reputation as being the premiere festival for discovering and showcasing the next generation of talented Black filmmakers,” added Blaylock.

Kersey added, “We are thrilled how the Hollywood Black Film Festival has continued to grow in attendance, local and national awareness and acclaim from filmmakers, writers and directors.”

Kent Faulcon's feature film “Sister's Keeper” took the top audience prize at the 8th Annual Hollywood Black Film Festival. The thriller tells the story of an emotionally wrecked, soon-to-be retired hitman who is caught in a quagmire of deadly deception, family secrets, and forbidden love when his final target mistakes him for the long, lost brother she's never met.

In the narrative feature film category,  “I'm Through With White Girls,” written by Courtney Lilly and directed by Jennifer Sharp took top honors.  “I'm Through With White Girls” is a quirky romantic-comedy addressing race, class and cultural identity in America.  Jay Brooks is that black buy who digs indie rock, graphic novels, and dates which chicks. After a slew of break-ups, Jay goes on a mission: “Operation Brown Sugar.”

“Sarbane's Oxley,” written by Ramcess and Bennitta Jean-Louis and directed by Ramcess Jean-Louis was the honorable mention. This dramatic thriller tells the story of an ambitious attorney who finds himself entrenched in a world of corporate corruption and sexual deception.

The Short Film winner was “F*uck You, Pay Me!,” written & directed by Christopher & William Derrick.  The film is the story of the near-future world where excessive consumer debt is a felony, and a police division has been established to track down delinquent debtors.

“Kujo, My Love,” written & directed by Stacy Pyles took the short film honorable mention.

Director Andrea Wiley's documentary,  “Soulmate,” earned first place honors in the documentary category while “10 Days Out: Blues from the Backroads” was the honorable mention.  “Soulmate” is a gripping cinematic journey into the realities facing today's successful, single black women.  This deeply personal project reveals the trials and triumphs of unforgettable women while offering hope and practical advice on issues such as loneliness, sex and the biological clock.

In the student film category  “Behind the Pretty Door,” written by Renee McClellan and directed by Bobby Boermans won.  “Surface of Things” written and directed by Keith Davis was the honorable mention.

“Hazel Hips,” directed by Kobina Yankah won in the animation category.  “What Would You Do?” written & directed by Danielle Smith won in the music video category.

The filmmaker winners receive prizes courtesy of Final Draft, AVID, Showbiz Software Store, Movie Plan Software, Entertainment Power Players, and Writers Boot Camp.  In addition to product prizes and in keeping with the festival's motto: “ACCESS. OPPORTUNITIES.  DEALS.”  the winners also receive a series of meetings with agents, managers, development, acquisition and distribution executives.

The 1st place winner in the HBFF Storyteller Competition was “Rudy Tooty,”  written by Christienne Best of Memphis, TN. The scripts tells the story of 16-year-old Rudy, a would-be 'playa' from Chicago, who learns about love and family when he spends a summer on his aunt's farm in Mississippi.  “Eleven,” written by Sid Holmes of Secane, PA took 2nd place honors, and “e-Sins,” written by Terrilyn Phillips of  Raleigh, NC came in third.

The Storyteller Competition winners receive product prizes courtesy of Final Draft and Writers Boot Camp.  Their scripts are also distributed to a number of studios and production company executives.  The HBFF Storyteller Competition was designed to promote and support new talent and continue the festival's pledge of creating opportunities for talented black screenwriters.  The main goal is to give new screenwriters industry exposure and help introduce them to Hollywood.  

“The diverse storytelling styles of this year's Storyteller Competition semi-finalists is impressive,” said Kersey.  “We are pleased to be able to bring these talented, diverse voices to the attention of Hollywood's leading talent buyers.”

The closing night festivities also included a screening of “A Tribute to My Granddaddy,” an animated short by Jason Lewis, the grandson of the late great Godfather of Soul, James Brown. The closing night feature presentation was “Stompin,” starring Sinbad and Vanessa Bell Calloway.

HBFF 2007 attendees enjoyed a whirlwind six days hustling to see films, attending panels and workshops at the adjunct Infotainment Conference, and partying into the wee hours of the night.  This year's festival drew record crowds and many films were sold-out.  Among the celebrities seen at HBFF 2007 this year were Prince , Sheila E, Kimberly Elise , Sheryl Underwood , Tommy Davidson , Mike Tyson and Elise Neal, to name just a few.