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CONTACT: Press@ibffnashville.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OCTOBER 6, 2008
International Black Film Festival of Nashville, Honorary Co-Chair Debbie Allen,
and Festival Ambassador Vicki Yates welcome Hollywood and Independent Film
stars, October 15-19.
Nashville, Tennessee - (October 6, 2008) - Tennessee State University's Avon Williams
Campus and Belcourt Theatre will be the center stages for the 2008 International Black
Film Festival in Nashville (IBFFN). Set to appear at the two venues are actors, film and
television producers, writers and industry professionals from across the U.S. and abroad.
In keeping with this year's festival theme "Feels Like Home", guests arriving at
Nashville Metropolitan Airport over the five days will be greeted "Southern Style" during
sets performed by artists such as "Biscuits and Gravy", "Rashad the Poet" and "Darnell Levine" provided by Nashville's own hit music entertainment company "LoveNoise."
Guests include several celebrities, some of whom will make their first Nashville
appearance. Festival goers will have an opportunity to meet Tyler Williams, star of
Everybody Hates Chris and winner of the 2007 NAACP Image Award for Best Actor in
a Comedy Series for his portrayal of "Chris". Loosely based on the life of
Actor/Comedian Chris Rock, Tyler stars as Chris, a responsible, resilient 15-year-old
struggling to keep his siblings in line at home while facing a new neighborhood and new
school. Tyler, along with Sharon Smith of the Sharon Smith Talent Agency and Tina Treadwell, CEO Treadwell Entertainment lead the workshop "Kid Buzz: Preparing Your Child for the Big Screen" on Saturday, Oct. 18.
On Friday, Oct. 17, film and television star Boris Kodjoe will be present at key festival
events. Kodjoe is perhaps best known for his role as "Damon Carter" in the long-running
television series Soul Food. Moviegoers will also remember Kodjoe as Frankie in Tyler
Perry's box office smash Madea's Family Reunion. Kodjoe has also appeared in
episodes of Crossing Jordan, Nip/Tuck, Women's Murder Club, and Boston Public,
and has made several guest appearances on The Tyra Banks Show.
Fresh off the set of Long Shots which co-stars Ice Cube of Are We There Yet?, actress Tasha Smith will do a 2-day Actors Bootcamp on October 16 and 17. The film star is
best known for her work in Tyler Perry's hit movie Why Did I Get Married? with costars
Janet Jackson and Jill Scott. Smith also played opposite Gabrielle Union and Idris
Elba in Daddy's Little Girls, ortraying Jennifer, the corrupt, vindictive ex-wife of Elba's
character, Monty.
IBFFN Spotlight:
Filmmaker Charles Burnett by Dr. Frank Dobson on
Friday, Oct. 16
MacArthur Award-winning filmmaker Charles Burnett has just completed his largest film ever, Namibia: The Struggle for Liberation, which will premiere at the Belcourt Theatre. An authentic and gifted writer, his most notable work is the America cinema's touchstone film Killer of Sheep (1977) which was selected by the Library of Congress for its National Film Registry. Film enthusiasts and connoisseurs have long recognized Burnett's 'genius' in his many critically acclaimed film projects which include among many To Sleep With Anger (1990) and My Brother's Wedding (1983). Those new to his work will most likely be equally mesmerized.
Nashville's own star of WTVF's Channel 5 News, Vicki Yates is the 2008 IBFFN Festival Ambassador.
"I am honored to serve as "Ambassador" to the 2008 IBFF! Nashville is growing by leaps and bounds...and Nashvillians are not only savvy and sophisticated ...but also very grounded and real. That's why the theme this year is "Southern Style - Feels Like Home," said Yates.
Yates went on to comment on the event's significance. "The film community, in particular the Black Film community has always had something to say and until recently, only a few places to say it. But now with the emergence of the IBFF, no cinematic talent will go unnoticed...and this is just the beginning! I'm happy to be able to play even the smallest role in this part of Tennessee's history."
Yates will also host a "Conversation with Debbie Allen and Friends" on Friday, Oct. 17. Yates and fellow news reporter, Lelan Statom and Gil Robertson, President, African American Critics Association will provide one of the festival's workshops, "ThePower of Imagery: Images and depictions in Media Film and TV."
For more information, photos, bios, and film synopses, Jessica Johnson jessica@ibffnashville.com. You can also visit the website at ibffnashville.com for full schedule of events, speakers and workshops.
Filmmaker Charles Burnett by Dr. Frank Dobson on
Friday, Oct. 16
MacArthur Award-winning filmmaker Charles Burnett has just completed his largest film ever, Namibia: The Struggle for Liberation, which will premiere at the Belcourt Theatre. An authentic and gifted writer, his most notable work is the America cinema's touchstone film Killer of Sheep (1977) which was selected by the Library of Congress for its National Film Registry. Film enthusiasts and connoisseurs have long recognized Burnett's 'genius' in his many critically acclaimed film projects which include among many To Sleep With Anger (1990) and My Brother's Wedding (1983). Those new to his work will most likely be equally mesmerized.
Nashville's own star of WTVF's Channel 5 News, Vicki Yates is the 2008 IBFFN Festival Ambassador.
"I am honored to serve as "Ambassador" to the 2008 IBFF! Nashville is growing by leaps and bounds...and Nashvillians are not only savvy and sophisticated ...but also very grounded and real. That's why the theme this year is "Southern Style - Feels Like Home," said Yates.
Yates went on to comment on the event's significance. "The film community, in particular the Black Film community has always had something to say and until recently, only a few places to say it. But now with the emergence of the IBFF, no cinematic talent will go unnoticed...and this is just the beginning! I'm happy to be able to play even the smallest role in this part of Tennessee's history."
Yates will also host a "Conversation with Debbie Allen and Friends" on Friday, Oct. 17. Yates and fellow news reporter, Lelan Statom and Gil Robertson, President, African American Critics Association will provide one of the festival's workshops, "ThePower of Imagery: Images and depictions in Media Film and TV."
For more information, photos, bios, and film synopses, Jessica Johnson jessica@ibffnashville.com. You can also visit the website at ibffnashville.com for full schedule of events, speakers and workshops.
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