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Speakers

THE
BOARD

Morris Chestnut (Best Man)

Morris Chestnut

Gail Bean (Snowfall)

Gail Bean

Honorary Board 

Ambassador 

Jamal Hill

Jamal Hill

Honorary Board 

Patrick Harris Jr

Patrick Harris Jr

Kevin Johnson

Kevin Johnson

Festival Director 

ARIELLE Steele

Arielle Steele

Festival Coordinator/Programmer 

Festival Manager/Programmer 

Jamel Mosely
Micah Khan

Micah Khan

Head of Programming

Jamel Mosely

Development/Programmer 

Ticket Info

Short Film Tickets Renaissance Hotel $25/screening (Screening blocks at 10AM/1PM/4PM) *screening blocks announced Monday*
 

Feature Film Tickets Palace Theatre $25/screening (Screenings at 11AM/1PM/3PM) *screenings announced Monday*
 

Exclusive Features & Panels Palace Theatre $45
 

All Venue Day Pass (All Screenings + Panels) Palace Theatre $100
 

Full Festival Pass (All Screenings + Panels + Afterparties) $250

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Exclusive Screenings

Our festival is packed with an exciting lineup of movies, captivating discussions, and interactive experiences. Here are the five highlighted features that make our festival an unforgettable cinematic journey

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HIGHLIGHTED SHORT FILM 

REST STOP | DIR. CRYSTAL KAYIZA
Best US Short Film 2023

Sundance Film Festival

"On a bus ride from New York to Oklahoma, Meyi, a young Ugandan American girl, realizes her place in the world through her immigrant Mother’s ambitious efforts to reunite their family"

 

 

*this project was filmed in Schenectady & Albany*

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SHORT FILM BLOCKS 

Screening @ Renaissance Hotel on Friday & Saturday 

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10a

 NOTHING LIKE HOME 

  1. Momma | Dir. Jeffery Jackson, Narrative Short
     

  2. Sea Glass | Dir. Renee McPherson, Narrative Short
     

  3. Flames | Dir. Deondray Gossfield & Quincy LeNear Gossfield, Narrative Short
     

  4. How to Deal With Fame |
    Dir. Tiffany Ike, Narrative Short

     

  5. Wolf and Cub | Dir. Marvin Bynoe, Narrative Short

"Nothing Like Home" explores themes that remind us of home, our relationships with ourselves, our parents & our childhood friends. We move you through the full spectrum of what "home" may mean to us all.

1p

 IT HURTS SOMETIMES 

  1. Amina | Dir. Shanrica Evans, Narrative Short
     

  2. Interception: Jayne Kennedy American Sportscaster | Dir. Safiya Songhai, Doc Short
     

  3. Rest Stop | Dir. Crystal Kayiza, Narrative Short
     

  4. Affirming Ourselves | Dir. Aurora Sikelianos, Doc Short
     

  5. The ATL Waterboyz | Dir. Antoinetta Hairston-Stallings, Doc Short

"IT HURTS SOMETIMES" explores our resilience! We share stories that remind us of our strength as we strive to thrive in an experience we have been forced to survive

4p

 KEEP IT
PUSHIN 

  1. 7 Minutes of Heaven | Dir. Neen, Narrative Short
     

  2. Jahleel & Star | Dir. Monique Wilhoit, Narrative Short
     

  3. Redi Love | Dir. Daysia Leneé Hiller, Doc Short
     

  4. Alexandra McGee | Dir. Nicole Cone, Narrative Short
     

  5. The Gift of Color | Dir. Daniel Nathan Nunley, Narrative Short

"KEEP IT PUSHIN" is about acceptance. These films all deal with varying scenarios that force their characters to deal with rich & root-shaking situations & the choices we have to make after.

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SUBMISSIONS CLOSED

Panels

Weekend Panels

Why We Tell Stories

After our Friday night feature, Gail & Morris will be live on stage chatting with us on why we tell stories & what pushed them into media

6/23 Palace Theatre

Representation In Filmmaking

In this panel we will hear from Erica Hart, casting director of Black Lady Sketch Show, & Bust Down on why Black representation is an imperative to the success of the industry

6/24  Palace Theatre

Production & Funding

Join Jamal Hill & Attika J Torrence as they give us the behind the scenes talk about the grind of pushing a production from ideation to sale of content

6/24  Palace Theatre

Agenda
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AGENDA *subject to change*

THURSDAY

Screening & Panel Removed

10a-5p SHORT FILMS Renaissance

11a-5p FEATURE FILMS Palace

6p PANEL Palace

FRIDAY

7p SPECIAL SCREENING Palace

9p AFTER PARTY w DJ TGIF Renaissance

SATURDAY

10a-5p SHORT FILMS Renaissance

11a-5p FEATURE FILMS Palace

2p PANEL Renaissance

7p SPECIAL SCREENING Palace

9p AFTER PARTY w DJ TGIF Renaissance

4p PANEL Renaissance

6p MIXER Palace

SUNDAY

10a HIGHLIGHTED FEATURE Renaissance

12p AWARD CEREMONY Palace

 Volunteering 

  • Ushers: Assist with seating attendees, scanning tickets, and directing patrons to appropriate theaters
     

  • Box Office Attendant: Sell tickets and passes, and distribute festival schedules and promotional materials
     

  • Guest Services: Greet guests, answer questions, provide information about events and venues, and handle guest complaints or concerns
     

  • Line Management: Manage lines and queues for popular events, distribute wristbands or tickets, and ensure that attendees enter the venue in an orderly and efficient manner
     

  • Event Transition: Help with organizing and executing special events such as opening and closing ceremonies, parties, and awards ceremonies
     

  • Technical Support: Assist with audio and visual equipment, including setting up and testing projectors, screens, and sound systems
     

  • Media: Assits media capture team with getting footage & photos throughout the festival locations
     

  • Public Relations: Assist press team, including distributing press materials, escorting media personnel, and managing interviews with filmmakers
     

  • Translation and Interpretation: Assist with language translation and interpretation for non-English-speaking attendees and filmmakers (Spanish & ASL preferred)
     

  • Festival Operations: Provide general support for festival operations, including setting up and breaking down venues, managing merchandise sales, and running errands. Must have great attitude & communication skills

OUR SPONSORS

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Come Join Us

June 22 - 25, 2023 

19 Clinton Ave, Albany, NY 12207

Get Tickets

BE IN THE KNOW

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