The ActNow Foundation, Inc. is now accepting feature and short film submissions for the 5th installment of Brooklyn’s premier black film festival and showcase New Voices in Black Cinema. The Festival will take place March 26-29, 2015 in partnership with BAMcinématek.
The festival, in the recent past, has screened acclaimed independent films to sold out audiences, including Tommy Oliver’s "1982" (starring Hill Harper and Wayne Brady), Tanya Hamiton’s "Night Catches Us" years back (starring Kerry Washington & Anthony Mackie) , Ava DuVernay’s fictional feature film debut "I Will Follow," and many more, including "Big Words," "Tey," "alaskaLand," "Stones in the Sun," "Gimme the Loot," as well as compelling documentaries such as "The Central Park Five," "Infiltrating Hollywood: The Rise & Fall of the Spook Who Sat By The Door," "The Furious Force of Rhymes," "United States of Hoodoo" and others.
The festival, which has introduced Brooklyn audiences to the freshest of voices in indie black cinema, has also screened an array of incredible short films from local and international talent.
There’s also the annual ‘New Black Classics,’ which includes the screening of films that fit under that umbrella – for example, in 2012 the festival screened Theodore Witcher’s "Love Jones" and the year before that, Wendell B. Harris’ woefully underseen gem "Chamelon Street." Last year, the banner went to John Sayles "Brother From Another Planet" and included a fascinating post-screening discussion with director John Sayles and star Joe Morton, moderated by Warrington Hudlin.
The deadline to submit your films for 2015 festival consideration is January 4, 2015.
Submission guidelines follow.
– Shorts or Feature films (documentary or narrative), which tell stories centered around a character (or characters) of the African diaspora, can be sent to:
ActNow Foundation, Inc.
138 S. Oxford St, Ste. 5C
Brooklyn, NY 11217
– Marked "NVIBC Festival Submission," your package should include a DVD copy of your film, as well as a cover letter indicating the following: Title of Film; Genre(s); Total Running Time; Logline; Short Story Synopsis; Director(s); Producers and/or Production Company Name; Contact Person Name & Full Contact Information, including mailing address, email address and phone number; Production year; and screening format(s) available.
– Online submissions are also accepted via screeners on YouTube, Vimeo, Daily Motion, etc. And you must provide the above referenced information in writing (letter or e-mail) along with the entry fee, before your film may be considered. E-mail to newvoicesinblackcinema@gmail.
– The submission entry fee is $25 check, made payable to: "ActNow Foundation, Inc."
Again, entries will be accepted until January 4, 2015.
Also, a reminder that all films should tell stories centered around a character (or characters) of the African diaspora.
New Voices in Black Cinema is a multi-genre festival of quality and diverse movies geared towards getting all audiences to appreciate and support independent films from, by, and starring artists of the African diaspora. Whether the films are contemporary or period pieces, drama or comedy, science fiction or animated, the further purpose of this series is to give filmmakers the opportunity to showcase their talent on a grand stage, where they can develop opportunities for limited distribution and create buzz for future industry contacts. Special guest appearances have included: Joe Morton, Jeffrey Wright, John Sayles, Hill Harper, Warrington Hudlin, Aunjanue Ellis, Lisa Nicole Carson, Theodore Witcher, Tanya Hamilton, Ava Duvernay, Yaya DaCosta, Les Nubianes’ Hélène and Célia Faussart, Bobitto Garcia, Tobias Truvillion, and many more.
