The war epic film Devotion directed by JD Dillard, and starring Jonathan Majors opens Urbanworld Film Festival.
Urbanworld Film Festival
NAME OF FESTIVAL: Urbanworld Film Festival
SINCE: 1997
WHERE: New York, New York
ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
The Urbanworld Film Festival, founded in 1997 by Stacy Spikes, is one of the largest internationally competitive festivals of its kind. Each year, we curate a programming slate that represents the broadest lens of diversity across stories, characters, themes, and cultures. From narrative to documentary content, Urbanworld presents a selection of features, shorts, and episodics from around the world. We fight tirelessly to expand the definition of “urban” beyond ethnicity to include sensibility, culture, and proximity, as we highlight undiscovered storytellers.
25th Urbanworld Film Festival Unveils Lineup – Sankofa, King Richard and More
The 25th Urbanworld Film Festival runs from Thursday, September 29 – October 3, 2021.
Urbanworld Film Festival 2020 Winners – THE KILLING OF KENNETH CHAMBERLAIN, SALVATION, THE DONUT KING Win Top Prizes
Urbanworld Film Festival announced the 2020 winners, with The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain, winning the award for Best Narrative Feature.
David Oyelowo’s THE WATERMAN to Open Virtual Urbanworld Film Festival 2020
David Oyelowo’s feature directorial debut, The Water Man, will open the virtual 24th Annual Urbanworld Film Festival on September 23.
YELLOW ROSE Wins Top Jury and Audience Awards at 2019 Urbanworld Film Festival. Complete List of Winners
Yellow Rose, directed by Diane Paragas was a big hit at the 23rd Annual Urbanworld Film Festival, winning both the Audience Award and Jury Award for Best Feature – U.S. Cinema.
HARRIET, THE APOLLO, JUST MERCY Headline Urbanworld Film Festival 2019 Lineup
The 23rd Urbanworld Film Festival will open with Harriet starring Cynthia Erivo, and present a slate of 78 official selections and 7 spotlight selections in Manhattan.
Urbanworld Film Festival Reveals 2017 Festival Slate, Closes with U.S. Premiere of MARSHALL
The Urbanworld Film Festival today revealed its 2017 film slate of 80 official selections.
Denzel Washington-Produced SHAME Added to 2015 Urbanworld Film Festival
The world premiere of Shame has been added to the lineup for the 19th Annual Urbanworld Film Festival. Tyrese Gibson and Academy Award® winner Jennifer Hudson star in Shame, a Paul Hunter film produced by Denzel Washington. In the short film written by Gibson, up-and-coming soul singer Lionel Jacobs (played by Gibson) is working the nightclub scene, trying to climb to the top of the charts while married to his background singer Bobbi Ann (played by […]
2015 Urbanworld Film Festival Reveals Complete Lineup; Opens With “Muhammad Ali: The People’s Champ” Closes With “A Ballerina’s Tale”
The 19th Annual Urbanworld Film Festival announced all of the films that will be showcased at the upcoming festival taking place September 23-27, 2015 at Manhattan’s AMC Empire 25 on 234 West 42nd Street. BET’s Muhammad Ali: The People’s Champ will serve as the opening night film at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, September 23. The biographical tribute to the former heavyweight champion, directed and executive produced by Clarence “Coodie” Simmons and Chike Ozah, will connect […]
‘Beyond the Lights’ To Open 18th Annual Urbanworld Film Festival – This Week in NYC
Beyond the Lights
The 18th Annual Urbanworld Film Festival, will take place this weekend 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 12 world premieres.
Relativity’s Beyond the Lights, a drama written and directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood (Love and Basketball, The Secret Life of Bees) and produced by Relativity, Relativity Sports, Undisputed Cinema and Homegrown Pictures in association with BET Films, will serve as the opening film at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 18 at the SVA Theater at 333 W. 23rd Street. The story of a talented young musician on the brink of super stardom struggling with the pressure of her new-found success stars Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Belle, Larry Crowne), Nate Parker (Red Tails, The Great Debaters), Minnie Driver (Good Will Hunting) and Emmy Award® nominee Danny Glover (The Color Purple, Lethal Weapon). The film opens nationwide on November 14, 2014. Prince-Bythewood, a longtime supporter of the festival and Independent Spirit Award® winner, is the ambassador for this year’s festivities.
Kevin Cooper’s “THE PAINTER” NYC Premiere at UrbanWorld Film Festival | TRAILER
The anti-violence short film “THE PAINTER,” premiered at the UrbanWorld Film Festival. Written and directed by Kevin Cooper, and starring Ron Caldwell, THE PAINTER tackles the tough subject of how violence is robbing the innocence of our youth. Cooper partnered with non-profit organizations UCAN and Youth Guidance, to include children from high risk areas in the filmmaking process. “It was inspiring working with these children…a film about the violence with the help of victims,” says Cooper.
Urbanworld Announces 2013 Festival Winners; “THE VOLUNTEER” “THE NEW BLACK” “FULL CIRCLE” Win Top Awards
Stacy Spikes (Urbanworld founder), Tai Beauchamp, Marvin Scott (HBO), Allison Bonner Shillingford, Solvan “Slick” Naim, Robert Kolodny, Yoruba Richen, Darius Clark Monroe, Greg Rhem (HBO), and Gbenga Akinnagbe
THE VOLUNTEER directed by Vicky Wight, THE NEW BLACK directed by Yoruba Richen, and FULL CIRCLE directed by Solvan “Slick” Naim won the big awards at the 17th annual Urbanworld Film Festival held over the weekend – September 18 to 22 in Manhattan, New York City. Urbanworld, which screened 60 films this year describes itself at the largest internationally competitive festival dedicated to the exhibition of independent cinema by and about people of color.