Boston, MA – ACT Roxbury and The Color of Film Collaborative are pleased to announce that 51 films will be screened July 30 – August 2, 2009 at the 11th Annual Roxbury Film Festival (RFF). RFF, the largest film festival in New England dedicated to films that celebrate people of color, features a variety of films, from features, documentaries, shorts and youth-produced works.
«This years festival is once again a showcase of talented filmmakers whose vision and voice bring unheard stories into global view» said Lisa Simmons, president of The Color of Film Collaborative, Inc., «Festivals like RFF are important to the dissemination of the unique voices and stories that are found beyond mainstream Hollywood.»
The Roxbury Film Festival is important in that is provides Boston with a vehicle through which to see films they otherwise might not see», said Michelle Baxter, Director of ACT Roxbury. «Additionally, it provides additional exposure for filmmakers with interesting stories to tell with a medium through which to tell them.»
Actor Brendon DeShazar, Actress Marla Gibbs, Producer and Distributor Quincy Newell, acting coach Troy Rowland, LA screenwriter and Boston Native Eric Meza, are among the special guests attending this year’s Festival. Others include Hollywood publicist and filmmaker Ava Duvernay of the Duvernay Agency, along with industry veteran and marketing consultant Komeka Freeman, who will take part in the panel – Marketing & PR for Filmmakers.
This year’s opening night program at the MFA will include a Gospel Choir to precede the opening night film «Jump the Broom». RFF’s closing night program includes the world premiere of the film «Why We Laugh» a film directed by last year’s special guest Robert Townsend and is a look at the history of African Americans in Comedy. Marla Gibbs will be on hand for Q&A.
Very exciting is a special sneak preview of the new Disney Film «Princess and the Frog» with animator Bruce Smith leading Q&A and an animation workshop for kids. «Princess and the Frog» will be released in December of 2009 and is the first Disney film with an African American Princess. Friday night’s event, Dinner and a Movie at Haley House Bakery Café will feature a hometown, homegrown bar-b-que with award winning film «Why am I Doing This», director Tommy Haung and Actor Obba Babatunde, (Introducing Dorothy Dandridge, Broadway musical Dreamgirls. father on Half & Half) will be in town for Q & A.
Tickets for the Festival are as follows:
General Festival Screening: $8 per screening
MFA tickets: $8-$10
Festival Passes:
$125 – All inclusive pass*
$100 – Opening Gala & Film, Closing Reception, panels, films*
$ 75 – General Pass (all films, excluding Dinner & A Movie)
* excludes Dinner & A Movie event
Panels & Workshops See website for details (www.roxburyfilmfestival.org)
The 11th annual Roxbury Film Festival will be July 30 – August 2, 2009. Films will be screened at Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Tower Auditorium at the Massachusetts College of Art, Roxbury Center for Arts at Hibernian Hall, and Annex Auditorium at Wentworth Institute of Technology. Updated information on special guests, panels, awards and other festival events can be found at www.roxburyfilmfestival.org
