Focus On Black Cinema

citizen |

by Suzette Laboy

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. (AP) - One of the most prestigious festivals honoring black cinema returned to Miami Beach recently to promote cultural diversity and recognize the contributions of black directors, writers and actors to the film industry.

Celebrating its 15th year, the American Black Film Festival promoted cultural diversity within the film industry by strengthening the black filmmaking community through four days of film screenings, networking, workshops for both actors and directors and panel discussions.

Jeff Friday, the festival's co-founder, said he wanted to change America's tone of African-American characters on television and films.

I had always been disturbed by images of people with color in films. There was always a level of struggle, he said of Black people on the television shows he grew up watching, such as Good Times or The Jeffersons.

I just didn't see enough diversity.

That was decades ago, and Friday acknowledged the industry was doing a much better job now.

In all, 20 independent films will premiered during the festival that ran through last Saturday, allowing for emerging filmmakers to showcase their work through short-film and documentary competitions. The films were either made or directed by an African-American, or had a focus on black culture.

Opening the festival was In the Hive, produced by Robert Townsend and starring Michael Clarke Duncan, Loretta Devine, Vivica A. Fox and Jonathan Lil J McDaniel. The film is based on a true story of a woman who started an alternative school for troubled youth in North Carolina.

It's what's going on right now. At risk youths ... how do you save them?'' Townsend said.

We have a lot of stories to tell. And a lot of times Hollywood hasn't really told our stories. We need a new generation of filmmakers to tell stories that reflect truths and the humanness of the people of color.

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