Charlotte Black Film Festival

Sharing the Creation, Diversifying the Dream

The second annual Charlotte Black Film Festival (CBFF) will take place this March first through third at the Mint Museum Uptown and the UNCC Center City building. Developed by Tommy Nichols, the President and CEO of Glorified Media, the CBFF offers for all attendees film screenings, workshops and receptions showcasing the works of emerging African American actors, composers, screenwriters and directors. Their mission is to showcase “...African American cinema as an art form, and to be a voice for independent filmmakers of color.”

This year’s workshops include, “The Color of Media” (March 1, 10 a.m.) and “The Hollywood of the South,” at which panelists discuss film production in the Carolinas and contract opportunities for actors, directors, makeup artists, caterers and more. Other events at this year’s festival include “Pitch Me,” where participants pitch their best ideas for a new film; and the Youth Film competitions where this year’s theme will be “Stop the Bullying.” Like last year, the CBFF will host an Actor’s Idol competition on the last day of the event where participants will show off their acting, singing and directing chops. All told, the CBFF will show 10 independent films and two special screenings, host four workshops, The Red Carpet Vision Awards and two competitions.

The festival takes place each year during the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) tournament, which brings more than 150,000 people to Charlotte to watch 13 historically African American colleges compete. Prices are affordable for such an extensive festival, and with so many people in town, be sure to reserve your place soon. If you will be in town for the whole event, an all-access festival pass guaranteeing admittance to all screenings, workshops and events is $190 and may be the right buy for you. (The pass also includes access to a networking lounge and VIP seating). Workshops are $20 each (or $40 for all four offered), while an independent film pass for all films being shown Friday and Saturday is available for the same price. Attendance at the Red Carpet Vision Awards, hosted at the Booth Playhouse, will run you $30, but the Pitch Me and Actor Idol competitions are only $10 each. If you only have time to catch one or two of the festival’s events, consider the Youth and Latino film screenings, both of which are free. For more information about pricing, or to purchase tickets online, please visit the CBFF Web site and look under “registration.”

The CBFF also maintains yearly programming as well as a summer camp for youth interested in the filmmaking process, from acting to screenwriting and directing to digital editing. Programs throughout the year include a late night summer movie series and bi-monthly networking meetings of actors, directors and writers held at the Belk Action Center in the Charlotte Chamber building.
For more information on this year’s festival, as well as other programming from the CBFF, please visit their Web site at http://www.charlotteblackfilmfestival.com.

Culture Editor, Louise Albano-Hurley