First Annual Charlotte Urban Film Series Announced by 2006 Urban Film Series Tour

Best selling author Omar Tyree, renowned singer Julie Dexter, Def Poetry Jam Artists, TV Host Lisa Durden and award winning documentaries, shorts, features and children directed films anchor first urban film series for Carolinas.

Charlotte, NC (PRWEB) September 15, 2006 -- Next Generation Awareness Foundation, Inc. (501(c)(3)) (NGAF), producers of the Black History Month Film & Discussion Series, the Black Docs Film Series and the Urban Film Series Tour, announced today that the 2006 Urban Film Series Tour will visit Charlotte, North Carolina and produce the First Annual Charlotte Urban Film Series under the theme “A Community United”. The three day event is scheduled for October 5th - 7th, and will include award-winning films, world premiere screenings, celebrity discussions, book-signings, Def Poetry Jam poets, and an R&B soul concert.

The theme, "A Community United," speaks to the need for and purpose of the series," says Corey Jennings, founder and project director. “Communities across the nation have been tremendously challenged and we can only begin with togetherness,” says Corey. "We are excited, especially since we have thought often about having such a festival in the region, but until now, it has just not happened," says Kelley Eaves, who, along with Michael Kitchen, serve as NGAF's local coordinators for the Charlotte series. “So much can be accomplished by working together and building,” says Michael.

Who: Next Generation Awareness Foundation, Inc.

What: First Annual Charlotte Urban Film Series

Where: October 5th - Tempo Club, 4809 Wilkinson Blvd., Charlotte, NC. October 6th-7th - Central Piedmont Community College, 1206 Elizabeth Avenue, Charlotte, NC (Oct 6th - Pease Auditorium, Oct. 7th - Dale F. Halton Theater)

When: October 5th-7th, 2006

Tickets: Tickets will be available beginning September 20th at www.UrbanFilmSeries.com, www.thesoulmovement.com, and at Central Piedmont Community College. Prices will range from $5-$20 for single and all day passes.

Press/Media Requests

Members of the press should contact us at press@urbanfilmseries.com or (202) 409-7240 or (704)287-7653. NGAF, program participants and filmmakers are available for interviews and appearances. Please state your request(s) as exact as possible (interview, article, pictures, attendance) and forward us your media credentials (media source, circulation or viewership, affiliation, title, and contact information).

Sponsors, Vendors, Authors, Poets

Sponsorship, signage and other marketing opportunities are available. Any remaining vendors, authors and poets, desiring to participate should contact us immediately. Contact us at info@ngaf.org or info@urbanfilmseries.com or (202) 409-7240, (704) 287-7653 or (704) 287-8417.

Official Schedule

Thursday October 5th - Official Welcome Reception, Film, Discussion and Concert

8:00pm Start @ Tempo

• Featuring Def Poetry Jam Artists, Filmmakers, and Performance by Julie Dexter

• Feature Film: Finally Sayin’ What I Really Mean (2006)

• Q&A with filmmaker Monique Woods

• Performance by Julie Dexter

Friday October 6th – Turning Stories Into Life

7:00pm – 10:00pm @ Central Piedmont Community College

• Premiere of The Pact (2005)

• Omar Tyree receives NGAF Spiritual Legacy Award

• Discussion with Omar Tyree

• Omar Tyree Book-signing and Reception hosted by Digital Divas

Saturday October 7th

12:00pm – 7:00pm @ Central Piedmont Community College

Session 1: And A Child Shall…

12:00pm – 1:00pm

• 3 North Carolina Premieres of Award-Winning Films Produced and Directed by Teenagers

• All Falls Down (2002)

• A Memoir to My Former Self (2004)

• Choices: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly (2001)

Session 2: Don’t Cut Me Short…

1:20pm – 2:45pm

• Jacob's Sound (2002)

• May This Be Love (2006)

• I’d Rather Be Dancing (2005)

Session 3: This Can’t be Right

3:00pm – 4:45pm

• Driving While Black: An Instructional Video (2004)

• The Adventures of Super N*****: Episode I, The Final Chapter (2004)

• Joy (2003)

Session 4: Awareness and Controversy

5:00pm – 6:30pm

• Project W.O.W.: A Look Into the Lives of Men on The Down Low (2005) (As Seen on B.E.T.)

• Q&A with Producer and TV Host Lisa Durden

Details of Films

Children and Young Adult Produced Films

All Falls Down (2002) (13 min)

• Buzz: 2004 New York City contest winner, aired on Showtime, and used in school districts across the nation.

• Website: http://scenariosusa.org

A Memoir to My Former Self (2004) (15 min)

• Buzz: 2004 Miami Contest winner, aired on Showtime, and used in school districts across the nation

• Website: http://scenariosusa.org

Choices: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly (2001) (15 min)

• Buzz: 2001-2002 National East Contest Winner, Aired on Showtime, Honorable Mention, Hip Hop Odyssey Film Festival, Featured in USA Today and Connect for Kids, used in various school districts across the US including the NYC School District.

• Website: http://scenariosusa.org

Shorts Films

May This Be Love (2006) (5 min)

• Buzz: This is the film’s WORLD PREMIERE screening.

I’d Rather Be Dancing (2005) (30 min)

• Credits: Written, produced and directed by celebrity actress and dancer Yvonne Farrow.

• Buzz: Winner of ABC Entertainment's Talent Development Scholarship/Grant 2003-2004, Nominated "Best Short" Pan African Film & Arts Festival 2005, Nominated Special Prize "Special Interest" Short Drama FESPACO 2005, Winner "Best Actress" Yvonne Farrow For role of Monta Cummings American Theater of Harlem Film Festival 2005.

• Website: http://www.twinbiz.com/be_dancing.html

Driving While Black: An Instructional Video (2004) (9 min)

• Buzz: A longstanding film for the series, having made numerous festival appearances, and a crowd favorite.

Jacob's Sound (2002) (15 min)

• Buzz: Longstanding film in the Urban Film Series Tour because of it’s quality and emotion. Funded by Showtime and shot in Wilmington, NC.

• Website: http://www.annadudley.com

The Adventures of Super N*****: Episode I, The Final Chapter (2004) (14:37 min)

• Buzz: Producing Award - NYU First Run Film Festival, Best Experimental Short –Hip-Hop Odyssey International Film Festival, 3rd Place Student Short – Juneteenth Film Festival, Best Short – Bronx International Film Festival, Co-Winner Best Short – New Jersey International Film Festival, and over 20 screenings, including the Annual National Black History Month Film & Discussion Series of 2005.

• Website: http://www.alricksporch.com

Feature Films

Finally Sayin’ What I Really Mean (2006)

• Credits: Produced by Monique Woods

• A music documentary featuring Anthony David, Chamillionaire, Cody ChestnuTT, Common, David Banner, Eric Roberson, Jill Scott, KRS-One, Lalah Hathaway, Martin Luther, Omar, Saul Williams, Sticman, and Van Hunt

• Website: http://www.elementsdvd.com/

Joy (2003) (73min)

• Buzz: Best Feature Film - Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame, Best Narrative and Best Actor - Bare Bones International Film Festival, and an official selection numerous film festivals.

• Website: http://www.acrossthetracks.com

Project W.O.W.: A Look Into the Lives of Men on The Down Low (2005) (60min) (As Seen on B.E.T.)

• Credits: Written and Produced by Lisa Durden

• Buzz: Best Topic - 2006 Black Docs Film Series, Best Documentary Award - the Pocono Mountains Film Festival.

• Website: http://www.lisadurden.com

The Pact (2006) (84:38 min)

• Credits: Produced and directed by Andrea Kalin, executively produced by Bill Duke, and produced by Silvia Holmes.

• Buzz: Best Documentary - Boston International Film Festival and Black Docs Film Series, official selection - Oakland International Film Festival, Malonga Casquelourd Center for the Arts, Underground Railroad Film Series in Seattle, Mount Shasta International Film Festival, Hot Springs International Film Festival, and the Utopia Film Festival.

• Website: http://www.thepacthemovie.com

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