NEW YORK, NY (September 23, 2018) – The 22nd Annual Urbanworld Film Festival (www.urbanworld.org), presented by AT&T’s The Humanity of Connection along with founding partner HBO, announced the award winners for the best narrative feature (U.S. and World Cinema), narrative short, documentary feature, music video, screenplay, young creators, web originals as well as the audience award categories during its awards brunch, hosted by journalist Lola Ogunnaike, at Tribeca Grill Loft in New York City today.
The nation’s largest competitive multicultural film festival screened 76 selections, featured 4 original screenplay finalists and hosted digital, music and spotlight events. Kevin Hart, Tiffany Haddish, Ava DuVernay, Amandla Stenberg, Algee Smith, Tasha Smith, Lil Rel Howery, Naturi Naughton, Tristin Wilds, John David Washington, Simone Missick, Boris Kodjoe, Mustafa Shakir, Adepero Oduye, April Reign, Joe Morton, Bilal, Ayo, Ray Angry of The Roots, directors Malcolm D. Lee and George Tillman, Jr., producers Donna Gigliotti, Nina Yang Bongiovi and Will Packer as well as journalist Elaine Welteroth were among the many that appeared throughout the five day festival this year.
The 2018 Urbanworld Film Festival winners are:
BEST NARRATIVE FEATURE (U.S. CINEMA) – Pimp – Directed by Christine Crokos
https://www.urbanworld.org/2018/pimp
(Presented by ARRAY – $2,500 Prize)
Honorable Mention – 1 Angry Black Man – Directed by Menelek Lumumba
https://www.urbanworld.org/2018/1-angry-black-man
THE JURY:
Sharla Sumpter Bridgett, President of Production, The Story Company
Terra Potts, Senior Vice President, Multicultural Marketing, Warner Bros. Pictures
Tilane Jones, Vice President, ARRAY
BEST NARRATIVE FEATURE (WORLD CINEMA) – The Burial of Kojo – Directed by Blitz Bazawule
https://www.urbanworld.org/2018/the-burial-of-kojo
(Presented by Urbanworld – $2,500 Prize)
Honorable Mention – El Chata (The Sparring Partner) – Directed by Gustavo Ramos
https://www.urbanworld.org/2018/el-chata-the-sparring-partner
THE JURY:
Frida Torresblanco, Producer
Lisa Cortés, Producer
Nnamdi Asomugha, Actor / Producer
BEST NARRATIVE SHORT – Wale – Directed by Barnaby Blackburn
https://www.urbanworld.org/2018/wale
(Presented by REIGN—$25,000 funding commitment towards next short film project, along with mentorship; funded project will be exhibited on REIGN’s on-demand platform, along with mentorship; funded project will be exhibited on REIGN’s on-demand platform)
2nd Prize – Let Them Die Like Lovers – Directed by Jesse Atlas
www.urbanworld.org/2018/let-them-die-like-lovers
$15,000 funding commitment towards next short film project, along with mentorship; funded project will be exhibited on REIGN’s on-demand platform, along with mentorship; funded project will be exhibited on REIGN’s on-demand platform.
3rd Prize – Are We Good Parents? – Directed by Bola Ogun
https://www.urbanworld.org/2018/are-we-good-parents
$10,000 funding commitment towards next short film project, along with mentorship; funded project will be exhibited on REIGN’s on-demand platform, along with mentorship; funded project will be exhibited on REIGN’s on-demand platform.
THE JURY:
Korin D. Williams, Co-Founder & CEO, Kronicle Media
Lauren Ludwig, Writer / Director
Maria Zuckerman, Senior Vice President, HBO Films
Monique Nash, Co-Founder & Head of Creative Affairs, Kronicle Media
Quincy Newell, Chief Content Officer, REIGN
BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE – Mr. Soul – Directed by Melissa Haizlip
https://www.urbanworld.org/2018/mr-soul
(Presented by HBO — $5,000 Prize)
Honorable Mention – The Pushouts—Directed by Katie Galloway & Dawn Valadez
https://www.urbanworld.org/2018/the-pushouts
THE JURY:
Jacqueline Glover, Senior Vice President, HBO Documentary Films
Jason Delane Lee, Actor & Producer / Co-Founder, Lagralane Group
Rachel Watanabe-Batton, Executive Producer & Founder, Contradiction and Struggle
BEST MUSIC VIDEO – Scandal – Directed by Pablo Mengin-Lecreulx
https://www.urbanworld.org/2018/scandal
THE JURY:
Coodie & Chike, Directors, CreativeControl.TV
Stephen G. Hill, CEO, Tricpelvis Productions, LLC
Wendy Washington, Founder, TID Agency
BEST SCREENPLAY – Northern Cross – Written by Melody Cooper
(Presented by BET Networks – $10,000 Prize)
https://www.urbanworld.org/screenplays
Honorable Mention –Johnny Ace – Written by Moon Molson
THE JURY:
Jennifer Mayer, Screenwriter & Playwright
Jeremy Pikser, Vice President, Writers Guild of America East / Award-Winning Writer
Tamara Gregory, Creative Executive, BET Networks
BEST YOUNG CREATOR – Three In Stride – Directed by Sasha Whittle
(Presented by REIGN –$25,000 funding commitment for next short film project, along with mentorship; funded project will be exhibited on REIGN’s on-demand platform)
https://www.urbanworld.org/2018/three-in-stride
Honorable Mention: Silvia In The Waves – Directed by Giovana Olmos
https://www.urbanworld.org/2018/silvia-in-the-waves
THE JURY:
April Reign, Creator, #OscarsSoWhite
Boris Kodjoe, Actor / Producer, Bluvoma, Inc.
Lisa Holly, Vice President, Strategy & Business Development, REIGN
BEST WEB ORIGINAL – Frank & Lamar – Directed by Fred Soligan
https://www.urbanworld.org/2018/frank-and-lamar
Honorable Mention: Otis – Directed by Alexander Etseyatse
https://www.urbanworld.org/2018/otis
THE JURY:
Angela Northington, Industry Executive
Tamir Muhammad, Producer
Zennen Clifton, Vice President, Digital Strategy & Distribution, MACRO
AUDIENCE AWARDS
Best Feature – Pimp – Directed by Christine Crokos
https://www.urbanworld.org/2018/pimp
Best Short – Jitters – Directed by Otoja Abit
https://www.urbanworld.org/2018/jitters
