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