From September 19-23, the Urbanworld Film Festival returned to New York City, showcasing narrative and documentary features, short films, spotlight screenings and conversations, and live staged screenplay readings. The DGA has been a sponsor of Urbanworld since 2000.
As part of the Guild's outreach efforts aimed at independent filmmakers, the DGA hosted a luncheon for Directors with entries in the festival on September 20. As the filmmakers gathered for the meet and greet in Manhattan, they were welcomed by DGA Senior Field Representative Bart Daudelin, who gave a brief overview of Guild’s mission to protect the creative and economic rights of directors and members of the directorial team. Daudelin then introduced Director Jim McKay (En el Séptimo Día), who spoke to the attendees about the advantages of having an organization like the DGA behind you when filming. Also on hand were Urbanworld Festival Director & Head of Programming Gabrielle Glore and Urbanworld Film Festival Filmmaker Liaison Ashley Mui who gave tips about the festival, and DGA Assistant Executive Director Mary Hatch who assisted in answering inquiries about the Guild.
Other DGA members participating in the festival included Director Malcolm D. Lee, whose feature Night School served as the Urbanworld Opening Spotlight film; Director Joe Morton, who attended the Awards Brunch Ceremony; and Director George Tillman, Jr., who spoke about his Urbanworld Closing Night Spotlight feature The Hate U Give in a Q&A moderated by Director Ava DuVernay.
About the Festival
Founded in 1997 by Stacy Spikes, the Urbanworld Film Festival is a five-day event that also includes panel discussions, and the Urbanworld Digital track focused on digital and social media. The Festival is an initiative of the Urbanworld Foundation Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to redefining the role of minorities in contemporary cinema and developing the urban filmmaking community.