Nearly 7,000 attendees participated in weeklong cultural event
DENTON, Texas, February 7, 2019 – In
another record-setting year of attendance, the Denton Black Film
Festival announced the winners of its 2019 awards,
recognizing emerging filmmakers from around the country and talented college
students.
The festival featured 64 films that were screened January 23 to January 27,
2019, including 16Bars, a film produced by Todd “Speech” Thomas of the popular
rap group Arrested Development, and a spirited festival closing concert with
Grammy-award winning artist Kirk Whalum and the University of North Texas’
internationally acclaimed One O’Clock Band.
The events occurred at various venues in Denton where more than 7,000 enthusiastic participants laughed, cried, discussed, debated and danced their way through the weekend. In addition to the films and live music, there was comedy (featuring Piper the Comedian and Comedian Joel Runnells, Jr.), art shows (showcasing “Life Stories: The Quilts of Barbara McCraw” and an exhibit of work by fibers artist Taylor Barnes), and workshops on a range of subjects through the DBFF Institute (including black cinema, marketing as an independent filmmaker and intellectual property, as well as social justice-oriented panels on human trafficking and bias.
“We had so many outstanding films to choose from this year,” said Linda Eaddy,
the festival’s director of the film programming, who has curated a collection
that champions student filmmakers, along with highlighting local, national, and
international independent filmmakers. “In our fifth year, we had more films
than ever with more than 70 percent of the films premiering at our festival.
We’re thrilled this festival is becoming a place for filmmakers to showcase
their work.”
The award sponsors are Panavision, Distribber, Embassy Suites by Denton, the Denton Convention Center, PoorChild Films and the Denton Black Film Festival.
Here’s a list of the winners, runners-up
and honorable mentions:
BEST NARRATIVE FEATURES
WINNER
Alaska Is A Drag
Director Shaz Bennett
The winner receives a $20,000 camera package, courtesy of Panavision.
RUNNER – UP
1 Angry Black Man
Director Menelek Lumumba
BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURES
WINNER
The Mayor’s Race
Director Loraine Blumenthal
The winner receives a contract with Distribber, who will distribute the film on
Amazon, Google Play and a strategy session with me of the company’s senior
executives.
RUNNER – UP
Black, White & US
Director Loki Mulholland
BEST SHORT FILMS
WINNER
The Beach
Director Toroes Thomas
The winner receives a contract with Distribber, who will distribute the film on
Amazon, Google Play and a strategy session with me of the company’s senior
executives.
RUNNER – UP
Training Wheels
Director Sandrel “Sanicole” Young
HONORABLE MENTION
Little Church
Director Zachary Cunningham
BEST COLLEGE SHORT FILMS
WINNER
Skintight
Director Ciara Boniface
RUNNER – UP
Showtime
Director Shawn Antoine II
BEST TEXAS SHORT FILMS
WINNER
Don’t Drink the Water
Director Issa Currie
RUNNER – UP- TIE
Alora
Director Nicholas Muthersbaugh
RUNNER–UP- TIE
Pound
Director Anjola Coker
BEST TEXAS COLLEGE SHORT FILMS
Skintight
Director Ciara Boniface
RUNNER – UP
Street Flame
Director Katherine Propper
For more information about the festival, go to
DentonBFF.com.
About the Denton Black Film Festival
The Denton Black Film Festival is an annual cultural event, featuring the works
of emerging filmmakers from around the country and talented college students,
musicians, artists and spoken word poets. Held each January, thousands attend
the celebration of storytelling in various art forms, that takes place in
venues in Denton, Texas, just 40 miles north of Dallas. The event is a yearly
fundraiser for the Denton African American Scholarship Foundation, which
supports high school students.
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