2024 Urbanworld Film Festival Lineup Announced
The Urbanworld Film Festival and Innovation Summit returns to New York City from November 13-17, 2024, for its 28th edition, promising an unforgettable celebration of cinema, creativity, and cutting-edge ideas. As one of the most highly anticipated events in the industry, this Academy Award® Qualifying Festival continues to lead the charge at the intersection of film, storytelling, and technology. This year’s event will feature a captivating lineup of films, thought-provoking discussions, and transformative experiences. HBO proudly celebrates 28 years as a founding partner, with Warner Bros. Discovery joining as a prestigious partner, underscoring the festival's influential role in shaping the future of entertainment.
This year, the festival will feature an electrifying slate of screenings at Regal Union Square, Manhattan's iconic cinematic hub, where filmmakers and audiences will converge to experience stories from across the globe. Complementing the festival’s screenings, the Urbanworld Innovation Summit will return on opening day, held at the Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center at Lincoln Center, fostering conversations at the cutting edge of storytelling and creative expression.
The Innovation Summit, powered by The FutureCast Foundation, is a vital platform for film, digital content, and storytelling trailblazers. A space for creators, industry leaders, and visionaries to explore the evolving landscape of narrative art, the summit promises to push boundaries, offering immersive experiences and conversations that will shape the future of content creation.
"Urbanworld is more than just a festival—it's a global celebration of innovation, creativity, and the transformative power of storytelling," said Karen McMullen, Urbanworld Film Festival Director. "We are honored to present films and projects from filmmakers and screenwriters from over 15 countries, reflecting the diversity and depth of human experience. This year, we are particularly proud to shine a light on our Spotlight: Middle Eastern Shorts, which honors the beauty, strength, and resilience of a region facing immense challenges."
The Directors Guild of America (DGA), a longstanding supporter since 2000, will host exclusive events for independent filmmakers, including a private luncheon for directors presenting their films at the festival. In addition, the Writers Guild of America, East returns for its 11th consecutive year as a partner, bringing its screenplay competition to the forefront with live table reads and conversations with some of the most innovative screenwriters in the industry. Directors across 14 film categories will be honored with jury-selected Best in Festival accolades.
Not-to-be-missed highlights include Albany Road, directed by Christine Swanson, featuring the legendary Lynn Whitfield and Renée Elise Goldsberry. We’re thrilled to showcase the directorial debut of actor Denzel Whitaker and co-director Yuki Maekawa-Ledbetter in Brand New. Beyond the screenings, attendees can engage in a powerful Clips and Conversation session with acclaimed filmmakers Coodie & Chike, renowned for their cultural influence. The festival also promises a vibrant opening night party, a live breakdancing performance presented by ESPN Films, and the prestigious Awards Brunch, hosted by J. Alphonse Nicholson—who will also debut his directorial featureFreight. Sponsored by Walt Disney Studios x ESPN Films, these moments are sure to leave a lasting impression.
Bringing the festival to a powerful close is The Honorable Shyne, a Hulu Original, presented by Andscape and Hulu, followed by an exclusive Q&A. This compelling documentary delves into the extraordinary journey of Moses "Shyne" Barrow, the Grammy Award-winning artist who transformed from a rising rap star of the late '90s to a respected politician. The Honorable Shyne explores his remarkable story of redemption and reinvention. With Andscape, part of The Walt Disney Company—a Black content studio known for its nuanced exploration of Black identity through sports and culture—at the helm, this closing night promises to be an unforgettable moment of inspiration and reflection.
Urbanworld continues to stand as a beacon for diverse voices and forward-thinking narratives, amplifying underrepresented communities while pushing the boundaries of storytelling and creative innovation. The festival promises to be a convergence of visionaries, inspiring new possibilities for the future of cinema and digital content creation.
To purchase tickets and passes, visit urbanworld.org
2024 URBANWORLD FILM FESTIVAL SLATE:
SPOTLIGHT FEATURES:
Unstoppable (Amazon MGM Studios) starring Jharrel Jerome, Bobby Cannavale, Michael Peña, Mykelti Williamson with Don Cheadle, and Jennifer Lopez
It Was All a Dream, Directed by Dream Hampton, following the early days of hip-hop and featuring Biggie Smalls, Method Man, and Ice-T
Breakin’ on the One (ESPN Films)
SHORT FILM HIGHLIGHTS:
Fannie, starring Aunjanue Ellis, re-creating Fannie Lou Hammer’s famous speech
Criminal, Directed by Robe Imbriano, with a live music performance by the film’s collaborators Stew & Heidi
It Just Happened, starring Denzel Whitaker, a short comedic film
The Brown Dog, an animated short featuring the voice talents of the late Michael K. Williams and Steve Buscemi, Directed by Nadia Hallgren and Jamie-James Medina
CLIPS AND CONVERSATION:
Coodie & Chike, award-winning filmmakers, and directors are known for their compelling documentaries and music videos, including the critically acclaimed Jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy
US NARRATIVE FEATURES:
Albany Road, Director, Christine Swanson
Freight, Director, J. Alphonse Nicholson
WORLD NARRATIVE FEATURES:
Hello Spring (China) Director, Lanjua Ma
The Battle (Brazil) Director, Vera Egito
To a Land Unknown (UK), Director, Mahdi Fleifel
DOCUMENTARY FEATURES:
Family Tree Director, Jennifer MacArthur
Paint Me a Road Out of Here Director, Catherine Gund
Singing Back the Buffalo Director, Tasha Hubbard
Songs from the Hole Director, Contessa Gayles
US SHORT NARRATIVE FILMS:
At Night, Director, Zoe Simone
August & Ebony, Director, Sunyin Zhang
Bloomed In The Water, Director, Joanne Mony Park
Border Hopper, Director, Nico Casavechia
Brand New, Co-Directors, Quincy Ledbetter and Denzel Whitaker
Chimera, Director, Kryzz Gautier
Chocolate with Sprinkles, Director, Huriyyah Muhammad
drawn, Director, Claro de los Reyes
Echoes of Pomegranate, Director, Alex Bijan Zandi
Fannie, Director, Christine Swanson
In the Fold, Director, Manuel Del Valle
It Just Happened Director, Steven Bennett
Jamila, Director, Julia Freij
Last Hoorah at G-Baby’s, Director, DeeDee Casmir
Leave On High, Director, Javier Ortega, Andrew Slane
Marcel’s Piñata, Director, Adrian B. Herrera
Nwa (Black), Director, Hans Augustave
Rites of Passage, Director, Grant Housley
Side Roads, Director, Alvaro Nunez Sechi
Tender Thoughts, Anndi Jinelle Liggett
Terminally Ill, Director, Chris Cole
The Adventures of Robin Hood, Director, Monica Moore-Suriyage
Thomasville, Director, Alex Woodruff
Trending, Director, Felix Martiz
When Winter Comes, Director, Yuan Yuan
WORLD SHORT NARRATIVE FILMS:
Dawn Every Day,(Egypt) Director, Amir Youssef
Doris, (Ghana) Director, Edem Dotse
Ebb & Flow, (Lebanon) Director, Nay Tabbara
F**k Sisterhood, (France) Director, Gael Barboza
Future is Panorama, (Syrian Arab Republic) Director, Muschirf Shekh Zeyn
If We Met Now, (Canada) Director, Halen King
My Son Went Quiet, (Canada) Director, Ian Singh Bawa
Son, (Iran) Director, Sama Hosseinpuor
The Backway, (UK) Director, Cherno Jagne
The Cascade, (Mexico) Director, Pablo Delgado Sanchez
SHORT DOCUMENTARY FILMS:
A Family Portrait, Queens, Director, Billy Silva
A Race in the Sun, Director, K. Nicole Mills
Betye Saar: Drifting Toward Twilight, Director, Kyle Provencio Reingold
Complexion, Director, Toko Shiki
Criminal, Director, Robe Imbriano
El Regresso (The Return) Director, Samantha Ramirez
Fenice, Director, Sterling Hampton IV
Forget-Me-Not, Director, Tamika R. Guyishard
Simi, Director, Maria Mayo
The Afro Mexpats, Director, Ebony Marie Bailey
The Archive: Queer Nigerians, Director, Simisolaoluwa Akande
The Can Mas Eshtete, Director, Laura Chechoway
What Were You Meant For, Director, Kevin Anthony Brooks
When There Are No Words, Director, Gabriella Canal
ANIMATION:
Baigal Nuur - Lake Baikal, Director, Alisi Telengut
Dodo, Director, Yi Luo
Pacemaker, Directors, Brian Vincent Rhodes, Christopher Lennertz
Tehran is Ours, Director, Hamideh Azimi
The Brown Dog, Director, Nadia Hallgren, Jamie-James Median
YOUNG CREATORS:
Ayo, Check Up! Director, Natan Xia
Frog Jumping, Director, Ian Linn
Goodbye Train Director, Chioma Ejimofo
Moon in the Water, Director, Jingwen Fang
Primero, Sueño Director, Andrés Lira
Sunday in August, Director, Troy Charbonnet
SCREENPLAYS:
En Root, writer Rashmi Singh
Fuego (2024), writer Edwin FrankO
If I Die in America, writer Ward Kamel
Kevin writers Carmus Johnson, Shannon Walsh & Jack Gorman
Spitting Fire, writer Angie Comer