Winners Of The 24th Annual Urbanworld Film Festival Announced

The 24th Annual Urbanworld Film Festival (www.urbanworld.org), along with founding partner HBO and prestige partner WarnerMedia, announced the 2020 award winners for the best narrative feature (U.S. and World Cinema), documentary feature, documentary short, young creator, narrative short, animation short, web original, music video, screenplay, as well as the Vimeo Staff Pick award; as it closed its virtual festival today.

The nation’s largest competitive multicultural film festival screened 98 official selections, four spotlight screenings with conversations, eight spotlight conversations, seven Creativity Uncovered conversations and featured four original screenplay finalists.

Stacey Abrams, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, Ava DuVernay, David Oyelewo, Rosario Dawson, Lena Waithe, Luis A. Miranda, Jr., Nia DaCosta, Teyonah Parris, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Kelly Rowland, Robert Townsend, Alice Smith, Radha Blank, David E. Talbert, Jahi Di’Allo Winston, Will Catlett, DeRay McKesson, Chino Braxton, Pearl Thusi, Amy Schumer, 2020 Urbanworld festival ambassador Justin Simien, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Chief Operating Officer Christine Simmons and MGM's Orion Pictures President Alana Mayo were among the many that appeared throughout the five day virtual edition and its pre- festival events this year.

The 2020 Urbanworld Film Festival winners are:
BEST NARRATIVE FEATURE (U.S. CINEMA) – The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain – Directed by David Midell

Kenneth Chamberlain Sr. was fatally shot by the White Plains, NY, police on November 19, 2011 after they responded to the 68-year-old’s LifeAid medical alert, which he accidentally set off during the early-morning hours. Chamberlain, a retired Marine and 20-year veteran of the Westchester County Department of Corrections who also suffered from chronic heart problems, told the police through the door that he didn’t require assistance, and asked them to leave. They refused to leave unless Chamberlain opened the door. Chamberlain even communicated with the LifeAid operators to instruct the police to leave, but the situation escalated with the police breaking down Chamberlain’s door, tasering him and ultimately shooting him twice in the chest.

Cast: Frankie Faison, Anika Noni Rose, Steve O’Connell, Enrico Natale, BenMarten

THE JURY:

David Wolkis, SVP & Head, Production, TBS, TNT & TruTV

Mark R. Wright, Director, Development, MACRO

Mercedes Cooper, Director, Programming, ARRAY
Tamir Muhammad, Founder, Populace

BEST NARRATIVE FEATURE (WORLD CINEMA) – Salvation – Directed by Carmen Sangion

Chance encounters on the streets of Johannesburg connect Ezra – a young man on the run from the law, Roxy – a dejected stripper, and Father Benjamin – a despairing priest, in their search of answers, acceptance and faith.
Charged to revive a struggling church in a depressed inner-city community, Father Benjamin is forced to learn about forgiveness.

Ezra’s escape from his small town leads him to embark on a journey of self-discovery, while Roxy finally confronts a past she buried deep in the recesses of her mind. When their paths cross, they form an unlikely bond that forces them to venture out of their comfort zones and find freedom and salvation in truth and forgiveness.

Honorable Mention - Hoy - Directed by Ricardo B'atz'

https://www.urbanworld.org/2020/hoy

THE JURY:

Amy Andrieux, Executive Director, MoCADA
Jeniffer Kim, SVP, International Originals, HBO Max
Stacy Spikes, Founder, Urbanworld and Founder, PreShow

Ted Hope, Producer

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE – The Donut King – Directed by Alice Gu

The Donut King, Ted Ngoy's story is one of fate, love, survival, hard knocks, and redemption. It's the rags to riches story of a refugee escaping Cambodia, arriving in America in 1975 and building an unlikely multi-million dollar empire baking America’s favorite pastry, the donut. Ted sponsored hundreds of visas for incoming refugees and helped them get on their feet teaching them the ways of the donut business. By 1979 he was living the American Dream. But, in life, great rise can come with great falls.

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT - My Father The Mover - Directed by Julia Jansch

Alatha Galela’s father says he’s more than a dancer — he’s a Mover. Using African electronic “Gqom” dance, The Mover helps kids in the township of Khayelitsha, South Africa, to transcend the grips of poverty and abuse and find their superpowers. The Mover is also one of the few single fathers in the township. And while he has helped many kids find freedom, he still has difficulty getting his own daughter, Alatha, to break open and find her own powers. But in a tender moment together, this is all about to change.

THE JURY:

Erika Alexander, Co-Founder & Chief Creative Officer, Color Farm Media Jackie Glover, Head, News & Documentary, ABC
Lizzie Fox, SVP, Non-Fiction Programming, HBO Max
Sara Rodriguez, SVP, Documentary Programming, HBO

BEST YOUNG CREATOR – Nahjum – Directed by Sebastian Torres Greene & Manuel Del Valle

A prehistoric family´s desperate search for a mythical source of life turns into tragedy when the egos and obsessions of their male members rise to the surface.

THE JURY:

Eugene Ashe, Writer/Director, Amazon Studios’ Sylvie's Love

Kesila Childers, VP, Development, Powderkeg
Linda Lowy, EVP, Casting, HBO Max, TBS, TNT & TruTV
Sidra Smith, Head, Essence Studios

BEST NARRATIVE SHORT – White Eye – Directed by Tomer Shushan

A man finds his stolen bicycle and it now belongs to a stranger. In his attempts to retrieve the bicycle, he struggles to remain human.

Presented by WarnerMedia—$5,000 Prize

https://www.urbanworld.org/2020/white-eye

Honorable Mention – Elephant – Directed by Gladys San Juan

https://www.urbanworld.org/2020/elephant

THE JURY:
Axel Caballero, Head, WarnerMedia's 150
Brenda Gilbert, Co-Founder & President, BRON Media Corporation Marta Fernandez, President, MACRO Television Studios

BEST ANIMATION SHORT – Windup – Directed by Yibing Jiang

A father spent countless nights taking care of his bed-ridden daughter, as well as fighting their own emotions to stay strong and not lose hope. While on daughter’s mind, she gradually learns what’s going on when she explores her dreamworld.

THE JURY:
Billy Wee, SVP, Animation Originals, HBO Max Jeremiah Loeb, Creative Executive, Sony Animation Taylor K. Shaw, CEO, BWA Studios

BEST WEB ORIGINAL – East of LaBrea – Directed by Sam Bailey

Aisha and Farha come out to support their friend Moises' cafe opening only to find out it's a haven for white hipsters. Meanwhile, after an incident, Moises has to make a controversial decision in his staff. 

THE JURY:
D'Angela Proctor, CEO, Wayfarer Entertainment
Greta Talia Fuentes, Director, Development, MACRO
Kevin Parker, Talent Manager, Artists First
Maurice “Mo” Marable, Director & Executive Producer, Hulu’s Woke
Sam Linsky, SVP & Co-Head, Scripted Original Programming, TNT, TBS & TruTV

BEST MUSIC VIDEO – Rapsody Feat. Leikeli 47 "Oprah" – Directed by Farah X

Reflecting the economic prowess of the woman it’s named after, “Oprah” is all about women taking control of their economic destinies through focus on the mighty dollar. One thing we appreciate about Rapsody’s world is the fact that dollar bills already feature the face of Harriet Tubman on the $20 bill.

THE JURY:
Juliette Jones, EVP, Urban Promotions, Atlantic Records Trenton Pratt, Music Programmer, BET Networks Xiaolong Liu, Cinematographer

BEST SCREENPLAY – If You Seek Britney – Written by Ama Quao

Presented by BET Networks—$5,000 Prize

https://www.urbanworld.org/screenplays

THE JURY:
Connie Orlando, EVP & Head, Specials, Music Programming & Music Strategy, BET Joshua Sanchez, Writer/Director and WGAE Member
Tracey Moore, Host, iHeartRadio’s The Spirited Actor Podcast and Celebrity Acting Coach

VIMEO STAFF PICK – Eagle – Directed by Jose Acevedo

Presented by Vimeo—$2,500 Prize and inclusion on Vimeo Staff Pick list

https://vimeo.com/staffpicks

THE JURY:
Ian Durkin, Lead Curator, Vimeo
Ina Pira, Curator, Vimeo
Jeffrey Bowers, Senior Curator, Vimeo