Celeb Dirty Laundry was honored to be invited to the 16th Annual Urbanworld Film Festival in New York City presented by BET Networks. The stars were out and they were shining brightly as the screenings continued to amaze. There is so much going on at Urban World this year that it’s all we can do to maintain a handle on the non-stop action.
The three day festival wraps up this evening with the screening of Middle of Nowhere, directed by Ava DuVernay, winner of this year’s Sundance award for ‘Best Director.’ But let us summarize the event up until now for you. Followed by an incredible picture gallery!
Urbanworld opened on Thursday night at AMC 34th Street with the BET Premiere Cinema film ‘Being Mary Jane,’ an original made for television movie and pilot. On hand to celebrate this world premiere was the film’s lead star Gabrielle Union along with cast members Tika Sumpter and Richard Brooks and writer/director powerhouse couple Salim and Mara Brock Akil. BET top execs Debra Lee (Chairman and CEO), Loretha Jones (President of Original Programming), Jeanine Liburd (Exec Pres. of Corporate Communications) and Connie Orlando (VP, Original Programming) were also in the house to present the film, which was met with rave reviews following the screening. ESSENCE entertainment director Cori Murray moderated the cast Q&A afterward.
Friday night, the festival continued with an exciting day of screenings including Won’t Back Down, which was attended by Rosie Perez, Lance Reddick and Dante Brown; Doin’ It in the Park, attended by co-directors Bobbito Garcia and Kevin Couliau, Angie Martinez, former NBA player Larry Johnson, Fab 5 Freddy, Pee Wee Kirkland, Corey “Homicide” Williams; Barbasol, a short film attended by director Ralph Scott and lead actor Stephen Hill; An Oversimplification of Her Beauty, attended by director Terence Nance; and Tunnel Vision, attended by director Delilah Vallot, actors Ion Overman and Cristos. “Basketball Wives” Tami Roman was also in attendance to support the film Wolf, by Yake.
Additional attendees included: Jacque Reid, Harriette Cole, Twinkie Byrd (casting director, “Being Mary Jane”), Susan Fales-Hill, Jennifer Williams (VH1, “Basketball Wives”), Karen Gravano (VH1, “Mobb Wives”), Taimak (actor, The Last Dragon), Stacy Spikes (founder, Urbanworld), and Gabrielle Glore (executive producer, Urbanworld).
Urbanworld has been just great this year! If you want to see a complete set of pics from Thursday and Friday Nights then click here.
Photo credits: Friday – Christian Fernandez; Thursday – Terrence Jennings
