African American Film Festival

Four-day celebration of people of color in cinema, featuring local and national filmmakers

This film festival coincides with the Town of Cary’s African American Celebration, a nearly two-decade history of recognizing black history and heritage. The African-American Film Festival will spotlight seven feature films and six short films made by and about African-Americans. The festival also offers unique forums for Q&A and panel discussions with talented local and national filmmakers.  Most screenings free, unless noted.     Film Festival Host and Featured Film Maker: Harold Jackson III   Mr. Jackson is an Emmy-nominated producer and recent winner of the Emerging Filmmaker Award at the N.C. Black Film Festival. “Last Night,” is a romantic drama-comedy set in Washington, D.C., and winner of the Best Feature Award. Jackson’s other award-winning films include, “The Gift,” “Burn: The Evolution of an American City,” and “Under the Bourbon Moon.”

Festival Schedule

Thursday, March 3: 7 p.m. – RESCUE MEN: THE STORY OF THE PEA ISLAND LIFESAVERS, followed by Q&A with Director Allan Smith 9:15 p.m. – BLOOD DONE SIGN MY NAME   Friday, March 4: 6 p.m.  – Kick off reception 7 p.m. – LAST NIGHT followed by Q&A with director and featured guest Harold Jackson, III 9:15 p.m. – WAR ROOM, curated by festival featured guest Harold Jackson, III   Saturday, March 5: 10 a.m. – Panel Discussion: “Diversity in the Film Industry,” featuring Harold Jackson, III 2 p.m. – An afternoon of short films:

• “February One: The Story of the Greensboro Four,” with Dr. Steven A. Channing
• “Dark Therapy,” by Chad Eric Smith
• “The Confidential Informant,” by Stephen Kinigopoulos
• “Jane Doe,” by A.M. Greene

7 p.m. – STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON, introduced by featured guest Harold Jackson, III ($5.00)   Sunday, March 6: 2 p.m. – DEAR WHITE PEOPLE ($5.00)  

Saturday, March 5 featured panelists:

 Joel Brown anchors the 4 p.m. evening edition of WTVD ABC11’s Eyewitness News. Previously, he was the Washington-based correspondent for CBS NewsPath. Joel began his career in television news at KETK, the NBC affiliate in Tyler, Texas. Joel was born and raised in suburban Philadelphia and has family roots in North Carolina. Joel’s father was born and raised in Fayetteville, and he has a number of aunts, uncles, and cousins in the area. John Heller is an Emmy Award and two-time CLIO Award-winning producer and director. His work has been recognized with an Academy Award nomination for American Masters Series film, “Adam Clayton Powell.” It delves into the gripping life of one of America’s most influential and flamboyant civil rights leader from the 1930s to 1950s. Heller was also director of photography on the Cannes Film Festival nominated film “Joe.” Harold Jackson III is an Emmy-nominated producer and recent winner of the Emerging Filmmaker Award at the N.C. Black Film Festival. “Last Night,” is a romantic drama-comedy set in Washington, D.C., and winner of the Best Feature Award. Jackson’s other award-winning films include, “The Gift,” “Burn: The Evolution of an American City,” and “Under the Bourbon Moon.” Tyler Schwartz is currently senior filmmaker at Raleigh-based production company Carolina Reprographics. He studied theater at The University of Southern California and majored in screenwriting and directing at The Los Angeles Film School. Schwartz worked in the educational division at Walden Media to help develop films such as “City of Ember” and “Charlotte’s Web.” In 2007, his one-act play, “Untitled!” was selected as a top 10 finalist in the National Young Playwrights Competition. Charlon Turner was born in Harlem and raised in Wilmington, N.C., where she still resides. She is an actor, director, and nonprofit program coordinator as well as founder of Turner Solutions, a boutique public relations firm for nonprofits and small businesses. She has performed in and directed numerous plays in Atlanta and Wilmington, and is board vice president of the Black Arts Alliance and host of the N.C. Black Film Festival.   About Jireh Management Group    

This festival is produced in partnership with Jireh Management Group, a full-service entertainment company, provides development and placement needs for music, television, films and fashion. Specializing in celebrity hosted events, management and artist development, Jireh has strong relationships with artists, record labels, casting directors, booking agents, venue and club owners, various celebrities from athletes, actors, radio personnel and street teams. Jireh Management Group works with clients to create events that combine talent, atmosphere and theme.