soulhead Official 2017 Urbanworld Film Festival Music Lovers Guide

We are pleased to be working with the Urbanworld Film Festival again as a promotional partner in 2017.  For more than 20 years, Urbanworld has been the premiere outlet for up and coming diverse filmmakers.     This year is no different.  With a full slate of films and music videos from around the World representing a potpourri for cultures and ethnic backgrounds, Urbanworld delivers insightful documentaries, full-length features, TV shows, captivating shorts and music videos.

Like last year, this year’s offering includes a large number of well known subjects as well as many first time and emerging talents.   We are particularly interested in Word is Bond featuring a number of legendary hip-hop lyricists like Nas and the South Central Los Angeles story, Covers, with Tristan Wilds.  And who knew one of our favorite singers, Ledisi, could act?  She is taking on an exciting role in one of the more anticipated shorts, Tale of Four, which will consider Nina Simone’s classic songs, “Four Women.”  On the events side, Thursday’s Urbanworld Digital will be a great afternoon and evening of panels and discussions and that night, Harlem will lit with the Hot Pepper Jelly slate of event, which is quite impressive with several notable live performances by Elan Varner, Old Man Saxon, and Josh Dean along with a DJ set by DJ Rich Knight.

While we have a packed list of projects we are looking to see, we are especially looking forward to the substantial offering of music related cinema and events.  Since the large number of films being shown, this list helps us to organize our agenda more easily. We have also added relevant panels and events for your convenience in addition to indicating our KEY PICKs.

Enjoy!

soulhead Official 2017 Urbanworld Film Festival Music Lovers Guide

Dates:  September 20-24, 2017
Location:  AMC Empire 25, 42nd Street Entertainment Center, 234 W 42nd St, New York, NY 10036
FULL ACCESS PASSES:  Click Here  (Use soulhead code: UWPARTNER2017 for 20% Discount) or tickets to individual films is possible below.

DOWNLOAD PDF OF FULL GUIDE.

Wednesday, September 20

EVENT

OPENING RECEPTION

LIVE DJ SET BY DJ MOMA + Performance by Violinist Patmore Lewis 

Location:  The Skylark at 200 West 39th Street in Midtown Manhattan.  DIRECTIONS

Tickets:  BY INVITATION ONLY

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Thursday, September 21

Features

8:00p – Tales: Trap Queen

Description: Inspired by the lyrics of Fetty Wap’s “Trap Queen,” this episode of Tales tells the story of devoted love: Crystal (Michelle Mitchenor) discovers that her boyfriend — the love of her life – Reggie (Lance Gross), is running drugs out of the strip club they own together. Despite her initial hesitation, Crystal decides to join forces with Reggie in order to secure their dream future.

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10:00p – Word is Bond (KEY PICK)

Description: Lyricism is the foundation of hip hop music. Word is Bond explores the nature of lyricism and those who practice the art form. From up-and-coming artists, to some of the most legendary figures the game has ever known. Features Nas, Freeway, Royce Da 5’9″ and many more.

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Shorts/Music Videos

5:00p – Missio – Can I Exist (Shorts Program 1)

Description:  Separated during childhood due to the color of their skin, two friends are reunited years later during the Baltimore City race riots of 1968.

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9:15p – Know Your Worth (Shorts Program 2)

Description: Halima tries to break all ties with her unfaithful boyfriend. While he pleads for her to come back she discovers her power and strength without him; the downfall in their relationship becomes her ultimate triumph.
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Events

1) URBANWORLD DIGITAL (TOP PICK)

Description:  Various insightful conversations about diverse topics including media distribution platforms, content development, virtual reality and much more.   Industry experts share their experiences and perspectives with festival attendees. Industry mixer to follow.

Location:  HBO Theater on 1100 6th Avenue (15th Floor) @ 42nd Street in Midtown Manhattan.  DIRECTIONS

Tickets:  Advance RSVP Required.  Click Here to RSVP.

2) HOT PEPPER JELLY (TOP PICK)

LIVE music performances by ELÁN VARNER, OLD MAN SAXON and JOSH DEAN + DANCE PARTY WITH DJ RICH KNIGHT

Location:  Nublu 151 at 151 Avenue C in Lower Manhattan.  DIRECTIONS

Time:  8:00 PM

Tickets:  FREE for Urbanworld Festival Attendees w/ RSVP.  General Admission:  $10 Cover

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Friday, September 22

Features

5:15p – Shine

Description:  SHINE exudes the power of brotherhood, love and redemption.  Ralphi Matas returns to Spanish Harlem to develop commercial real estate in the Barrio he left behind after his father Ramon passed away. Ralphi encounters his estranged brother Junior, who forces him to recognize everything he left behind. As Ralphi confronts his past, his tenacious boss Linda pursues the lucrative development deal that threatens to dismantle his beloved Barrio and childhood memories. Ralphi is determined to reclaim what he has lost as a voice echoes in his mind: “we are connected from the very first beat to the very last echo.”

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10:30p – Speaking Tongues (in Spanish)

Description: In many cities in Mexico, a big number of young people are getting devoted to the art of Rap. They live for Rap and nurture from it. Who are these Mexican rappers? What do they find in this culture that society is not giving them? How has this intense relationship with words and language transformed them and helped them survive in this country that doesn’t offer any opportunities?
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Shorts/Music Videos

5:00p – Last Looks (Shorts Program 3)

Description:  An aesthetician does her brother’s makeup for his final showcase.

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Events

HARLEM FRIDAY NIGHTS

HOSTED BY MAINE

DJ SET BY DJ RICH KNIGHT

Location:  GINNY’S SUPPER CLUB at 310 Malcolm X Blvd in Harlem.  DIRECTIONS

Time:  11:00 PM

Tickets:  UW Guest List – Free All Night, Festival Attendees with Credential – $5.  RSVP here.

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Saturday, September 23

Features

7:30p – Covers (KEY PICK)

Description:  The story of a young man from the streets of South Central who chooses between a life of mediocrity spent with the flawed people he loves, or a life of promise afforded to him via his ability to create modern R&B renditions of classic pop songs.

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Shorts/Music Videos

12:00p – Independent

Description:  INDEPENDENT follows four of hip hop’s most exciting independent artists – Futuristic, Reverie, Sean Brown, and Trinidad James – as they work to take over the music scene without the ties of a major record label. Stage 13 follows these bold artists as they grow their fan base, tour internationally and deal with the harsh realities that come when chasing the dream. This series is about the hustle, the vision and the American hip-hop dream.

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2:45p – The Tale of Four (Shorts Program 4) (KEY PICK)

Description: Inspired by Nina Simone’s song, “Four Women,” this narrative explores the inner lives of Aunt Sarah; bound and burdened by duty, Saffronia; who is searching for identity, Sweet Thing; who looks to reconcile sex with love and Peaches; who seeks justice for her son. Separate stories reflective of multi-faceted African American women connected by the inner city building that they live in, ultimately converge on one fateful day through unheralded acts of bravery. Featuring R&B and soul singer Ledisi.
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2:45p – Beautiful Soul  (Shorts Program 4) (KEY PICK)
Description: Music video for Beautiful Soul by Elan Varner.

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2:45p – Silence Radio (Shorts Program 4)

Description: Nayla is a foreign student living in Europe. She has been a jazz enthusiast all her life, and she currently hosts a jazz radio show at her university. One night, an older man from her past asks her to appear on the show to talk about the political situation in their home country. She is inclined to refuse him, but she acts cautiously, knowing that to upset the zealous man could have dire consequences.
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6:00p – Flip The Record (Shorts Program 5) (KEY PICK)

Description: A little-known but lasting explosion of hip-hop culture grew out of the Filipino-American community of 1980s San Francisco. This film takes us into the beat of an aspiring mobile DJ crew in ’84. Vanessa, sick of the the constraints and boring piano lessons in her conservative Filipino-American household, starts teaching herself on the sly how to scratch on her older brother’s turntables. We follow Ness as she discovers her talents and place in the local music scene of the era.

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6:00p – Sunday Saxon  (Shorts Program 5)

Description: A young boy escapes an environment filled with impulsive behavior, bad influences, and parental neglect to encounter a slow moving, long living, and all knowing creature that assures him everything is going to be fine.
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Events

CLOSING NIGHT PARTY

DJ SETS with

DJ C DEVONE + SARIGOLD

Location:  Lexington’s at 130 E 39th St in Midtown Manhattan.  DIRECTIONS

Time:  10:00 PM

Tickets:  FREE w/ RSVP + Festival Attendees with Credentials.  General Admission $10 Cover  RSVP here.

Click here for more information

 

DOWNLOAD PDF OF FULL GUIDE.