The Urbanworld Film Festival presented by BET Networks, the largest international competitive festival of its kind, announced that Academy Award-nominated actress Queen Latifah will serve as Honorary Chair of this year's festival. Dedicated to the exhibition of independent and mainstream cinema by and about people of color, Urbanworld also announced it will screen 85 films at this year's festival in New York City from September 10-14. All festival screenings will be held at the AMC Loews 34th Street Theaters.
This year's selection showcases New York-based films and filmmakers celebrating local artists and communities, as well as a strong representation of international filmmakers from around the world. The 2008 slate will culminate in the special closing night screening of The Secret Life of Bees, followed by a Q&A with talent from the film including Queen Latifah, Sophie Okonedo ('Hotel Rwanda'), and screenwriter/director Gina Prince-Bythewood ('Love & Basketball'
'These are really exciting times for the festival,' said Stacy Spikes, founder of Urbanworld. 'On display we have films of nearly every genre, created by filmmakers of nearly every background. This robust selection of cinema, together with our new partnership with BET Networks, promises to make this the best Urbanworld yet.'
'We're thrilled to have hip-hop's first lady Queen Latifah sign on as honorary chair for this year's festivities,' said Alvin Bowles, Senior Vice President, Integrated Marketing, BET Networks. 'The exciting lineup of cinematic talent rounds out our mission to embrace and support the new wave of filmmakers of color through our partnership with Urbanworld.'
'I am thrilled to be the honorary chair of the Urbanworld Film Festival this year,' said Queen Latifah. 'It is an important and exciting festival and the perfect place to showcase my new film The Secret Life of Bees.'
The five-day festival includes feature, documentary, and short film screenings, as well as panel discussions, live staged screenplay readings and the celebrated Actor's Spotlight, featuring Queen Latifah and to be aired on BET, with previous honorees including Vondie Curtis Hall, Samuel L. Jackson, Billy Dee Williams and Rosie Perez.
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CHRIS at 9:14PM on Aug 21st 2008