The VIPP Report: The kickoff of IBFF 2015 brings filmmakers from all over the world to Nashville

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The International Black Film Festival of Nashville (IBFF) is underway and kicks off in grand way with a red carpet entrance into the beautiful Medical Medical College in the Cal Turner Event Center.   The founder of IBFF Hazel Joyner-Smith says “What a great way to open the festival with the marquee film, “Chapter & Verse”. Producer Cheryl Hill took questions from the audience followed by an Opening Night Reception.

On Friday, Grammy-nominated artist and actress Antonique Smith will attend this year’s festival for the screening the World Premiere of “Stock Option” starring Amin Joseph, Tasha Smith and Smith. “Stock Option” tells the story of a stock broker down on his luck becomes homeless and rescues a famous model, (Smith) from a robbery attempt when the writers say “sparks fly”. The screening takes place on Friday, October 2nd at 7:00 pm. on the campus of Meharry Medical College at the Cal Turner Event Center.

Smith recently performed on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. for Pope Francis during the Moral Action on Climate Justice Rally. She will discuss that experience and her career as an actress and R&B Artist (with a new hit single “High” which is currently available on Tunes) in a panel discussion on Friday, October 2nd from 11:00 am- 12:15 pm with the Power & Influence of Music in Film & TV.

For a complete schedule, go to ibffevents.com.

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The VIPP Report: Grammy nominated artist Antonique Smith performs for Pope Francis, Next Stop IBFF 2015

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The International Black Film Festival of Nashville (IBFF) announces that Grammy-nominated artist and actress Antonique Smith will attend this year’s festival for the screening the World Premiere of “Stock Option” say “sparks fly”.  The screening takes place on Friday, October 2nd at 7:00 pm. on the campus of Meharry Medical College at the Cal Turner Event Center.

Smith recently performed on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. for Pope Francis during the Moral Action on Climate Justice Rally.  She will discuss that experience and her career as an actress and R&B Artist (with a new hit single “High” which is currently available on Tunes) in a panel discussion on Friday, October 2nd from 11:00 am- 12:15 pm with the Power & Influence of Music in Film & TV.

IBFF will take place over 3½ days October 1-4, 2015 in Nashville, TN.  It will be hosted at the on the campus of Meharry Medical College in the new Cal Turner  Center for Student Education.  IBFF is also honored to welcome the esteemed Meharry Medical College as an official sponsor for this year’s event.

Throughout the day event, the festival will serve the full spectrum of the industry by providing a venue to showcase the work of filmmakers from around the globe. Patrons will have the opportunity to view “unreleased,” independent and studio films, participate in awesome industry level workshops, master classes, industry parties, and high profile red carpet events with celebrity appearances.

If you would like to setup an interview, obtain media credentials, synopsis, please email us at press@ibffnashville or contact Sherlene Shanklin  at 502-295-0435.  You may also email us at info@ibffnashville.com or call the festival office at (615) 278-9537. Please visit our website at http://www.ibffevents.com for event details.

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About International Black Film Festival of Nashville

Through the art of film, the International Black Film Festival of Nashville (IBFFN) celebrates rich, diverse and creative storytelling for the cultural enrichment, progress and education of communities worldwide. Established in 2006, IBFFN is a collaboration of dedicated professionals who support the need for a community effort to bring African-American and other communities together to showcase their work as emerging and skilled independent filmmakers, actors, composers, screenwriters, directors and other film industry professionals. With “Defining Our Stories, Transforming the Image” as its organizational theme, IBFFN strives to ensure culturally accurate depictions in film with special emphasis on providing a forum for unheard, unseen and unknown viewpoints, and showcasing the multitude of experiences presented in local, national and international communities of color.

With the support of our sponsors, corporate partners, the community, the International Black Film Festival maintains its relevance to the creative, educational, and socially conscious communities around the globe.

About Meharry Medical College

Meharry Medical College, founded in 1876, is the nation’s largest private, independent historically black academic health sciences center dedicated to educating minority and other health professionals. True to its heritage, it is a United Methodist Church affiliated institution. The College is particularly well known for its uniquely nurturing, highly effective educational programs; emerging preeminence in health disparities research; culturally sensitive, evidence-based health services and significant contribution to the diversity of the nation’s health professions workforce. Meharry is a leading national educator of African Americans with M.D. and D.D.S. degrees and Ph.D. degrees in the biomedical sciences.

The VIPP Report: “Straight Outta Compton” Co-Executive Producer Alan Wenkus will attend this year’s IBFF in Nashville

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The International Black Film Festival of  Nashville (IBFF) continues to add special guests to this year’s festival line up. The IBFF team is excited to announce that Writer & Co-Executive Producer Alan Wenkus of the history making, blockbuster film “Straight Outta Compton” will participate in the Special Conversation Series on Saturday October 3, 2015 at 5:00 p.m. on the campus of Meharry Medical College Cal Turner Event Center.

Wenkus, a former Programming Executive with Premiere Radio Networks and Clear Channel Communications, was introduced to former NWA Manager Jerry Heller and began a series of interviews with Heller and Eazy E’s widow Tomica Woods-Wright. Wenkus and his writing partner then developed and transformed these interviews into the riveting screenplay “Straight Outta Compton”, which chronicles the music career of controversial rap group N.W.A.

  With Easy E’s widow’s blessing, Wenkus sold the script along with the music rights attached to Universal Studio. Wenkus was also retained by the film studio for multiple script polishes and stayed aboard the project from inception to production as Co-Executive Producer.

This past August “Straight Outta Compton” opened at #1 and stayed on top of the U.S. box office, grossing over $150 million in 3 weeks.  The critically acclaimed film directed by F. Gary Gray is currently receiving awards season buzz for its amazing cast, direction and story.

Wenkus is also writer and producer of the recently announced big screen biopic “No Show Jones” about country music legend George Jones and is writing the screenplay adaption to the thrilling New York Times bestseller “Code Name: Johnny Walker” about an Iraqi citizen who works with the U.S. Navy SEALs to track down some of the world’s most treacherous terrorists

IBFF will take place over 3½ days October 1-4, 2015 in Nashville, TN.  It will be hosted at the state of the art Cal Turner Family Center for Student Education on the campus of Meharry Medical College.  IBFF is also honored to welcome the esteemed Meharry Medical College as an official sponsor for this year’s event.

Throughout the day event, the festival will serve the full spectrum of the industry by providing a venue to showcase the work of filmmakers from around the globe. Patrons will have the opportunity to view “unreleased,” independent and studio films, participate in awesome industry level workshops, master classes, industry parties, and high profile red carpet events with celebrity appearances.

If you would like to setup an interview, obtain media credentials, synopsis, please email us at press@ibffnashville.com or contact Sherlene Shanklin at 502-295-0435.  You may also email us at info@ibffnashville.com or call the festival office at (615) 278-9537.

Please visit our website at www.ibffevents.com for event details.

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About International Black Film Festival of Nashville

Through the art of film, the International Black Film Festival of Nashville (IBFFN) celebrates rich, diverse and creative storytelling for the cultural enrichment, progress and education of communities worldwide. Established in 2006, IBFFN is a collaboration of dedicated professionals who support the need for a community effort to bring African-American and other communities together to showcase their work as emerging and skilled independent filmmakers, actors, composers, screenwriters, directors and other film industry professionals. With “Defining Our Stories, Transforming the Image” as its organizational theme, IBFFN strives to ensure culturally accurate depictions in film with special emphasis on providing a forum for unheard, unseen and unknown viewpoints, and showcasing the multitude of experiences presented in local, national and international communities of color.

With the support of our sponsors, corporate partners, the community, the International Black Film Festival maintains its relevance to the creative, educational, and socially conscious communities around the globe.

About Meharry Medical College

Meharry Medical College, founded in 1876, is the nation’s largest private, independent historically black academic health sciences center dedicated to educating minority and other health professionals. True to its heritage, it is a United Methodist Church affiliated institution. The College is particularly well known for its uniquely nurturing, highly effective educational programs; emerging preeminence in health disparities research; culturally sensitive, evidence-based health services and significant contribution to the diversity of the nation’s health professions workforce. Meharry is a leading national educator of African Americans with M.D. and D.D.S. degrees and Ph.D. degrees in the biomedical sciences.

IBFFN PRESENTS TN PREMIERE OF HIGHLY-ACCLAIMED FEATURE “BEYOND THE LIGHTS” Director Gina Prince-Bythewood & Actor Nate Parker Lead a Panel Discussion on “Depiction of Black Love in Film”

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (October 2014) – The International Black Film Festival of Nashville (IBFFN) announces the continuation of its“2014 Festival Lite” line-up which will showcase the Tennessee  Premiere of Relativity Studios’ critically acclaimed feature film “Beyond the Lights”.

 IBFFN, in collaboration with the historic Fisk University, will present a panel discussion featuring  Writer/Director Gina Prince-Bythewood and Actor Nate Parker on the “Depiction of Black Love in Film” on Wednesday, November 5, at 4:00 pm in Jubilee Hall, Appleton Room on the campus of Fisk University, 1000 17th Avenue North, Nashville, TN.  The panel is open to the public at no charge.

The advanced screening of  “Beyond the Lights” with a Q&A to follow, will then be held at Regal Cinemas Hollywood/100 Oaks, in Nashville TN at 7:30 p.m.  The Q&A Session will be
held immediately follow the screening.
Gina Prince-Bythewood, an accomplished writer/director, recently received the distinguished honor of being being invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Her body of work includes the widely-acclaimed feature film “Love & Basketball” starring Omar Epps and Sanaa Lathan, the HBO film “Disappearing Acts” starring Sanaa Lathan and Wesley Snipes, and the award winning (2 NAACP Image Awards & 2 People’s Choice Awards) “The Secret Life of Bees” starring Nate Parker, Dakota Fanning, Queen Latifah, Jennifer Hudson & Alicia Keys.  Nate Parker,  a vocal activist, talented actor and producer, is known for roles in Non Stop (2014), The Great Debaters( 2007) and Red Tails (2012).

“Beyond the Lights“, starring GuGu Mbatha-Raw (Belle), Nate Parker as (Secret Life of Bees, The Great Debaters)  tells the story of Noni (Mbatha-Raw), the music world’s latest superstar. But not all is what it seems, and the pressures of fame have Noni on the edge – until she meets Kaz Nicole (Parker), a young cop and aspiring politician who’s been assigned to her detail. Drawn to each other, Noni and Kaz fall fast and hard, despite the protests of those around them who urge them to put their career ambitions ahead of their romance. But it is ultimately Kaz’s love that gives Noni the courage to find her own voice and break free to become the artist she was meant to be. The film makes its debut in theaters across the country on November 14, 2014.

All events scheduled for this year will be apart of an abbreviated version of the full festival, appropriately titled “2014 Festival Lite”. With support and direction of the new IBFFN Board of Directors and Advisory Committee, the festival is eager to return to its regularly scheduled format in 2015.

“2014 Festival Lite” will continue to offer unique and engaging programming inclusive of premiere screenings, workshops and networking opportunities throughout the year.

“We are honored to have esteemed writer/director Gina Prince-Bythewood share her insight and vision with our Nashville audience.  Gina’s presence at IBFFN represents the achievement of a major milestone for us, as we have always followed her work. We are equally excited for the return of Nate Parker who has been a specical guest of IBFFN at a previous festival. As “Beyond the Lights” has made its rounds to sold out crowds at major film festivals around the globe, we also have heard that the film has already generated some Oscar buzz.  We are also proud to partner with Fisk University, which has a rich history steeped in the arts and film”, said IBFFN Founder Hazel Joyner-Smith.

Over the next few weeks expect updates, highlights and exciting announcements. If you would like to setup an interview, obtain media credentials, synopsis, please contact Sherlene Shanklin at (502) 295-0435. You may also email us at info@ibffnashville.com  or call the festival office at (615) 565-9256. Please visit our website at www.ibffnashville.com for event details. Ticketing information for the screening will be available soon.

If you have a story idea, send it to TheVIPPReport@vippcommunications.com.

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