The 15th annual Hayti Heritage Film Festival with its new features such as: juried films, student film workshops and awards show was a success for the cultural arts center.
“We’ve definitely taken the film festival to another level, and are looking forward to what next year’s festival will entail”, said V. Dianne Pledger, President and CEO of the Hayti Heritage Center.
The tone of the festival was set Community Night when writer and director, Leon Lonzano’s film, Something is Killing Tate was viewed by an attentive audience, who gave the film rave reviews. After the feature film was shown, Lonzano took questions from the audience and explained that his background in social work, and having been a teacher of emotionally disturbed children made it necessary for him to create such a film “that told the stories that he heard on a daily basis, he felt needed to be told.”
On Friday, students interested in filmmaking were treated to a catered luncheon by sponsor Golden Krust restaurant, a Caribbean Restaurant located in Durham. Emmy Award Winning documentary producer, Dante James gave the keynote address. James urged the students to maintain their integrity. While he only had one sponsor for his award winning PBS documentary, Slavery In America, he did not allow personnel from New York Life Insurance Company to view his work until it was completed, so that his work would not be tainted by the sponsor potentially voicing an opinion concerning content that was difficult to see and hear. “It’s very important that your work has some integrity–even if no one sees it. Your work cannot be bought.”, stated James.
SunTrust Bank, the North Carolina Institute for Minority Economic Development and the Community Reinvestment Association sponsored the Short Financial Film Challenge, and there were multiple entries from students from around the country that participated–from the University of Southern California, New York University and locally.
The final day of the Hayti Heritage Film Festival ended with awards being given out in six distinct categories.
Best Short Film Winner: “Election Day”
Best Acting Ensemble Winner: “Premature”
Best Feature Film Winner: “Some thing is Killing Tate”
Best Student Film Winner: “Brother’s Inc.”
SunTrust Short Financial Film Challenge Winner: “So Fresh”
Honorable Mention: “Think”
Audience Choice Award Winner: “Premature”
Film lovers and afcionados can keep up with the sights and news of the festival by joining the Hayti Heritage Film Festival’s (HHFF) fan page on the social networking site, Facebook.
