For Immediate Release
LaHitz Media, 415 821.1111
May 30, 2008                



The San Francisco Bay Area was very well represented this year at the 61st Cannes International Film Festival.  Danny Glover, George Lucas, Carl Lumbly, Clint Eastwood, Sean Penn including my company LaHitz Media all had projects at the festival.  The ten-day annual event started with a bang with  "Blindness” directed by Fernando Meirelles and the high flying pace continued through out the festival.

A big hit at Cannes was "Namibia, Struggle for Liberation,” staring Carl Lumbly and Danny Glover directed by Charles Burnett (who was slated to receive the LaHitz Media Sojourner Truth Award, unfortunately could not come because of a directing gig for Hallmark).   Danny, who had three films showcasing, said of Namibia, "We all worked with passion and dedication to capture that great story on film.  I must commend the Namibian government, Ed Santiago (producer and editor), Charles, Carl, and the young actors and crew for pulling it all together.”

Clint Eastwood was there with his film "A Mighty Heart” which stars a now very pregnant Angelina Jolie.  There was some discord between Clint and our boy Spike who was there promoting his upcoming documentary about Michael Jordan and the $31 million (Italian backing) about Black soldiers in World War II surrounded by Nazis in a small Italian Village and fighting U.S. Military racism at the same time.  Spike and Clint had a verbal sparring match about the roll of Black soldiers in the U.S. Military.  Come on boys, just go and see each other’s films and applaud politely afterwards.

Speaking of sparring matches, "Mike Tyson” and his family were on the Red Carpet with a film about his life.  Tyson is truly one of the great athletes and personalities of our time.  This documentary explores the many facets of Mr. Tyson in and outside the ring.  (As one foreign reporter pointed out, "We outside the U.S. find it puzzling that only Black men are the poster boys for sex crimes; Clarence Thomas-harassment in the workplace, O.J.-domestic violence and Mike Tyson-date rape.)  It’s funny how an outsider can see blatant media bias.

Steven Spielberg along with pal, George Lucas used the global P.R. platform of Cannes to kick off "Indiana Jones.”  The press response was "so-so,” however the big box office returns’ refrain was "more money, more money” for George and Steven.

The "Seans” were kings of the Red Carpet, both Penn and Sean (P. Diddy) combs.  Mr. Combs was at Cannes promoting several projects but mostly himself and that’s ok.   Spike Lee, Madonna, Dennis Hopper, Bono, Jimmy Jean-Louis, Naomi Campbell, Sharon Stone, and a constellation of entertainment stars all did the same thing.  I think you get the point.

Sean Penn was the head of this year’s Palm D’or Jury.  Penn will be back in the Bay to wrap up a film about Harvey Milk, the gay San Francisco Supervisor.  Penn was also recently involved with Proposition L that would have opened dormant theaters.  The measure was defeated with Penn’s help.  Greg Stephens, the chief proponent of Prop L said "I think it is unfortunate that those theaters are still dark with so many independent films deserving to be screened.  It is a shame I never got a chance to talk with Sean. He was speaking with people who are stuck in doing the same old thing for the last 15-20 years.”  Like Obama says "We need a change.”  
  
As usual the Cannes International Film Festival had it full of high profile stars, coverage, big parties and the normal hoopla; however theater screening pace was at the top of the list of shortages.  A few pavilions added screening rooms of their own to make sure their country and clients’ films had good dates and times for buyers and distributors to view filmmaker’s works.  Even the Four Star Hotel Gray d’Albion, which added theater seating for 30-75 people, were very much utilized.

The eight films promoted in LaHitz@Cannes Film Showcase 2008 "Images, Stories & Songs: Uniting the African Diaspora for the Greater Good”: "Fathers of the Sport” directed by Xavier "X” Mitchell and produced by Blaine McManus; Algeny, the Genetic Factor” directed by Andrew Burroughs; Camp D.O.A. directed by Alabama State Representative, Earl Hilliard Jr.; "The Rise and Fall of Miss Thang,” directed by Stacie Hawkins; "Africa Unite,” directed by Stephanie Black; "Cordially Invited,” directed by Michael Fouther; "Retour A Goree” directed by Pierre-Yves Borgeau and "Namibia, Struggle for Liberation” directed by Charles Burnett were all well received.   This comes as no surprise because they all did well at other film festivals before Cannes.

Bay Area filmmaking is alive and well with Mateen Kemet from  "On the Lot” created by Steven Spielberg.  Oakland International Film Festival’s David Roach is putting a call out to assist Kemet in raising $10,000 to match a $10,000 East Bay Community Foundation Challenge Grant for an upcoming film. Check out http://www.oiff.org/oaklandvenues.html for more information.

Also, Barry Jenkins’ successful San Francisco screening of  "Medicine for Melancholy,” shot entirely in San Francisco and Sean Penn’s "Milk” are indicators that the Bay Area’s film industry is alive and well.   Besides the films of Penn and Lucas, there are many other San Francisco stories ready to roll: William Leidesdorff, Mary Ellen Pleasant, Willie Mays, and the ’62 Giants and the list goes on and on.  Let the change in cinema begin.