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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE           
October 10, 2008                                             
       




Oakland- The Oakland International Film Festival invited celebrities, community leaders, City and County Officials to its "Everybody Is a Star" Red Carpet Ceremony sponsored by Session Real Estate and Session Mortgage Services.

"I think the proclamation from Mayor Ron Dellums' office presented by his Deputy Chief of Staff, Leslie Littleton says it best.  The Oakland International Film Festival is more than entertainment.  As the festival helps establish Oakland as a destination for the arts, it will increase commerce for the city, opportunity for youth training, and generate good news about Oakland,"� said Jackie Wright, principal for Wright Enterprises and host of the red carpet ceremony.

The ceremony was launched with the proclamation presented to Oakland International Film Festival's Executive Director, David Roach by Leslie Littleton who was accompanied by a Mayor's  office intern.  Following Littleton and Roach, veteran trailblazing journalists Belva Davis and Bill Moore with their 20 month-old granddaughter, Sterling Davis were the first celebrities to grace the carpet.

Dozens of local artists, actors, and community leaders followed including businessmen, Ernest Clark, owner of Oakland's Atrium Building and CEO of Saville Real Estate who escorted Jackie Brown of Jacqueline E. Brown Staging and Design, James Ingram, president and CEO of James Ingram and Company; Rosie Bonds (1964 Olympian and aunt of Barry Bonds), Tennis great and Arthur Ashe instructor, Don Johnson, Arif Khatib, founder of the Afro Sports Hall of Fame, Gerry Dove, Community Affairs Director of 98.1 KISS FM and colleague Leigh Booker and her sister Trevar Booker, Treasurer of the Fisherman Wharf's Association, Virgil Carter, Filmmaker, actor and stunt double for Eddie Murphy with 17 year old daughter, Ashley, actress and producer of her own talk show "Diamond Purse Production," Velma Landers, who originated Blues cruises for Carnaval and other cruise lines and owner of Velma's in San Francisco which has just launched "Velma's Music Mentoring Program," Dr. Caesar Churchwell, longtime San Francisco dentist and Vice President of the San Francisco Black Chamber of Commerce, Darnisha and Antoine Wright Sr., local business owners who volunteer in under served Bay Area communities, Joe Wright, gospel promoter, veteran of the U.S. Army, and health care provider,  Farah Dews, filmmaker and music producer with students from the Bayview Foundation Filmmaking and Music Class, Kerr Moore of Konker Productions with upcoming 2009 project hiring youth for "Living After Death," and hailing from Sacramento Jazz singers Denise Clark and Suzanne Brooks, who will be performing October 28th at "Taste of the Bay" at the St. Francis Yacht Club.

Wright, who transformed Grand Avenue near the theater into an elegant party with the Caribbean sound of Ashton Craig of Pan Extasy, catering by Smoky of the Day of the Dead Café, outdoor furniture by Piedmont Rental and the artistic and creative mastermind of Jacqueline E. Brown Staging and Design added "the touch of family, sisters, brothers, fathers and daughters, grandparents, young and old in a festive atmosphere on the streets of Oakland was a reminder that good things happen in Oakland everyday.  We extend special thanks to Kenny Session for promoting the festival with radio commercials filling the Bay Area airwaves with good news from Oakland."

"We thank the City of Oakland, the Oakland Film Office, the Grand Lake Theater, Session Real Estate who sponsored commercials on radio,  and all of our sponsors who have helped us with the Seventh Oakland International Film Festival,�€� said David Roach before introducing the opening film "Traces of the Trade" (http://www.tracesofthetrade.org/), which examines a northern white family's discovery of their family ties to the slave trade.  Filmmakers Katrina Browne and Juanita Brown were in attendance at the screening.  Following "Traces of the Trade" was the feature film "Equinox," by Oakland filmmaker Baayan Bakari.

Several after-screening gatherings will be held at Vine Wine Bar, 3343 Lakeshore Avenue. They will be open to 1 a.m. to accommodate festival attendees.

Special festival highlights will include Jacquie Taliaferro of LaHitz Media collaborating with OIFF to bring "Fathers of the Sports," a film by Xavier Mitchell screened at the 2008 LaHitz@Cannes Film Series to the festival including a panel discussion sports experts.  "Fathers of the Sport" with NBA players "Dr. J"-Julius Irving, Earvin "Magic" Johnson, Street Ball Legends: "Pee Wee" Kirkland, Joe Hammond, Coach Joe Bryant (Kobie Bryant's father) and actor/ director/producer Penny Marshall will be screened Saturday, October 11, day three of the festival. The event will include a pre-screening of "Because They Believed," a work in progress commissioned by Arif Khatib of the Afro Sports Hall of Fame co-produced by Carolyn Voss of Post Impressions.

For a complete schedule of films and times, go to www.oiff.org.  Tickets are $10 for block of movies and can be bought on line at www.oiff.org or at the box office of the historic Grand Lake Theater.