NEWS RELEASE  
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE           
October 2, 2009                                                                               

CONTACT:
WRIGHT ENTERPRISES                                   
Jackie Wright, 415 824.3990,
415 525 0410
       



Berkeley- The Oakland International Film Festival announced its lineup on Friday  at the East Bay Express' "Taste for Art" at the historic Sawtooth Building in Berkeley.  The Oakland International Film Festival is one of the beneficiaries of the East Bay Express "Taste for Art along with Mo Better Food, a non profit that connects farmers and inner city families and Rivers of Words, a non-profit poetry workshop for children.  David Roach, Executive Director of the Oakland Film Society and the International Film Festival, used the occasion to speak to media about the festival slated for October 8-14, 2009.

"Once again the Oakland International Film Festival is making Oakland a destination for the Arts," said Roach.  "We are pleased to announce the festival will open with the Bay Area's own Danny Glover's 'Soundtrack for a Revolution.' He is an executive producer of the film by Bill Guttentag and Dan Sturman."  "I'd like to thank Jody Colley publisher of the East Bay Express, the staff of the East Bay Express and all of our sponsors who realize the festival brings prestige, commerce, and a good time for all," added Roach.

As San Francisco State University's hold's its conference "Ethnic Studies 40 Years Later," October 7-October 10th, Danny Glover, who was a student leader along with now Reverend Dr. Ramona Tascoe (medical physician) helped lead the 1968 Student Strikes that spawned the birth of Ethnic Studies, continues to live up to the legacy of social justice with "Soundtrack for a Revolution.  A special invitation has been extended to San Francisco State and the conference attendees to attend the opening of the Oakland International Film Festival on Thursday evening.


The Oakland International Film Festival kicks off at the Grand Lake Theater 8 p.m. October 8th in Oakland with celebrities Wyclef Jean, John Legend,  Anthony Hamilton, Blind Boys of Alabama, The Roots,  Richie Havens, Joss Stone,  and Civil Rights legends Julian Bond, Congressman John Lewis,  and Harry Belafonte.   Great archival footage weaves the story of struggle with the classic music.

The Venues of the festival will include Merritt College, and Jack London Square Theaters.  Jimmy Jean Louis of  NBC's the Heroes, will be on hand Saturday night for the screening of his film "Life Outside the Pearl," at Maxwell's with a party following the film.   The evening is a prelude to Sunday's "Haitian Day" that will include an encore of "Life Outside the Pearl" and "Haitian Nights."

Buy Tickets Now to View "Life Outside the Pearl" with Jimmy Jean Louis in person at the screening!



The Oakland International Film Festival has a history of working beyond the arts with community- focused events.   The "Mo Better Food" work of David Roach is one example.  Roach works with farmers to bring their crops to low-income families in the inner city.  Farmer's markets are held for several weeks on Saturday near the West Oakland BART station leading up to the festival.  Visit www.mobetterfood.org for more information. 

Merritt College is the venue on Saturday, October 10 for panels and workshops: The Idea- Writers Discuss; the Formula For their Madness; Putting the Deal Together; Finding Finance for your Production; Actor's Boot Camp; Music and the film business and The World of Animation.

Jack London Square Theaters will be the location for a  music videos  panel.  Music industry filmmakers  will be available for a dialogue on Tuesday, October 13, 5:00-6:30 p.m. in Theater Number One.

The multicultural films include: "The Quiet Arrangement," "Yodok Stories," "Rivers of Renewal,"  "Race to the Bottom,"  "Fiona's Script," "The Town Biz, UP," "Through the Walls," "Partly Cloudy," "Calypso Dream," "What it," "Going on 13," "One Wayz," "Imagine Peace," "An American Renaissance," "A Day Late in Oakland, " among others.  For the complete line up visit www.oiff.org.

This year, several documentaries including, Buried in Earthskin (South Africa), Leg before Wicket (India Relations) Children of Kinishia ( Congo), The Tribe (Jewish awareness), Operation Small Axe (Oakland Freedom fighters), are made to educate the public about various issues happening right now.

The Oakland International Film Festival will continue its year round screenings and panels to include a Town Hall hosted by filmmaker Jacquie Taliaferro and Reverend Greggory Brown at Miracles of Faith Community Church in the High Street area of Oakland, "Power, Guns and Money" themed with Taliaferro's film concept "The Hood: Power, Guns and Money."  The Town Hall will bring politicians, youth, educators, and the public together for peace driven solutions to help turn around the violence and change the images of Oakland. 

"I commend the work of David Roach and the Oakland International Film Festival.  The selection of films like Youth Uprising's "Hip Hop" and Jacquie Taliaferro's film demonstrates that Roach understands the intersecting of the Arts and Life and the change the Arts can bring to life," said The Reverend Greggory Brown of Miracles of Faith  Community Church.  Brown led a peaceful march protesting the lack of compassion shown by police after the death of shooting death of 20 year old Brandon Morris in the High Street area of Oakland in April of 2008 and he has been at the forefront of calling BART into accountability after the shooting death of Oscar Grant, January 1, 2009.

The Oakland International Film Festival is a volunteer-driven event.  "Party with Purpose" is the underlying theme of the Oakland International Film Festival.  Supporters include:Comcast, East Bay Express, Clear Channel, CW Bay Area/CBS 5, Merritt College, Peralta Community College District, KPFA, Clear Channel, Golden Gate Litho, LaHitz Media, Caribelinq, Oakbrook, 101 Entertainment, The Vine, and AVC.

Sponsorship opportunities are still available for this year's festival and upcoming year around  festival events. For current and future sponsorship opportunities contact David Roach at 510 776 4178 or Jackie Wright of Wright Enterprises  (www.wrighnow.biz) and LaHitz Media (www.lahitz.com) at 415 824 3990 or 415 525 0410 (cell).



(Wright Enterprises Gives Back to the Community with Pro Bono Support of the Oakland International Film Festival.)