November 1, 2024

Community News

Redux: LaHitz@Cannes 2010
January 17, 2011

LaHitz@Cannes & Cannes 24 Hour Film Challenge Take First Lady Michelle Obama's Lead In Bringing Attention to Haiti

"HaitiAwareness Day" Cannes Film Festival
      Presented by LaHitz Media & Cannes 24hr Film Challenge
Press Release

 
For Immediate Release                               Contact: Jackie Wright, 415 525 0410
May 14, 2010                                     
 


Haïti Awareness Day" Presented by LaHitz@Cannes & 24 Hour Film Challenge

Remind Industry Leaders at the Cannes International
Film Festival to Remember Haiti
 


Organizers of " Haitian Awareness Day" Reception and News Conference promote
grassroots Haitian non-profits run by Haitians that are making a difference in the earthquake ravaged country.

 
San Francisco- Just days after the opening of the Cannes International Film Festival with "Robin Hood" Directed by Ridley Scott and starring Russell Crowe, LaHitz Media and Cannes 24 Hour Film Challenge implement the "Robin Hood" theme of helping those in need and say "Remember Haiti" with the "Haiti Awareness Day" slated for May 16th in Cannes at Sea Side Beach. 

The day will include a news conference and reception to bring attention to the on-going needs of Haitian Relief efforts focusing on the work of "Hollywood United for Haiti" founded by Jimmy Jean-Louis and "ServiMed Haiti" founded by Dr. Joseph Marcel-St. Louis Demertine.
 
"With 10,000 producers in Cannes and the world media gathered, we couldn't choose a better location to stand in solidarity with First Lady Michelle Obama who recently brought the world's eyes on Haiti once again pointing out the on-going relief efforts and needs," said Jacquie Taliaferro.  "We respect the great work of the Red Cross and other large organizations, but Steven Kimbrough of Black Kilt Films and the originator of the Cannes 24 Hour Film Challenge, Jackie Wright of Wright Enterprises and I thought it was time to highlight organizations founded by Haitians. In the spirit of full disclosure my  colleague Jackie Wright worked for the Red Cross for a decade and loved it and she still volunteers when she can.  There is a great need for organizations like the Red Cross but there is also a place for organizations like "Hollywood Unites for Haiti" and "ServiMed Haiti" and our purpose in Cannes is to let people know."
 
 
Actor Jimmy Jean-Louis Inspires Haitian Children
Jimmy 
Jean-Louis with Haitian Children

"Among the parties, screenings and the market, billions of dollars in contract deals are made or initiated in Cannes," said Steven Kimbrough.  "We wanted to point out that there are Haitians helping Haitians" and as an industry we should highlight that work especially that of NBC Heroes' Haitian Jimmy Jean-Louis."

The news conference and reception will be used to talk about the work of
"ServiMed Haiti" and "Hollywood Unites for Haiti." "It's Haitian Awareness Day
Dr. Joseph Marcel-St. Louis Demertine examines Haitian child.
Dr. Joe Demertine examines child
and we're asking people not only in Cannes, but around the world to go to their websites www.hufh.org and www.servimedHaiti.org to find out about the organizations and to make a contribution when they see the great work," said Jacquie Taliaferro.
 
Phil Gorn, CEO of Wonderphil Productions, Independent Film Sales & Production
Phil Gorn
LaHitz Media with the help of Phil Gorn of Wonderphil Productionsis also bringing awareness to the work of Haitian Filmmaker Johnny Desarmes, whose film "Life Outside the Pearl" with Haitian Jimmy Jean-Louis, as a Los Angeles detective.  Wonderphil is located at the Marche de Film, Booth 22.01.   Gorn, an independent filmmaker, is known for his assistance to independent filmmakers.

Desarmes' "Life Outside the Pearl" which depicts Jimmy Jean-Louis as a Los Angeles detective opened at the Oakland International Film Festival last October.  The OIFF founded by filmmaker and Black Farmers advocate, David Roach, included a special reception for Jean-Louis and Desarmes at the home of arts patrons interior designer Jacqueline Brown and real estate broker Ernest Clark.
 
In addition to bringing awareness to Haiti, the LaHitz Media Sojourner Truth Award recipient will be named during the Cannes International Film Festival.  The 2009 recipient was international star, Eric Ebouaney, who along with Jimmy Jean-Louis helped launched the "Help Mama Africa" project founded by Becaye Kanoute of  Baobab Motion, Angele de Medeiros of Afric-Elance, LaHitz Media and Wright Enterprises. "Help Mama Africa" assists the work of Dr. Claude Moreira that is dedicated to helping save children suffering from cancer. 

Taliaferro and San Francisco based WE (Wright Enterprises) are planning a LaHitz@Cannes San Francisco event to follow the Cannes event that will also bring awareness to Haiti and will help the HUP Helping Haiti Foundation, a  grassroots front line organization working for Haiti.
###
 
 
About La Hitz Media
Jacquie Taliaferro - Founder & Director
Native San Franciscan, filmmaker, community activist, and independent film advocate is founder of the LaHitz Film Series Film held during the Cannes Film Festival in France (www.lahitz.com).  The LaHitz Sojourner Truth Award presented in Cannes and at the Pan African Film Festival held annually in Los Angeles.

Jacquie Taliaferro with Eddie Mbato, CEO South African National Film Video Foundation as Jimmy Jean-Louis presents 2009 LaHitz Sojourner Truth Award to Eriq Ebouaney (click image for video)
LaHitz Sojourner 
Truth Presentation

Taliaferro has developed numerous film panels in the academic arena and has lent his expertise to co-organize film festivals nationally and internationally.  His work centers on bringing a voice to the masses.  For more than a decade Taliaferro has advocated for an accessible media facility in the Mission and Bay View Hunter's Point neighborhoods in San Francisco.  "In addition to the entertainment value, the media should use its power and influence to educate and improve the state of humanity.  That is my mission with LaHitz Media."  - Jacquie Taliaferro.

lahitznews@yahoo.com
www.lahitz.com

About Cannes 24 Hour Film Challenge
Steven Kimbrough, easily sited in Cannes with his Black Kilt, founder of Cannes 24 Hour Film Challenge (click Image for website)
Steven Kimbrough, 
CEO Kimbrough Media Group
Steve Kimbrough,founder of Kimbrough Media Group, Black Kilt Films and Cannes 24 Hour Film Challenge, uses the backdrop of the Cannes International Film Festival to encourage filmmakers to tell their stories in a fast, furious and fun way, be it drama, romance, comedy or whatever the theme. The Cannes 24 Hour Film Challenge is the  ultimate adventure in guerilla filmmaking. Filmmakers write, direct, and edit a short film in just 24 hours.  Kimbrough's companies include Black Kilt Motion Pictures and Kimbrough Media Group, inc. Steven@blackkiltfilms.com
 

Related Articles · More Articles
San Francisco native, Mario Van Peebles, comes home to the San Francisco Black Film Festival with three powerful films screening at the Kabuki & The San Francisco Main Library. Perfect Political Food for Thought in U.S. Presidential Election Year!
Posted Courtesy of Wright Enterprises Community Spotlight San Francisco ~ Dallas Celebrating Freedom and Musical Heritage: The Batistes of NOLA’s Royal Family of Music to Bring Their Legacy to the Nation’s Capital.
Posted Courtesy of Wright Enterprises Community Spotlight San Francisco ~ Dallas Mayor London N. Breed joined State Senator Scott Wiener to announce legislation to combat fencing, the sale of stolen goods on City streets. Authored by Senator Wiener and sponsored by Mayor Breed, Senate Bill 925 (SB 925) would allow San Francisco to create permitting requirements to regulate the sale of items commonly obtained through retail theft and impose criminal penalties for those who engage in this practice.