As Kevin was unable to attend, I was on hand to conduct the screening. The film was well received by this film knowledgeable audience. One attendee from Ireland said, "We have youth acting out, but not the gun violence. It's hard to get a gun in Ireland." Only if that were true in the U.S.

The Nigerians ("Nollywood") were celebrating their recent upgrade to becoming number two in the world for film production, overtaking the U.S. India's "Bollywood" is still number one.

The Palme d'Or winner at Cannes this year was "Amour" directed by Austrian, Michael Haneke. This makes him a two-time winner. He also won in 2009 for "The White Ribbon."

Cannes brings celebrities from all over the world giving it that extreme PR pop and this year's bling with P. Diddy, Jay Z, Jimmy Jean Louis, Danny Glover and a host of stars, all there to promote various projects. The main winners among the cast of Cannes celebrities include: Grand Prix (Runner-up) - "Reality" (Italy) by Matteo Garrone; Jury Prize (Third Prize) - "The Angels' Share" (Britain) by Ken Loach; Camera d'Or (Debut Film) - "Beasts of the Southern Wild" (U.S.) by Benh Zeitlin; Best Director - Carlos Reygadas for "Post Tenebras Lux" (Mexico); Best Screenplay - "Beyond the Hills" (Romania) by Cristian Mungiu; Best Actress - Cosmina Stratan and Cristina Flutur in "Beyond the Hills;" and Best Actor - Mads Mikkelsen in "The Hunt" and Palme d'Or Short film: Sessis-Be Deng (Silence) by L. Rezan Yesilbas.

Red Carpet Moment with Nicole Kidman and Macy Gray promoting Lee Daniels' "The Paper Boy" at 65th Cannes International Film Festival.

Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson, Jackie Chan, Berenice Bejo, Michel Hazanavicius, Julianna Margulies Alec Baldwin, Brad Pitt, Robert Pattison, Nicole Kidman, Jay Z, Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Eriq Ebouaney, P. Diddy, Jane Fonda, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Chris Rock, Ben Stiller, Cuba Gooding Jr., Gong Li, Cecilia Cheung, Diane Kruger, Ewan McGregor, Eva Longoria, David Oyelowo, Fan Bingbing, Jackie Appiah, Nichole Kidman, Macy Gray, Lee Daniels, John Cusack, Heidi Klum, Kirsten Dunst,Adrien Brody, Zach Miller,Eddie Mbalo, Afolabi Adesanya, Tangi Miller, and Phil Gorn dawned the pavilions and the Red Carpet at Cannes, and that's just to name a few.

Raoul Peck, from Haiti who was on this year's Cannes Jury, in the Cannes Daily gave his philosophy: "In the commercial American cinema, you have vengeance, and a happy end and the audience is content to consume a wonderful story. I try to find a link that will enable us to understand the world. I am against those who say that there are themes that are not cinematographic. It is up to us to make them accessible. My dream is to make popular films that provide something other than entertainment. Often, we are asked to choose between entertainment and thought. For me, there is no option."

Jacquie Taliaferro & "Toussaint L'Overture's" Jimmy Jean-Louis at 64th Cannes International Film Festival. Support "Hollywood Unites for Haiti," Jimmy Jean-Louis foundation  that was founded prior to the 2010 catastrophic Haitian earthquake.

Haitians Jimmy Jean-Louis and Peck were very prominent in Cannes 65. Jean-Louis' "Toussaint L'Overture" aired on French TV.   It was also a big hit at the 2012 Pan African Film Festival in LA in February.  

At a news conference, Raoul Peck talked about coming to Cannes in 1993 to submit a film. "I remember the festival director saying 'your life is about to change,' as he phoned to tell me "L'Homme Sure Les Quais" ("The Man by the Shore") was in the festival." From film submitter to being on the Jury to decide this year's winners, the change continues for Peck.

It's been several weeks since The Cannes International Film Festival. I came back to the US just a couple of days before San Francisco Carnaval kicked off with 250,000 strong.    

Jacquie Taliaferro speaks with Robert Townsend at the 2012 NAACP Image Awards about his "In The Hive" starring Loretta Devine, Michael Clarke Duncan, Vivica A. Fox and newcomer Jonathan McDaniel. "In the Hive" opened SFBFF 2012 at the historic Lorraine Hansberry Theatre.

In full circle, it was interesting to note that Robert Townsend known as the "Godfather of Independent Film," spoke at a news conference promoting his film "In The Hive" which opened the San Francisco Film Festival and his words almost mirrored Raoul Peck's: "Its important not only to entertain but to also serve and elevate humanity with our artistic ability."

From LA, to Cannes and back home again, I just wrapped up The San Francisco Black Film Festival 2012; so I am doing as much as I "Cannes do" pun intended.

Jacquie Taliaferro

San Francisco Black Film Festival 2012 News Conference

All Media Were Invited to News Conference Where Robert Townsend "God Father of Independent Film" Talks about How He Got Started in Entertainment & the Film Industry.  (Part One--Video provided by Ken Johnson Productions with Lynn Daniels on Camera.) 

Robert Townsend speaks at San Francisco Black Film Festival News Conference with Dr. Joseph Bryant Jr. Senior Pastor of Calvary Hill Community Church & Bay Area Rainbow P.U.S.H Director, Kali O'Ray, Co-Director of SFBFF, & Jacquie Taliaferro, SF Filmmaker & Film Industry Consultant & Jackie Wright, President of Wright Enterprises (www.wrightnow.biz).

In Part Two, Robert Talks About The Importance of Collaboration, Creativity, Ingenuity, The Power of Images, Directing Beyonce & Working with Rey Ramsey & One Economy to make "In the Hive"  at The San Francisco Black Film Festival News Conference 2012. (Part Two--Video provided by Ken Johnson Productions with Lynn Daniels on Camera.)     

Robert Townsend talks about creativity and his next project at San Francisco Black Film Festival News Conference with Dr. Joseph Bryant Jr. Senior Pastor of Calvary Hill Community Church & Bay Area Rainbow P.U.S.H Director, Kali O'Ray, Co-Director of SFBFF, & Jacquie Taliaferro, SF Filmmaker & Film Industry Consultant & Jackie Wright, President of Wright Enterprises (www.wrightnow.biz ).