Director Patrick Gilles (l) and Author Charlie Walker (r) at  San Francisco Black Film Festival Media Briefing hosted by LaHitz Media, Wright Enterprises and the SF National Coalition of 100 Black Women at Solange Mallet's African Plural Art Gallery  in the historic Fillmore.  Among Walker's comments he warned the audience that they may not want to hear that he thinks Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. may have caused more harm to black people. (Photographed and edited by Johnnie Burrell of International Media TV.  A longer version of the clip will be posted to www.internationalmediatv.com in the near future.)

Media Briefing at African Plural Art Gallery:Jackie Wright of Wright Enterprises, with "America Is Still the Place" Director Patrick Gilles (l) and Author of "America Is Still the Place" Author Charlie Walker. The book was published by Alpha Buie.  In the spirit of Fashion and Film, Wright is wearing a designer dress from the Dr. Maxine Hickman San Francisco National Coalition of 100 Black Women Collection @ Goodwill Industries SF. The new collection inspired by Mayor Brown's call to action December 31, 2014 and the Mayor Willie L. Brown Jr. Collection featured during the annual end of the year Donate-Athon will be launched at a Reception at Goodwill San Francisco in July.

Media Briefing Host, Jacquie Taliaferro of LaHitz Media, Director Patrick Gille, African Plural Art Gallery Owner Solange Mallet, SF Black Film Festival Co-Director Katera Crossley, Jackie Wright, Wright Enterprises, Author Charlie Walker in the heart of the Fillmore at newly opened African Plural Art Gallery.

 SFBFF Opening Night Agenda

6:00-7:00 p.m.  Red Carpet Reception on Second Mezzanine Floor of the Sundance Kabuki Theater, 1881 Post Street San Francisco

6:15 p.m.          Rolls Royce Arrival of Guest of Honor Charlie Walker & Celebrity Guests

7:00 p.m.          Screening of America Is Still the Place

9:30 p.m.          Opening Night After Party at the "Boom Boom Room, " 1601 Fillmore Street

San Francisco Black Film Festival

P.O. Box  15490

San Francisco, CA  94115

News Release                                                   Contact: Jackie Wright

For Immediate Release                                     415 525 0410,

June 11, 2015                                                   jackiewright@wrightnow.biz

San Francisco Black Film Festival Year XVII Gets 

Underway Tonight Thru June -14 With A Sold out Opening Night

Co -Directors Kali O'ray and Katera Crossley Continue the Legacy of Ave MontagueWith Thought Provoking Films, Panels and Parties, A Kickoff to  

Juneteenth  & Upcoming Father's Day Weekend.

San Francisco- From tonight's Rolls Royce entrance of Charlie Walker to the Red Carpet reception at the Sundance Kabuki Theater, the son of late Arts Impresario, Ave Montague, Kali O'Ray and his wife Katera Crossley, continue the legacy of Montague's multicultural San Francisco Black Film Festival, tonight thru June 14.  Montague began the festival as a way to get Hollywood film industry experts and emerging and local filmmakers together in a diverse environment.  Local San Francisco resident Charlie Walker will be highlighted in the Opening Film "America Is Still the Place," based on Walker's book by the same name published by Alpha Buie.  The film directed by Patrick Gilles with San Francisco Mayor Willie L. Brown Jr. playing a role as a taxi driver is sure to be a crowd pleaser.

"We're continuing Ave's theme of opening the doors to conversation and engagement of all cultures as exemplified in films, directors, actors and attendees in the festival," said Katera Crossley, Co-Director of the San Francisco Black Film Festival. "There's a place for everyone to engage in thought-provoking dialogue and hopefully positive societal change.

Conversation was hot Wednesday at the San Francisco Black Film Festival Media Briefing held at African Plural Art Gallery in historic Fillmore as Charlie Walker, author of "America Is Still the Place" and the subject of the film, made profound statements about self-determination, educating children and his opinion that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. "was more harmful than helpful to Black people."  Walker helped the festival live up to its concept of providing thought-provoking ideas and diversity of thought.  

Here's a short clip of the media briefing photographed and edited by Johnnie Burrell of International Media, who will develop a broadcast to give more details:  https://youtu.be/-nPzEJW8nps.

Visit www.internationalmediatv.com for a longer version of the media briefing to be posted in the near future.

Be on the look out for "Inside LA/Inside California" with Jonathan Aldrige and his team: Jermel Nakia and Yorke G. Fryer for coverage of the San Francisco Black Film Festival with other media coverage.  

Tonight's sold out opening Red Carpet Event that will feature Charlie Walker, Director Patrick Gilles, actor Charleston Pierce, a native San Franciscan well known for fashion productions and other local celebrities.  Mayor Willie L. Brown Jr. is traveling and will not be attending tonight's event.

Collaborating with the San Francisco Chapter of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women and other community groups and sponsors, the festival includes the "My Dad is My Hero" Video and Essay Contest. The InterContinental Hotelis once again providing the top prize for a two-day stay for "San Francisco Black Film Festival XVII."  

The President of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women San Francisco Chapter, Dr. Maxine Hickman used the occasion of the media briefing in light of the connection between fashion and film to announce that inspired by Mayor Willie Brown Jr.'s Collection at Goodwill, the National Coalition of 100 Black Women will have a collection at the nonprofit as well.   The Dr. Maxine Hickman, National Coalition of 100 Black Women San Francisco Chapter Collection will be on display in July.  Jackie Wright, hosting the SF Black Film Festival media briefing with San Francisco filmmaker and native Jacquie Taliaferro, Wednesday, wore one of the distinguished gowns from the collection valued at $1,000.  

Media and guests will be invited to the official launch of the news collection July 16th at Goodwill Industries San Francisco.  Both Brown and Hickman have voiced their admiration of Goodwill's workforce development training as their reason for donating to the organization.  Wright said that ties in the reason why she volunteers with the San Francisco Black Film Festival with the hope that "the brand will garner support so that a workforce development component can be added to train people in administration, marketing, public relations, writing, directing and a gamut of film industry related roles. SFBFF is pitch perfect for performance development. " 

The San Francisco Black Film Festival has family friendly prices ranging from free events to $10 for individual screenings and an affordable $50 Festival Pass to attend all screenings through the weekend excluding sold out 0pening night.  Visit www.sfbff.org for information on films, panels, parties, venues and times.  Sponsors include: PG&E, Rainbow Grocery, San Francisco Tobacco Free Project, African American Arts and Culture Center, The San Francisco Bayview Newspaper, KPOO Radio, LaHitz Media and Wright Enterprises. 

Increase your company or organization's social responsibility capital by sponsoring a day, a film, reception, contest or panel.  Contact the San Francisco Black Film Festival at sfbff@sfbff.org for sponsorship opportunities that are extended throughout the year as your investment will have a year around impact.

Sign up for the newsletter at www.sfbff.org to get the latest news including that of a 'Only in San Francisco" entry that gives a unique look at the "City that Can."

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Agenda Opening Night

6:00-7:00 p.m.      Red Carpet Reception on Second Mezzanine Floor of the Sundance Kabuki Theater, 1881 Post Street San Francisco

6:15 p.m.                 Rolls Royce Arrival of Guest of Honor Charlie Walker & Celebrity Guests

7:00 p.m.                Screening of America Is Still the Place

9:30 p.m.                 Opening Night After Party at the "Boom Boom Room, " 1601 Fillmore Street

Opening Night Film:

Opening Night Film will be at the Kabuki Sundance Theater. "America Is Still the Place" by Director Patrick Gilles is based on the novel of the same name by San Francisco Bayview businessman and community leader, Charlie Walker and will be shown to a sold out audience. 

Synopsis of film: 1971 post civil rights San Francisco seemed like the perfect place for a black Korean War veteran and his family to realize their dream of economic independence and his own chance to be his a "boss". Charlie Walker would soon find out how naive he was. In a city full of impostors and naysayers, he refused to take "No" for an answer. Until a catastrophic disaster opened a door that had never been open to a black man before. This is a story about what happened when he stepped through that door, with both feet!

Recently from the Cannes International Film Festival, Zola by Saneell Sibanda- Zola, a poor boy in a remote village of Africa is devastated when his father leaves to work in South African mines. The situation gets worse when his mother dies of AIDS. Zola's life takes a dramatic turn, one full of obstacles.

Njinga-Rainha de Angola by Marta Vaz de Sousa-In the 17th century a warrior woman fights for the independence of Angola. After witnessing the murder of her son and watching her people being humiliated by Portuguese colonizers, Njinga will become a Queen and struggle for their liberation embodying the motto: those who stay fight to win.

Driving While Black by Paul Sapiano- is a dark comedy, rooted deeply in reality... but not a reality that everybody is familiar with. Dimitri delivers Pizzas for a living - but as a young black man he is faced with "extra" challenges while navigating the city. The film explores the reasons why so many black men have concerns of unfair treatment, especially while driving.

Tress Artists and Angels, Masters of Natural Hair by Michele Ervin-is a journey of discovering uniqueness. The film follows men and women in the hair care industry that blends modern and ancient techniques of hair styling that restores and empowers to reclaim one's own self-esteem. It is a film everyone should see. Walk away encouraged by the stories from people whose lives have been changed through their hair.

My Name is David by Chris Gallego Wong starring Keith Powell- After finding an abandoned baby on a subway train, workaholic and prescription drug-addict David Howard decides he can raise the child on his own in the hopes that he might achieve the life he has always wanted.

Cotton Pickas by Robert "Fleetwood" Bowden-subtitled "The Justification and Journey of a Sharecropping Cotton Picka," explores the trials and tribulations of Southern cotton plantation workers following the abolition of slavery in America.  The film uncovers the sharecropping arrangements between cotton pickers and the landowners who regularly denied them their wages, taking you through their journey as they left their home and even their families to travel west and north.

Related Articles:

Pam David/San Francisco Chronicle, June 9

http://www.sfchronicle.com/movies/article/SF-Black-Film-directors-keep-up-Montague-s-6309426.php#photo-8087779

JR Valrey, "The People's Minister of Information/San Francisco Bayview Newspaper, June 8

http://sfbayview.com/2015/06/mac-dre-filmmaker-zachary-butler-on-bay-area-hip-hop-history/

Highlights of San Francisco Black Film Festival 

SFBFF 2014

 http://sfbayview.com/2014/05/the-san-francisco-black-film-festival-is-back-2/

Gaming and Animation for Youth
 http://www.urbangamesuite.com/

Cuba Gooding Jr. "Life of a King"

http://www.wrightnow.biz/articles_view.asp?articleid=80471&columnid=2898

SFBFF 2013

http://postnewsgroup.com/blog/2013/06/07/sf-black-film-festival-marks-15th-year-june-13-16/

 http://blogs.indiewire.com/shadowandact/san-francisco-black-film-festival-celebrates-15-years-june-13-16

Robert Townsend "In The Hive 2012