“We have been working in conjunction with several local groups to not only pay tribute to a segment of African-American culture, but to highlight FAMU alumni and staff contributions to the entertainment field as we celebrate FAMU’s 125^th anniversary,” said Sharon Saunders, Executive Assistant for Communications at FAMU and Tribute to African-American Films Planning Committee Chair.  “We believe that we have movies and events the entire community will enjoy.”

“Our Mission at TFF is ‘to nurture all aspects of film culture and stimulate economic development,’” said Lou Armesto, TFF Board Chair.  “This tribute accomplishes both by providing exceptional programming for our local community and attracting FAMU alumni back to Tallahassee and their alma mater.  That’s a win-win for everyone involved.”

The month-long film forum is full of valuable entertainment.  Scheduled events include, social events, informative lectures and career development opportunities such as:

• Red-carpet, advance screening of FAMU alumnus Will Packer’s upcoming film “Think Like a Man”,
• Writer’s workshop led by Gregory Anderson, President of Tri Destined Films,
• Lecture entitled “African-Americans and the Oscars: Decades of Struggle and Achievement”  by noted author & Professor Edward Mapp, whose collection of 1200+ black-cast movie posters resides in the Archives of the Motion Picture Academy,
• Screenings at All Saints Cinema of Alley Pat and Dare Not Walk Alone, with Producer/Editor Tom Roche in attendance for Q & A,
• Screening of the 1926 silent film, The Flying Ace, sponsored by the Museum of Florida History to coincide with their exhibit from the Smithsonian Institute’s Air & Space Museum entitled “Black Wings: American Dreams of Flight”,
• Screening of two recently released films: Underground, by Akil Dupont, a Civil War period film brought to life through song, and Psychedelic Shack, a family comedy by FAMU’s own Professor Kenneth Jones,
• Matinee marathons each weekend at Lee Hall of many of America’s most notable African-American films including Cooley High, Do the Right Thing, The Emperor Jones, Eves Bayou, Glory, Imitation of Life, the Jackie Robinson Story, Stormy Weather, Sounder, Shaft, Super Fly.  Each movie will be introduced by a local film enthusiast or visiting filmmaker who will put that day’s line-up in context and share behind-the-scenes stories about the making of the movies and the historical period that influenced the creative team involved.  For added fun, attendees are encouraged by the FAMU Pan Hellenic Council to come to the marathons in a costume that suits the era of that day’s films, and finally
• Important panel-discussion scheduled for February 8th at Turner Auditorium on the TCC Campus, entitled “Succeeding in the Film Industry.”  The panelists include Anthony B. Major, former director/stage manager/actor and current Director of the Zora Neale Hurston Institute for Documentary Studies at the University of Central Florida; Lewis “Jiggs” Walker, Props Manager; Melvin Johnson, film and television Casting Drector; Valerie Scoon, Professor, former producer with Harpo Studios and current FSU College of Motion Picture Arts faculty member; Akil DuPont, a student Emmy-winning short film director/co-writer; Rosalind Stephenson, long-time, award-winning publicist; and Robert Stephenson, hair stylist for major motion pictures and personal stylist to Samuel L. Jackson.

Tickets will be available online beginning January 16, 2012 or at the door prior to each event.  For more information on ticket sales, sponsorships, a full schedule and more, visit www.famu.edu, www.tallahasseefilmfestival.com, www.tallahasseefilms.org or call (850) 599-3413.

The Remembrance Film Forum presents twelve shorts and feature films from around the world with talents such as Dustin Hoffman and Joan Allen. The focus and purpose of each of the weekends’ modules is to highlight a facet of this compelling topic and stimulate audiences not only through film, but also through open discussion including some special guest speakers and moderators.

Opening night at FSU’s Student Life Cinema, kicking off the forum in a bold manner under the theme “Finding A Masterpiece”, is The Rape of Europa, a mysterious and intriguing investigation into crimes of the art world by the Third Reich.  Additional modules in weeks that follow at the All Saints Theatre include “Children’s Stories,” of curious and courageous youngsters and “Women’s Stories,” that showcase their triumphs and impacts both during and beyond the Holocaust with a highlight of the evening being the live Q & A with Shanghai Ghetto survivor, Ellen Peyton. The module themed “The More Things Change…” pairs Our Rhineland, a short film about two sisters who face sterilization by the Nazis, with a feature documentary, The Rescuers, by a young African filmmaker, who compares and contrasts the genocide in his homeland of Darfur to the genocide in Nazi, Germany, which is universally recognized as the first act of genocide in modern times. These films serve not only as a tutorial, bringing little known facts to light in a new way, but also offer encouraging stories of sacrifice, survival and the human spirit overcoming adversity.

The closing night at the FSU Film School will start with a Champagne Reception and move to the film screening in a theatre normally closed to the public.  The night will conclude with a dynamic question and answer discussion led by Dr. Nathan Stolzfus, a Harvard graduate and associate professor at Florida State University, who is a world-renowned authority on 20^th century European history and the Holocaust. The question and answer format will tie the forum together with a talk about lessons learned from the past and the impact upon our community and society at large.

“We are very excited to screen these wonderful, powerful films for our local audiences and especially pleased the opportunity has resulted from this great community partnership,” said Lou Armesto, Board Chair, Tallahassee Film Festival. “There are stories that are lighthearted and inspiring and others that will leave you wide-eyed and in disbelief. There is truly something for everyone at The Remembrance Film Forum. We welcome everybody to come out and be as moved as we are by each of these films.  This event is another step towards TFF’s goal of offering year-round, quality programming that the public cannot afford to miss.”

For more information on speakers and social events, film synopses, the entire film schedule or to view admission prices and reserve tickets, go to www.tallahasseefilmfestival.com or www.holocaustresources.org. All proceeds benefit the Holocaust Education Resource Council and the Tallahassee Film Festival.

About the Tallahassee Film Festival: The mission of the Tallahassee Film Festival (TFF) is to nurture all aspects of film culture and stimulate economic development. The vision of the Tallahassee Film Festival is to establish Tallahassee as a major center of film culture. TFF is a 501(c)3 charitable corporation.  For more information, visit www.tallahasseefilmfestival.com.

Marsha Buchanan, Documentary Filmmaking Panel – Buchanan is in her last semester at Florida A&M University and looking forward to studying abroad after graduation. She has worked in broadcasting and is currently a night editor at WTXL ABC 27. Buchanan’s documentary short, Skin Deep, will show at the festival Saturday, April 9 at 3:30PM at the Regal Miracle theatre.

Stephen Robitaille, Documentary Filmmaking Panel – Professor Stephen Robitaille is an Emmy Award-winning, documentary filmmaker and a fulltime English faculty member at Santa Fe Community College, where he also teaches a course on media studies. He recently served as Researcher and Field Producer in the full-length film documentary, Dance of My Heart, based on the life of Cuban-born choreographer Alberto Alonso. Dr. Robitaille is co-producer of the Emmy Award winning “Expedition Florida,” a public television and radio series produced in conjunction with the Florida Museum of Natural History in Gainesville.

Benjamin Fingerhunt, Documentary Filmmaking Panel, Film Directing Panel – After graduating from DePauw University with a writing degree, Fingerhunt moved to Chicago and began making short films. His feature narrative, Down into Happiness, won 2nd place in the inaugural 72 Hour Feature Project. Fingerhunt’s Breaking and Entering will be playing at both the FSU Student Life Center on Friday, April 8 at 7PM and at the Regal Miracle Theatre on Sunday, April 10 at 4:45PM. Breaking and Entering is Fingerhunts’s first non-fiction effort.

Eric Flagg, Documentary Filmmaking Panel – Flagg is co-founder of the production company Jellyfish Smack Productions. Flagg received his Master’s degree from the Documentary Institute at the University of Florida’s College of Journalism before the program moved to Wake Forest. He enjoys making documentary films and other digital media on issues ranging from the environment to social justice. Flagg is also the Department Chair of the Bachelor of Fine Arts Film Program at the Art Institute of Jacksonville.

Kenneth Jones, Documentary Filmmaking Panel (Moderator), Film Directing Panel (Moderator) – Jones is a filmmaker whose films have been distributed on PBS, HBO and Encore/Starz. His awards include a CINE Eagle Award as well as several others. Currently Jones is developing a film, Alpha & Omega, and a screenplay, My Music.

Brandy Berry, Scriptwriting Workshop, Music in Film Panel – Berry’s career has taken off this year: she just completed a script for Shia LaBeouf’s production company, Grassy Slopes, and is in talks with Fox Searchlight on another project. Berry, a Tallahassee native, attended the prestigious Sundance Screenwriting Institute in 2002.

Peter Baloff, Scriptwriting Workshop – Baloff has written and produced movies and television shows for most of the major studios and networks, as well as directed national commercials for some of the world’s largest advertising agencies and Fortune 500 companies. He values his association with academic film and theatre; participating in numerous film festivals and serving as an adjudicator for the Kennedy Center/American College Theatre Festival, an outstanding program, which cultivates nurturing mentorships between entertainment professionals and college students all across the country. Baloff received his B.A. and M.F.A. from the University of Florida.

Jean Ainsworth, Moderator, Scriptwriting Workshop – Ainsworth has been a TFF volunteer since its first festival four years ago. She shares her family’s love of film: her parents appeared in the Mom & Dad’s Restaurant scene in ‘Something Wild.’

Aloura Charles, Filmmaking A to Z Panel, Film Directing Panel – A graduate of the FSU Film School, Charles has received awards for several of her shorts and screenplays. Charles’ feature, RESERVATIONS, received several awards and opened both The REEL Women’s International Film Festival and the Australian World of Women Film Festival. It was also bought by Showtime Australia and received outstanding television ratings. This year, Aloura was the featured director of the Indie Spirit Film Festival in Colorado. She is currently working as a professional screenwriter and script doctor in LA.

Jan Van den Berg, Filmmaking A to Z Panel – In the early seventies Van den Berg started making films in his field of study, cultural anthropology, and eventually founded drsFILM, in which he collaborates with writers, artists and cinematographers. His work mainly consists of documentaries and focuses on people at the cutting edge between cultures.

Tobias Tobbell, Filmmaking A to Z Panel, Film Directing Panel – Tobbell has worked in shorts and micro-budget features since 2002. He ran a UK-based online video production company for a little while but returned to film production with The Drummond Will. Tobbell will be shooting a thriller later this year.

Michael Fahey, Filmmaking A to Z Panel – A native of Tallahassee, Fahey has been working in film and television since 2007. After graduating from the Florida State University Media Production program, he has gone on to edit his first documentary feature, Forks Over Knives, which opens in theaters in select cities May 6. Fahey recently finished his first season editing at the NFL Network and is currently taking meetings for several summer film projects.

Chris Faupel, Filmmaking A to Z Panel (Moderator), New Media in Filmmaking Panel (Moderator) – Faupel is the Volunteer Programming Director for the Tallahassee Film Festival. The Jacksonville native works at the Department of Revenue and is also a part-time writer/director/filmmaker. His love for film inspired him to get involved with the TFF.

Tim McNeal, Animation Workshop – In 2006 McNeal was named VP of Talent Development and Diversity at Disney │ ABC Television Group. He oversees Disney │ ABC Television Group’s Talent Development programs, including The Walt Disney Studios and ABC Entertainment Writing Fellowship, the Disney│ABC – DGA Directing Fellowship, and the Summer Television & Film Workshop at the Institute of American Indian Arts, among many others. Additionally, McNeal serves as a liaison between the Group and numerous diversity-related organizations, non-profit arts institutions, entertainment industry guilds, colleges and universities nationwide to identify and nurture talented, emerging writers, actors and directors.

Dustin Grella, Animation Workshop – Dustin Grella is an animator raised in the rural community of Medina, Ohio, and now resides in New York City. He received his MFA from the School of Visual Arts and was honored with the Paula H. Rhodes Award for Excellence in Computer Art. His animation accolades include winning the Walt Disney Award at the prestigious Ottawa International Animation Festival.

Carlos Miranda, Animation Workshop (Moderator),Acting For Film (Moderator) – Miranda is an independent filmmaker and former artist working with multimedia installations, performance video art and electronic music. While in college, he had the privilege to work with renowned conceptual artist Jochen Gerz and Native American performance artist James Luna. Miranda was also an apprentice in film sound mastering with Academy Award-winning recording artist and friend Richard Portman.

Taylor Feltner, Film Directing Panel, New Media in Filmmaking Panel – Feltner holds a B.F.A. from the Florida State University College of Motion Picture, Television and Recording Arts. He began his work in Los Angeles for the documentary film company Allentown Productions under Emmy- and Oscar-winning filmmaker James Moll. Taylor’s first documentary feature as producer, Just Like Us, documented a five-country comedy tour through the Middle East and premiered at the 2010 Tribeca Film Festival. It has since played at over a dozen film festivals worldwide and will release theatrically in the Summer of 2011. Just Like Us will be playing at both the Regal Miracle Theatre on Friday, April 8 at 10:15PM and at the FSU Student Life Cinema on Saturday, April 9 at 9:45PM.

Aiku DuPont, Film Directing Panel – no bio information provided

Justin Hunt, New Media in Filmmaking Panel – After a successful career in broadcast, Hunt turned to film and established his own production company, Time & Tide Productions. With this company, Hunt has created hundreds of video productions, including Dream Home Drive, a real estate program, and American Meth, dealing with the epidemic of meth in our country.

Pradis Parker, New Media in Filmmaking Panel – no bio information provided

Jhene Erwin, Acting For Film – A graduate of Toronto, Canada’s Ryerson Theater School, Jhene has played both starring and supporting roles in various films and television series, including The Fishing Trip, Psych, Night of the Twisters, Nancy Drew, Liberty Street and the Family Channel’s M.O.W.. Erwin is also a published poet and a co-creator of a reality TV show.

Essi Rafael Leal, Acting For Film, Music In Film Panel – Leal, a native Brazilian, graduated school with a degree in Image and Sound. He has been a writer and director of several short films. She Came Along (Ela veio me ver) is his first work to screen outside his home country and will be shown at the festival on Saturday, April 9 at 11:15AM at the Regal Miracle Theatre.

Lissie Bartlett, Acting For Film (Moderator) – no bio information provided

Michael Davenport, Music In Film Panel – Davenport has been working in the music industry since 1987 with great success. He has secured recording and publishing contracts for numerous artists, and received more than 150 gold and platinum sales awards for his participation on albums by Santana, Guns ‘N’ Roses, Blue Man Group, David Bowie, Slipknot, AC/DC, Ricky Martin and the motion picture soundtracks for 8 Mile, American Pie, Armageddon, City of Angels, Spawn, The Scorpion King, I Am Sam, The Matrix Reloaded and South Park. His producer/engineer clients have received numerous Grammy awards and nominations. Michael currently resides in New Mexico where he owns and operates Expressive Artists, a full-service music supervision and management company.

Representative from Underground (TBA), Music In Film Panel – no bio information provided

In the market for new electronics, video games, a guitar? Now is the time to shop! The Tallahassee Best Buy is offering All Access pass holders a special discount. Show your TFF pass at checkout and receive five percent off one item.

Additionally, The new IMAX/Warner Bros. film, Born to Be Wild 3D, opens today, Friday, April 8 at the Challenger Learning Center. This weekend All Access pass holders receive discounted admission to the film and a free popcorn.

Born to be Wild 3D is an inspiring story of love, dedication and the remarkable bond between humans and animals. The film documents orphaned orangutans and elephants and the extraordinary people who rescue and raise them-saving endangered species one life at a time.

With so much to do this weekend and great discounts and deals, we hope you’ll be out about town doing Something Wild!