*Mark your calendars for April 27th through 29th for the 24th Annual African American Film Marketplace and S. E. Manly Short Film Festival. The three-day event packs an oasis of talent and opportunity. As previously reported, the kick off night is April 27th 2018, 7:00 PM at the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center where host William Allen Young will bestow honors to industry vets and community activists. Two honors will go to Charisse Bremond Weaver & George Weaver (of The Brotherhood Crusade), and Tim McNeal (from ABC/Disney).
The Weavers will receive the coveted President’s Award for their outstanding work with the Brotherhood Crusade; which was founded by Charisse’s father Walter Bremond in 1968. Charisse Bremond Weaver took over the reigns in 2005 and continues the crusade’s focus on social programs that enhance education, health, economic growth and empowerment to communities in South Los Angeles.
George and Charisse also oversee the Proud To Be Me initiative, which is an evidenced-based trauma-informed youth development education, mentoring and violence prevention model that uses well-trained and highly-competent caring adults to create connection, provide an impetus of hope and assist young people in self-actualization.
The couple is also active with The Alliance for Boys and Men of Color, which seeks policy reforms to improve the life chances of young men of color across the state. More on the Brotherhood Crusade can be found at brotherhoodcrusade.org.
Another honoree for this year’s AA Film Marketplace and S. E. Manly film fest opening night gala is Tim McNeal, Vice President, Creative Talent Development and Inclusion at Disney/ABC Television Group.
Tim started at Disney in 2006 and is currently head of Creative Talent Development & Inclusion, the division that oversees the Disney/ABC Writing Program, Disney/ABC Directing Program, and National Latino Media Council (NLMC)/National Hispanic Media Coalition’s (NHMC) Latino Television Writers Program, among others. Before joining Disney, Mr. McNeal helped launch the WB Television Network and developed groundbreaking series Dawson’s Creek, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, 7th Heaven and Felicity. McNeal is a California native and graduate of UCLA, who also sits on the board of Colour TV, a diverse group of TV executives.
Other honorees include sound editing legend, Bobbi Banks, recipient of The Ivan Dixon Award of Achievement and famed location manager Kokayi Ampah, recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award.
The opening night gala takes place at the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center (4708 W Washington Blvd, LA, CA 90016) on Friday April 27th at 7:00 pm. Tickets are available at BHERC.org. The festival and film marketplace takes place at the Raleigh Studios on Saturday, April 28 and Sunday, April 29, 2018. Films are screened on both days from 10 am until 10 pm. A pass for a block of films is $15 for students with ID and $20 for the general public; All Day Pass is $50.
To purchase tickets and for the complete schedule, please visit www.BHERC.org or call (310) 284-3170. To attend the Film Festival consider riding LA Metro – GO METRO: Take the Metro Local Line 10/48 to Melrose Ave. & Van Ness. Raleigh Studios is right across the bus stop on Melrose Avenue. Plan your trip on metro.net or call 323.GO. METRO (323.466.3876).
