The Fourth Annual East End Black Film Festival Announced

Discussion of "Beyond The Bricks"

"American Violet" by director Tim Disney will be one of the films shown during the Fourth Annual East End Black Film Festival. Images courtesy of Parrish Art Museum

Southampton - The Fourth Annual East End Black Film Festival will be taking place at the Parrish Art Museum in Southampton starting at 1 p.m. on Saturday, November 7 hosted by the African American Museum of the East End. Light refreshments will be served including ethnic food by Gloria's of the Hamptons. The cost for the entire day is $5.

Live music and Spoken Word will be part of the Festival.

In addition, an Opening Night reception on Thursday, November 5 at 7 p.m. will be held at the Parrish Art Museum for a special screening of "Beyond the Bricks." Following will be Q&A/Panel discussion. This event is free to the public.

On Friday, November 6 at 7:15 p.m. the Cultural Center, Pond Lane in Southampton will feature Live Jazz and The Spoken Word. Musical performances will be by R&B Jazz Band, Touche and special featured guest Jazz Violinist Krystle Ford. Come hear local poets share and express themselves, while grooving to the sounds of Live Jazz. The suggested donation for this event is $10.

Film Schedule And Synopsis
• Thursday, November 5, 7 p.m - Special Screening and Panel Discussion of "Beyond the Bricks" - Directors Ouida Washington and Derek Koen. "Beyond the Bricks" is a short documentary created with the goal of promoting solutions for one of America's critical problems in education - the consistently low performance of African-American boys in the public school system. "Beyond the Bricks" promotes hope and the idea that with people at every level working diligently on this issue, there can be real solutions to the seemingly insurmountable obstacles that have plagued African-American boys and their education. Following the screening a focused Q&A /Audience discussion.

Speakers And Panelists
• Dr. Regent Adelaide Sanford, Vice Chancellor State University New York State Board of Regents.
• Ouida Washington and Derek Koen - Producer and Director of "Beyond the Bricks."
• Adam Fine - Southampton High School Principal.
• George Williams - Retired Southampton Middle School Principal.
• Natasha Jeffiries - Teacher and Parent Advocate.
• Phillip B. Johnson - Parent Advocate.

"Carmen Jones" will also be shown.

Saturday, November 7
• 1 p.m - Children's Selection
"Adventures of Teddy P. Brain" - Director: Eugene Haynes and Joseph L. Lewis III, and takes on an adventure after six-year-old Teddy waves a magical diploma given by his parents for graduating from kindergarten, a slick spaceship appears, enabling Teddy, his cousin Tempest and his dog to travel in time and through space.

• 2:15 p.m. - Family Selection
"The Wiz" - Director Sidney Lumet. "The Wiz" is an urbanized retelling of L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz starring Diana Ross and Michael Jackson. The film follows the adventures of Dorothy, a shy schoolteacher from Harlem who finds herself magically transported to the wonderland of Oz. Dorothy travels through the world of Oz to seek an audience with the mysterious "Wiz", who they say has the power to take her home.

• 5 p.m. - Short Film - "Beauty Lies"
Director Karen Chapman. "Beauty Lies" - A black woman shares her feelings about her natural hair in a media-driven world, revealing layers of insecurities.

• 5:45 p.m: Classic Selection - "Carmen Jones"
Director Otto Preminger. Love, passion, betrayal and tragedy. "Carmen Jones" is an adaptation of Bizet's legendary opera, "Carmen." It tells the story of a young, free spirited woman called Carmen Jones (played by Dorothy Dandridge) whose great beauty is the object of many men's desires. However, Carmen sets her sights on young army officer Joe, who is engaged to his sweetheart, Cindy Lou. Joe quickly succumbs to Carmen's charms, forsaking his Cindy Lou, thus beginning the tragic love story.

• 7:45 p.m. - Feature Presentations
(Adult content, parental guidance for teens recommended) - "Breaking News" (short film), Director Kmarie Walters. "Breaking News" - Tragedy occurs when a young mother gets overwhelmed by her daily responsibilities.

• 8:30 p.m. - "American Violet"
Director Tim Disney. "American Violet" is based on a true story a single African-American mother struggles to clear her name after being wrongly accused and arrested for dealing drugs in an impoverished town in Texas.

Tickets can be purchased at the door, however it is suggested purchasing tickets in advance, by contacting Bonnie Cannon, Brenda Simmons or the Parrish Art Museum.

For further information contact Bonnie Cannon at 631-766-8642, Brenda Simmons at 631-283-5072, or Cheryl Buck at 631-897-0384.