UMFF 2008 Official Films

The Urban Mediamakers Film Festival (UMFF) is proud to announce the official film selections for the year. All film screenings are FREE on Saturday, October 18, 2008, and open to the general public. Our rating system below will allow you to choose screenings that are appropriate for all ages.

Urban Mediamakers Film Festival (UMFF) 2008 Ratings: G (all ages), PG (parental guidance for youth under 13), and R (18 and older).

Filmmakers Q&A Corner. Immediately following each film screening, attending filmmakers will be available to answer questions regarding their film.

The 2008 Line-Up...

3 Quarters of Face Value - R -- ATLANTA PREMIERE
Short film.
Ephraim Benton, New York, New York

Allergic to Nuts - R -- A MUST SEE
A short comedy about relationships starring Yolanda Ross, Vanessa Williams and Andre Wiseman. A Redwall Production.
Rosalyn Coleman Williams, Director, Craig T. Coleman, Writer/Producer, Andre Wiseman, Executive Producer (New York, New York)

Angels in the Dust – PG -- A MUST SEE
A story of hope and healing in the face of a staggering crisis. AIDS is leaving entire South African villages decimated and thousands of children orphaned, with no adults to raise them. The inspiring story of Marion Cloete, a university-trained therapist who— with her husband and three daughters— fearlessly walked away from a privileged life in a wealthy Johannesburg suburb to build Botshabelo, an extraordinary village and school that provides shelter, food, and education to more than 550 South African children.
Dream Out Loud Films, Los Angeles, CA

A Period Piece - PG
A humorous student short film. If only Sionne could beam herself away to a world where young girls never ot their periods, then she would be happy. Fat chance, defying the laws of nature is virtually impossible. Sionne will get her period, it's just a matter of when, where, and in front of whom. What will she do?
Camile Holder-Brown, Producer Director (New York, New York)

B.A.M. - R -- ATLANTA PREMIERE
Short drama.
Martin Kelley (Producer) and Laron Austin (Director), Norcross, Georgia

Becoming Michael - R -- ATLANTA PREMIERE
Short drama.
Larry Abdullah II, Glendale, CA 91205 - R

Behind the Wheel - PG -- ATLANTA PREMIERE
Short drama.
Raymond Mitchell, Silver Spring, Maryland

Clean Mic: Laughing Until It Hurts - PG -- ATLANTA PREMIERE
Documentary of comedian featuring Dick Gregory and other artists.
Will Gorham, Fairfax, Virginia

Differences - PG -- ATLANTA PREMIERE
We all have differences, but how do we deal with other races? How do we combat racisum? Short film.
Jason Rice, Director (Atlanta, Georgia)

Drawing Angel – G -- A MUST SEE
An exceptional short film starring Michelle Graci, Omari Wiseman, Vanessa Williams. A Redwall Production.
Rosalyn Coleman Williams, Director, Craig T. Coleman, Writer/Producer (New York, NY)

Follow Your Heart – China’s New Youth Movement - PG -- NORTH AMERICA PREMIERE
Documentary reflecting the current generation of youth in China.
Duncan Jepson, Hong Kong, China

HairKutt – R -- ATLANTA PREMIERE
Documentary. "An intensely personal, unflinching look at drug addiction.” -- The Boston Globe
Curtis Elliott, Florissant, MO

High Stakez Hydraulics - PG-- ATLANTA PREMIERE
Music video.
Charles Browne (Houston, Texas)

Hope Not Lost – PG -- WORLD PREMIERE
Documentary: Narrated by Martin Sheen, actress Melissa Fitzgerald went on a journey with the Internally Displaced Persons Camps in Northern Uganda and Refugee Camps in the South.
Jason Rem, West Hollywood, CA

Jacob -- PG -- A MUST SEE
Narrative short film exploring the power of the media, what captures the attention of a nation and the effects national attention has on the people excluded from it.
Philip Buiser, Director

Kujo, My Love - PG-13 -- ATLANTA PREMIERE
A sophisticated and modern screwball short comedy, starring Amy Hunter & Elimu Nelson, tells the story of a regular Black woman exploring the possibilities of love, in a truly impossible situation. “KUJO, MY LOVE” will bring you face to face with why Black love stories are so important to the fabric of America and why they deserve to be told.  Stacy is interested in taking a positive step towards expanding Black Cinema past its current trend of glamorizing gangsters, ghetto-life and other negative stereotypes.
Stacy Pyles, Writer and Director, Los Angeles, CA

Light It Up - R -- ATLANTA PREMIERE
Music video.
Demetrius Newton, Jr., Birmingham, AL

Losing Ground - R -- A MUST SEE
Feature film. Darnell J. Anderson of Fayetteville, Georgia. Carlus M. Houston (actor, co-writer and producer), Monyque Thompson (Actor), and Vernon Messam (Music Director).

Media That Matters Film Festival: 8th Annual - G -- ATLANTA PREMIERE
Showcasing 12 short films by independent and youth filmmakers.Fao Leah Sapin, Curator, Arts Engine, New York, NY

-- Hammoudi - Documentary. (Lebanon) Jury Award. Supported by the Green Family Foundation, Directed by Anwar Saab, Produced by Tima Khalil
-- A Loud Color - Documentary. Legacy Award. (USA) Directed and produced by Brent Joseph
-- Argentina Turning Around - (Argentina and USA) Documentary. Labor Award. Sponsored by SEIU. Directed and produced by Melissa Young and Mark Dworkin
-- Perversion of Justice - Documentary. (USA) Changemaker Award. Sponsored by Working Films. Directed and produced by Melissa Mummert
-- Diana - Documentary. (USA) Empowerment Award. Sponsored by Netflix. Directed and produced by Project: Think Different
-- The Countdown - Spoken Word. (USA) Emerging Artist Award. Directed by Rene Dongo and produced by ICA Fast Forward Boston
--African Underground: Hip Hop in Senegal - Documentary. (Senegal and USA) Roots & Rhymes Award. Directed by Magee Mcllvaine, Ben Herson, Chris Moore, produced by Nomadic Wax and Sol Productions
-- Something's Moving - Documentary. (USA) Unspoken Truth Award. Directed by Randy Vasquez and produced by Jonathan Skurnik
-- A Nomad's Life - Documentary. (Tibet and USA) Sustaining Traditions Award. Supported by Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Foundation. Directed and produced by Lynn True and Nelson Walker, co-produced by Tsering Perio and Keefe Murren
-- America for Dummies - Documentary. (USA) Youth Voice Award. Supported by Adobe Youth Voices. Directed by Niaz Mosharraf, produced by Reel Works Teen Filmmaking
-- E-Waste - Animation. (USA) Environment Award. Animated by Ian Lynam, produced by Morgan Currie and Lindsay Utz, GOOD Magazine
-- Every Third Bite - Documentary (USA) Good Food Award. Supported by Clif Bar Family Foundation and W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Directed and produced by The Meerkat Media Collection

Now Who’s The Enemy - G -- A MUST SEE
In addressing this issue of the thoughts of African-Americans and their ties to 9/11, this documentary will open up a dialogue for the inner hurt that many Americans may feel they are carrying all alone. In narrating this subject it will allow people to express their own personal feelings on America and what happen to us all.
Regina Robinson, Producer/Director (Lawrenceville, Georgia)

Poet Pride - G -- ATLANTA PREMIERE
A Dunbar High School documentary. A historical look at the tremendous impact one high school in east Baltimore has made in the last five decades. Covertly clutched by six housing projects, the documentary examines the athletic supremacy and dissects the social ills that reflect this inner city community.
David Manigault, Director/Producer, Tommy Polley, Executive Producer, Robert Foster, Producer, John Meindl, Producer (Baltimore, Maryland)