THE HIP-HOP ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES PROGRAM FOR THE 5TH ANNUAL
H2O [HIP-HOP ODYSSEY] INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
SET TO LAUNCH ON MAY 28TH IN NEW YORK CITY
SPONSORED BY JORDAN BRAND, XXL MAGAZINE, QD3 ENTERTAINMENT,
SOONR, AFRICAN ANCESTRY, AND THE IMAGINASIAN THEATRE
May 8, 2007 – New York, NY – Celebrating five years of Hip-Hop Cinema, Education, Art and Culture, the H2O [Hip-Hop Odyssey] International Film Festival (H2OIFF) showcases a kaleidoscope of Hip-Hop filmmakers and communities from around the world.
Taking place from May 28, 2007 – June 15, 2007 at the ImaginAsian Theatre in New York City and culminating with the hallmark Odyssey Awards hosted by Ed Lover and Paul Mooney at BB Kings Club and Grill on Saturday, June 16th. Over the course of three weeks, H2OIFF will screen over 80 films from over 10 countries; produce 9 panel discussions on topics ranging from social justice issues to spirituality to the future of media distribution.
The festival is set to begin with a special pre-launch screening of Rock the Bells and an after-party hosted by Bobbito Garcia at the APT. From May 31-June 15, Hip-Hop aficionados will enjoy a line-up that include: movie premieres such as, Wu: The Story of the Wu-Tang, Mr. Devious from South Africa, Remixed in Japan, HipLife: Hip-Hop in Ghana, and Frekeunsia Colombiana, and Hiphopistan from Turkey; special screenings include: Beyond Beats and Rhymes, Bling: A Planet Rock, Bastards of the Party, Black and Blue, From Mambo To Hip-Hop, and Inside Tats CRU ; and, industry insiders such as Turn off Channel Zero, Lady Beatmakers, Music Industry From AZ , WTF? An Okmentary, and I Am…Choke No Joke.
In addition to the movie screenings, there will be numerous opportunities to engage in discussions with industry experts, artists, activists, educators, entrepreneurs, and filmmakers. Speakers include: Pharaohe Monch, Henry Chalfant, M1, April Silver, Raquel Cepeda, AZie Faison, Samson, K’wan, QD3, Raqiyah Mays, Chris “Kazi” Rolle, Kim Osorio, Dream Hampton, and Lisa Cortes. Kamilah Forbes from the Hip-Hop Theater Festival will be moderating a panel on acting with an ensemble that includes: muMs (Arnold “Poet” Jackson on Oz), Anwan Glover (Slim Charles on HBO’s The Wire) , and Felicia Pearson (Snoop on HBO’s The Wire). There will also be full days devoted to the youth, women, social justice, Hip-Hop history, and the craft of filmmaking, and self-distribution.
The festival concludes with the Odyssey Awards extravaganza hosted by Power 105’s Ed Lover and legendary Comedian, Paul Mooney. Sponsored by QD3 Entertainment, World Up! and Lyrics To Go. Some of this year’s honorees include the Crash Crew, Cold Crush, Public Enemy, Ralph McDaniel’s and Ernest Dickerson. An exclusive Pre-Odyssey filmmaker’s reception will be dedicated to the late Ted Demme, co-creator or Yo! MTV Raps and the director of Who’s The Man? Starring Ed Lover and Doctor Dre.
The festival welcomes back the NY State Council on the Arts, the Ford Foundation, Film Blitz, Zipcar and BET J as Supporting Sponsors.
The Panel Sponsors include: MXGM, Zulu Nation, Federation for the Preservation of Hip-Hop Culture, Temple of Hip-Hop, Third World Newsreel, Video Music Box, Breakthrough.tv, The Ave Magazine, SOHH/FreshFlixx, Urban Word NYC, Listen Up!, African American Women In Cinema, NY Women In Film and Television, Chica Luna , and Sister Outsider.
The Media Sponsors are: ImaginAsian TV, Latin Nation TV, Allhiphop.com, Candy Store Marketing Group and Ol’ Soul.
Special early bird festival pass go on sale today!
For more info on the 5th Annual H2O International Film Festival, including information films, events and tickets sales, please visit us online at http://www.h2oiff.org/.
About the 5th Annual H2O [Hip-Hop Odyssey] International Film Festival
As the largest Hip-Hop film festival in the world, the H2O [Hip-Hop Odyssey] International Film Festival provides a platform for filmmakers to showcase and define the variety of images that depict Hip-Hop culture and its communities. This year’s theme “THE WORLD IS YOURS?” highlights the Hip-Hop community of the early/mid 90’s; a time when youth in the community began demanding money, power, and respect.
About the H2O [Hip-Hop Odyssey] Media Initiative
Social Awareness Through Media! H2O [Hip-Hop Odyssey] is the media initiative of the Hip-Hop Association. With programming like the H2O [Hip-Hop Odyssey] International Film Festival, the Freshest Youth Program, the ODYSSEY Awards, and Defuse News, its mission is to support the use of Hip-Hop culture as a tool for social awareness and youth empowerment. For more information on films, please visit http://www.h2oiff.org.
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