6th Annual Greater Cleveland Urban Film Festival

Served  (23 min) Follows the story of two adolescent sisters Heart & Hope whose mother has been shockingly arrested and prepare for her to go to prison. The major themes I focused on in my short were the plight children of incarcerated parents carry and the rising number of women going to prison.
Director: Akiya Mcknight

Old E (15 min) Demarkus Jackson, a young basketball star from South Central Los Angeles, pursues his dreams in the face of his abusive, drunken father who cannot overcome the failures of his past.
Director: Xavier Neal-Burgin

Psuedo (7 min) To see through the eyes of another requires each one of us to challenge what we have been conditioned to see. Do you see what I see?
Directors: Julien Turner (19) and Justen Turner (14)

See You Yesterday (15 min) Presented by Spike Lee, two Brooklyn teenage prodigies, C.J. Walker and Sebastian Thomas - determined to outwit fate and role-play as God - build make-shift time machines to save CJ's brother, Calvin, from being wrongfully killed by a police officer.
Director: Stefon Bristol

95 Never Looked So Good (9)
This Documentary highlights Simeon Holloway accomplishments from early beginings to the prominent historical record of his involvement in the elite first all Black US B-1 Navy Band.
Director: Tymm Holloway

The Man Who Feared ( 8 min) A young white urban professional has moved into his newly purchased home in a predominantly black neighborhood; his attempts to remain inconspicuous finally runs its course after a misread encounter with a fellow community member.
Director: Jehnovah Carlisle

Full Service (16 min) Abike, a Nigerian born oil industry executive and a Christian, is driving to a friend's country house when she realizes her tank is needling towards empty. She pulls into the only station she can find where she is greeted by Scott, a local who inherited his business from his grandfather. Scott has never met anyone like Abike, which leads him to make a stream of assumptions about her based on stereotypes and unexamined racial biases. When Abike challenges him, with a mixture of bold humor and equally bold gravitas, he is left to ponder their commonalties and her power. Full Service explores the effects of globalization on local economies and culture, our propensity to stereotype others, and the fact that we are all more complex than we see
Director:  KPage Stuart Valdes

Tom Freeman of the North (18 min) A young black Harlemite named Tom, who interns at a start-up that just opened up in his neighborhood, is invited to his boss's housewarming party off of Malcolm X Boulevard. While Tom is looking forward to use this opportunity to move up the ranks by gifting his boss with a jar of artisanal mayonnaise, his brother, Desean, sees this party as symbol for the rapid gentrification of Harlem and the oppression of his people. Struggling to find a common ground between moving up and doing what's right, the two brothers go to the party only to discover that artisanal mayonnaise isn't what it's cracked up to be.
Director: Mohammed Rabbani

Padlock Men (16 min) 86 yr. old Walter “Posey” Fodrell shares a memoir of a historically unknown secret pact between Martin Luther King, Malcolm X & John F. Kennedy. 'Blood for Blood Knuckles Dirty' the Civil Rights movement will never be viewed the same. A History Never Spoke A Bond Never Broken
Director:  Lewis Powell

Hold On ( 9 min) 
Family bonds are tested when a young man is left to care for his grandmother one morning.
Director: Chiristine Turner

Trash Bags ( 9 min)
A former couple is forced to refelcetover the degradation of their relationship.
Director: Diante Singley

Intersection ( 9 min)
A road trip forces a young woman and her two best friends to examine their identities and place in the American South
Director:  Angela Tucker

Hope For Dating In LA ( 30 min) 
Hope (played by Joslyn Pennywell from America's next Top Model), Serenity and Darin are three professional, pretty ladies living in Los Angeles. Each has everything going for them career wise, but the LA dating scene has them down. They get an idea surrounding an online dating site that turns into a disaster, but ultimately keeps them hopeful.
Director: DaVida Chanel Smith

All Eyes on Emma 5
 In this horror thriller, a college professor (Peter Lawson Jones) is cursed to keep his eyes fixated on a beautiful statue-like girl every night when the sun goes down. In exchange for an A in his class, he hires one of his students to help free him from the curse.
Director: Matthew Leslie

So. CI3.ty (27 min)
J0.hn, an emotionless and regulated citizen of THE CITY, awakes on a deserted island 10, 000 miles away from civilization. Equipped with the R3G, a symbiotic watch ruled by a very advanced A.I that regulate his emotions and keeps him indefinitely "operational," J0.hn starts to plan his own rescue but things get radically complicated... 
Director: Khris Burton

Lawman (15 min)
1875, Indian Territory. Bass Reeves, is the first African-American to be deputized by the U.S. Marshal service. When Bass charges into the desert, he engages in a shootout with two outlaws, Maha and Glen Huddleston, also African-American. Bass kills Maha in the gunfight, and arrests Glen, ordering him to carry Maha’s body across the desert back to Fort Smith. Over the course of their journey, Glen questions Bass’ choice of career and tries to psych Bass out in an unorthodox attempt at escape, a tactic that works as Bass begins to question his own mind in regards to the idea of justice and choosing to fight for a law and a country that may never fight for him.
Directed by Matthew Gentile

Iman & the Light Warrior (15 min)
10 year-old Iman navigates through a war-ravaged City of Aya with the help of the Light Warriors to express his feelings to his school crush in order to unlock his superpower.
Writer: Osahon Tongo      

Instance (30)

An idealistic art teacher befriends a troubled teenage boy in her class, but when she is accused of an instance of inappropriate behavior, it becomes unclear who the actual victim really is.
This 30-minute short is
Director: Teria Birlon and Nicholas Casucci

PRINT SHOP (30 min)
What happens when a young, aspiring fashion designer from North Philadelphia creates Rest in Peace t-shirts to honor slain victims of violence in his community? Director Christian Nolan Jones explores life through R.I.P. tees in the "Print Shop."
Director: Christian Nolan Jones

 A Father's Love (27 min)
Choosing between saving one life and hundreds of lives should be easy, unless that one life is your daughters.

Director: Emily Mathason

 

 

Sacred Heart (15 min) 
Nichel meets an intriguing man at a bar named Alexander and begins an uninhibited sexual and emotional affair with him, which prompts an intellectual and sensual awakening. She speaks candidly to her therapist about her need to be controlled and the satisfaction she gets from her escapism. Nichel and Alexanders affair take them both down an unexpected road where they are forced to face their demons and explore the truth about love.
Directors: Sol Aponte, Jennia Fredrique

Me Myself & Them Me (21 min)
Myself and Them is a story about one man's view on love and relationships and the women who don't understand WHY.
Director: Issac Taylor

The Bill (10 mins)
Barbie’s 35th birthday celebration brings together her diverse group of friends. When the bill arrives, the best intentions dissolve into drama.  
Director: Caralene Robinson | Executive Producers: Deborah Riley Draper & Caralene Robinson | Producer: Crystal Whaley | Principle Cast: Nakima Baker, Perri Camper, Tanyika Carey, Szalene Anthony, Talisa Patterson, Angelique Chapman, Nicole Belit, Kara Green, Tiffany Jackson, Sundae Van Allen, Nicole Sutherland, Narci Regina, Perry King, Myriam Wilson, Rocky Lizardi

Lemonade Mafia (10 min)
Kira’s organic lemonade dynasty is in jeopardy when newcomer Shantel moves in on her territory with her high-fructose corn sugar version of lemonade. It’s an all-out neighborhood war in a good-natured battle of wills between competing kid entrepreneurs in this light-hearted comedy for all ages. 
Directed by:Anya Adams

90 Days (20 min)
Taylor​ ​is​ ​preparing​ ​for​ ​a​ ​date​ ​with​ ​his​ ​girlfriend,​ ​Jessica,​ ​to  celebrate​ ​three​ ​months​ ​of​ ​dating.​ ​They​ ​have​ ​waited​ ​ninety​ ​days​ ​to  have​ ​sex​ ​because​ ​they​ ​both​ ​agreed​ ​that​ ​sex​ ​gets​ ​in​ ​the​ ​way​ ​of  truly​ ​getting​ ​to​ ​know​ ​your​ ​partner.​ ​Still,​ ​Taylor​ ​is​ ​sure​ ​that​ ​Jessica  is​ ​the​ ​woman​ ​for​ ​him​ ​and​ ​intends​ ​to​ ​propose​ ​marriage.​ ​His​ ​best  friend,​ ​Qwynn,​ ​thinks​ ​that​ ​he​ ​is​ ​crazy​ ​and​ ​encourages​ ​him​ ​to​ ​wait  until​ ​after​ ​their​ ​relationship​ ​has​ ​been​ ​consummated​ ​when​ ​he  knows​ ​more​ ​about​ ​her.​ ​Undeterred,​ ​Taylor​ ​has​ ​the​ ​ring​ ​and​ ​heads  to​ ​Jessica’s​ ​for​ ​their​ ​dinner​ ​and​ ​to​ ​propose.​ ​Confronted​ ​with​ ​a  case​ ​of​ ​cold​ ​feet,​ ​Taylor​ ​calls​ ​his​ ​no-nonsense​ ​mother​ ​who  reassures​ ​him​ ​that​ ​he​ ​is​ ​not​ ​moving​ ​too​ ​fast​ ​and​ ​that​ ​Jessica​ ​is​ ​a  wonderful​ ​woman.​ ​All​ ​is​ ​well,​ ​until​ ​Jessica​ ​reveals​ ​the​ ​true​ ​reason  why​ ​she​ ​asked​ ​to​ ​wait​ ​ninety​ ​days. 

Sacred Heart (15 min) 
Nichel meets an intriguing man at a bar named Alexander and begins an uninhibited sexual and emotional affair with him, which prompts an intellectual and sensual awakening. She speaks candidly to her therapist about her need to be controlled and the satisfaction she gets from her escapism. Nichel and Alexanders affair take them both down an unexpected road where they are forced to face their demons and explore the truth about love.
Directors: Sol Aponte, Jennia Fredrique

Me Myself & Them Me (21 min)
Myself and Them is a story about one man's view on love and relationships and the women who don't understand WHY.
Director: Issac Taylor

The Bill (10 mins)
Barbie’s 35th birthday celebration brings together her diverse group of friends. When the bill arrives, the best intentions dissolve into drama.  
Director: Caralene Robinson | Executive Producers: Deborah Riley Draper & Caralene Robinson | Producer: Crystal Whaley | Principle Cast: Nakima Baker, Perri Camper, Tanyika Carey, Szalene Anthony, Talisa Patterson, Angelique Chapman, Nicole Belit, Kara Green, Tiffany Jackson, Sundae Van Allen, Nicole Sutherland, Narci Regina, Perry King, Myriam Wilson, Rocky Lizardi

Lemonade Mafia (10 min)
Kira’s organic lemonade dynasty is in jeopardy when newcomer Shantel moves in on her territory with her high-fructose corn sugar version of lemonade. It’s an all-out neighborhood war in a good-natured battle of wills between competing kid entrepreneurs in this light-hearted comedy for all ages. 
Directed by:Anya Adams


90 Days (20 min)
Taylor​ ​is​ ​preparing​ ​for​ ​a​ ​date​ ​with​ ​his​ ​girlfriend,​ ​Jessica,​ ​to  celebrate​ ​three​ ​months​ ​of​ ​dating.​ ​They​ ​have​ ​waited​ ​ninety​ ​days​ ​to  have​ ​sex​ ​because​ ​they​ ​both​ ​agreed​ ​that​ ​sex​ ​gets​ ​in​ ​the​ ​way​ ​of  truly​ ​getting​ ​to​ ​know​ ​your​ ​partner.​ ​Still,​ ​Taylor​ ​is​ ​sure​ ​that​ ​Jessica  is​ ​the​ ​woman​ ​for​ ​him​ ​and​ ​intends​ ​to​ ​propose​ ​marriage.​ ​His​ ​best  friend,​ ​Qwynn,​ ​thinks​ ​that​ ​he​ ​is​ ​crazy​ ​and​ ​encourages​ ​him​ ​to​ ​wait  until​ ​after​ ​their​ ​relationship​ ​has​ ​been​ ​consummated​ ​when​ ​he  knows​ ​more​ ​about​ ​her.​ ​Undeterred,​ ​Taylor​ ​has​ ​the​ ​ring​ ​and​ ​heads  to​ ​Jessica’s​ ​for​ ​their​ ​dinner​ ​and​ ​to​ ​propose.​ ​Confronted​ ​with​ ​a  case​ ​of​ ​cold​ ​feet,​ ​Taylor​ ​calls​ ​his​ ​no-nonsense​ ​mother​ ​who  reassures​ ​him​ ​that​ ​he​ ​is​ ​not​ ​moving​ ​too​ ​fast​ ​and​ ​that​ ​Jessica​ ​is​ ​a  wonderful​ ​woman.​ ​All​ ​is​ ​well,​ ​until​ ​Jessica​ ​reveals​ ​the​ ​true​ ​reason  why​ ​she​ ​asked​ ​to​ ​wait​ ​ninety​ ​days. 

All Eyes on Emma 5
 In this horror thriller, a college professor (Peter Lawson Jones) is cursed to keep his eyes fixated on a beautiful statue-like girl every night when the sun goes down. In exchange for an A in his class, he hires one of his students to help free him from the curse.
Director: Matthew Leslie

So. CI3.ty (27 min)
J0.hn, an emotionless and regulated citizen of THE CITY, awakes on a deserted island 10, 000 miles away from civilization. Equipped with the R3G, a symbiotic watch ruled by a very advanced A.I that regulate his emotions and keeps him indefinitely "operational," J0.hn starts to plan his own rescue but things get radically complicated... 
Director: Khris Burton

Lawman (15 min)
1875, Indian Territory. Bass Reeves, is the first African-American to be deputized by the U.S. Marshal service. When Bass charges into the desert, he engages in a shootout with two outlaws, Maha and Glen Huddleston, also African-American. Bass kills Maha in the gunfight, and arrests Glen, ordering him to carry Maha’s body across the desert back to Fort Smith. Over the course of their journey, Glen questions Bass’ choice of career and tries to psych Bass out in an unorthodox attempt at escape, a tactic that works as Bass begins to question his own mind in regards to the idea of justice and choosing to fight for a law and a country that may never fight for him.
Directed by Matthew Gentile

Iman & the Light Warrior (15 min)
10 year-old Iman navigates through a war-ravaged City of Aya with the help of the Light Warriors to express his feelings to his school crush in order to unlock his superpower.
Writer: Osahon Tongo      

95 Never Looked So Good (9)
This Documentary highlights Simeon Holloway accomplishments from early beginings to the prominent historical record of his involvement in the elite first all Black US B-1 Navy Band.
Director: Tymm Holloway

The Man Who Feared ( 8 min) A young white urban professional has moved into his newly purchased home in a predominantly black neighborhood; his attempts to remain inconspicuous finally runs its course after a misread encounter with a fellow community member.
Director: Jehnovah Carlisle

Full Service (16 min) Abike, a Nigerian born oil industry executive and a Christian, is driving to a friend's country house when she realizes her tank is needling towards empty. She pulls into the only station she can find where she is greeted by Scott, a local who inherited his business from his grandfather. Scott has never met anyone like Abike, which leads him to make a stream of assumptions about her based on stereotypes and unexamined racial biases. When Abike challenges him, with a mixture of bold humor and equally bold gravitas, he is left to ponder their commonalties and her power. Full Service explores the effects of globalization on local economies and culture, our propensity to stereotype others, and the fact that we are all more complex than we see
Director:  KPage Stuart Valdes

Tom Freeman of the North (18 min) A young black Harlemite named Tom, who interns at a start-up that just opened up in his neighborhood, is invited to his boss's housewarming party off of Malcolm X Boulevard. While Tom is looking forward to use this opportunity to move up the ranks by gifting his boss with a jar of artisanal mayonnaise, his brother, Desean, sees this party as symbol for the rapid gentrification of Harlem and the oppression of his people. Struggling to find a common ground between moving up and doing what's right, the two brothers go to the party only to discover that artisanal mayonnaise isn't what it's cracked up to be.
Director: Mohammed Rabbani

Padlock Men (16 min) 86 yr. old Walter “Posey” Fodrell shares a memoir of a historically unknown secret pact between Martin Luther King, Malcolm X & John F. Kennedy. 'Blood for Blood Knuckles Dirty' the Civil Rights movement will never be viewed the same. A History Never Spoke A Bond Never Broken
Director:  Lewis Powell

Free Screening:
Limited Tickets Available at Shaker Square Cinemas Box Office (day of screening only)


Cut in Half (16 min)
written by Leen Shumman (17) and directed by Susan Seidelman  

Monique From 12 - 2 (2)
A young woman attempts to pass the time as she awaits potentially life-altering news.

Albert Bellamy  (25)  Filmmaker: Lith Freeman
After learning of the death of his oldest friend, Albert Bellamy must relearn to ride a bike or risk saying goodby  

Simply A Sandwich (5)
It's been one of those days; and all that is wanted is simply, a sandwich.

Letter to Heaven ( 5)
directed by Shaman Aponte (13).  
A 10 year old boy works to overcome the obstacles that  come from having a mentally challenged father.

Split Persona (16)
written by Mayraleeh Nelson (17) and directed by Bradley Rust-Gray.  Split Persona places  an emphasis on love, solidarity and mental health

Never Give Up (4)
(Featuring the Tri-C Creative Arts Dance Academy.)    

Never Give Up interweaves the stories of several students who encounter struggles and setbacks in their goal of pursuing their dream of an education.

 

 

  

Served  (23 min) Follows the story of two adolescent sisters Heart & Hope whose mother has been shockingly arrested and prepare for her to go to prison. The major themes I focused on in my short were the plight children of incarcerated parents carry and the rising number of women going to prison.
Director: Akiya Mcknight

Old E (15 min) Demarkus Jackson, a young basketball star from South Central Los Angeles, pursues his dreams in the face of his abusive, drunken father who cannot overcome the failures of his past.
Director: Xavier Neal-Burgin

Psuedo (7 min) To see through the eyes of another requires each one of us to challenge what we have been conditioned to see. Do you see what I see?
Directors: Julien Turner (19) and Justen Turner (14)

See You Yesterday (15 min) Presented by Spike Lee, two Brooklyn teenage prodigies, C.J. Walker and Sebastian Thomas - determined to outwit fate and role-play as God - build make-shift time machines to save CJ's brother, Calvin, from being wrongfully killed by a police officer.
Director: Stefon Bristol

 

Instance (30)

An idealistic art teacher befriends a troubled teenage boy in her class, but when she is accused of an instance of inappropriate behavior, it becomes unclear who the actual victim really is.
This 30-minute short is
Director: Teria Birlon and Nicholas Casucci

PRINT SHOP (30 min)
What happens when a young, aspiring fashion designer from North Philadelphia creates Rest in Peace t-shirts to honor slain victims of violence in his community? Director Christian Nolan Jones explores life through R.I.P. tees in the "Print Shop."
Director: Christian Nolan Jones

 A Father's Love (27 min)
Choosing between saving one life and hundreds of lives should be easy, unless that one life is your daughters.

Director: Emily Mathason

 

 

FORGIVENESS (25)
Directed by Satie Gossett-- is the story of a young African American boy who explores the brutal history of America’s role in slavery as the topic for his entry into a national essay contest issued by the President of the United States. President McGovern needs inspiration from the youth about how to fix America. Oliver Burroughs, learning about slavery in his class declares that the President needs to apologize so he submits his solution and enters his essay in the contest. Oliver learns about the profound impact of slavery on America and different perspectives from everyone in his life. Destiny lays a path for Oliver’s essay to win the President’s contest and now President McGovern has the task to fulfill this young man’s request to make a national apology for America’s involvement in slavery so healing in the nation can begin. “FORGIVENESS” is an allegory of innocence and redemption.


Playground ( 17 min)
In Brick City, a theater collective on Cleveland’s West Side, children and seniors from a public housing project create and perform their own plays in order to comprehend the violence that has scarred their community and share their poignant stories of loss, perseverance and hope.
 Director(s): Geoff Pingree, Jake Hochendoner

Fresh Moves (15)
Nehemiah Spencer and Dee Jay Doc, and their project 'Fresh Moves' gives back to the community in a very unique way.Applying dance, hip hop and gardening as a Social & Emotional Learning (SEL) technique, Fresh Moves promotes bully free environments where's students can grow  
Director:    Chris Kennedy

Sterling (11) 
A highly successful writer and father gives up his fame, fortune and family as a result of what he believes his wife has done to destroy them. 

Directed by CORNELL CALHOUN lll 
Run time: 10:52 

Hold On ( 9 min) 
Family bonds are tested when a young man is left to care for his grandmother one morning.
Director: Chiristine Turner

Trash Bags ( 9 min)
A former couple is forced to refelcetover the degradation of their relationship.
Director: Diante Singley

Intersection ( 9 min)
A road trip forces a young woman and her two best friends to examine their identities and place in the American South
Director:  Angela Tucker

Hope For Dating In LA ( 30 min) 
Hope (played by Joslyn Pennywell from America's next Top Model), Serenity and Darin are three professional, pretty ladies living in Los Angeles. Each has everything going for them career wise, but the LA dating scene has them down. They get an idea surrounding an online dating site that turns into a disaster, but ultimately keeps them hopeful.
Director: DaVida Chanel Smith

MIXED TAPE BABY (20 min)  is set in North Philadelphia.  The Mixtape: Stay Black, Baby! paints a complex picture of black America.
Director: Jasmine Lynea.

SMALL INFRACTIONS:5 MIN
Small Infractions is a new wave silent film.  This film takes a humorous look at a man who is a stickler for the rules in which he has the authority to enforce but isn't so attentive to other traditional rules. Miles has a  job that gives him a small amount of power which he happily wields and does so unmercifully. This may be the day the mirror is held to his face.  Written by John Moody
Director: David Velo Stewart

CA$H OUT (27 Min)
A slice of life out of one young African-American girl's journey back to loving herself in a society that tells her not to.
Director: KARIM MEG MOUTRY

Black & Beautiful
Music Video

Good Lookin Out
Music Video

MIXED TAPE BABY (20 min)  is set in North Philadelphia.  The Mixtape: Stay Black, Baby! paints a complex picture of black America.
Director: Jasmine Lynea.

SMALL INFRACTIONS:5 MIN
Small Infractions is a new wave silent film.  This film takes a humorous look at a man who is a stickler for the rules in which he has the authority to enforce but isn't so attentive to other traditional rules. Miles has a  job that gives him a small amount of power which he happily wields and does so unmercifully. This may be the day the mirror is held to his face.  Written by John Moody
Director: David Velo Stewart

CA$H OUT (27 Min)
A slice of life out of one young African-American girl's journey back to loving herself in a society that tells her not to.
Director: KARIM MEG MOUTRY

Black & Beautiful
Music Video

Good Lookin Out
Music Video