Cine Noir Black Film Festival Wraps Up Seventh Year WILMINGTON, NC (March 17, 2008) - The Black Arts Alliance is pleased to announce the winners of our jury competition at the Seventh Annual Cine Noir Festival of Black Film, held March 13-16, 2008, at Cameron Art Museum, Wilmington, NC. More than 20 films, including shorts, documentaries, features, and animated works, were screened. Shorts 1st Place:  DRAWING ANGEL - Rosalyn Coleman Williams - Director 2nd Place:  STEEP - Adetoro Makinde - Director 3rd Place - LIFTED - Randall Dottin - Director Features 1st Place:  ALL ABOUT US - Christine Swanson - Director 2nd Place:  ADRIFT IN THE HEARTLAND - Brigid Maher - Director 3rd Place:  ALGENY - Andrew Burroughs - Director Documentaries Dr. Maurice Martinez was presented a $1500 suite of special effects software donated by Digieffects of Wilmington.  His film COLORED WHITE BOY was the only documentary in competition.  The other documentaries screened at the festival were invitational.  The jury was convened by Cine Noir Committee member Regina McLeod and included Nini Rogan, Tom Priestley, Beverly Judge, Steve Bax, and Scott Evans.

Several other celebrity guests were in attendance, including our 2008 Emerging Filmmaker honoree Rosalyn Coleman Williams. The award-winning director is a former Fox Fellow with numerous directing credits, in addition to being an accomplished actress of stage and screen.  Rosalyn and filmmaker hubby Craig were a wonderful addition to the festival.

Wilmington native Anthony Hemingway joined us on Saturday to accept the festival's inaugural Zenith Award for "The Wire".  Anthony directed several episodes of the groundbreaking HBO series now in its final season.  Twice named Time Magazine’s Top Television Show, the series has received the Peabody Award and commendations from the American Film Institute, NAACP, and the Writers Guild of America. Anthony served as the first assistant director on several episodes of the in the first season and throughout the second and third season.  He returned in 2006 as a director for the seventh episode of the fourth season "Unto Others".  Show creator David Simon said that Anthony's directing debut proved what they already knew, "that it was time."

Our closing selection was the critically acclaimed "Honeydripper," about the origins of rock and roll in the deep South.  The cast includes Danny Glover, Charles Dutton, and LisaGay Hamilton, with musical appearances by R & B legend Mable John, singer-songwriter Ke'b Mo' and Austin guitar sensation Gary Clark, Jr.

Another highlight was Family Cinema, a free showcase of films suitable for young audiences. The segment includes "The Legend of the Sky Kingdom," Africa’s first stop-motion animation film made using pieces of junk. Sponsored by the Black Arts Alliance, Inc., Cameron Art Museum, North Carolina Arts Council, Landfall Foundation, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Carolina Ford Dealers, Time Warner Cable, Ken Weeden & Associates, Coast 97.3, AM 980 WAAV, and WHQR 91.3.