2013 HBFF Presents Inaugural Film Diaspora

Hollywood, CA (September 23, 2013) – This year the Hollywood Black Film Festival (HBFF) has integrated a new sidebar, Film Diaspora, into its programming slate. Film Diaspora will showcase independent films and filmmakers from the African Diaspora. The sidebar will screen Thursday, October 3 from 11am-9pm at the Ricardo Montalban Theatre, 1618 Vine Street, Hollywood, CA. The Hollywood Black Film Festival runs October 2-6 in Hollywood, CA. 

Andrea Meshel, the programmer for this year’s Film Diaspora, is hoping to create an awareness of stories being told by filmmakers outside of the United States. “Film Diaspora is proud to present a vast array of cinematic voices from the African Diaspora.” says Meshel. 

The Film Diaspora lineup will showcase 11 films -- three features, six shorts, and two documentaries from 8 countries -- Nigeria, Haiti, Cameroon, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Madagascar, Burkina Faso and South Africa 

FEATURES
Flower Girl (Nigeria)
Writer: Jigi Bello, Director: Michelle Bello
Malagasy Mankany (Legends of Madagascar) (Madagascar)
Writer/Director: Haminiaina Ratovarivony
Ninah’s Dowry (Cameroon)

Writer/Director: Victor Viyuoh 

SHORTS
Midnight Scorpian (Burkina Faso)
Writer/Director: Tony Amara
NHAMO (South Africa)
Writer/Director: Eunice Chiwesha Goldstein
Ogondah (Nigeria)
Writer/Director: Willis Ikedum Sunni Man (New Zealand) Writer/Director: Hamish Mortland
Touch (London)
Writer/Director: Shola Amoo
Unspoken (Nigeria)
Writers: Edith Nwekenta and Ola Laniyan 

DOCUMENTARIES
Adopted ID (Haiti)
Writer: Andrew Togobo Director: Sonia GoddingTogobo Sodiq (London)
Writer/Director: Adeyemi Michael 

About Andrea Meshal

Andrea Meshel, a native of Kingston Jamaica, started her career as a film maker in 2008 with a documentary entitled "I Wanna Be President." Prior to working in the film industry, Meshel received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Adelphi University, and a Juris Doctorate
from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law. Meshel recently produced a short film entitled "Descent," she’s currently co-producing a web series entitled "Real Life," and she is in preproduction on two short films -- “Alone” and “Necrophilia.” Meshel has written, directed, produced, as well as acted in numerous film and theatrical productions throughout the country. She is committed to portraying positive images of African people. As an African Caribbean artist Meshel believes it is important to provide exposure to filmmakers from the Diaspora, and she is passionate about and committed to giving these filmmakers a platform through which to showcase their talents and work. 

About the Hollywood Black Film Festival
Founded in 1998, the Hollywood Black Film Festival (HBFF) aims to enhance the careers of emerging and established Black filmmakers through a public exhibition, competition program and industry panels. Known amongst the entertainment industry’s powerbrokers as, “The Black Sundance,” the festival brings independent works of accomplished and aspiring black filmmakers to an environment encompassing the mainstream Hollywood community and Southern California film-going audiences. The festival’s goal is to play an integral role in discovering and launching independent films and filmmakers by bringing them to the attention of the industry, press and public. 

Since its inception, HBFF Has screened nearly 100 films from the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, France, Japan, the Bahamas, Central African Republic, Ghana, Burundi, Nigeria, Australia, South Africa, Kenya, Haiti, Burkina Faso, Niger, Russia, Brazil, Jordan, Jamaica, Spain, Cuba, Trinidad and Tobago, Singapore and the Philippines. 

For more information about the Hollywood Black Film Festival, visit www.hbff.org, email: info@hbff.org.