Welcome to the
Hollywood Black Film Festival (HBFF), an event rich
in history and tradition. Founded in 1998 by its
executive director, Tanya Kersey, 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, media and public. The
festival's often-casual tone and shoulder-rubbing
intimacy affords remarkably close access to movers and
shakers in the industry we cover.
The following information
will answer many of your questions and familiarize you
with what you can expect at HBFF.
Click here for a downloadable version.
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|
Q:
What is the Hollywood Black Film Festival?
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| A:
The Hollywood Black Film Festival (HBFF) is an
annual 6-day celebration of black cinema drawing together
established filmmakers, popular film and TV stars, writers,
directors, industry executives, emerging artists and
new audiences from Southern California and around the
world. Attracting such stars and industry insiders as
Academy Award® winners Forest Whitaker and Sidney
Poitier, John Singleton, Spike Lee, George Tillman,
Tina Andrews, Reuben Cannon, Anthony Anderson, Blair
Underwood, Sanaa Lathan, Bill Duke, Kasi Lemmons, Vondie
Curtis Hall, Tisha Campbell and Nicole Ari Parker, the
festival has become a hotbed for the Black Hollywood
creative community. The festival aims to enhance the
careers of emerging and established black filmmakers
through a public exhibition and competition program.
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. |
| Q:
What are the dates of the 2008 festival? |
| A:
HBFF 2008, the ninth edition of the Hollywood Black
Film Festival is scheduled for June 3-8, 2008 in Beverly
Hills, California. |
| Q:
Who can attend the Hollywood Black Film Festival? |
| A:
The festival is open to everyone, from industry professionals
to the film loving general public. All are welcome at
the Hollywood Black Film Festival! |
| Q:
Where is the festival held? |
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A:
HBFF is held at venues throughout
the City of Beverly Hills. Screenings are held at
the Writers Guild Theater and Laemmle Music Hall 3.
The Infotainment Conference and the Storyteller Live Staged Reading are held at the Clarity Theatre. Networking
events and parties are held throughout Beverly Hills
and neighboring communities. Check the schedule
online for venue information.
WRITERS GUILD THEATER
135 S. Doheny Drive
Beverly
Hills, CA 90211
(1/2 block from LAEMMLE MUSIC
HALL 3)
LAEMMLE
MUSIC HALL 3
9036 Wilshire Boulevard
Beverly Hills,
CA 90211
(1/2 block from WRITERS GUILD
THEATER)
CLARITY
THEATRE
100 North Crescent Drive
Beverly Hills, CA
90210
(cor. of Wilshire Blvd. // 8 blocks from LAEMMLE MUSIC
HALL 3 and WRITERS GUILD THEATER)
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| Q:
How do I know what to see and do? |
| A:
This site is your printable source for finding out about
the films, panels, workshops, parties and all of the
other festival events you'll want to attend. For more
detailed information and the latest updates,
sign up for the HBFF e-mail newsletter. Be sure to pick up a copy
of the HBFF 2008 Film Guide, which provides comprehensive
Festival details. Free copies will be available during
the festival at the Writers Guild Theater, and Clarity Theatre. |
|
Q:
How do I purchase tickets to festival screenings or
a festival pass?
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A: You can purchase tickets and passes online.
Tickets go on-sale online in mid-May, 2008!
Ticket prices:
$12 Adults
$9 Matinees before 4 pm
$9 Children, Students & Seniors w/ID
Opening Night Gala - $75 pp (Admittance to
Opening Night Gala includes After-Party- Tuesday, June
3, 2008)
Opening night tickets may be picked up at the Clarity
Theatre from 9:00 am - 4:00 pm, and they
may also be picked up at the Writers Guild Theatre
from 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm.
Closing Night Gala - $25 pp (Admittance to
Closing Night Gala including After-Party- Sunday, June
8, 2008)
Discounts: 10% off to Students, Military & Senior
Citizens. If purchasing passes online, use the Voucher
code STU for Student, MIL for Military and SEN for Senior. Your Student, Military
or Senior I.D. will be required to pick up your pass
during registration.
To Purchase Tickets:
Tickets will be sold online through June 1, 2008.
After that, tickets may be purchased on-site.
Tickets will be available for pickup or purchase in
person at the Writers Guild Theater June 5-8, 2008
between 10:00 am and 9:00pm; and at the Laemmle Music
Hall 3 Box Office, June 4-8, 2008 between 10:00 am and
9:00 pm. The box office will open 30 minutes before
the first show of the day and will sell tickets for
that day's shows as well as advance tickets for other
shows playing at that theatre. All sales are final;
there are no refunds or exchanges.
Tickets for screenings at the Writers Guild Theater
are cash sales only! Laemmle Music Hall accepts
cash and credit cards.
Admission Policy:
HBFF Pass-holders and ticket holders will only be
guaranteed admission until 15 minutes prior to
scheduled screening. After this time, remaining seats
will be sold to wait-listed patrons and then released
to stand-by pass-holders.
Wait List:
If a screening is listed as “Wait List,” it means that
tickets are no longer available for pre-purchased. We
encourage you to go to the screening venue no more
than one hour prior to start time for a “Wait List”
ticket. Once all pass-holders and regular ticket
holders are seated, tickets will be sold to those
standing in the Wait List line.
HBFF 2008 Screening Venues:
Writers Guild Theater
135 So. Doheny Drive
Beverly Hills, CA 90211
Laemmle’s Music Hall 3
9036 Wilshire Blvd.
Beverly Hills, CA 90211
We encourage you to purchase tickets in advance online
to ensure you get to see the films of your choice. Many
screenings do sell out very quickly.
Festival passes
are available now online.
Click here for
more information. |
| Q:
By the way, what is a Festival Pass? |
|
A:
For your optimal festival experience, HBFF offers
a variety of passes. Holders of the HBFF 2008 Festival
Pass will enjoy access to all festival events including:
unrestricted admission to all festival screenings,
Infotainment Conference panel discussions and workshops;
admittance to all sponsored festival parties and receptions;
admission to the festival's Opening Night Gala and
Closing Night Festivities. For access to all festival
events, the Festival Pass is the best value for your
bucks!
The
Screening Pass is for all the film screenings only;
the Infotainment Conference Pass is for all the panels
and
workshops. For
more information on all the ways you can attend HBFF
2008, visit our registration page.
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| Q:
Well, how much does it cost? |
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A: For information on all the ways to attend HBFF 2008, visit our registration page. HBFF
Festival Pass - All Inclusive: Includes admittance
to Opening and Closing Night Galas, Screenings, Infotainment
Conference, Pitch-Fest Series, and all Festival Parties.
Best Value!
Early-bird registration before April 25th: $450
Regular registration up to May 30th: $550
After May 30th, on-site registration: $650
HBFF
Infotainment Conference Pass - Includes admittance
to Infotainment Conference only.
Early-bird registration before April 25th: $325
Regular registration up to May 30th: $375
After May 30th, on-site registration: $475
One
Day Pass - Includes admittance to Infotainment
Conference Panels, Screenings and Evening Events for
One Day Only. APPLICABLE WEDNESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY
ONLY. NOT APPLICABLE TUESDAY & SUNDAY.
Early-bird registration before April 25th: $125
Regular registration up to May 30th: $150
After May 30th, on-site registration: $200
HBFF
Screening Pass - Includes admittance to all HBFF
Screenings except Opening and Closing Night.
Early-bird registration before April 25th: $175
Regular registration up to May 30th: $200
After May 30th, on-site registration: $250
Infotainment
Panels - $30 ea.
Includes admittance to a single Infotainment Panel
except Pitchathon.
Discounts: 10% off to Students,
Military & Senior Citizens. If purchasing passes online, use the Voucher code STU for Student,
MIL for Military and SEN for Senior. Your Student,
Military or Senior I.D. will be required to pick up your pass during registration.
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|
Q:
So, I've ordered my pass… now what?
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|
A:
Passes may be picked up as follows:
Tuesday, June 3, 2008: 9 am – 4 pm at the
Clarity Theater
Wednesday, June 4, 2008: 9 am – 4 pm at the
Clarity Theater
Thursday, June 5, 2008: 9 am – 4 pm at the
Clarity Theater
Friday, June 6, 2008: 9 am – 4 pm at the Clarity
Theater
Saturday, June 7, 2008: 9 am – 4 pm at the
Clarity Theater
Sunday, June 8, 2008: 9 am – 4 pm at the Clarity
Theater
The Clarity Theater is located at 100 N. Crescent
Drive in Beverly Hills (corner of Crescent Drive and
Wilshire Blvd.) There is metered parking on the
street and 1 hour free parking at the Public Parking
Lot located at 333 N. Crescent Drive.
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| Q:
Won't it be easier to just buy my pass at the festival
when I get to Los Angeles? |
| A:
No. There is a limited number of all-access Festival
Passes available. We encourage you to purchase your
festival passes in advance. |
| Q:
Hey, I'm a big-wig industry executive at a major studio/network.
Do I really need to buy a pass and/or screening tickets? |
| A:
Yes! |
| Q:
How are films selected to screen at the festival? |
| A:
Selection of films and videos is made by the festival
screening committee comprised of film studio executives,
agents, entertainment attorneys, filmmakers, producers
and journalists. |
| Q:
What is going on besides films? |
|
A:
In addition to a dynamic line-up of feature, short,
documentary and student films, and music videos, the
Hollywood Black Film Festival is much more than just
films.
The
adjunct Infotainment Conference features
dozens of informational seminars, panels and workshops
covering a wide variety of topics which range from
film production, distribution and marketing to pitching,
writing for television and film, in addition to specific
programs of interest to actors. Each year, more than
100 top film and television executives, filmmakers,
producers, directors, writers, agents, attorneys,
business managers and actors participate in the talk-show
style panels, roundtable discussions and workshops
There
is also a free, Storyteller Lived Staged
Reading of the finalists in the HBFF storyteller
competition.
And
of course, there are the nightly HBFF parties where
attendees get a chance to network with their peers,
and party!
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| Q:
Can I write off any of my festival expenses? |
| A:
Your registration fee is tax deductible! Even the government
smiles on professional education. All expenses of Continuing
Education (including registration fees, travel, meals,
and lodging) taken to maintain and improve professional
skills are tax deductible according to Treasury Regulation
1.162-5 Coughlin vs. Commissioner, 203 F2d 307. |
| Q:
If I'm coming from out of town, how should I get to
Los Angeles and where should I stay? |
| A:
The Hollywood Black Film Festival has many travel partners
to help you make the most of your trip. Visit
our travel & accommodations page for more information.
When making your travel arrangements, be sure to identify
yourself as part of the Hollywood Black Film Festival
to receive our negotiated discount rates. |
| Q:
What's the weather going to be like? |
| A:
During the day the temperature should be expected to
be in the 80's. It's warm and sunny in Southern California!
Be prepared and bring a light jacket for early mornings
and evenings. |
|
Q:
How should I dress?
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| A:
California Casual. Opening & Closing Nights are
typically a bit dressier. |
| Q:
How do I make the most of my festival experience? |
|
A:
We want to emphasize that the Hollywood Black Film
Festival is more than a festival, it's a networking
experience, and your participation is a key element
to its success. Make sure you bring plenty of business
cards, photos/resumes, etc. Business cards (and photos/resumes
for actors) are the main commodity that is traded
at the festival. Network as hard as you can and collect
as many business cards as possible. It's always a
good idea to write a short note on the back of each
card you receive to jog your memory later on as to
who and what is person was about. You're bound to
make a lot of lasting contacts. And don't forget to
bring a camera- there will be plenty of photo ops
for you and your friends, and you never know who you'll
see.
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|
Q: Any networking tips for me? |
A:
HBFF's tips for power networking:
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Have a one-line one-minute pitch of your film or
script ready, if you've come to the festival to pitch
a product.
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If you have a film, make sure you have extra DVD
copies of your film. Ditto for scripts.
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Always remeber, the festival network is small, so
think long-term. Look for agents, producers,
acquisition executives and others to provide support
for your future projects.
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Bring PLENTY of business cards. Network as hard as you
can and collect as many business cards as possible.
It's always a good idea to write a short note on the
back of each card you receive to jog your memory later
on as to who and what that person is about.
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Lastly, do not ignore one of the most important
resources around you -- your peers. One day your
peers may be in a position to help you or to hire you,
or you them! Talk up your project to them and
get them to talk about theirs.
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| Q:
Can I record (audio and/or video) the Infotainment panels? |
| A:
Sorry, no recording is allowed. Our Infotainment Conference
is fully copyrighted. No audio recording or videotaping,
please. Photos are okay. |
| Q:
What are some of the films that have played in past
festivals? |
| A:
Past festival features in the invitational program have
included director John Singleton's box office blockbuster
"2 Fast 2 Furious," the critically-acclaimed
"The Hurricane" (starring Academy Award™
winner Denzel Washington), director Kasi Lemmons' "The
Caveman's Valentine" (starring Samuel L. Jackson),
and director Reggie Rock Bythewood's "Dancing In
September." |
| Q:
When do you announce the films that will screen at the
festival? |
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A: The films are announced on the festival website
April. |
| Q:
When will the festival screening schedule be available? |
| A:
The screening schedule with the dates
and venues of the screenings of selected films is posted
on the Festival website late April. |
| Q:
Are the films rated? |
|
A:
In general, Hollywood Black Film Festival selections
have not yet been reviewed by the Motion Picture Association
of America and therefore do not have an MPAA rating
(G, PG, PG-13, R, NC-17). However, we include details
about the content and nature of films in the Film
Guide and more information at www.hbff.org to help
you make choices.
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| Q:
Where do I get more information? |
| A:
Our Festival website provides the most comprehensive
details on events, programs, and other general information.
Be sure to
sign up for the e-mail newsletter to keep abreast of
festival developments. |
| Q:
What if I have questions during the Festival? |
| A:
Any Festival staffer or one of our volunteers will be
happy to help you - just look for the HBFF volunteer
badges. Visit our Information Center located in the
lobby of the Writers Guild Theater or the Clarity
Theater to ask questions,
or pick up a Free festival guide. |
| Q:
You still haven't answered my question. Now what? |
|
 A:
Send us an email at: info@hbff.org.
For business inquiries ONLY: 310.407.3596.
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