The 27th Urbanworld Film Festival will run Nov 1-5, 2023.
Based in New York City, Urbanworld highlights narrative and documentary features, short films, web originals, music videos, spotlight screenings and conversations, and live staged screenplay readings that redefine and advance the presence of multicultural voices.
For tickets and passes, click here.
Congratulations to all the NYWIFT members involved! We are so proud that there will be eight films featuring the work of nine members at this year’s festival.
Check out the 2023 Film Program for more information.
The NYWIFT member films below are sorted alphabetically by title.
August Visitor
Director, Screenwriter, Producer, Filmmaker, Editor: Ifeyinwa Arinze
Ralu prepares dinner with her widowed mother one summer evening. August Visitor tells a story of intimacy, vulnerability and grief in the context of a Nigerian-American family.
Black Girls Play
Director and Producer: Michèle Stephenson
Associate Producer: Karem Orrego
Learn about the impactful and joyful hand games played by Black girls from generation to generation.
Sat, Nov 4th, 4:45 PM @ AMC 34th Street 14 – Theater 9
Cut Me If You Can
Producer and Actor: Djaka Souaré
Stuck in the loop of a horror B-movie, a hyper-sexualized black female character decides to reject her fate and rebel against the script. Along with her boyfriend, token black guy who always dies first, they throw the entire movie off course. They try to outwit the serial killer and escape in order to break free… but the film has other plans.
Sat, Nov 4th, 9:45 PM @ AMC 34th Street 14 – Theater 11
Lunchbox
Producer: Gilana Lobel
“Lunchbox” is a dramatic, three-part, coming-of-age short about regret, healing, and honoring the people we love. Based on a true story, this retelling examines the personal cost of fitting in as well as the recovery from cultural and familial loss.
Thu, Nov 2nd, 5:00 PM @ AMC 34th Street 14 – Theater 9
The Space Race
Director, Producer, and Filmmaker: Lisa Cortés
The Space Race weaves together the stories of Black astronauts seeking to break the bonds of social injustice to reach for the stars, including Guion Bluford, Ed Dwight and Charles Bolden, among many others.
Reunion
Producer and Actor: Djaka Souaré
As Isata, a West African immigrant living in the Bronx, watches a morning talk show, she recognizes the guest, best selling author Mamadou Kargbo. His face triggers long buried memories of surviving a civil war. She wonders, was this distinguished author once the child soldier who destroyed her family? Setting out to find him, if she is right – will she seek vengeance or grant forgiveness?
Sat, Nov 4th, 7:30 PM @ AMC 34th Street 14 – Theater 14
Stand Up and Shout: Songs from a Philly High School
Director: Amy Schatz
10th graders from Hill-Freedman World Academy (HFWA), a Philadelphia public school, take part in a unique songwriting collaboration.
Sat, Nov 4th, 4:45 PM @ AMC 34th Street 14 – Theater 11
To Live and Die and Live
Producer: Dana Offenbach
Executive Producer: Trevite Willis
Muhammad returns to Detroit to bury his stepdad, but his struggles with addiction and the weight of expectation may finish him before he finishes the tasks.
