Festival Information

Husband and wife music producers, Ray Chew and Vivian Scott Chew embark on an ambitious two week journey to Cuba to create a collaboration of sounds which originated from Afro-Caribbean roots, that has evolved into what we now consider modern day Salsa music. Bringing together multiple artists from the U.S. and Cuba, the film shines a light on Cuban culture and takes the viewer through the creative process and challenges of producing an album while providing an auditory sensation that touches the soul. Featuring Eric Benét, Louie Vega and Sergio George - who has produced albums for Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony and more. Audiences will walk away feeling the passion, positive energy, triumph and love that keeps the music's marriage strong. 

Film Producer: Vivian Scott Chew 

Who told you that your Black was Not Beautiful? 

A panel discussion on Colorism in Hollywood and the Media.
How Colorism manifests in film, advertising and the media    

Moderator: Dr. Karen Moore, Founder of I am the Colour of Beautiful 

 "Dr. Karen," through this initiative, is on a mission to liberate darker skinned women from the colorism psyche by enabling them to write and perform their experiences through the spoken word.

Keynote Panelists: 

Dr. Kathy Barton Brown, MSW, LMSW, ACSW, PHD is a licensed Psychotherapist who has been in the mental health field for over 35 years. 

Adriana Waterston-Adriana Waterston Chief Revenue Officer and Insights & Strategy Lead Adriana is a research junkie with a flair for finding the story behind the statistics, teasing the meaning out of the measurement, and revealing the faces behind the facts.

CC Stinson-An award-winning artist producing over 20 independent projects. Notable works include her directorial debut Breakdown which was televised on BET, International Children’s film Hot Summer Daze, and her transmedia documentary on the Issue of Colorism. 

Fee: $15.00 (USD) includes a special film screening.

To purchase ticket click link below:https://www.freshtix.com/events/22nd-aawic-film-festival 

Sponsored by: I am the Colour of Beautiful 

Media Mogul, Tam Lawrence Interviews, Jeff Clanagan, Founder & President of Code Black and Dr. Missy, Breast Cancer Survivor whose story is featured in a new movie on BET-HER (BHER).

Jeff Clanagan: also known as the Founder and CEO of CodeBlack Entertainment, which is the first independent and vertically integrated African American-owned film studio is a famous filmmaker and producer in Hollywood. Some of his famous works include ‘Civil Brand’, ‘Mama’, ‘I Want to Sing!’, ‘I Tried’, ‘Foolish’, ‘A Good Man Is Hard to Find’ (video), and more. Jeff Clanagan has even managed to bring a huge change in Hollywood through his filmography and movies. Clanagan is also best known as ‘The Black Power of Hollywood’ and has helped and has facilitated positive representations of African-Americans and their communities in Hollywood movies. 

Dr. Missy: BET screenwriter, speaker, coach, and 3x Amazon bestselling author was a rising star in one of America's Fortune 100 companies, and everything looked perfect from the outside. Suddenly her life changed, and she lost everything. With a 3% chance of living after a 60 MPH car accident, 47 days in a coma, falling twelve feet, marriage falling apart, and later diagnosed with Stage 3C Breast Cancer; she asked God for one more chance. With that one more chance, Dr. Missy turned her tragedies into triumphs to create transformation for herself and others worldwide. She is the CEO of Fearless Women Rock LLC, a platform created for women to share their courageous stories by showing them how to write the story, build a brand and take it to the big screen. 

Fee: Complimentary 

To secure complimentary ticket click link below:
https://www.freshtix.com/events/22nd-aawic-film-festival 

Sponsored by: Exposure TV 

 "The effect of COVID on BIPOC creatives in the Entertainment Industry" 

A look into how Entertainment companies have pivoted during the MeToo movement, George Floyd and COVID to expand or diminish BIPOC Creatives in the industry. Were the influences helpful or harmful? and why?  

Moderated by: Francesca Francois-Grimaldi 

Chief Executive Officer Senior Agent 

Keynote Panelists:

Sharon Parker-Frazier: Executive Vice President Film and Television Development & Production 

Christine Tyson De Jesus: Senior Agent Adult and Youth Film & Television

Richard Murphy: Executive Vice President Celebrity Talent Motion Picture & Television 

Paisley K. Parks: Executive Vice President Theatre & Literary 

Fee: $15.00 (USD) 

To purchase ticket click link below:
https://www.freshtix.com/events/22nd-aawic-film-festival 

 
Sponsored by: Crystalship Artist  

 "Women of Color in Comedy: From the Stage to the Screen" 

Listen in as three funny ladies have a candid conversation about their journeys in the world of comedy .Find out how they've managed to go from stand-up comedy in local venues to sold out comedy tours around the country, along with landing television and movie appearances, and more. Acting, writing, producing, and even directing, these ladies have taken their talents to a whole new level!  

Moderator: Marsha Taylor, CEO of Hidden Agenda, Founder of LOL Comedy Honors

Marsha Taylor with over 25 years of professional experience that included both corporate and entertainment clients, Marsha Taylor has been a go-to, trusted source for business consulting and event production for years. Marsha created her own company, Hidden Agenda LLC in 1998 and worked alongside of some of the music industry’s top executives, artists, producers, and recording engineers. She further provided media coaching for clients who sought to become more comfortable with public speaking. She served as President of Simply Music Entertainment in the mid-90’s and coordinated some of New York City’s hottest networking events in the 2000’s.  

Keynote Panelists:

Cocoa Brown is most notably known for her lead role in Tyler Perry's The Single Mom's Club and For Better or Worse, the hilarious comedian/actress Cocoa (pronounced Co-kah) Brown treats audiences to thought-provoking humor in which she declares “I don’t tell jokes I tell the truth!” Her Grown Woman delivery both on stage and on the screen in supporting roles such as FX's American Crime Story, NBC's Marlon, and most recently FOX's critically acclaimed 9-1-1, has generated a large and loyal following all over the world and has proven to her fans old and new that not only is she a funny comedian but she is also a versatile actress 

Alycia Cooper is what’s known in Hollywood at a multi-hyphenate. She’s an actor/ comic/ writer/ producer/ director. She loves each skill set equally- but for different reasons. Being an actor has allowed her to be an excellent director, who knows how to direct other actors. A comedian is basically a writer, director, and producer of their own material. And when you combine all five, you’ve got Alycia. 

Nicky Sunshine Is an actress, voice over artist, and stand up comedian. Ms. Sunshine’s self written one woman show “Confessions of a Massage Parlor Madam” has raised awareness about sex trafficking, sex work, and sexual assault. She is a Financial Administrator and Board member of WOW Cafe Theater on the Lower East Side and Treasurer of "Voice Actors of NYC" Ms. Sunshine is a radio personality on 108soul.com and co-owner of the new venue “Comedy in Harlem”. 

Fee: $20.00 (USD)  

To purchase ticket click link below: 

https://www.freshtix.com/events/22nd-aawic-film-festival  

 Sponsored by: LOL COMEDY HONORS