Sponsored by SOHH/FreshFlixx.com, Third World Newsreel, Malcolm X Grassroots Movement (MXGM), Breakthrough TV, The Ave Magazine and The Temple of Hiphop.
May 30, 2007 - New York, NY - Celebrating five years of Hip-Hop Cinema, Education, Art and Culture, the H2O [Hip-Hop Odyssey] International Film Festival (H2OIFF) will officially launch this Thursday, May 31st at the ImaginAsian Theatre.
From May 31 - June 17, 2007 New York City will be the home of the largest Hip-Hop film festival in the world, screening over 100 media pieces, including 9 premier panels. During the first weekend of the festival, three opening panels include; In Living Color: The Hip-Hop Actor's Studio; Bigger than Hip-Hop: Addressing Exploitation, Violence and the Need for Humanity; & Hip-Hop's Monopoly: Hip-Hop's Stake in Art, Media, Education, Activism, Business, Sports, Politics and Spirituality.
The opening panel sponsors include SOHH/FreshFlixx.com, Third World Newsreel, Malcolm X Grassroots Movement (MXGM) and Breakthrough TV, The Ave Magazine and The Temple of Hiphop.
All panels are FREE, appropriate for all ages, and open to the community.
Friday, June 1, 6:00pm - 7:30 pm
In Living Color: The Hip-Hop Actor's Studio
Sponsored by SOHH/FreshFlixx.com
Hip-Hop has transcended the world of music, making a big splash onto the theater stage, television and movie screens. Hip-Hop culture has influenced this art form through its own stories and characters, and in turn, the culture has also been influenced by this art form and industry. Hear from artists within the Hip-Hop community who are shaking up the acting world.
Kamilah Forbes (Artistic Director, Hip-Hop Theater Festival/ Actor, Director, Playwright, Producer) (Moderator)
Anwan Glover (Slim Charles from HBO's The Wire/Lead MC for go-go band Backyard Band)
La Bruja (Poet, Actress, Singer, Writer, Activist)
Mums (Arnold 'Poet' Jackson from Oz/Poet, Playwright, Producer)
Tristan Wilds (Michael Lee from HBO's The Wire)
Saturday, June 2, 3:00pm - 4:30 pm
Bigger than Hip-Hop: Addressing Exploitation, Violence and the Need for Humanity
Sponsored by Third World Newsreel, Malcolm X Grassroots Movement (MXGM) and Breakthrough TV
Panelists will discuss ways to alleviate exploitation and violence within our communities and discuss important work being done in local and global communities to ensure social justice on all levels, including media and web projects being created to address these issues.
Monifa Bandele (Executive Director, Change the Game/Malcolm X Grassroots Movement Coordinating Committee) (Moderator)
Raquel Cepeda (Journalist/Director, Bling: A Planet Rock)
Chosan (MC/Activist from Sierra Leone)
Rosa Clemente (Community Organizer, Journalist, Hip-Hop Activist)
Pharoahe Monch (Legendary MC/Producer)
Samson (Host, BET's The Chop Up)
Sunday, June 3, 6:00pm -7:30 pm
Hip-Hop's Monopoly: Hip-Hop's Stake in Art, Media, Education, Activism, Business, Sports, Politics and Spirituality
Sponsored by The Ave Magazine and The Temple of Hiphop
This panel will highlight and scrutinize Hip-Hop's profound influence in different sectors of society, and its connection to a New World Order. Is the Hip-Hop community ready to focus on its values and soul? Or are we asleep in the Matrix? Are we willing to fight for our freedom and dignity? Or do we continue to fight one another? Do we have the money and resources to make it happen? Can we really unite? What are the challenges? What are the solutions?
Minister Server (HIPHOP Ministries Inc., Founder/Temple of Hip-Hop, National Organizer) (Moderator)
Lisa Cortes (Producer, Lee Daniels Entertainment)
Davey D (Hip-Hop Historian/Journalist/Program Director, Breakdown FM and Hard Knock Radio)
Bobbito Garcia (DJ, Writer, Sports Commentator, Basketball Player/Performer, Entrepreneur)
April Silver (Social Entrepreneur, Activist, Writer)
Glenn Toby (Sports & Entertainment Agent/Philanthropist)
For more info on the 5th Annual H2O International Film Festival, including information films, additional panels, events and tickets sales, please visit us online at http://www.h2oiff.org/.
About the 5th Annual H2O [Hip-Hop Odyssey] International Film Festival
As the largest Hip-Hop film festival in the world, the H2O [Hip-Hop Odyssey] International Film Festival provides a platform for filmmakers to showcase and define the variety of images that depict Hip-Hop culture and its communities. This year's theme 'THE WORLD IS YOURS!' highlights the Hip-Hop community of the early/mid 90's; a time when youth in the community began demanding money, power, and respect.
About the H2O [Hip-Hop Odyssey] Media Initiative
Social Awareness Through Media! H2O [Hip-Hop Odyssey] is the media initiative of the Hip-Hop Association. With programming like the H2O [Hip-Hop Odyssey] International Film Festival, the Freshest Youth Program, the ODYSSEY Awards, and Defuse News, its mission is to support the use of Hip-Hop culture as a tool for social awareness and youth empowerment. For more information on films, please visit http://www.h2oiff.org.
