(May 28, 2009 – Beverly Hills, CA) The Hollywood Black Film Festival (HBFF) today announced that the gripping urban drama "Dough Boys," from writer-producer Preston Whitmore ("This Christmas," "Doing Hard Time," "Crossover"), will replace the previously announced film to open the 10th anniversary edition of the festival on Tuesday, June 2, 7:00 pm at the Fine Arts Theatre (8556 Wilshire Blvd. in Beverly Hills, CA). Tanya Kersey, founder and executive director of HBFF, made the announcement.
Helmed by first-time director Nicholas Harvell, "Dough Boys" follows four troubled city youths and the poor choices they make. The film stars Arlen Escarpeta ("Friday the 13th"), Cory Hardrict ("Gran Torino," "He's Just Not That Into You"), Maurice McRae ("The King"), Lorenzo Eduardo ("The Hammer"), Wood Harris ("The Wire") and Sticky Fingaz ("Blade, "Doing Hard Time").
The toll taken by life in the inner city is explored in the film which tells the story of Corey (Escarpeta), Smooth, (Hardrict), Black (McRae) and Long Cuz (Eduardo) who live by their own rules and survive by their wits. Four friends bonded by circumstance and the streets, they struggle to make good in a world that seems determined to keep them hustling. With their dreams always just out of reach, "The Dough Boys" think they have found the one big score that will change their lives, and all they have to risk is-everything.
"Dough Boys" is the first film to emerge from Give Back Raise Up, a program founded by Whitmore to fund independent films and give up-and-coming directors, actors and filmmakers the opportunity to utilize their creative skills. Whitmore has pledged to continue to finance and produce low budget pictures to provide a showcase for talented newcomers both in front of and behind the camera.
"We are proud to have this film open our 10th anniversary festival," said Kersey. "The genesis of this film through Preston's Give Back Raise Up program speaks to the heart of what the Hollywood Black Film Festival is all about — bringing new creative voices and visions to the attention of the industry, press and public."
"Dough Boys" will be broadcast on BET on June 15, 2009 and will be released on DVD on June 16, 2009 from BET and Paramount Home Entertainment.
The opening night red carpet will be hosted by KJLH Radio personality Aundrae Russell. Following the screening there will be a Q&A with the cast & crew. An after-party, sponsored by KJLH, Coca-Cola, Smart Water and Stella Artois with specialty trays from Creative Cuisine's Chef Das will follow in the Grand Lobby of the Wilshire Theatre (8440 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA).
For the festival schedule, a complete list of films, screening tickets, and more information about the Hollywood Black Film Festival, go to the festival Web site at www.hbff.org.
About the Hollywood Black Film Festival
The Hollywood Black Film Festival (HBFF), dubbed "The Black Sundance," is an annual 6-day celebration of black cinema drawing together established and rising filmmakers, popular film and television stars, writers, industry executives, emerging artists and diverse audiences from Southern California and around the world. The festival was founded in 1999 by its executive director, Tanya Kersey, in order 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, media and public. Since its inception in 1999, HBFF has screened a total of 721 independent films. In addition to screening feature, short, student, documentary, animation and music video film projects, HBFF's Infotainment Conference features dozens of informational seminars, panels and workshops covering a wide variety of topics and featuring more than 100 "industry insiders" participating in the talk-show style panels, roundtable discussions and workshops. The Storyteller Competitions Live Staged Reading showcases the work of the 3 finalist scripts in the festival's storyteller competition.
About the HBFF 2009 Sponsors
Official sponsors for HBFF 2009 are 20th Century Fox, Coca Cola, KJLH Radio, Kodak, One Village Entertainment, SAG Indie and Smart Water. Festival supporters include Allen Events,  bSide,  Codeblack Entertainment, Don Welch Productions,  In The Twink of an Eye Casting,  Liquid Soul Media,  Organization of Black Screenwriters, Planet DMA,  Preston Picture Company, Rainforest Films, Syncom,  The Cosby Program, The Hollywood Reporter, Tranquil Management, Upscale Magazine and the West Angeles CDC: Entertainment Project. Prize Sponsors are Entertainment Partners,  Final Draft, Indieflix,  Showbiz Software, Studio System and Writers Boot Camp. Bonner Bros.,  Brimmage Communications, Chef Cheo,  Chef Das (Creative Cuisine),  Hotty Hoody,  Creative Handbook, Stella Artois and The Incentives Office are donor sponsors.  Friends of the Festival are the Bahamas Film & Television Commission, Graphic Sharks Worldwide and Jackie & Doug Christie.  FarCor Studios is the VIP room sponsor.  Media and promotional partners are Black Talent News, BlackHollywoodUniversity.com,  EURweb, "Inside Urban Hollywood, " Urban Mediamakers Association and Urban Network.  The Crowne Plaza Beverly Hills and SSG: Screening Services Group are venue sponsors.
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