Nadhege Ptah Wins Award at the New York Jazz Film Festival

New York, NY -- Harlem resident Actress/Writer & Film Director, Nadhege Ptah, has had a very full 2019 as her film has been touring the country at film festivals and events, giving her an opportunity to discuss the "elephant in the room" as she puts it, about the cause and effects of gentrification. Broadcasting for the 2019 PBS Online Film Festival helped leverage the film with over 50,000 views. On August 30th, 2019 she was awarded "Best Narrative Film Short ~ 'Paris Blues In Harlem: Director, Nadhege Ptah" by the New York Jazz Film Festival.

'Paris Blues In Harlem' is a film loosely based on the real-life experiences of the last remaining jazz and blues dive in New York called, Paris Blues, owned and operated by 81-year-old, Samuel Hargress, Jr. Paris Blues is an authentic jazz & blues night club that was opened by Hargress in 1968. The club has been visited by patrons from around the world, celebrities, and it's regular neighborhood customers for 50 years and has recently been threatened with foreclosure due to a slowed income and the rise of gentrification.

Story Synopsis:

Paris Blues in Harlem is the story of a young woman, Paris, desperate in her attempts to save Paris Blues, her grandfather’s insolvent Harlem jazz nightclub. She only has a few hours to convince her rigid elder to accept a real estate agent’s briefcase with mounds of cash in exchange for his nightclub. But, as time runs out, he struggles to let go. With only a few seconds left, Paris is faced with a choice between legacy and money.

The film has been a favorite at many of the country's film festivals from 2018 - 2019, sparking conversations about what's really at the root of gentrification. The film boasts some of New York's well known actors and personalities including Tony Award winning actress, Tonya Pinkins, Michelle Baldwin, Arthur French, Iris Gale, Christopher Truth, New York radio & media personality, Doctor Bob Lee, and features veteran actor as Samuel Hargress' character "Pop Pop", Charles Weldon, in his last film performance before his passing on December 7th, 2018.

Nadhege also displays her acting talents as Paris, the young granddaughter of "Pop Pop" who is torn between her family legacy and trying to save the family business from foreclosure,

"I wrote this film because I want people to understand the challenges to build generational wealth because of differences in values among generations, but in particular how disadvantaged communities tend to struggle because resources, access and a system that is designed to economically keep them dis-empowered." says Ptah.

'Paris Blues In Harlem' can currently be seen on Amazon Prime by logging on at: https://amzn.to/2H1Toxw

Also, look for updates on a planned television series for the film, and for more film festival screenings and announcements on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/parisbluesinharlem/