Posted Courtesy of Wright Enterprises Community Spotlight San Francisco~Dallas~~~
San Francisco Black Film Festival
1755 O’Farrell St. Suite 309
San Francisco, CA 94115
News ReleaseFor Immediate Release
June 26, 2023
The San Francisco Black Film Festival XXV successfully launched its year-long 25th anniversary celebration in June, during Black Music Month, over Juneteenth and Father’s Day Weekend when it is traditionally held. Letitia Wright of Marvel Studios’ Black Panther fame gave video greetings as her latest film “Surrounded” directed by Anthony Mandler and written by Andrew Pagana and Justin Thomas was the major feature film kicking off the year-long celebration.
The Thursday, July 27th discussion includes Keshia Walker, Founder & Chairwoman of Black Collegiate Gaming Association and Women Got Game™; Danny Martin, Co-Founder/CEO of Dallas, Texas based Esposure; Cree Ray, a financial analyst and third-generation San Francisco Black Film Festival Executive Director. Moderated by Jackie Wright, publicist for the San Francisco Black Film Festival, the Oakland International Film Festival and a Durban International Film Festival juror alumna, the session will be at 5:30 p.m. SAST; 8:30 a.m. PDT; 10:30 a.m. CDT; and 11:30 a.m. EDT. The conversation can be viewed on both Facebook: https://fb.watch/mA9GbJBtab/ and Youtube.com
The experts will discuss their eSports experiences; how and why filmmakers and women should get into the eSports arena; how gaming may expand more into the film festival circuit; some films that have crossed over from gaming to film; the impact of AI; and trends that may be evolving.
“The San Francisco Black Film Festival continues with our motto “Healing the World One Film at A Time” and we do so with friends like DIFF that began our relationship during the height of the pandemic with my visionary father and now with new friends. It’s great to have a discussion about eSports, filmmaking and the festival circuit, ” said Cree Ray, a financial analyst and Executive Director of the San Francisco Black Film Festival. “As a millennial leader taking on the helm of SFBFF from my late father, Kali O’Ray, who was in charge for a decade after my late grandmother, Ave Montague, founded the festival with the mission of empowering filmmakers, both established and aspiring, while affirming the African Diaspora worldwide, it is an honor to continue the collaboration with the Durban International Film Festival team and my esteemed colleagues on the panel.”
Ray is expanding the vision to affirm the worldwide African Diaspora by joining forces with Keshia Walker of Atlanta, GA and Danny Martin of Dallas, Texas as they yield their gaming expertise in a panel discussion. One of the undercurrent themes of all three organizations and that of the Durban International Film is to provide educational experiences for young people and all willing to learn. “Each one, teach one” is evident in their work and in examination of the following bios.
Cree Ray-Taking on the leadership role at 30 years of age, Cree is excited to be the manifestation of the new era of the SFBFF and looks forward its continued growth as the San Francisco Black Film Festival is true to its motto of “Healing the World One Film At A Time” while uplifting emerging and established filmmakers. Cree Ray's years as a manager at Nordstrom's in San Diego and San Francisco and as a financial analyst, will help the development of the San Francisco Black Film Festival. The 2023 festival is celebrating “25 years of Resilience and Empowerment” during its year-long 25th Anniversary that includes the Durban International Film Festival, San Francisco’s Bernal Heights Outdoor Film Festival and more.
Keshia Walker- Established in May 2020, The Black Collegiate Gaming Association (BCGA) is chaired by Founder & Chairwoman, two-time HBCU grad, Keshia Walker. Keshia started BCGA after 22 years of successfully running an award-winning agency, Insights Marketing, that specializes in the corporate and sports industries via digital & social media marketing and more. Insights has worked with the best in the entertainment industry with the likes of Beyoncé and Magic Johnson, to powerhouses in the corporate segment such as Pepsi, Bristol Myers Squibb, COVERGIRL, DIAGEO and Victoria’s Secret.
Danny Martin-Danny is a visionary and thought-leader in the esports industry. As the Co-founder/CEO of Esposure Inc. and Professional Esports Instructor at SMU, Southern Methodist University, he has aided in the professional development of students, interns, and post-graduates. These students have received esports scholarships and employment from acclaimed Universities and esports Organizations like Central Methodist University, Complexity Gaming, Pacers Gaming, and Mavs Gaming. Danny's passion for helping others has opened doors for him to speak at several high schools and universities, on panels in front of thousands of individuals. In his pursuit of connecting everyone to esports, he maintains relationships with the NBA, NFL, & music industry. Danny is always ready to talk about esports and is on a mission of helping 20,000 esports enthusiasts by 2025.
Jackie Wright- CEO of Wright Enterprises, a full-service public relations firm serving the corporate, nonprofit and government sector, Wright is the Director of NOSACONN’s(New Orleans South Africa Connection founded by Damon Batiste of “NOLA’s Royal Family of Music”) African Heritage Series. A seasoned media and public relations professional, Wright has 20 years of media experience including more than a decade of award-winning journalism work. As publicist for The San Francisco Black Film Festival and the Oakland International Film Festival, she has provided media expertise for filmmakers worldwide. Wright created the NCBW SF Doris Ward Workforce Development City of San Francisco OEWD Dream Keeper Initiative Program that trains under served Black women to gain entry into California’s $79 Billion Hospitality Industry.
ABOUT DIFF
The 44th Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) takes place from 20 July to 30 July 2023. Widely regarded as one of the leading film festivals on the African continent, DIFF showcases an impressive variety of shorts, features, documentaries and student films. The programme is available on ccadiff.ukzn.ac.za. To stay up to date, follow #DIFF2023 and #DIFFwithus on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. The 44th Durban International Film Festival, presented by the Centre for Creative Arts at the University of KwaZulu- Natal, is supported by the National Film and Video Foundation of South Africa, the KwaZulu-Natal Film Commission, the Durban Film Office, the National Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences, and the Avalon Group. For interviews other more information contact: Marlyn Ntsele 079 707 7773 or 083 33 72518 / marlyn@isupportdoyou.com. For more about the Durban International Film Festival visit: https://ccadiff.ukzn.ac.za/
ABOUT SFBFF
Ave Montague (1945-2009), arts impresario, fashion industry executive, publicist, founded the San Francisco Black Film Festival in 1998. Montague created the San Francisco Black Film Festival, a nonprofit, with the artistic vision to provide a platform for Black filmmakers, screenwriters, and actors to present their art. As a competitive film festival, SFBFF identifies filmmakers, screenwriters, and actors that are emerging as talents and established artists who are contributing to the cinematic legacy of African Americans. SFBFF conscientiously expands the notions of “Black film-making” to a global perspective. Partners have included the Durban International Film Festival and The Durban FilmMart on the African continent. The organization is multicultural and inclusive of all in the expression of the African Diaspora experience. Amid societal stressors causing out-migration of Blacks from San Francisco leaving a population of less than five percent, the rare Black family generational tradition of light bearers of the San Francisco Black Film Festival continues as Montague’s grandchild, Cree Ray carries the family torch from her father Kali O’Ray for the third generation. Visit www.sfbff.org for more about the 25th Anniversary year-long celebration launch as the organization celebrates “25 Years of Resilience and Empowerment.”
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SEE THE RECORDED PANEL DISCUSSION:https://fb.watch/mA9GbJBtab/
#DIFF2023
#SFBFF2023
San Francisco Black Film Festival and Durban International Film Festival Related Articles:
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https://www.pasadenanow.com/main/pasadena-filmmakers-take-the-story-of-pasadenan-michael-zinzun-to-the-south-africa-international-film-festival
Black Lives Matter Takes the Stage at DIFF
https://www.prlog.org/12838487-black-lives-matter-takes-stage-at-durban-international-film-festival-with-equal-standard.html
SFBFF Virtually Possible with DIFF
https://www.einnews.com/pr_news/521952379/sf-black-film-festival-xxii-virtually-possible-thru-august-30th-via-atlanta-ga-san-diego-ca-durban-south-africa
Media Note: Contact Jackie Wright, Wright Enterprises, 415 525 0410.