The HBCU First LOOK Film Festival has revealed the speakers and programming for its second annual presentation at Howard University.
The HBCU First Look is spearheaded by Miles Ahead Entertainment (MAE) an award-winning woman- and minority-owned, global multi-cultural agency and HBCU alumni collective. It is the only film festival honoring HBCU-educated filmmakers, executives and content creators.
The three-day festivities are scheduled to take place at Howard from Nov. 8 through Nov. 10. They will include discussions with celebrities, screenings, and honoring the “I Aspire” 100, a curated collective of notable HBCU alumni inspiring the next generation of content creators across film, television, and digital platforms.
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These changemakers are bridging the gap between HBCU students and Hollywood in support of “A Celebration of Black Cinema x Activism.” The year’s list includes notable names, including: MSNBC President Rashida Jones (Hampton University); Former NFL Player and Sports Commentator Shannon Sharpe (Savannah State University); actress and singer Fantasia Barrino Taylor (Central State); Anthony Anderson (Howard University), and Keisha Knight Pulliam (Spelman College); film, network and studio executives, directors, and producers Will Packer (Florida A&M University), Spike Lee (Morehouse College), Aisha Summers Burke (Howard University), Robert Boyd (Morehouse), and Risha Archibald (Lincoln University).
The 2nd Annual HBCU First Look Film Festival Highlights include:
- Presented by Café Mocha Radio: A Conversation on Power, Passion & Perseverance with NAACP Image Award-winning actress Naturi Naughton-Lewis.
Moderated by Emmy Award-winning host, comedienne and actress Loni Love, the two will discuss the state of the industry and navigating its landscape. - Presented by NBC: Crafting Change: A Career in Storytelling and Advocacy with executive producer and showrunner Nkechi Okoro Carroll (Found, All American)
- Career Development with speaker Keanna “KJ” Rose, a 2024 “I Aspire” 100 honoree, speaker, author and FAMU alum
- Presented by Oxygen True Crime: Faith Jenkins: From Prosecutor to Producer, a conversation with former Manhattan prosecutor, television producer and speaker Faith Jenkins (Oxygen True Crime’s Killer Relationship with Faith Jenkins)
- The annual HBCU First LOOK Film Challenge, which received over 200 film submissions, will award three winners with internships.
- TVOne Presents “FLUFF YOUR FEATHERS: How to effectively introduce and promote your best asset…YOU!”
- Presented by Andscape: Closing Night at the Movies, ‘The Honorable: Shyne’ Documentary. A Clips & Conversation event with a panel featuring Grammy-Award-winning artist Shyne Barrow, Director Marcus A. Clarke, and Andscape’s Justin Tinsley and David Dennis Jr.
Informational sessions celebrating iconic Black films include:
- STRICTLY BUSINESS: A discussion on independent filmmaking and entrepreneurship with production companies
- THE BLACK GODFATHER: A panel on documentary filmmaking, music licensing and supervision
- BEAUTY SHOP: From costume design to character makeup, a talk about the glitz and glam of production
- DREAMGIRLS: A conversation with today’s young, gifted and Black actresses
- SCHOOL DAZE: How to Identify your career niche and market your brand
For film enthusiasts and students, tickets can be purchased via www.hbcufirstlook.com and HBCU First LOOK Festival app.
