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Wright Enterprises-Community Spotlight
(Greatest Message of All time)                        May 27, 2021
EXCLUSIVE
SAN FRANCISCO BLACK FILM FESTIVAL XXXIII
HEALING THE WORLD ONE FILM AT A TIME
JUNE 17-20, 2021




SAN FRANCISCO - May 27, 2021 - Moving forward with heavy hearts, yet moving forward, in the wake of the sudden death of Kali O’Ray, Festival Director (Friday, August 7, 2020, three weeks prior to Chadwick Boseman’s Friday, August 28, 2020 unexpected demise), in the midst of last year’s extended festival program,  The San Francisco Black Film Festival “stands on the shoulders of ancestors” to fulfill its vision set forth by founder Ave Montague to “Heal the World One Film at A Time.” Film submissions have just closed garnering over 160 films from around the world. Visit www.sfbff.org for all the updates and upcoming news.
 
Stay tuned as the San Francisco Black Film Festival curates the selection of this year’s festival to be held on its traditional Juneteenth and Father’s Day Weekend, June 17-20, 2021 during “Black Music Month.”  

O’Ray’s children Cree Ray, 29 and Kali Ray Jr., 26 continue the legacy of their father and their grandmother, Ave Montague, founder of the San Francisco Black Film Festival as they finalize official selections. Upholding the festival with their stepmother, Katera Crossley and their siblings: Ahmad Clayton and Jairri Earring, the Rays represent a rare and unique value among Black people in San Francisco with its 5.1 percent population of African Americans. Generational transference of organizations and businesses as generational growth indicators are not often found given the steady decline of the Black community since the ‘90’s. The Historic Fillmore District, “The Harlem of the West,” where the San Francisco Black Film Festival was founded has seen the almost total decimation of Black businesses.
 
"June is Black Music Month" and the San Francisco Black Film Festival gives a shout out to partner SFJAZZ and its presentation of the film "Music in Monk Time," June 10th at SFJAZZ.com - the perfect prelude to the SFBFF, June 17-20th, which highlights New Orleans' trumpet phenom Mario Abney, San Francisco's Grammy-nominated and prolific pianist Ricardo Scales & South Africa's Zimology, the late Bra Zim Ngqawana with SFBFF partner Durban International Film Festival. 
Sponsorship opportunities are available. San Francisco Black Film Festival Fact Sheet and Sponsorship levels. Email sfbff@sfbff.org or call 415 525 0410.
 
Sponsors to date include: San Francisco Arts Commission; California Arts Commission; ; Mayor London Breed, Key to the City of San Francisco; SFJAZZ; African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council; The Big Black Brunch; The San Francisco African American Chamber of Commerce; The Seventy-Third San Francisco Juneteenth Celebration; Bill Graham Productions; African American Arts and Culture Complex; Durban International Film Festival; Durban FilmMart; NOSACONN Inc.; KPOO; KPFA; KBLX; San Francisco BayView Newspaper; The Boom Boom Room; New Community Leadership Foundation, Inc.; LaHitz Media; Film Bread; and Wright Enterprises.  
@SFBFF SPECIAL GUESTS
Aligning with the San Francisco Black Film Festival’s theme of social justice, the festival is honored to announce special guest former CBS Anchor, Bay Area Broadcast Icon, Dana King will be joining the lineup of special guests to talk about her phenomenal sculptures that pay homage to the first 350 African slaves that were kidnapped from Africa and brought to the shores of America. Only a handful survived the treacherous Middle Passage over the Atlantic Ocean.


Kudos to the Mayor of San Francisco, the Arts Commission, Illuminate, MaaFA, DANA/BLACK BODIES IN BRONZE; San Francisco African American Chamber of Commerce; MoAD and all those who stand by the “Monumental Reckoning” sculptures that speak to a vision of equity and equality around the plinth for the statue of Francis Scott Key that was removed from the public space in Golden Gate Park last Juneteenth.

The visual arts, film and music align as James Weldon Johnson’s “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” proposed to be the national hymn (not national anthem, national hymn) by S.C. Senator James E. Clyburn, is slated to be incorporated in the work with the approval of the Historic Preservation that may veto the installation. 
\Click here to see the letter writing campaign urging the SF Historic Preservation to allow the use of James Weldon Johnson’s “Lift Every Voice and Sing” lyrics in the art work: https://www.monumentalreckoning.org/letter-to-hpc. Financially support the project: https://charity.gofundme.com/o/en/campaign/monumental-reckoning.
Hollywood Producer Judy Klein will grace the stage of the San Francisco Black Film Festival to share how up and coming artists can protect their intellectual and artistic property in the entertainment industry. You’ll see why Kevin Hart calls upon Klein for his productions. 

Klein has extensive experience launching new Brands, Online Services, Artists, Entertainment properties, and national initiatives to market. She has been involved in the marketing, promotions, and distribution of over 55 filmed entertainment titles for both Theatrical and Home Video, VOD releases. A Principal of True3Media, a Boutique Marketing Consulting firm, specializing in Social Media, Online Branding & Promotion.

@SFBFF will showcase Klein's up and coming talent to include:
TAJI AQIB
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CECILY
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Mario Abney
Damon Batiste of New Orleans Royal Family of Music and founder of NOSACONN Inc., (New Orleans South Africa Connection) has introduced Trumpet Phenom NOLA based Chicago native, Mario Abney, to San Francisco Black Film Festival XXIII.

Ricardo Scales

It is said of Ricardo Scales, the Grammy-nominated prolific piano virtuoso that “he can take his audiences to another world.” Scales is the Captain Kirk of music whose hands are like Lt. Sulu of the U.S.S. Enterprise taking your senses in warp speed to another dimension. Scales is noted recently in the Bay Area for his creation of musical concerts at the historic Jones Memorial Church in the Fillmore District led by Senior Pastor Reverend Harold G. Gordon. 


July 22-August 1, 2021
will pay tribute to Bra Zim Ngquawana

Zimology, the late Bra Zim Ngqawana
flautist and saxophonist, composer and teacher
HAVING SOCIAL MEDIA FUN ON TWITTER

The San Francisco Black Film Festival is promoting tourism between
San Francisco, New Orleans,
and Durban, South Africa and beyond




From San Francisco that is investing in its entertainment venues...

The Music and Entertainment Venue Recovery Fund is providing grants to every eligible music and entertainment venue in San Francisco to support the industry’s recovery from COVID-1

May 27, 2021-San Francisco, CA — Mayor London N. Breed today announced the City is awarding 28 music and entertainment venues in San Francisco with a total of $1 million in grants from its Music and Entertainment Venue Recovery Fund. Each of the venues will receive an award of $35,720 to prevent their permanent closure due to the pressures of the COVID-19 pandemic

to NOSACONN's suggestions to enjoy yourself at NOLA's BB King's Blues Club when the doors open & other NOLA venues to checking out Durban's Durban International Film Festival to the Durban FilmMart, Cultural Ambassador Damon Batiste and the San Francisco Black Film Festivel are giving you a reason to get that vaccination and take to the skies.



NOTE TO MEDIA: 
@SFBFF Interviews are available by arrangement.
Contact:
Jackie Wright, Media Consultant
Jackiewright@wrightnow.biz
415 525 0410


Jackie Wright,
President of Wright Enterprises
Contact: jackiewright@wrightnow.biz
415 525 0410