As part of the Guild's outreach efforts aimed at independent filmmakers, the DGA hosted a luncheon on September 19 for Directors with entries in the 2012 Urbanworld Film Festival in New York.
Speaking on behalf of the Guild, Director Marilyn Agrelo (The Electric Company, An Invisible Sign) addressed the filmmakers about how careers develop. She expressed how important and how appreciative she was having an organization like the DGA behind her when filming. She explained how the DGA safeguards Directors' creative rights. She recalled how fortunate she felt when her first feature, Mad Hot Ballroom, gathered attention and awards. A commercial job lead to her joining the Guild.
The Urbanworld® Film Festival is a five-day event that includes narrative features, documentaries, and short films, as well as panel discussions, live staged screenplay readings, and the Urbanworld® Digital track focused on digital and social media. The Festival is an initiative of the Urbanworld® Foundation Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to redefining the role of minorities in contemporary cinema and developing the urban filmmaking community. The DGA has been a sponsor of the festival since 2000.