In a continuation of the Guild's outreach efforts aimed at independent filmmakers, the DGA hosted a luncheon for Directors with entries in the 2017 Urbanworld Film Festival in New York.
The filmmakers gathered for the meet and greet in Manhattan on September 22, where they were welcomed by DGA Assistant Executive Director Rachel Paster. Paster gave a brief overview of Guild’s mission to protect the creative and economic rights of directors and members of the directorial team, then introduced the luncheon's guest speaker, DGA Director-member Reginald Hudlin (Uncle Buck, Murder in the First).
Hudlin, whose latest feature Marshall was a "spotlight" screening in this year's Urbanworld lineup, gave the attendees a first-hand account of how careers can develop and how important it is to have an organization like the DGA behind you when filming. Also on hand to give tips about the festival were Urbanworld’s Head of Programming Ashley Mui and Urbanworld Programmer and Senior Producer Aidah Muhammed.
About the Festival
Founded in 1997 by Stacy Spikes, 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. This year's festival took place in venues around the city from September 20-24. The DGA has been a sponsor of the festival since 2000.