The Blackhouse® Foundation and Hennessy V.S. honor Ava Duvernay, Sal Masekela at 2013 Sundance

Jan. 24, 2013 - PRLog -- The Blackhouse® Foundation launched its 2013 Sundance Film Festival programming on Friday January 18, 2013 and led with an invite-only dinner at Buona Vita Restaurant, celebrating one of independent film’s top black directors –Ava DuVernay and ground-breaking television host turned filmmaker – Sal Masekela in Park City, UT during first weekend of the festival. “Dinner with Bevy” was an intimate dinner celebrating the achievements of influential individuals in and around black cinema and the significance of The Blackhouse since its’ inception in 2006.

Set in a warm and inviting atmosphere, guests dined on a 3-course meal accompanied by specialty drinks presented by Hennessy V.S. The evening closed with the honorees and guests enjoying their choice of delectable desserts and The Blackhouse opening night celebration featuring Grammy-award nominee DJ Vikter Duplaix.

WHO:          Hosted by Bevy Smith- TV Host, writer and creator of “Dinner with Bevy”

NOTABLES IN ATTENDANCE:  Ava Duvernay (Award-winning Director, honoree), Sal Masekela (TV host, entertainment journalist, recording artist, filmmaker, honoree), Keri Putnam (Sundance Institute, Executive Director), Jesse Williams (Actor/Grey’s Anatomy), Ben Lyons (E! TV host), Anita Hill (Attorney/Professor), Dorian Missick (Actor/SouthLAnd), George Tillman Jr., (Film Director), Tonya Pinkins (Tony Award Winning Actor), Colman Domingo (Tony Award Nominated Actor), Re'Shaun Frear (Film Producer), Kelley Walton (Moet Hennessy USA executive) and Amber Rasberry (Director of Development 34th St. Films)

WHEN:          Friday, January 18, 2013

WHERE:        The Blackhouse at Buona Vita Restaurant 804 Main Street, Park City, UT 84060

Media Contact:

Lisa Humphrey- Premier Concepts 310.293.4154 or email: media@premierconceptspr.com  

For more information visit: www.theblackhouse.org and follow us @the_blackhouse on Twitter.

About Bevy Smith

Bevy Smith's keen style sense and her razor sharp intuition enable her to recognize trends and make her a distinguished figure in the worlds of fashion and media.  Smith created ‘Dinner with Bevy’ as an exclusive event series that connects trendsetters in fashion, style, entertainment, and media within chic, intimate dinner settings.  ‘Dinner with Bevy’ has hosted events for some of the industry’s top celebrities, including Kerry Washington, Ashanti, Vanessa Carlton, Chris Brown, Solange, and Anthony Mackie.  Smith has appeared as a TV personality on VH1, E! Entertainment, Access Hollywood, Oxygen, BET, The Food Network, and TV ONE.  She is a frequent contributor for Paper, Interview, and Glamour, where she was recently named a “Glambassador”, along with Stacy London, Aisha Tyler, and Guliana Rancic.  Smith was recently named as one of five 2011 New York City Range Rover “City Shaper’s.”

About The Blackhouse Foundation

The Blackhouse Foundation was created in 2006 by a group of dedicated individuals interested in preserving and furthering the legacy of black cinema. The Blackhouse® works to provide a platform for African-American filmmakers, encouraging them to use their divergent voices to tell stories by and about people of African descent through independent film. The Blackhouse Foundation works to expand opportunities for black filmmakers by providing a physical gathering venue for our constituents at the world’s most prominent film festivals, encouraging the inclusion of black filmmakers with films selected by the festival, and creating a nucleus for continuing support, community, education and knowledge.