Grassroots Movement Keeps Diversity Alive At The Cannes Film Festival

CANNES, France - May 21, 2015 - PRLog -- Yolonda Brinkley, creator of Beyond Borders: Diversity in Cannes is pleased to announce Eelan as the winner of the 2015 Diversity in Cannes Short Film Showcase. The debut film by Leilani Franco, 2014 University of Westminster graduate, Eelan is an arthouse requiem film featuring an open collaboration of over 50 European acrobats, dancers, fashion designers, musicians and film artists. It begins with the birth of a female creature entwined to a tree and follows her through a discovery of the meaning of life and death as she encounters the beauty and tragedy of nature and civilization.

“I could not think of a more fitting outlet than the Diversity in Cannes Short Film Showcase, at which to screen Eelan,” comments British Filipina Filmmaker Leilani Franco. “ I suppose the beauty of Diversity Day is that it brings together filmmakers whose work could not be labelled. To have this complete freedom of expression is wonderful, and to be recognized for it is even more so.”

Presented by Yolonda Brinkley, a US based publicist and event producer, with support from RLJ Entertainment’s Urban Movie Channel, CBS Entertainment Diversity, Nichelle Protho, vice president, Sander/Moses Productions COO/CFO, SLAM and Graphic Designer Leonard Green of Digital Slang Comics, the Diversity in Cannes Short Film Showcase presented 11 films in competition from Germany, Australia, South Africa and the United States.

The uniquely themed films were selected by an independent screening committee of diverse film industry executives and enthusiasts, led by Comedian John Witherspoon and Angela Northington, Urban Movie Channel’s SVP, content acquisitions and judged on site by a distinguished jury including American Actor Jay Ellis of BET’s The Game and Turkish Actor/Director Derya Durmaz. In addition to the grand prize, several other awards were announced. Only Light, a USC Thesis Film by directed by Evita Castine and written by Thembi Banks won Audience Choice. Director’s Choice went to Tiffany Johnson’s Lady Like and grand prize winner Leilani Franco, received the Jury Choice for Eelan.

“Urban Movie Channel (UMC) is excited to be a sponsor and pleased to congratulate the winners of this year's Beyond Borders:  Diversity in Cannes Short Film Showcase, promoting diversity in filmmaking and giving a voice to filmmakers who may not otherwise have the unique exposure in a major market like Cannes,” remarked Angela Northington, SVP of Content Acquisitions for RLJ Entertainment and UMC. “As a new subscription VOD service exclusive to RLJ Entertainment, Inc, UMC is devoted to spotlighting diverse content producers, and providing an opportunity to intersect with consumers of urban content.  We strongly support the tremendous efforts of Yolonda Brinkley and Beyond Borders:  Diversity in Cannes.”

“While diversity is a current trending topic in Hollywood and the international film community, Beyond Borders: Diversity in Cannes has been tackling the issue and making strides to promote the presence of the underrepresented story at the Cannes Film Festival since 2010,” states Yolonda Brinkley, creator of Beyond Borders: Diversity in Cannes.  I am honored to be at the helm of this grassroots movement and delighted to celebrate the achievements of emerging and established filmmakers such as Leilani Franco, winner of the 2015 Diversity in Cannes Short Film Showcase.

The Diversity in Cannes Short Film Showcase was Monday, May 18, 2015 in France during the Cannes Film Festival.  To learn more, visit www.diversityincannes.com, https://www.facebook.com/diversityincannes, www.twitter.com/diversencannes or email us at diversityincannes@hotmail.com.