Diversity At 68th Cannes Film Festival, Because All Stories Matter

LOS ANGELES - May 22, 2015 - PRLog -- Yolonda Brinkley, creator of Beyond Borders: Diversity in Cannes is pleased to announce BlackCard as the winner of the 2015 Diversity in Cannes Black Lives Black Stories Matter Short Film Showcase. A film by Pete Chatmon of Double7 Images, Inc., BlackCard asks to whom must one be loyal and at what price? Through a delicate mixture of comedy, satire, and ultimately drama, BlackCard captures the journey of one couple trying to answer that question, creating a reflection of what we all experience.

“What a way to begin BlackCard’s spring and summer international festival tour,” comments Pete Chatmon.“ I am excited to have won the 2015 Diversity in Cannes Short Film Showcase Black Lives Black Stories Matter edition and for the opportunity to screen BlackCard in a global market during one of the world’s most prestigious festivals.”

Presented by Yolonda Brinkley, a US based publicist and event producer, with support from RLJ Entertainment’s Urban Movie Channel, CBS Entertainment Diversity, Film and TV Diversity and Graphic Designer Leonard Green of Digital Slang Comics, the Diversity in Cannes Short Film Showcase Black Lives Black Stories Matter edition presented 11 films highlighting positive images of the global black experience.

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 of globally diverse entertainment professionals. In addition to the grand prize, several other awards were announced. Director’s Choice went to Cayman Grant’s The Boy, while two Jury prizes were awarded to Just Another Nigga? by Edward Buckles and NonCritical, an American University thesis film by Kelsey Marsh.

“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.”

“Positive portrayal of black life in film will lead to positive shifts in perception globally and the Black Lives Black Stories Matter Edition of the Diversity in Cannes Short Film Showcase at the Cannes Film Festival is my contribution to the global effort to extinguish negative black images in media one short film at a time,” states Yolonda Brinkley, creator of Beyond Borders: Diversity in Cannes. I am proud of my efforts and am honored to celebrate the achievements of Pete Chatmon, winner of the 2015 Diversity in Cannes Black Lives Black Stories Matter 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 (http://www.diversityincannes.com/?mc_cid=7e1c90b811&m...), https://www.facebook.com/diversityincannes (https://www.facebook.com/diversityincannes?mc_cid=7e1c90b...), www.twitter.com/diversencannes (http://www.twitter.com/diversencannes?mc_cid=7e1c90b811&mc_eid=%5bUNIQID%5d) or email us at diversityincannes@hotmail.com.