The coming-of-age love story Mamitas takes top prize.
(Photo: Right Brain Films)
After five days and dozens of films screened, it's a wrap on the Urbanworld Film Festival. But before the jury (which this year included director Barry Jenkins, Hustle & Flow producer Stephanie Allain and Sony Pictures executive Lauren Crianotes) could be dismissed, they had to decide on which films to give top honors.
The biggest award, Best Narrative Feature, went to Nicholas Ozeki's Mamitas, a coming-of-age story about a young Lothario's relationship with a bookish tomboy. Mamitas, which was Ozeki's debut feature, beat out Mario Van Peebles' All Things Fall Apart, starring 50 Cent, and festival favorite Yelling at the Sky starring Zoe Kravitz.
Best Documentary Feature went to Zero Percent by Tim Skousen, which chronicles the experiences of several inmates at New York's Sing Sing correctional facility as they undergo a rigorous college program called Hudson Link.
The honor for Best Screenplay was awarded to After the Storm, Cole Wiley's story of a young man who must overcome the loss of his home and family to the destructive wrath of Hurricane Katrina.
The Urbanworld Film Festival hit its 15-year milestone this year, and in its history has given filmmakers of color unprecedented access to enthusiastic audiences and film industry insiders. Mario Van Peebles served as the ambassador of this year's festival.
For more information and a complete list of winners, go to the Urbanworld Film Festival site.
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