South Florida filmmakers showcased their work at the American Black Film Festival
This year’s American Black Film Festival was a full circle moment for filmmaker Christine Swanson.
Swanson started attending the Miami-based festival in 1998, and at this year’s festival she presented her feature film with an all-star cast.
“When you get the opportunity to spread art as you live it, it’s a rare gift,” said Swanson, an Avon Park, Florida native and director for the film “Albany Road,” which initially released in April.
Swanson showcased the film at the annual festival, which took place in Miami from June 12-16 and featured screenings of films and television shows, networking events, celebrities like newly appointed creative director Issa Rae and a fireside chat with Denzel Washington.
At Swanson’s screening, guests and creatives were able to get an exclusive look at the movie and ask Swanson and lead actress Lynn Whitfield questions.
“Albany Road” tells the story of a New York executive (Reneé Elise Goldsberry) who shares a rental car with her ex-fiance’s mother (Lynn Whitfield). She then discovers she’s the only one who knows a secret about her ex-fiance.
Swanson has been in the film industry for over two decades. Her first film “All About You” came out in 2001 and she’s worked with most of the major studios, including Warner Bros. and HBO Films.
“My advice for up-and-coming creatives is you got to work on your craft. I love what I do, I learn technique, and the rest of it is asking yourself do you have talent or not,” Swanson said.
“Albany Road” has had multiple screenings around the country, and will be hitting theaters this upcoming November.
Other Floridians took center stage at the festival as well.
Lake Worth native Terrisha Kearse presented “Body of Water,” a film featuring a young police officer (Dallas Schaefer) who was acquitted of all charges from assaulting Lisa (Kiya Roberts), and goes back to work only to be faced with the fallout of his actions when meets Kevin (David Wendell Boykins), Lisa’s husband.
Kearse told the audience that she didn’t know film was a viable career path until she went to Palm Beach College.
“My imagination ran free in Florida, but I didn’t hone in until I got to college,” she said.
Today, Kearse is an experienced filmmaker, with projects such as “The Robeson Effect,” “Try to Forget” and “Small Talk.”
”From my first film to now, I definitely have more confidence as far as execution,” Kearse said.
Another homegrown talent at the festival was West Palm Beach native, comedian, actress, and writer Daphnique Springs who showcased her new show, “Groupies,” a series about about four determined but marginally-educated groupies dedicated to bagging a baller.
Springs recognizes the great opportunity for growth that the festival provides up-and-coming talent.
“I say you should always come to events like this, not only to learn but to network. You don’t always have to build relationships with the biggest stars or celebrities, but people within your community. Start from there and grow it, and you’ll get there eventually,” Springs said.
Springs’ next project includes being on tour with Martin Lawrence this fall.
