Prince George’s Film Festival Announces Full Event Lineup and Program Schedule
Speakers and Moderators include Chad L. Coleman, Richard and Tina Knowles Lawson, Russ Parr, Tressa Smallwood, Terk Stevens, Felicia Pride, and Jimmy Jenkins
September 12, 2022––Largo, MD––Prince George’s Film Festival (PGFF), the premier event for up-and-coming and established independent filmmakers with diverse voices, announced today the full schedule of films and panels for the inaugural festival, September 22–25. Kicking off the festivities is the Opening Night Reception at the MGM National Harbor, featuring an intimate conversation and film screening with critically acclaimed television, film, and stage actor Chad L. Coleman. Local award-winning filmmaker, Harold Jackson will also debut his new film "One Upon a Time in the District" during the Opening Night event.
PGFF’s full film slate includes 46 films from diverse independent filmmakers with film categories including animation, narrative features, documentaries, and film shorts. View the listing of the selected films here.
In addition to the virtual film screenings, PGFF also revealed today their highly anticipated full panel and workshop lineup. The festival features a roster of distinguished directors, screenwriters, cinematographers, producers, animators, entertainment lawyers, and more. Expanding opportunities for filmmakers, this year’s festival panels and workshops are designed to support and advance career paths for local filmmakers.
The 2022 panel and workshop schedule include the following.
Friday, September 23, 2022 – Sunset Room at the National Harbor
Future of Filmmaking “Trends in Filmmaking. What’s Next”
Speakers: Harold Jackson, Frank Jackson, Christine Marsh | Moderator: Rhett Butler
Explore and discover the future of filmmaking. This discussion will do a deep dive into the trends and successes of filmmaking. Producer, Technology Person, and Cinematographer.
Lights, Camera, and Action “Who’s Running the Show”
Speakers: Terk Stevens, Tia Smith, Attika J. Torrence, Jimmy Jenkins | Moderator: Rhett Butler
Delve into the worlds of directors and producers to see if you have what it takes. Learn how careers in film begin and how success is maintained. From guerilla style to fine arts schools, learn what these professionals learned, borrowed and will never do again.
The Perfect Eye (Cinematography) “I Can See You”
Speakers: Charles Jones, Kazar Coleman | Moderator: Rhett Butler
They have the perfect eye. See thru the lenses of these men and women who tell the story thru the camera. Acquire knowledge from these cinematic artists as they share how they tell the story thru the camera.
Pen In Hand (Writing for Television and Film) “It’s all in my head and I want to share it with the world”
Speakers: Lori Ray, Felicia Pride, Kristin Iris Johnson | Moderator: Rhett Butler
Writers from different mediums educate and teach the techniques they use to tell a story.
Art of the Pitch (How to sell your idea) “I Have This Idea”
Speakers: Sam Walker, Travis Mitchell | Moderator: Rhett Butler
Experts show how to present and sell your idea to be produced.
Saturday, September 24, 2022 – Bowie State University
Current Trends in Animation “Soul in Motion”
Speakers: Joshua Leonard, Solomon Jagwe, Andre Weems, Jermaine Hargrove, Dedren Sneed
Moderator: Tewodross M. Williams
Creative voices in animation, technology, storytelling, and entrepreneurship talk about 2D, 3D and Stop Motion Animation
Sketch to Screen: Costume Designers, Fashion & Film
Speakers: Gregory Harrison, Liyah Dimbo and Sewra Kidane | Moderator: Maggy François
The intersection of fashion, film and culture are examined to discover trends, access opportunity, exchange ideas, and build relationships in the film industry. The Sketch to Screen panel will bring together a panel of costume designers who share their creative vision and process to bring menswear, women's apparel, footwear, and accessories to the big screen.
Entertainment Law 101: Contracts, Intellectual Property and Beyond
Speakers: John Mason and Brian Frankel
The Washington Lawyers for the Arts will host a high-level discussion about contracts, copyright, fair use, work for hire, licensing, registration, releases, trademarks, and other legal topics of importance for creative professionals.
Animation Screenings
View some of the very best animation shorts
Home Grown Screenings
View narrative features and shorts film from Prince George’s County finest filmmakers
What Will I Do with My Film? “It’s In the Can, Now What?”
Speakers: Tressa Smallwood, Maurice Foster
Learn the steps and opportunities for your film when you finish production.
Must Be the Money “All About the Benjamins”
Speaker: Lynia Love
Discover creative, alternative, and preferred ways to finance your film
This year’s festival will close on Sunday, September 25, 2022, at the MGM National Harbor with brunch, awards ceremony, and the panel discussion “Revolution in Film” featuring speakers Richard Lawson and Tina Knowles Lawson, Tressa Smallwood, hosted and moderated by Russ Parr. This panel will be in-depth discussion about depicting revolutionary characters and moments in film. How does one tell the story when the story may have already been told? Visionaries, directors, and producers will discuss their experiences bringing such stories to screen. This panel will feature the creators of “Black Terror,” a film adaption to Richard Wesley’s original theatrical production, and Greenwood Avenue; a film meant to bring light and truth to the tragic 1921 Tulsa, Oklahoma massacre and the generational impact it has on the community today—an impact that is mirrored in Black communities across the country. View the full event schedule here.
PGFF will also include high-powered networking cocktail hours and an outdoor digital art exhibition taking place Saturday, September 24, 7 PM at McCormick Drive in Largo, MD.
PGFF will take place September 22–25 and will convene local and national filmmakers, film enthusiasts, actors, producers, animators, writers, digital creators, and County stakeholders throughout Prince George’s County for a celebration of film. PGFF is purposed to highlight Prince George’s County as a blossoming filmmaking destination, bolster the local filmmaker community and provide a platform to showcase their films and network with industry powerhouses, creatives, and film lovers. PGFF venues include the MGM National Harbor, Sunset Room at the National Harbor, and Bowie State University. Learn more at www.pgfilmfestival.com.
Festival Passes and Information
Festival Passes are on sale now. Pass options include:
VIP - Unlimited access to all features of the festival including the festival opening and closing ceremonies as well as screenings, and workshops for $125.
Unlimited Workshops and Panels - Get unlimited access to workshops and panels and mixers during the festival for $50.
Unlimited Screenings - Excludes panels, workshops, and opening and closing ceremonies for $40.
Single Film Ticket - Access to just ONE film for $15 each.
Passes can be purchased online at https://pgff2022.eventive.org/passes/buy.
Founding Festival Partners
The Prince George’s Film Festival is founded and generously supported by the Prince George’s Arts and Humanities Council, Experience Prince George’s, and Bowie State University.
About Prince George’s Film Office
Prince George's County is steadily becoming a prominent destination for both local and national filmmakers. Whether in digital media, television, commercial or corporate video productions, the film office is here to facilitate production requirements. In 2013, the Prince George's Arts and Humanities Council established the Film Office to assist filmmakers with telling stories through film. Their mission is to streamline the path to completing film projects in Prince George’s County by helping filmmakers navigate state and county permits, production protocols, and resources hassle free and expeditiously.
About PGAHC
As the legislated local arts agency for Prince George’s County, PGAHC fosters and expands art opportunities for all County citizens and visitors to create a world-class cultural environment where high-quality arts and humanities programs are diverse, equitable, and inclusive. PGAHC leverages its partnerships to support and provide various arts and cultural programming opportunities, art-centered economic development programs, grants as well as advocacy initiatives for legislative support of the arts on the County and State levels.
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