Newark Black Film Festival Calls For Entries

Submission Deadline February 26, 2010

Newark, NJ – (Newark) Newark Museum’s acclaimed Newark Black Film Festival (NBFF) Paul Robeson Awards 2010 is now seeking entries for its biennial competition. Entry deadline is Friday, February 26, 2010. Since 1985, the Paul Robeson Awards established by the NBFF recognizes original feature aspiring filmmakers, and honors the spirit of Paul Robeson, activist, performer and athlete.

The winners of the Newark Black Film Festival Paul Robeson Awards will receive special recognition, film screening, and cash awards during the Newark Museum NBFF six-week summer festival held on Wednesday evenings in Newark, and Thursdays in Trenton, starting June 3 through August 4, 2010. The Newark Black Film Festival is proudly supported by Bank of America.

“The high caliber of films submitted to the Newark Black Film Festival Paul Robeson Awards is astounding,” remarked NBFF Chair Gloria Hopkins Buck. “The judges for the Robeson Awards are dedicated in choosing films that represent the festival’s mission, while engaging our audience with inspiring and intriguing films. It is an awesome responsibility to select films that represent the African-American and African Diaspora experience.”

To be considered for the 2010 Paul Robeson award films submitted must be deemed non-commercial “independent” films that were released since January 2008, with the understanding that the filmmaker had control of the completed work. The categories to enter films are Long Narrative (over an hour), short narrative (under and hour), documentary, experimental and animation. There is a $40 entry fee of each submitted film. The entry form can be downloaded at http://www.newarkmuseum.org/NBFF.html.

The NBFF, which recently celebrated its 35 anniversary, is the longest longest-running black film festival in the United States. Since its introduction in 1974 by the Newark Museum, NBFF has provided a forum for hundreds of emerging writers, directors, producers, performers and patrons of black cinema and has attracted abroad audience from throughout the northeast region. Over 695 films have been screened to an audience of more than 164,00 adults and children.

NBFF co-presenters include New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT); The Newark Public Library; Institute on Ethnicity, Culture, and the Modern Experience, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey/Newark; Newark Screens on Springfield Ave. in Newark; and the New Jersey State Museum in partnership with the New Jersey Department of State.

For more information about the 2010 Paul Robeson Awards and the Newark Black Film Festival, please call 973-596-6635 or visit NewarkMuseum.org.

-- end --

ABOUT THE NEWARK MUSEUM
The Newark Museum is located at 49 Washington Street in the Downtown/Arts District of Newark, New Jersey, just 3 blocks from NJPAC and 10 miles west of New York City. The Museum is open all year round: Wednesdays through Fridays, from Noon - 5 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays, from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., October 1 – June 30; and Saturdays and Sundays, from Noon – 5 p.m., July 1 – September 30. Suggested Museum admission: Adults, $10.00; Children, Seniors and Students with valid I.D., $6.00. Members and Newark residents are admitted free. The Museum Café is open for lunches Wednesday through Sunday. Convenient parking is available for a fee. For general information, call 973-596-6550 or visit our Web site, newarkmuseum.org. The Newark Museum, a not-for-profit museum of art, science and education, receives operating support from the City of Newark, the State of New Jersey, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State—a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, the New Jersey Cultural Trust, the Prudential Foundation, the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, the Victoria Foundation, the Wallace Foundation, and other corporations, foundations and individuals. Funds for acquisitions and activities other than operations are provided by members and other contributors.

The Newark Museum is just a few steps from the NJTransit Light Rail Washington Park Station. Direct connection with the Light Rail at the Broad Street Station and through Penn Station makes the Museum a convenient ride from all points in the region.