blacks increase presence, cachet at the prestigious sundance film festival

PARK CITY, Utah – High along the breathtaking mountains overlooking Salt Lake City, one the most celebrated and competitive film festivals in the world commenced as usual, albeit with a drastically different twist. Among the mostly homogenous populace that normally comprises the Sundance Film Festival, a sizable African American contingency came to network, fellowship and support each other on levels never before seen in the history of this annual event.

Young urban sophisticates emanating from the entire spectrum of moviemaking gathered at the intellectual watering hole called the Black House, a building that stood out boldly along Main Street. The two-year-old BlackHouse Foundation hosted a myriad of provocative and poignant programs, such as a one-one-one with BET Chairman and CEO Debra Lee, celebrity-rich panel discussions, and a spectacular concert with world-renowned classical pianist Eric Lewis. Major multinational conglomerates partnered with black filmmakers to sponsor major black events at Sundance and illume special movies and documentaries. During the “Chase Legacy Lounge” event at Celsius Lounge, hosted by BlackFilms.com, Chase Home Loans aligned with Kodak and HBO to honor special black and Latino films and provide much-needed funding.

It was far from all business, however. BET, Boost Mobile, and a litany of other corporations hosted a multiplicity of parties along the snow-tipped mountains in this 10-day extravaganza founded by Hollywood legend Robert Redford. On Saturday, rap superstar 50 Cent erupted with a roof-rattling concert with the likes of Paris Hilton, Nick Cannon, Kim Kardashian and a legion of black moviemakers partying along. –terry shropshire