Professional Motion Picture Production and Distribution NEWS

Screening more than 64 films in six days., the San Francisco Black Film Festival wrapped on Sunday, June 11 with the World Premiere of the short, Be A Man directed by Matthew Jones and the Melvin Van Peebles Award winning film, Miles From Home written and directed by Ty Hodges.

The winners of the 2006 filmmaker competition were honored during the Melvin Van Peebles Awards on June 9 at Project Artaud in San Francisco. The event also celebrated the life of Meagan Van Peebles, Melvin's daughter who died earlier this year.

Ernie Hudson received the Trailblazer Award and received a proclamation from SF Mayor Gavin Newsom proclaiming Saturday, June 10 as Ernie Hudson Day in San Francisco.

'The films submitted this year were extraordinary, the judges had a difficult task selecting the best film in each category and the overall winner," said Ave Montague, Founder and Director of the San Francisco Black Film Festival.

The winners of the 2006 San Francisco Black Film Festival Competition are:

Melvin Van Peebles Maverick Award winner
Miles From Home, Ty Hodges
Ty wins a round trip ticket to South Africa courtesy of South African Airways and five days at the Sitengi World Cinema Market in Capetown.

Other winners:

Best Short
Sarang Song, Tamika Miller

Best Documentary
Beyond Beats and Rhymes: A Hip-Hop Head Weighs in on Manhood in Rap Music, Byron Hurt

Best Feature
Miles From Home, Ty Hodges

Short Documentary
Bling: Consequences and Repercussions, Kareem Edouard

Contemporary Issues
Black Gold, Mick and Marc Francis

World Cinema
Son of Man, Mark Dornford-May

Student
A Girl Like Me, Kiri Davis

Music Video
Katrina: The Music Video Steven Brownbridge and Ronnell L. Bennett

Urban Kidz
Runners High, Justine Jacob, Alex D da Silva

Screenplay
The Sundarbears Tiger Mateen O. Kemet