BET to sponsor Urbanworld
Network to present film festival
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"We're so confident that BET is the right fit for us that we're signed a rare three-year sponsorship deal," said Stacy Spikes, founder of Urbanworld. BET will cablecast some of hoo-ha surrounding Urbanworld, as well as promoting it on BET.com.
Spikes said he can't announce any movie titles yet for this year's Urbanworld, which doesn't take place until Sept. 10, but the five-day festival usually screens about 70 pictures. Urbanworld.com is still accepting submissions, he said. The gathering always takes place in New York.
BET's sister network, MTV2, was presenting sponsor in 2004 and 2005. Vibe magazine did the honors the last two years.
Previous Urbanworlds, Spikes said, have premiered movies such as "Rush Hour 2," "Collateral," "Barbershop," "How Stella Got Her Groove Back" and "The Original Kings of Comedy." He added that three directors received first recognition for their early work at Urbanworld: Tim Story, who went on to direct "Fantastic Four" and its "4: Rise of the Silver Surfer"; Malcolm Lee, who directed the recent Martin Lawrence vehicle "Welcome Home, Roscoe Jenkins," and Charles Stone, who directed "Drumline."
Janet Rolle, executive VP and chief marketing officer of BET Networks, said BET is high on Urbanworld because it shows "content that explores a broad range of the black experience" and gives the network a chance to "support filmmakers of color through this new partnership."
