2nd Ever International Queens Underground Film Festival

Queens Underground 718 Presents the 2nd Ever International Queens Underground October Film Festival from October 15 – 17, 2020. Collaborating with the NY International Arts Festival. This year’s Festival features new categories for Black Lives Matter, Women Filmmakers and a continued emphasis on Best Commercial. Submissions for Shorts, Videos and Episodes are still open for the Live Online & Interactive Festival with Red Carpet, Live Performances, Screenings and ending with the Awards Night on Saturday, October 17th. Best of all the Audience can Vote for their Fan Favorite!

The February 2020 Film Festival was a sold-out Film Festival with submissions from twelve countries and filmmakers from more than eight states flying in for the Red Carpet Event. There was an array of Live Performances, Vendors, Organizations manning tables and a Community Awards Night. The interim Queens Borough President, Senator Leroy Comrie and Councilman Daneek Miller among others, took part in the February Red Carpet Festival which was held at the Jamaica Performance Arts Center, in Jamaica, Queens, NY. Featured on CBS and MSN live news, Executives from HBO, Netflix, Cinemax were in attendance along with many journalists from NYC publications including the Amsterdam News.

The October Virtual affair still promises an exciting 3 days! Host will be Kareem Green who is a three-time champion at Showtime at the Apollo. Kareem is a multi-faceted entertainer and comedian whose relatable comedic style has earned him television appearances on BETComicView, TV-Ones Bill Bellamys Whos Got Jokes and more.

Industry Professional Judges (Queens native, Danielle Overton, Producer of Alban Hills; Cable Show Producer (3 Boroughs), B. Elise; Producer/Editor; Edmund Dorsey of Jyrah Productions, Dave Howard, PBS Producer, Senior Photographer, Mai Dror; Consulting Judge, Kavika, Filmmaker Guests and Executives from HBO and several Movie Studios.

Queens Underground offers a customized Live Platform where the Audience can watch along with the Judges, hearing commentary and responding to “chat” comments. With sponsorship low this year, the Festival is excited to have New Beginnings, Jamaica BID, The Service Place, the Long Island African American Chamber Of Commerce, Cultural Collaborative Jamaica, The Southeast Queens Scoop, the Queens Chamber Of Commerce and the Greater Jamaica Merchants Chamber Of Commerce offering much needed support, along with dedicated and returning Volunteers. When asked why this Octobers Festival is special, Film Festival Director, Adrienne Whaley, explains, not only is our community vastly underserved, our talent (filmmakers, singers, dancers and poets) is forced to go out of the boroughand/or out of state to participate in Film Festivals and similar events – as best explained by Senator Leory Comrie at the February Film Festival; the Red Carpet events provide a much-needed vibrant and all inclusive promotional opportunity for Filmmakers, artists, creatives, entrepreneurs and organizations which we do not have. Additionally small businesses and most organizations are not typically included in Film Festivals, nor can most afford to air commercials on prime time TV, let alone on a cable station. The Festival brings a pivotal platform to showcase their talents, products and projects. The Queens Underground Film Festival caters to both newcomers as well as professionals. Many of the filmmakers, performers and vendors are returning for a second and third time. 

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Talia M.

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