BETHANN HARDISON TO RECEIVE THE “BLACK EXPERIENCE IMPACT AWARD” AT THE 11TH ANNUAL ANNAPOLIS FILM FESTIVAL

The 11th Annual Annapolis Film Festival announced today Bethann Hardison will be presented the “Black Experience Impact Award” in recognition of her entrepreneurial accomplishments in the world of fashion and beauty for people of color during the Black Experience Showcase taking place on Saturday, March 25th at 5:00 pm at Maryland Hall in Annapolis, MD.

The showcase will also include a screening of Hardison’s co-directed documentary film INVISIBLE BEAUTYfollowed by a Q&A with Hardison, co-director Frédéric Tcheng, and producer Lisa Cortés.

Bethann Hardison is a former model and agent who continues to advocate for racial diversity and inclusion in the fashion industry. Working with some of the top designers of the 1970s, including Calvin Klein, and Oscar de la Renta, she became one of the first Black models to achieve international success. Concerned with the politics of the fashion industry, Hardison changed her focus from modeling to activism. She founded her modeling agency, Bethann Management, which specialized in representing models of color. She also founded the Black Girls Coalition, an organization dedicated to promoting the visibility and advancement of Black models. She has also been a Co-Executive Producer on television sitcoms starring her son Kadeem Hardison.

Additionally, the Annapolis Film Festival announced this year’s special guests including:

NARRATIVE FEATURES
THE GROTTO (East Coast Premiere)
Joanna Gleason (Director)
Todd Shotz (Producer)

DOCUMENTARY FEATURES

DUSTY & STONES
Yasmin Williams (Composer)

INVISIBLE BEAUTY
Lisa Cortés (Producer)
Bethann Hardison (Director/Principal)
Frédéric Tcheng (Co-Director)

LAS ABOGADAS
Victoria Bruce (Director)

KING COAL
Molly Born (Co-Producer)

LITTLE RICHARD: I AM EVERYTHING
Lisa Cortés (Director)

MAMA BEARS
Tammi Terrell Morris (Subject)
Parker Cunningham (Subject)

MELGES: THE WIZARD OF ZENDA (World Premiere)
Mark Honer (Director)
Anne Peterson (Executive Producer)

NO LEGS. ALL HEART. (World Premiere)
Pablo Durana (Director).
André Kajlich (Principal Subject)
Michael Flores (Editor)

OF MEDICINE AND MIRACLES
Robin Honan (Producer)

OUT IN THE RING
Ry Levey (Director)

PROJECT HOME: 3D PRINTING THE FUTURE
Laura Waters Hinson (Director)

NARRATIVE SHORTS

ALMOST WINTER
Daniel Rashid (Actor/Writer/Producer)
Austin Kolodney (Director)

THE CODE OF FAMILY
Kayla Sun (Director)

CUPID, JR
Adam Yuster (Director)

DAY AT THE ZOO
Harris Gurny (Director)

ENDLESS SEA
Sam Shainberg (Director)

HAZARDOUS
Peter Filardi (Director)
Roger Clark (Actor)

NOBODY’S BOY (NIÑO DE NADIE)
Joe Perry (Director)

OPERATION: PAYBACK
Darren Coyle (Director)

PERIOD PARTY
Nicole Collins (Director)

PICKUP
Christine Delp (Director)
Bridgette Cyr (Producer)

SOMETHING FISHY
Christina Woo (Director/Animator)

THIS ACTUALLY HAPPENED
Emily Maya Mills (Director)
Lindsay Ames (Actor/Writer/Producer)

TWO CHAIRS, NOT ONE
Austin Kolodney (Director)

UNKNOWN ARTISTS
Alexander Brinitzer (Actor/Writer/Director)

DOCUMENTARY SHORTS

EVERYBODY’S WATCHING
Omar Aldakheel (Director)

FRESH TO FRIGHTENING: THE SHARON GREEN STORY
Sharon Green (Principal)

SPOKESPEOPLE
Ryan Mekenian (Director)

WAVES APART
Joshua Greene (Director)

SHORTS CHALLENGE FINALISTS
Casey Baum
Justine Beed
William Breittholz
Will Fritz
Josh Greene
Luke Harris
Carlisha Jennings
Danny McCrea

The Annapolis Film Festival also is pleased to announce the new and returning sponsors for the 11th annual event, which consists of the Maryland State Arts Council, Visit Annapolis, Synergics Films, Maryland Film Office, Arts Council of Annapolis & Anne Arundel County. Porsche Annapolis, Merrill Lynch, Fuji Film, Red Star Pictures, Henninger Media, Serious Grip & Electric, Tito’s Vodka, Coppola Wines, Mount Gay Rum, The Graduate Hotel, Maryland Hall, Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County, Art In Public Places, The Glaucoma Center, Crowne Plaza, Historic Inns of Annapolis and TTR Sotheby’s International Realty.

This year’s festival will feature 36 features (narrative and documentary) and 53 shorts that comprise the full slate of films for this year’s festival taking place March 23-26, 2023 in Annapolis, MD. Screenings will be held throughout the city at venues including Maryland Hall, Girls and Boys Club, Asbury United Methodist Church, Annapolis Elementary School, and more.

Tickets and passes are now available for purchase at www.annapolisfilmfestival.org with Opening Night Tickets costing $50 and including access to the after-party, Festival Passes are available for $195, Premium Passes are available for $350, and Individual Tickets are available for $15.