THE HIP HOP FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES THE WINNERS FOR 2023
The Best Stories From The Culture Receive Recognition
NEW YORK, AUGUST 20, 2023 — The Hip Hop Film Festival announces the the winner of its prestigious BEST OF THE FEST designation. The award goes to the film and team that represents the best example of a narrative from the culture.
BEST OF THE FEST
KINGDOME
The remarkable journey of Terry ‘Huncho’ Cooper and his legendary Harlem basketball tournament, uniting a community through the love of the game and empowering generations to rise above adversity.
Additional categories including best documentary, short, network, music video and animation series are also up for consideration.
This year’s winners are as follows:
THE TUBMAN AWARD
These filmmakers represent the best examples of activism through their films.
AKIL DUPONT — A WISH GRANTED : A woman, Natonya Spear, had been looking for her father for 48 years. What happens when a DNA test gives her only one match to a 1st cousin she doesn’t know…
KYRA KNOX — BAD THINGS HAPPEN IN PHILADELPHIA : Bad Things Happen in Philadelphia is a full-length documentary focusing on the effects of gun violence on young men, women & mothers living in Philadelphia.
BEST FEATURE
THE SOUND OF SOUTHSIDE
In a rapidly gentrifying Queens NYC, Maliki — a young Jazz musician — sets out on a journey to continue his father’s legacy and reopen his famous Jazz club.
Finalists
MZUKA
BRONX BANDA
BEST DOCUMENTARY
BAD THINGS HAPPEN IN PHILADELPHIA
Bad Things Happen in Philadelphia is a full-length documentary focusing on the effects of gun violence on young men, women & mothers living in Philadelphia.
Finalists
Spiritual Cypher :Hip Hop & The Church
Kingdome
A Wish Granted
BEST FEATURE SHORT
PARALYSIS
A poetic film featuring spoken word artists who capture the stream of consciousness of bystanders who witness a young Black boy fight for his life.
Finalists
GOOD MAN
AT ALL COSTS
MOMMA
PLAYBACK
AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD
MOMMA
Exploring the relationship between a growing Lemarcus and his mother Denise , as she has molded him to become a man through life experiences in an African American household.
Finalists
LETTRE LA
PARALYSIS
GOOD MAN
BEST SCREENPLAY
GOOD MAN
A young man grapples with conflicting beliefs about masculinity after a video of him backing down from a fight goes viral.
Finalists
CHECKMATE FOR LIFE
PLAYBACK
EAST RIVER STORY
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
BROKE DOWN DRONE
Poverty, Death and Hopelessness are all that can be expected in one of the roughest neighborhoods in Chicago. For Roc (Willie Round) and DeVontae (Max Thomas), on the brink of potential stardom, the opportunity to escape all three is within reach, if only…
Finalists
UNDER THY WINGS
MZUKA
MIC DROP
Festival Categories
BEST TV READY SERIES
THE EXPATS INTERNATIONAL
Finalists
Gangsta Court
Unequally Yoked
BEST MUSIC VIDEO DIRECTION
VEILS AROUND US
Finalists
Unravel
Running Star
GENRE WINNERS
BEST SCI FI
SUNSET — After meeting in the VR app THE VOID, two lovers find themselves trapped in the Metaverse when the app is decommissioned. With only few hours to escape , Nova and Prince must outwit the sinister presence known as VEIL to free their minds and bodies from being trapped in the metaverse forever.
BEST COMEDY
GANGSTA COURT — Outlaws of the ghetto take their matters to an underground courtroom to be judged by O.G. Murder, the most feared and respected crime-boss.
BEST DRAMA
CHECKMATE FOR LIFE — A man learns the game of chess from his estranged father in an attempt to overcome a plot designed to destroy his life!
BEST SOCIAL HORROR
PLAYBACK — On the day of a momentous studio session, an obnoxious recording artist finds herself trapped in a time loop.
BEST LOVE STORY
THE SOUND OF SOUTHSIDE — In a rapidly gentrifying Queens NYC, Maliki — a young Jazz musician — sets out on a journey to continue his father’s legacy and reopen his famous Jazz club.
Enjoy the festival offerings on the official Hip Hop Film Festival streaming network FRESH TV at https://myfreshtv.com
About the Hip Hop Film Festival NYC
The Hip Hop Film Festival is the flagship program of the Harlem Film House, a 501(c) (3) corporation that provides a platform for diverse voices in the film industry while promoting storytelling that reflects the experiences and perspectives of creatives from the culture around the world.
