VIRTUAL SPOTLIGHTS

Sunday, October 3

Premieres 10/3 @ 5pm ET

We The Culture, For The Culture

Presented by

Facebook shares their approach to giving diverse creators the power to be seen, to be heard, to build their business, and to inspire a more just and inclusive world leveraging the power of social media with a spotlight on the newly launched We The Culture initiative. Join for a special viewing of We The Culture’s “House of Jubilee” short film, followed by a conversation with Facebook and We The Culture creators Donshea Hopkins, Quincy Ledbetter and Zawadi Morris of BK Reader.

Featured Guests: Donshea Hopkins, Quincy Ledbetter, and Zawadi Morris of BK Reader

Moderator: Michelle Mitchell, We The Culture Lead, Facebook

Premieres 10/3 @ 6pm ET

Sankofa

Presented by

“Mr. and Mrs. Gerima are trailblazers of independent filmmaking and grassroots distribution in the Black cinematic diaspora,” President of ARRAY, Tilane Jones.

Urbanworld is honored to partner with ARRAY to host this conversation centered on the remastered, critically acclaimed 1993 film, SANKOFA, the transformative film about the untold history of Black resistance. Moikgantsi Kgama (Founder of ImageNation) moderates this panel with Ethiopian filmmaker Haile Gerima and his wife, Shirikiana Ania Gerima, the film’s Co-Producer, along with some of the key people who helped him bring this groundbreaking film to life.

Featured Guests:
Haile Gerima, Shirikiana Ania Gerima, Haki Madhubuti, Acklyn Lynch, Rashida Bey, Mashariki Jywanzaa

Moderator: Moikgantsi Kgama, ImageNation

Premieres 10/3 @ 7:00pm ET

Swagger

Presented by

From creator and showrunner Reggie Rock Blythwood, NBA superstar Kevin Durant and Imagine’s Brian Grazer, “Swagger” is inspired by Durant’s experiences and explores the world of youth basketball, and the players, their families and coaches who walk the fine line between dreams and ambition, and opportunism and corruption. Off the court, the show reveals what it’s like to grow up in America. Kelley Carter discusses the making of the series with creator Reggie Rock Bythewood, executive producer Brian Grazer, and co-stars Isaiah Hill and Quvenzhané Wallis. Swagger premieres on Apple TV+ on October 29, 2021.

Moderator: Kelley Carter

Featured Guests:

Reggie Rock Bythewood – Creator, Writer, Director, Showrunner, Executive Producer

Brian Grazer – Executive Producer (Imagine Entertainment)

Isaiah Hill – Stars as ‘Jace Carson,’ a 14-year-old basketball phenomenon who is one of the top ranked youth basketball players in the country

Quvenzhané Wallis – Stars as ‘Crystal,’ a top young basketball player

Past Spotlights

Premieres 10/2 @ 8:30pm ET

Colin In Black And White

Presented by

Co-Creator, Executive Producer and Director, Ava DuVernay and lead actor, 17-year-old Jaden Michael, join Urbanworld to speak with Brande Victorian (Sr. Editor, Entertainment, Essence) about the highly anticipated Netflix drama series, Colin In Black And White. DuVernay’s dynamic new series, created in collaboration with Colin Kaepernick, who also narrates and Executive Produces, explores Kaepernick’s formative years, and the experiences that led him to become an activist. This Urbanworld spotlight conversation examines how he recounts his life as a Black teen navigating race, class, and culture while aspiring for greatness.

Featured Guests: Ava DuVernay and Jaden Michael Moderator: Brande Victorian, Sr. Editor, Entertainment, Essence

Premieres 10/2 @ 6:30pm ET

Home Sweet Home

Presented by

Don’t miss Urbanworld’s advance preview of Executive Producer Ava DuVernay’s new series, Home Sweet Home. Ava will introduce the premiere episode of her first unscripted series, described as a social experiment that follows two families leading very different lives who exchange homes for a week, challenging racial, religious, economic, gender, and identity assumptions in the process.

Introduction: Ava DuVernay

Premieres 10/2 @ 7:30pm ET

Queen Sugar: Behind The Scenes

Presented by

From award-winning filmmaker Ava DuVernay, the contemporary drama on OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network, Queen Sugar, returns to Urbanworld for a virtual conversation with the women behind the camera whose craft significantly contributes to the success of this beloved series. With a focus on the behind the scenes of the series’ sixth season, these creatives discuss returning to production during the pandemic, how their work was impacted by COVID protocols, and their personal journeys to serve as department heads for the award-winning series.

Featured Guests: Christann Chanell (Costume Design), Lalette Littlejohn (Makeup), Kellie Turner (Set Design), Nakoya Yancey (Hair)

Moderator: Brande Victorian, Sr. Editor, Entertainment, Essence

Premieres 10/1 @ 7pm ET

Power Book III: Raising Kanan

Presented by

Terrence J. speaks with actors Patina Miller and Meika Curtis, cast as mother and son on Power Book III: Raising Kanan, the prequel to the original “Power” franchise. Urbanworld spotlights this family drama focused on the pivotal character Kanan Stark’s coming of age, with its lead actors opening up about what it takes to play a ruthless family of drug dealers from the 90’s.

Featured Guests: Patina Miller, Meika Curtis

Moderator: Terrence J., Actor, Entertainment Reporter

Premieres 9/30 @ 7pm ET

The Walking Dead: World Beyond

Presented by

Kelly Carter joins Urbanworld to put a spotlight on Aliyah Royale (“Iris Bennett”), Alexa Mansour (“Hope Bennett”), and Joe Holt (“Dr. Leopold Bennett”), leading actors of color on AMC’s The Walking Dead: World Beyond. In anticipation of its Season 2 premiere, the cast discusses diversity, family and the behind the scenes of this sci-fi favorite.

Featured Guests: Aliyah Royale, Alexa Mansour, Joe Holt

Moderator: Kelley Carter, Sr. Entertainment Writer, The Undefeated

Premieres 9/30 @ 8pm ET

Horror Noire

Presented by

Urbanworld will showcase a conversation with the creatives behind a Shudder Original Anthology, Horror Noire, featuring new work from both established and emerging talents, showcasing stories of Black horror from Black directors and screenwriters, and expanding on the legacy of Black genre filmmaking.

Featured Guests: Tananarive Due, Steven Barnes

Moderator: Danielle Belton, Editor-In-Chief, HuffPost

Premieres 9/29 @ 7pm ET

King Richard

Presented by

Richard Williams is determined to write his daughters, Venus and Serena, into history! Urbanworld is thrilled to spotlight King Richard, the upcoming biopic starring Will Smith. Gia Peppers is joined by the Director and Urbanworld Alumni, Reinaldo Marcus Green and Smith’s co-star, Aunjanue Ellis as Oracene “Brandy” Williams, to discuss the film and the experience of telling the story behind the pioneers and Black royal family of tennis.

Featured Guests: Aunjanue Ellis, Reinaldo Marcus Green

Moderator: Gia Peppers, Entertainment Journalist / Podcast Host

Premieres 9/29 @ 8pm ET

Wu-Tang: An American Saga

Presented by

Urbanworld partners with Hulu, spotlighting season two of Wu-Tang: An American Saga with the creator, Executive Producer and original Wu-Tang Clan member, RZA, along with key cast members. Host, AllHipHop.com’s Chuck Creekmur digs into the crates with the actors and RZA to learn more and explore the music that inspired everything.

Featured Guests: RZA, Executive Producer, & Cast Members Erika Alexander, Shameik Moore, TJ Atoms, Zolee Griggs

Moderator: Chuck Creekmur, Co-Founder, AllHipHop.com