HBO RECOGNIZES THE "BEST OF THE BEST" AT
RUN & SHOOT FILMWORKS 6th ANNUAL
MARTHA'S VINEYARD AFRICAN-AMERICAN FILM FESTIVAL

Omar B. Miller and Robert Franklin, President of Moorehouse College

Top independent filmmakers awarded cash prizes during HBO film competition
Universal Pictures advanced screening of The Express is a hit
Nickelodeon scores a win with kids with new episodes of The Backyardigans!

(AANEWSWIRE)New York, NY-Run & Shoot Filmworks, Inc., producer of the 6th Annual Martha's Vineyard African-American Film Festival (MVAAFF), announced the winners of the HBO-sponsored film competition which took place Saturday, August 9th, 2008. Over 250 submissions were received from around the world and 46 films were chosen for the festival in the categories of short, feature and documentary. Other highlights of the MVAAFF included the screening of The Express (Universal Pictures) to a sold-out crowd with actor from the film Omar Benson Miller in attendance for a Q&A as well as a screening of the HBO documentary The BlackList and new to the festival, a Kids Saturday Morning screening sponsored by Nickelodeon of two new episodes of The Backyardigans with creator Janice Burgess and Uniqua!

"We are extremely proud of everyone who participated in this magnificent event. All of our sponsors, repeat attendees, guest speakers and filmmakers helped to make this one of the best film festivals of the year," said MVAAFF co-founders Floyd A.B. Rance III and Stephanie Tavares-Rance. "The quality and number of films we receive each year is confirmation that our festival is not only vital, but it also plays a key role in getting mainstream Hollywood to recognize the untapped talent within the African-American film community."

The 2008 winners of the HBO Film Competition are:

Best Short:

The Don of Virgil High
Directed by: Deon H. Hayman
A nerdy Jr. high school student finds fame and popularity when hustling banned soda and snacks at school.

Best Documentary:
Faubourg Treme, The Untold Story of Black New Orleans
Directed by: Lolis Elie & Dawn Logsdon
A documentary shot before and after Hurricane Katrina and including never-before-seen archival footage. Faubourg Treme is a riveting tale of hope, heartbreak and endurance.

Best Feature:
Doing The LA Thing,
Directed by: Jamie Burton-Oare
Five NY actors venture to L.A. for pilot season at the urging of their acting coach, only to discover that they are the subject of the film.

This year's sponsors included Universal Pictures, Nickelodeon, HBO, Run & Shoot Filmworks, Hollywood Reporter, Dukes County Bank, Edgartown National Bank, ARRI/CSC, and Indietalk.com.

All media-related inquiries should be directed to Benny Smith at 704-608-6737
or bsmith1540@carolina.rr.com

About HBO
Home Box Office, Inc. is the premium television programming subsidiary of Time Warner Inc., providing two 24-hour premium television services, HBO and Cinemax. Together, both networks reach approximately 40 million subscribers in the United States via cable and satellite delivery. Home Box Office's international joint ventures bring HBO branded services to more than 50 countries around the globe.

About Universal Pictures

About Run & Shoot Filmworks, Inc.
Run & Shoot Filmworks, Inc., is a New York-based film production company credited with creating outstanding visual work for several clients including HBO, Martell Cognac, Reebok, NBC Sports and Footlocker. For the past three years, Run & Shoot Filmworks has produced the MVAAFF with the primary goal of providing a positive environment where filmmakers can share their thoughts, ideas and aspirations. The film festival serves as a vehicle through which Run & Shoot Filmworks can support the efforts of emerging and established African-American screenwriters, as well as aid in their artistic development.