Reel Soul Film Fest

ABOUT US
Our mission is pretty simple..

- Present very good films from incredibly talented filmmakers.
- Conduct some memorable and rewarding panels, workshops and discussions.
- Have a few great parties.  

We intend to take this first step in a long running exhibition of works by filmmakers of color. We hope to expose to a wide audience the varied voices, stories and talents of these filmmakers. We will have as our considerable goal to present a balanced picture of our community through film, intent on providing positive images in some small effort to help dispel negative stereotypes
Volunteers
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer and being instrumental in the growth of our festival – we would love to have you. We really would.  Please fill out the form below or email us at volunteers@CharlotteReelSoul.com with the following information.

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Advisory Panel
(People we consult with regularly to ensure the festival creates a welcoming and advantageous environment for filmmakers)

Doug McHenry
This native of Oakland and Danville, California, McHenry studied economics and political science at Stanford. He continued his education at Harvard graduation with a degree in law and business administration. Working at Casablanca Records/Filmworks, McHenry worked with producer Peter Gruber as his assistant and learned the ropes quickly. He soon rose to the rank of executive and began working on projects of his own, including producing films like Midnight Express, Foxes, Escape From New York and Time Bandits.
During the mid-'80s, he joined forces with producer George Jackson and created the production company, Jackson-McHenry Entertainment. This company produced hits like Krush Groove, New Jack City, Jason's Lyric , A Thin Line Between Love And Hate, The Brothers and House Party 2 and 3.
 
Michael Swanson
Michael Swanson, an innovative entrepreneur and movie producer, is CEO of the independent motion picture production company Faith Filmworks.. Most recently, Michael produced the romantic drama feature film All About Us. All About Us stars Boris Kodjoe, Ryan Michelle Bathé, Luke Swanson, LaTanya Richardson, Academy Award nominee Ruby Dee and special appearance by Academy Award winner Morgan Freeman. Michael also produced All About You and executive produced its popular soundtrack album. The romantic comedy won several film festival awards, including the Blockbuster Audience Award for Best Feature Film at the 2003 American Black Film Festival, an Audience Choice Award at The Chicago International Film Festival and the Festival Award at the Pan African Film Festival.. Michael is currently developing three feature film projects, one of which is slated to begin production in 2008.

 
 
Bobby Thompson
While still employed in corporate America, Bobby wrote, produced and executive produced his first film entitled “With or Without You.” It starred Wendy Rachel Robinson (Steve Harvey Show, Miss Congeniality, Something New), Cynda Williams (One False Move, Mo’ Better Blues) Victor Williams (King of Queens), and Guy Torry (American History X, Runaway Jury). It premiered on DVD in April 2005 and has played on Starz Encore and ABC among other television channels. The film is distributed by Screen Media Ventures and Universal Home Entertainment.  After the successful release of “With or Without You,” Bobby  retired from corporate America, and pursued filmmaking full time. The result was “Traci Townsend,” starring Jazsmin Lewis (Barbershop, Barbershop 2) Richard T. Jones (Judging Amy, Vantage Point, The Wood, Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married), Victor Williams (King of Queens) and Mari Morrow (How to Be a Player, National Security) which he wrote, produced, and executive produced. The film has won numerous awards on the film festival circuit.

 
   
Christine Swanson
Multiple award-winning filmmaker Christine Swanson earned her MFA in film from the nation’s top-ranked graduate film program at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. Christine wrote and directed the 2007 romantic drama feature film, All About Us, starring Boris Kodjoe, Ryan Michelle Bathé, Luke Swanson, LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Academy Award nominee Ruby Dee and special appearance by Academy Award winner Morgan Freeman. All About Us was invited to the prestigious Heartland Film Festival and The Chicago International Film Festival before its limited U.S. theatrical release in November 2007 A heartfelt storyteller, Christine was requested to revise the motion picture screenplay for Woman Thou Art Loosed before the film headed into production. The film was released in theaters to critical and audience acclaim in October 2004, before becoming a DVD best seller for 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment.

 

 
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