You can’t hurry love, but you can hurry to catch the world premiere of “The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can Eat” at the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival. The Searchlight Pictures movie, starring Uzo Aduba, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor and Sanaa Lathan, will debut on Aug. 7 as the Centrepiece selection for the 22nd annual film fest.
The MVAAFF, an Oscar-qualifying film festival in the short film category, was established in 2002 by Run & Shoot Filmworks principals Floyd and Stephanie Rance and runs from Aug. 2-10 with an impressive slate of films, documentaries, panel discussions and exclusive events focused on amplifying Black voices, storytelling and culture. The special presentation of “The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can Eat” will be followed by one of the festival’s signature “Color of Conversation” discussions, featuring Aduba, Ellis-Taylor, Lathan, Mekhi Phifer and director Tina Mabry, moderated by journalist Cori Murray.
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based on Edward Kelsey Moore’s 2013 bestselling novel, “The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat” follows best friends Odette (Ellis-Taylor), Barbara Jean (Lathan) and Clarice (Aduba), nicknamed “The Supremes,” who, according to the film’s synopsis, “share the unbreakable bonds of sisterhood from decades of weathering life’s storms. Through the joys and sorrows of life, marriage and children, happiness and blues, love and loss, new shades of heartbreak and illness threaten to stir up the past when the trio sees their bond put to the test as they face their most challenging times yet.” The movie begins streaming Aug. 23 on Hulu.
This year’s MVAAFF lineup also features “Wicked” star Cynthia Erivo sitting for a “Color of Conversation” chat, scheduled for Aug. 7. The festival will take a retrospective look at the Emmy, Grammy and Tony award-winning entertainer’s career — from her roles in “Harriet” (for which she was nominated for two Academy Awards) and Broadway’s “The Color Purple,” leading up to her starring role as Elphaba in Universal Pictures’ big-screen adaptation of the hit musical “Wicked.”
On Aug. 5, Netflix will present “Daughters,” the Sundance award-winning documentary about a program that allows young girls to participate in a special dance with their incarcerated fathers, followed by a discussion with the film’s directors, social change advocate Angela Patton and filmmaker Natalie Rae and fatherhood coach Chad Morris.
On Aug. 6, Motion Entertainment and A&E present “Ol’ Dirty Bastard: A Tale of Two Dirtys,” about the Grammy nominated musician and legendary founding member of the iconic hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan, followed by a conversation with father and son directors Sam and Jason Pollard.
On Aug. 9, Warner Brothers Television brings the new MGM+ series “Emperor of Ocean Park,” followed by a discussion with showrunner and executive producer Sherman Payne and stars Grantham Coleman and Tiffany Mack. Then, the Recording Academy presents the documentary “Luther: Never Too Much,” about famed R&B singer Luther Vandross, followed by a conversation with the film’s director, Dawn Porter.
Special events include “Celebrate Black Stories,” a networking event hosted by ESPN Films’ 30 for 30, Hulu, and onyx Collective on Aug. 6.; “The Bonds of Brotherhood” luncheon, hosted by Floyd A. B. Rance on Aug. 7; and the annual Women’s C-Suite luncheon on Aug. 8.
Additional screenings and panel discussions will be updated throughout the festival, with all scheduled to take place at Martha’s Vineyard Performing Arts Center (MVPAC). For more information on the MVAAFF and a complete schedule, visit http://www.mvaaff.
