Musa Jackson and Famed Actor Morocco Omari Opens the First Kwanzaa Film Festival in Harlem

The first ever Kwanzaa Film Festival founded by Ina Norris (In A Woman Productions) begin with a red carpet breakfast on Saturday (December 30, 2017) in Harlem, New York. The opening welcome was given by the talented Model, producer, writer, Harlem Ambassador Musa Jackson encouraging the audience to embrace Harlem's Legacy and culture.

John Norris Sr. Long Island activist gave a riveting libation with a call and response. Adante Power former Lion King Simba wrote a powerful song and spoken word piece specifically for the first Kwanzaa film festival. In the opening the short film First Fruit written by Ina Norris was premiered starring Takeema Davis, Jabari Gray and Omarr Salgado. And ending the opening the talented Morocco Omari (Empire,Pipeline) was the honoree who gave a powerful piece filled with self-determination and encourage those to reconnect with our African ancestry.

The day ended with workshops on film funding, Douglas Holloway (former President of multichannel distribution for ION media network) alongside Dana Offenbach (Cinemastreet Pictures) and how to get into the acting business with Janet Swaby (agent) and Ron Lang (Producer, Writer).

Various awards were given Tina Jetter and Kwanzaa Owes the UMOJA YOUNG FILMMAKER award, Antonia Badon (Harlem Renaissance Time Travel)Linda Fletcher ( Wikipedia Consultant and activist) Omarr Salgado ( Producer) Ciara Smith (Makeup and hair, Hairtastique mobile salon system) and Brothers in Recovery(Community organization).

The attendance of the film festival was standing room only. The committee members were the following Flora Gillard, Sophia Loren Coffee, Teri Robinson, Karen Owes, Gilda Norris, Nicolas Long, Crystal Williams, Paulette jones of Plum TV, Marcia Meade, and Elijah Marshall of For The Fam, JB Morgan

The restaurant sponsor was Negril Restaurant a Black owned business from the Greenwich village.