Juliette Fairley's MULATTO'S DILEMMA Wins Film Festival Award

While production on the short film Juliette Fairley's Diary of a Mulatto Bride (JFDOMB) wrapped on Sunday September 30, 2012 in Manhattan, the prequel Juliette Fairley's Mulatto's Dilemma (JFMD) was awarded Best Romantic Comedy at the LA Edition of the New York International Film Festival.

Both short films are scenes from a larger 90 page feature film script called Mulatto Saga that is a 2013 finalist for funding in a film festival screenwriting competition.

"It's gratifying that the short film Mulatto's Dilemma that I wrote, produced and starred in has won an award! The topic of being bi-racial or being a couple in an interracial relationship is timely right now and many Americans can relate," said Fairley whose mother is French and father African American. "I am looking forward to receiving a trophy at the New York International Film Festival award ceremony in Los Angeles in January. It may be the closest I ever get to an Academy Award in this lifetime."

The award-winning short is about main character Coquette Alsten's engagement to a famous African American R&B singer named Clark Kennedy (Hassan Goding) whose aggressive fans (including newcomers Alina Volobuyeva and Daralyn Jay) catapult her back into the arms of ex-boyfriend Dan Stone. Returning cast members include Kaylee Souther and 6-year-old Cassidy Knight.

The 10 minute film will next screen at the Red Hook Film Festival in Brooklyn on Sunday October 14 between 1pm and 3pm and at the Pocono Mountain Film Festival in Pennsylvania on Saturday October 20.

Executive produced by Katy Bruni, the sequel Juliette Fairley's Diary of a Mulatto Bride is about Coquette (played again by Fairley) whose recent marriage to a French man (Alexander Blaise) is skeptically harangued by instigating, jealous co-workers (Bruni, Jacob Lewis Smith, Burnadair Lipscomb-Hunt, Bonita Elery).

"I know that whatever Juliette creates is quality work," said Bruni who lent her financial support to the production. "It's my pleasure to support her vision and creativity and participate in the production."

In JFDOMB, Fairley's parents are portrayed by Susan Jeffries and Franklin Ojeda Smith who is known for his role Mr. King in the 20th Century Fox studio feature film "Won't Back Down" starring Viola Davis and Maggie Gyllenhaal that is currently playing in theatres.
"Both Juliette Fairley's Mulatto's Dilemma and Diary of a Mulatto Bride are based on actual events and dramatized for comedic effect," said Fairley who was born in France and raised in Texas. She currently divides her time between Los Angeles and New York.

Photo Credit: Angel Guadalupe