Arizona Black Film Festival March 27

HOME ABOUT AZBFS 2008 EVENT TICKETS SUBMIT FILM

		OSCAR MICHEAUX
Presenting Sponsor Director Sponsor Producer Workshop Sponsor Film Screening Sponsor Sponsor	Board Members Oscar Micheaux Award Past Winners Celebrity Photos Event Photos	Arizona Black Film Showcase Annual Spirit of Oscar Micheaux Award HISTORY OF OSCAR MICHEAUX Micheaux was born in 1884 near Metropolis, Illinois, the son of freed slaves and was one of 11 children. He had a passion for writing, and wrote several novels in a shack-like home on the howling South Dakota prairie. Micheaux formed his own publishing company, and sold copies of the books door-to-door. He then decided that his books would be even better as movies. The motion picture industry was in the silent film era, and blacks were not welcome in the industry. The only way a black could become a movie producer was to start his own company. Micheaux did just that, and turned his autobiographical novel The Homesteader, into a movie in 1919. This was the first feature length film produced by an American black. Micheaux produced, directed and wrote at least 43 movies in his life - 27 silent films and 16 sound features. He was the first American black to produce a "talkie" -The Exile (1931). Micheaux did it all - hired the actors, directed the movies and even distributed the movies to some 700 segregated black theaters across America. Micheaux worked on a shoestring, often taking only one "take" of a scene. QUALIFICATION FOR RECIPIENTS The AZBFS "Spirit of Oscar Micheaux" award is given to an African American Filmmaker, Writer, Director, Actor, Producer or Television or Film Executive whose body of work is blazing the trail for other young filmmakers and allowing them the access to get their stories told. The recipient must create Film or television works that portrays African American´s in a positive light. They must also be an advocate for the creation and production of Black Independent Films. Like Oscar Micheaux, the recipient must be a maverick in his or her time that supports the advancement of Blacks in Films and Media Arts. PAST AZBFS Spirit of Oscar Micheaux RECIPIENTS 2007 Winner Mr. Hill Harper 2006 Mr. James Earl Jones 2005 Mr. Bill Duke 2004 Mr. Mario Van Peebles

OSCAR MICHEAUX

Presenting Sponsor

Director Sponsor

Producer

Workshop Sponsor

Film Screening Sponsor

Sponsor

Board Members

Oscar Micheaux
Award

Past Winners

Celebrity Photos

Event Photos

Arizona Black Film Showcase
Annual Spirit of Oscar Micheaux Award

HISTORY OF OSCAR MICHEAUX

Micheaux was born in 1884 near Metropolis, Illinois, the son of freed slaves and was one of 11 children. He had a passion for writing, and wrote several novels in a shack-like home on the howling South Dakota prairie. Micheaux formed his own publishing company, and sold copies of the books door-to-door. He then decided that his books would be even better as movies. The motion picture industry was in the silent film era, and blacks were not welcome in the industry. The only way a black could become a movie producer was to start his own company. Micheaux did just that, and turned his autobiographical novel The Homesteader, into a movie in 1919. This was the first feature length film produced by an American black. Micheaux produced, directed and wrote at least 43 movies in his life - 27 silent films and 16 sound features. He was the first American black to produce a "talkie" -The Exile (1931). Micheaux did it all - hired the actors, directed the movies and even distributed the movies to some 700 segregated black theaters across America. Micheaux worked on a shoestring, often taking only one "take" of a scene.

QUALIFICATION FOR RECIPIENTS

The AZBFS "Spirit of Oscar Micheaux" award is given to an African American Filmmaker, Writer, Director, Actor, Producer or Television or Film Executive whose body of work is blazing the trail for other young filmmakers and allowing them the access to get their stories told. The recipient must create Film or television works that portrays African American´s in a positive light. They must also be an advocate for the creation and production of Black Independent Films. Like Oscar Micheaux, the recipient must be a maverick in his or her time that supports the advancement of Blacks in Films and Media Arts.

PAST AZBFS Spirit of Oscar Micheaux RECIPIENTS

2007 Winner Mr. Hill Harper

2006 Mr. James Earl Jones

2005 Mr. Bill Duke

2004 Mr. Mario Van Peebles