Friday, September 18, 2026

OIFF SPEAKS UP

FILMMAKERS SPEAK OUT

Straight Talking With Kelly, Community Leader, Kelly Armstrong, recipient of KPIX's Jefferson Award. Speaks Up Close and Personally with Mario Van Peebles.

Like & Subscribe to Her Channel, Por Favor!

MARIO VAN PEEBLES & MANDELA VAN PEEBLES

HONOR MVP

MELVIN VAN PEEBLES

Click Images:

Photos by Ken Johnson (reflected in the sunglasses lens) & See Rare Unedited Video also by Ken Johnson

David Roach, Founder of the Oakland International Film Festival; Larry Calhoun, Founder of the Black Theatrical Ensemble (BTE) at the University of Georgia. September 19th is "Closing Day" of the Oakland International Film Festival & September 19th is "BTE Night" at August Wilson's Fences in Atlanta. See the complete article here.

OIFF DAY 10 OF 11

TWO PANELS & A PARTY

WITH FILMMAKERS

Click Image for Details

Colin Kaepernick, NFL Super Bowl Star, Civil Rights Activist, Now Author of "The Perilous Fight" with a Fighter in her own right, Carol McGruder, longtime opponent of Big Tobacco, ED of AATCLC (www.savingblacklives.org). The book signing on Tuesday, September 15th was at the historic Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem, New York--spiritual powerhouse base for the legendary late Minister & U.S. Congressman Adam Clayton Powell Jr. and the late award winning Cicely Tyson, who starred with the groundbreaking talented late actor Robert Hooks in "Just An Old Sweet Song" written and directed by Mario Van Peebles' father, Melvin Van Peebles.

Kaepernick will be in Atlanta on September 19th--Tomorrow at MOREHOUSE Ray Charles (Georgia on My Mind Baby!, "An Old Sweet Song") Performing Arts Center.

There's that September 19th Again. UGA BTE Alums Robert Connor, Jac Bunn and Larry Calhoun, Y'all Got "BTE Night" Tickets left for August Wilson's Fences for Kaep and his wife? Robert you're the CEO of Dominion Entertainment and co producing the show. Come on now...There's got to be at least two tickets left!!! Or make a way. Y'all know how we do it back home. Where's the Southern Hospitality?

NOLA, Kaep's in Town Today at Studio Be. "Now run and tell that in your Second Line!" Batistes, NOLA's Royal Family of Music, Where Y'all At? Kaep's in town. Damon I expect a photo sent to W.E.

Click image to see the LA Stop on September 22nd... Oakland, September 23rd--Hosted by Marcus Books! Yes! Venue TBA/ (What did Mandela Van Peebles say in that KTVU interview?... He loved Oakland because the people are so intelligent and bright! Ok, here you go, affirmation happening in Oakland! Just click that KTVU interview image above.)

Carol, thanks for sending the shot. Damon Batiste expect the same in NOLA...Alright BTE alums looking for a photo at August Wilson's "Fences" with Kaepernick and his book in hand. VJ and Oz Roberts, I know if y'all are in the house you got W.E. Simple assignment! (Smiles for Miles)

FROM AROUND THE NET...

MARIO B "OAKLAND BASED FASHION DESIGNER EXTRAORDINAIRE"

TAKES NEW YORK FASHION WEEK BY STORM

WITH PRESIDENT OF THE SAN FRANCISCO AACC BRIGETTE LEBLANC

"A WOMAN OF MANY TALENTS"

INCLUDING MODELING BEYOND BUSINESS

THERE'S THAT SEPTEMBER 19TH DATE AGAIN!

SAN FRANCISCO PLENTY OF TIME TO SEE THE FASHION SHOW @AAACC AND HEAD OVER TO NORTHEASTERN OAKLAND (Formerly Mills College-a hop skip and a jump off of 580) FOR CLOSING NIGHT OF OIFF.ORG. MARIO & BRIGETTE, FIGHT THE JET LAG. LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU GUYS ON

THE RED CARPET @ OIFF!, RIGHT DAVID?

Previous W.E. eNews....

Added Performances-August Wilson's "Fences"-Today, September 16-NOW Thru October 11! BTE Night Sept 19! Tickets Going Fast!-Few Left! Get 20% Off

https://conta.cc/4gYBsp2

Remembering 9-11! The Solemn Stories of Sacrifice & Survival! Let Us Not Forget!

https://conta.cc/4cHkoRJ

Forget FOMO-Get 20% OFF Tickets to August Wilson's "Fences"-NOW for BTE Night Sept 19! Tickets Going Fast! Dolly Parton at UGA Remembered!

CODE "BTE" GETS YOU 20% OFF TICKETS ON "BTE NIGHT & THE ENTIRE RUN OF "FENCES!"

https://conta.cc/4gGLae4

Get 20% OFF Tickets to August Wilson's "Fences" Thanks to BTE 50th @ UGA Year Long Celebration!

https://conta.cc/4cMioYg

BTE 50th @ UGA-Get Your Ticket to August Wilson's "Fences" & More! BTE Founder Larry Calhoun's Former ATL Home Invaded by Dinosaurs in "End of Oak Street" Starring Anne Hathaway & Ewan McGregor

https://conta.cc/4hzFLYr

BTE 50th @ UGA Salutes Alum Robert Connor Founder of Dominion Entertainment in Atlanta As BTE Continues Year-Long 50th Anniversary

https://conta.cc/4wQYLpT

Happy Juneteenth, Obama Presidential Center Opening, Durban International Film Fest News, San Francisco City Wide Event & Parade, ~ Uber Sues New York & Tyra Bank Sues Netflix & More

https://conta.cc/4xFz3FJ

San Francisco Police Storm Oakland Black Panther Apartments--KGO TV Called Out for Bias & Errors--MLK Freedom Center Barbara Lee Lecture Series Saturday Evening

https://conta.cc/43BygI9

MEDIA MATTERS-Springsteen & McCartney Ode to Stephen Colbert; Trump "Stupid on Stilts," The Pulled Pamela Price KCBS Radio Interview & More

https://conta.cc/4wJKxaT

OPEN LETTER TO CLERGY-GOD LOVES JUSTICE ISAIAH 61:8-MEDIA LIES IN ALAMEDA DA RACE ABOUT PAMELA PRICE MUST STOP NOW!

https://conta.cc/4dywDAY

EXCLUSIVE-The Martin Luther King Jr. Center Announces Pastor Tony Lowden of Plains, GA-Civil Rights and Restorative Justice Champion Speaks at Barbara Lee Lecture Series Amid Civil Rights Challenges-May 20, 2026

Email linkhttps://conta.cc/4tJnxGf

Black Panther Elaine Brown Blasts BWOPA Endorsement in Alameda County DA Race & W.E. Warns About Media; President Jimmy Carter's Pastor Hosted by MLK Jr. Center; Money Matters & More

https://conta.cc/4fqJPsN

WHO KNEW? PAMELA PRICE---THE CANARY IN THE COAL MINE--WHEN IT CAME TO CONGRESSMAN ERIC SWALWELL-- PRICE CALLED FOR SWALWELL'S RESIGNATION

https://conta.cc/4vz219A

Pamela Price Defies Recall Lies

https://tinyurl.com/AttyPamelaPriceDefiesLies

EXCLUSIVE: SF FILMMAKER & JOURNALIST KEVIN EPPS ASKS YOUR PRESENCE AND/OR PRAYERS AT THIS MORNING'S SENTENCING APRIL 8, 2026 9:00 A.M. PDT

https://conta.cc/4sinOPF

SF Native Son, Rev. Dr. Frederick Haynes III, Wins Jasmine Crockett's Old Seat As Crockett Loses Senate Bid, DA Candidate Pamela Price Speaks Out, Remembering Reverend Jesse Jackson, Dwayne Wiggins

https://conta.cc/409G4zn

Other CommUNITY News

BTE Salutes UGA Alums VJ Roberts & Oz Roberts Promoting Faith Film, "Yesterday, Today & Forever"

The film based on the biblical scripture Hebrews 13:8, "Yesterday, Today and Forever" by Domingo Guyton, directed by Ty Manns, will be screened as part of the Columbus, Georgia Juneteenth Celebration, 3:00 p.m. Saturday, June 13, 2026

https://www.prlog.org/13148712-bte-salutes-uga-alums-vj-roberts-oz-roberts-promoting-faith-film-yesterday-today-forever.html