Now you can take the film with you!! SOMETHING IS KILLING TATE is now available for download on iTunes. Download the film and watch it on your laptop, iPhone, or other portable media device!!

Today is the day that we have long been waiting for ... the DVD release of the multiple, award-winning film SOMETHING IS KILLING TATE!! Check out the film in your local video store, or get it on Blockbuster & Netflix's online rental services!!

Press release: Happy Soul Festival 2009

25 February 2009

South West London and St George's Mental ..Health.. NHS Trust is pleased to announce the programme for this year’s Happy Soul Festival.
The award-winning annual festival, which is supported by Film London and the Arts Council of England, is London’s premier celebration of film, arts and ..music.., dedicated to creating awareness of well-being and mental health in Black and minority ethnic (BME) groups. The focus this year is on African, Caribbean, Asian and Korean communities.

The Happy Soul Festival, now in its third year, runs from 26 March to 8 April and will provide audiences with an abundance of opportunities to view a diverse range of Asian, Black-British and African-American films which explore well-being issues within these communities.

Comedienne and writer Meera Syal, a patron of the festival says: “Mental Health is a difficult issue to broach and discuss in our communities, and something we often hide in the family, but through honest discussion and through other avenues such as film and music we can open up and explore these sensitive issues together.”

The two-week festival will comprise of over 20 film screenings and events taking place in Wandsworth, Merton, Sutton, Kingston, Richmond and Bethnal Green.
The European premiere of the award-winning US film Something is Killing Tate by Leon Lozano, will showcase alongside previews of acclaimed films such as Johnny Mad Dog, Kanchivaram, Frozen and special disability-friendly screenings of The Secret Lives of Bees. There will also be an opportunity to see classic British films such as Burning an Illusion, Looking for Langston, and Frantz Fanon: Black Skin White Mask which offer insights into Black British experience, empowerment and well-being.

The exciting line-up of guests and participants for the 2009 festival include; award-winning Bollywood actress and social activist Shabana Azmi (Fire, City of Joy), Saeed Jaffrey (The Chess Players, A Passage to India), director and acclaimed fine artist Isaac Julien (Looking for Langston), British director Menelik Shabazz (Burning an Illusion), Angela Wynter (EastEnders), and the popular comedian and DJ Richard Blackwood.

One of the highlights of this year’s programme is the Happy Soul Youth Film Awards, which has seen young people from schools and community groups all over south west London making short films which explore mental health awareness from their experience. Each film is judged by a panel of industry professionals and the winner will be revealed at a special ceremony on 1 April.
Cary Sawhney, the festival’s director says:

"Happy Soul’s core aim is to create a greater awareness of mental health in the minority ethnic communities where these issues are often stigmatised, or people are unaware of the services that we can offer. In our survey of people attending previous Happy Soul festivals over half the respondents said they knew more about mental health as a result of festival events.”

The independent film festival hit of 2008, "Something is Killing Tate," is scheduled to have its broadcast premiere on Starz in Black on Wednesday morning, November 26th (2:20 AM PST/EST). The engaging drama written and directed by Leon Lozano and produced by Jessica L. Funches won 11 awards on the festival circuit this year including the Audience Choice Award at the Hollywood Black Film Festival, the Best Director Award at the Urbanworld Film Festival as well as the Oscar Micheaux and Audience Favorite Awards at the LA Pan African Film Festival.

Dynamic rising star, Jocko Sims (Crash - Starz Series, Dreamgirls, Jarhead) portrays Tate Bradley, a suicidal, twenty-five year old, African-American man. After surviving his most recent attempt, Tate isolates himself to his apartment - hiding from the world. One by one, the significant players in his troubled life come by and unveil the deception, neglect and vile acts that lie at the core of Tate's pain.

Sims' incredible portrayal is accompanied by strong supporting performances from talent whom we will surely see a lot more of including Kevin Nichols, Robin Dionne, Aliza Pearl, Tyrone Caprice, Luz Beato, Myron Davis, Chantel Valdivieso (The Polar Express, The Santa Clause 3), and Joshua Curls.

For more information on "Something is Killing Tate":
http://www.starz.com/titles/SomethingIsKillingTate
http://www.myspace.com/somethingiskillingtate

On Sunday, September 14, 2008, Leon Lozano was awarded the "Best Director" award for "Something is Killing Tate" at the 2008 Urbanworld Film Festival in New York. Since beginning the film festival circuit in February 2008, the film has won 11 awards in categories including Best Feature Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, and Audience Choice. The film has played in various cities in the west including San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Phoenix. Urbanworld was the East Cost premiere for the film.

When his name was announced, Lozano was noticeably surprised. His excitement and appreciation was clear in his acceptance speech. As a very gallant gesture, he invited his producer, Jessica Funches, to the podium with him to share a word of thanks to the festival.

Stay tuned to the MySpace page as there is more exciting news coming in the next few weeks!!

The indie film sensation, SOMETHING IS KILLING TATE, will have it's New York premiere at the 2008 Urbanworld Film Festival.

"Surviving a suicide attempt, Tate isolates himself to his apartment. One by one, the players in his troubled life force him to face the demons of his past."

Produced by Jessica L. Funches and written/directed by Leon Lozano, SOMETHING IS KILLING TATE has won over 10 Best Feature Film and Audience Choice awards since it began the festival circuit in February 2008. These accolades have been received at various festivals including the Hollywood Black Film Festival, the San Francisco Black Film Festival, and the Los Angeles Pan African Film Festival - where the film played to a sold out crowd.

DON'T MISS YOUR CHANCE TO CATCH THE HOTTEST INDIE FILM OF 2008 IN NEW YORK!!

Thursday, Sept 11 @ 10:00am , Theatre 9
Friday, Sept 12 @ 4:15pm, Theatre 11

AMC 34th Street Theater
312 West 34th Street, New York, NY (between 8th & 9th Avenues)

Ticketing information: http://www.fandango.com/urbanworldfilmfestival:somethingiskillingtate_118787/movieoverview

For additional information about the film:

www.myspace.com/somethingiskillingtate

http://myurbanworld.urbanworld.org/kickapps/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=3322621&as=45950

http://pro.imdb.com/title/tt1019966/

2008 TRINITY FILM COALITION FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES AWARD WINNERS

"Something is Killing Tate," takes home Best Feature Film and Best Screenplay at the 2008 Trinity Film Coalition Film Festival in Detroit.

The film's next screening will be in New York City, this September, as a part of the 2008 Urbanworld Film Festival.