Viola Davis’ and Julius Tennon’s Juvee Productions Brings Cast Members to Festival to Educate Film Enthusiasts on Creating Powerful Content to Affect Change

(Black PR Wire) AUSTIN, Texas --  Capital City Black Film Festival (CCBFF) today announced that long-time festival supporter JuVee Productions will host a screening of part 2 of the docu-series The Last Defense followed by a panel discussion that will allow filmmakers and guests to learn about the creation of the series from Executive Producers Vanessa Potkin and Aida Leisenring. Potkin and Leisenring will be joined by series Director Amani Martin, Executive Producer Andrew Wang of JuVee Productions, Julius Jones’s Federal Public Defender Amanda Bass and Jones’s friend and ally Jimmy Lawson.

The Last Defense, the ABC docu-series, took an in-depth examination into the Oklahoma City death row case of Julius Jones, a 21-year-old African American college student sentenced to death for the carjacking and murder of a white father of two in Edmond, Oklahoma. The series reveals critical findings from attorneys Amanda Bass and Dale Baich which they believe could be a violation of Jones’s constitutional rights to a fair trial. After the series aired, the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals is reconsidering its earlier denial of Jones's petition raising new evidence of racism tainting the fairness of his trial and sentencing proceeding.

“We are committed to using our platform to showcase influential work in the film and television industry. We are thrilled to screen The Last Defense for our audience and give them an opportunity to learn what it took to create this powerful series,” said CCBFF Executive Director Winston G. Williams.

“JuVee Productions has supported the festival from its inception and we are grateful to integrate this series into our festival line-up. We are confident that this screening and panel discussion will inspire filmmakers and creatives to develop content that is fueled by passion to ultimately promote positive change in the world.”

“We are thrilled to support Capital City Black Film Festival in its 6th year as the preeminent film festival for African American filmmakers in Austin and throughout Texas. The success of The Last Defense has not only resulted in a re-examination of Julius Jones’s death row case, it has revealed that miscarriages of justice happen each day. We are hopeful that by highlighting these cases, it will encourage others to use their platforms and gifts to draw attention to issues of injustice,” said JuVee Productions President, Development and Production Julius Tennon.

The screening of the three-part docu-series will take place at The Capital City Black Film Festival on Friday, August 31 at 12:30pm at the Austin Convention Center. The screening event is available to all festival passholders.

Prior to the screening, CCBFF will present a Q&A with The Last Defense Director Amani Martin on his career in discovering thought-provoking sports-inspired stories.

Festivalgoers will also have the opportunity to join panel discussion with Juvee Productions’ SVP of Theatrical Motion Pictures, Development and Production Rob Williams and featured CCBFF participating filmmakers about reconstructing the narrative in filmmaking. This panel will explore diversity in Hollywood with a focus on storytelling.

This year’s festival will feature film screenings of documentaries, features, shorts and music videos from talented filmmakers from across the globe. Filmmakers and fans can expect engaging and educational programming and the opportunity to network with and learn from industry professionals. Festival tickets are now on sale for All Film and VIP festival passes. Visit www.capcitybff.com for more information.

About The Last Defense

“The Last Defense” is executive produced by Viola Davis, Julius Tennon and Andrew Wang for JuVee Productions; Christine Connor and Lee Beckett for XCON Productions; Vanessa Potkin, Aida Leisenring and Morgan Hertzan for Lincoln Square Productions. The series aired on The ABC Television Network June 12-July 24, 2018. The seven-episode docu-series explores and exposes flaws in the American justice system through emotional, in-depth examinations of the death row cases of Darlie Routier and Julius Jones. The series seeks to trace the path that led both Routier and Jones to their places on death row, while taking a deep look into their personal stories.

ABOUT CAPITAL CITY BLACK FILM FESTIVAL

Capital City Black Film Festival (CCBFF) showcases the best in new Black independent film from the brightest minds in filmmaking. One of the fastest growing film festivals in the region, CCBFF presents screenings, special events and exciting opportunities for people to experience the brilliant works of artists and filmmakers of color from across the globe. CCBFF 2018 will take place Aug. 30 – Sep. 2, 2018. Festival passes and individual event tickets can be purchased at http://www.capcitybff.com/passes/. For more information about the Capital City Black Film Festival, please visit www.capcitybff.com.

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