Actress Kerry Washington is poised to own this year’s 14th annual Urbanworld Film Festival, presented by BET Networks. Not only will she serve as the festival’s ambassador, but she plays the lead in Tanya Hamilton’s “Night Catches Us,” which is slated to open the festival, that runs from September 16 to 19 in NYC. The world premiere of Ava DuVernay’s “I Will Follow,” will close the festival.

This year will see Urbanworld screen a total of 71 films, 22 of which will be making their world premieres. Highlights in the lineup include Nadil Elderkin’s “Bouncing Cats,” narrated by rapper/actor Common with Mos Def and Black Eyed Pea will.i.am; Qasim Basir’s “Mooz-lum,” starring Danny Glover and Nia Long; and Madeleine Sackler’s “The Lottery,” which explores the reasons behind the failures of the American public school system.

“This year’s program is rooted in our original mission: to shine a light on films and filmmakers whose artistic excellence is too often overlooked elsewhere,” said Stacy Spikes, founder of Urbanworld. “Through our partnership with BET, we are thrilled to introduce more than 20 world premieres in a true celebration of bright, bold multicultural filmmaking.”

In addition to the screenings, the festival will present the work of five Urbanworld Screenplay Competition finalists in live readings. Finalists include “Bag Ladies,” written by Tai Nelson; “Gracey,” written by Julian Breece; “Jean of the Joneses,” written by Alison Meghie; “Knife to a Gunfight,” written by Gemal Woods and “Osvaldo’s” written by Randy Wilkins.

From Indie Wire

Kerry Washington is featured on the cover and inside the Fall 2010 issue of “Philadelphia Style” Magazine! You can read the article and find out where to get your copy of the magazine at PhillyStyleMag.com!

Marvel’s Black Panther: Who Is the Black Panther? motion comic has mysteriously disappeared from iTunes, the PlayStation Network and other outlets after just three episodes. It’s also been removed from the motion comics section of the publisher’s website, which now only features listings for Iron Man: Extremis, Astonishing X-Men: Gifted and Spider-Woman.

Marvel declined comment. However, there’s speculation the company may not have had the rights to digitally distribute the 12-episode Who Is the Black Panther?, which was produced in partnership with BET Networks.

Announced in April 2008 as an animated adaptation of the story arc by Reginald Hudlin and John Romita Jr., Who Is the Black Panther? was set to debut on BET in early 2009. Despite boasting an all-star cast that includes Djimon Hounsou, Jill Scott, Kerry Washington, Alfre Woodard and Stan Lee, the series never aired on BET. It had its world premiere in January 2010 on Australia’s ABC 3.

The project had seemingly fallen off the map until last month, when Marvel announced the release of Who Is the Black Panther? as a motion comic under its Marvel Knights Animation banner. The series was heavily promoted online and with ads in Marvel comics.

The first episode debuted on June 23 on iTunes, Xbox LIVE, Microsoft Zune and the PlayStation Network, with new installments promised weekly. However, the fourth episode, which should’ve been released last Wednesday, never materialized.

From Robot 6

Actress Kerry Washington is a new member of George Washington University’s board of trustees, the school announced Friday. The ’98 grad, who studied acting, sociology and psychology, received GW’s Alumni Achievement Award in 2008.

From the Washington Post

Magnolia Pictures has acquired the theatrical rights to Night Catches Us which was a hit with critics and audience members at this years Sundance Film Festival. The film which re-units co-stars Anthony Mackie and Kerry Washington (they both worked together on the film She Hate Me almost six years ago together) and also stars Jamie Hector and Wendell Pierce.

Set on the steamy streets of Philadelphia during the summer of 1976, the film which marks filmmaker Tanya Hamilton’s debut, follows Marcus Washington (Mackie), an ex-Black Panther who returns home to confront his past which includes Patricia Wilson (Washington). The romantic drama deals with real issues during a politically complex and emo