Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. is proud to announce its official sponsorship of the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival. The effort is part of Wells Fargo’s broader commitment to advancing equity and celebrating the contributions of the African American community in Massachusetts and across the country.
The nine-day event, taking place August 4 – 12, showcases the work of independent and established African American filmmakers and promotes emerging feature, documentary, and short films from across the world. Wells Fargo leaders will join MVAAFF officials to build relationships, promote dialogue, and celebrate Black history, art, and culture during the festival.
The company will host programs such as:
- Welcome Reception
Date: August 4th, 9:30 p.m. – 1 a.m.
Location: L’Etoile Restaurant, 151 Lagoon Pond Road, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568
This gathering will be a casual event welcoming attendees to the 21st annual MVAAFF, celebrating Black excellence in film.
- Opening Reception at the Martha’s Vineyard Museum
Date: August 7th, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Location: 151 Lagoon Pond Road, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568
This event will be a salute to the 21-year history of the MVAAFF and highlight the unique story of the historic Martha’s Vineyard Museum, which from its earliest days highlighted the African American contribution to Martha’s Vineyard.
- Men’s C-Suite Luncheon and Panel Discussion: Bonds of Brotherhood
Private Event
Moderated by the Rev. Al Sharpton, the panel will explore roadblocks and triumphs of Black men reaching the C-Suite in corporate America and the responsibility to mentor and cultivate future leaders in large corporations and nonprofits. Panelists will include Otis Rolley, Head of Philanthropy and Community Impact, Wells Fargo; Dexter King, Senior Vice President, GM International & Global Strategy, Tom Ford Beauty; Aeneas Williams, NFL Hall of Famer; and William Moore, Fund II Foundation Executive. The luncheon will commence with an introduction of Floyd A.B. Rance, co-founder of MVAAFF, by Mike Muse, GMA Entertainment Correspondent.
“We are thrilled to be part of the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival celebrating Black excellence and supporting the work of these talented artists and filmmakers,” said Otis Rolley, head of Philanthropy and Community Impact at Wells Fargo. “As the Bank of Doing, we recognize the importance of amplifying stories in a thoughtful and meaningful way for the community. That’s why Wells Fargo is a proud supporter of the incredible work that MVAFF does to recognize and elevate Black voices, stories, and contributions through filmmaking.”
“Stephanie and I are extremely excited to partner with Wells Fargo this year,” said Floyd Rance, co-founder of the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival. “To have them host our Welcome Reception, along with two additional festival events, is an honor as it reflects their commitment to elevating Black artists and storytellers. In our 21st year, we are beyond grateful for their support and look forward now and in the future, to this valuable collaboration and shared success.”
Wells Fargo’s philanthropic mission is to support historically underserved communities and address community issues such as financial health, housing affordability, small business growth, and sustainability. In 2022, the company awarded roughly $3.1 million to support local nonprofits and community organizations throughout Massachusetts. Beyond philanthropy, Wells Fargo employees in Massachusetts volunteered more than 1,850 hours in 2022 to support nonprofits and causes important to them.
For more information on the MVAAFF and a complete schedule of screenings and special events, please visit www.mvaaff.com.
About Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a leading financial services company that has approximately $1.9 trillion in assets, proudly serves one in three U.S. households and more than 10% of small businesses in the U.S., and is a leading middle market banking provider in the U.S. We provide a diversified set of banking, investment and mortgage products and services, as well as consumer and commercial finance, through our four reportable operating segments: Consumer Banking and Lending, Commercial Banking, Corporate and Investment Banking, and Wealth & Investment Management. Wells Fargo ranked No. 47 on Fortune’s 2023 rankings of America’s largest corporations. In the communities we serve, the company focuses its social impact on building a sustainable, inclusive future for all by supporting housing affordability, small business growth, financial health, and a low-carbon economy.
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Additional information may be found at www.wellsfargo.com | Twitter: @WellsFargo
About Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival
The MVAAFF, established in 2002, is an OSCAR®-qualifying film festival in the short film category. It is a nine-day event where independent and established African American filmmakers can showcase, screen, and promote emerging feature, documentary, and short films from across the world. The brainchild of the husband-and-wife team, Floyd and Stephanie Rance, the MVAAFF provides a nurturing environment for African American filmmakers to test their creativity while giving sponsors a captive audience to promote their brands among a highly discerning community of people of color.
About Run&Shoot Filmworks
Run&Shoot Filmworks, the producer of the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival (MVAAFF) and the Color of Conversation Film Festival (COCFF), is a film production company credited with creating outstanding visual work for several clients, including HBO, Martell Cognac, Reebok, NBC Sports, Hallmark Channel and Footlocker. For the past 20 years, Run&Shoot Filmworks has produced the MVAAFF and the COCFF with the primary goal of providing a positive environment where filmmakers can share their thoughts, ideas, and aspirations.
