Posted by | Ray Cornelius
Congrats to Tyler Perry Studios producer and executive Mark E. Swinton!
He will be recognized at this year’s “SYNERGY” awards program presented by the African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA). The event takes place tonight (Tuesday, October 4) at Atlanta’s newly renovated Auburn Avenue Research Library. A signature program for the organization, “SYNERGY” provides an opportunity for creative professionals in the Southeast to connect and plant the seeds of growth and collaboration.
Representing the leading black film critics in the United States, AAFCA produces an annual slate of community, academic and industry programming that includes collaborations with some of the leading film festivals, universities and premier film studios in the world. “Our primary goal as an organization is to create opportunities that will bring all communities together using the power of cinema,” says AAFCA president and co-founder, Gil Robertson, who lives part-time in Atlanta and Los Angeles.
“AAFCA is thrilled to bring ‘SYNERY’ once again to Atlanta, and we hope that by celebrating Mark, we are able to illustrate the immense opportunities that are possible for other creative professionals who live in this region,” he adds. “Atlanta is a growing player in film and TV production, and we feel that with ‘SYNERGY’ we’re providing a valuable opportunity that can help the Atlanta and Southeast film communities grow strong.”
Swinton is a two-time NAACP Award winning-playwright and director who has also produced, written and directed over 30 professional level productions with young people in Los Angeles. He is currently the producer of Tyler Perry’s OWN hit series—“The Haves and the Have Nots,” “Love Thy Neighbor” and “For Better or Worse.”
Previous recipients of this award include Tirrell Whitley and Nick Nelson, Principal Partners at Liquid Soul Media (2012) and Charles Humbard, CEO of UPTV (2013), filmmaker Roger M. Bobb (2014) and Brett Dismuke and Eric Tomosunas (2015).
Shortly after “SYNERGY,” AAFCA will also host a special screening of potential Oscar contending film, “Moonlight” that will include a Q&A session with its director Barry Jenkins and stars Naomie Harris (“Skyfall” and “Spectre”) and Trevante Rhodes (TV series “If Loving You Is Wrong” and “Westworld”).
Photo Credits: AAFCA
