Academy Award Winner Jennifer Hudson to Appear at International Faith and Family Film Festival

DALLAS, Aug. 15, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Jennifer Hudson, Academy award winner and star of Bishop T.D. Jakes' new film, "Winnie Mandela," is slated to appear at the International Faith and Family Film Festival in Dallas, Aug. 29-31, 2013, as part of Bishop Jakes' MegaFest. The inaugural run of the film festival will feature a wide variety of films tackling tough issues such as identity, family and poverty.

"What is exciting about the International Faith and Family Film Festival is not only the number of films we have that tackle and address difficult issues, but the quality of the films is outstanding," said Bishop Jakes. "I'm thrilled to have these films as part of our discussions."

Details on some of the films scheduled to be screened follow below:

"The Other Son" is a moving and challenging tale of two young men who discover they were accidentally switched at birth. Complex repercussions play out within two families as a son raised by a Jewish family discovers he is Arab by birth and a Palestinian family's adored youngest boy discovers he is Jewish.

"Child 31" is an uplifting film that dramatizes a powerful means of feeding the hungry in developing countries. The documentary captures Mary's Meals' life-changing work in action throughout Malawi, Kenya and India, and its mission to help millions of children around the world realize their dreams.

"Playin' for Love" is a romantic comedy that follows a high school basketball team's head coach and a single mother who helps turn the team's fortunes around. The City of Miami and the Miami Heat were partners in filming the movie in Miami, using local talent.

"Grace Unplugged" is a musical drama about a beautiful young singer who gets the break of a lifetime and has her faith radically tested in the real world. The coming-of-age experience forces the singer to evaluate her values and whether she is willing to remain true to herself.

The "Diversity in Cannes" short film showcase will give life to globally diverse characters and stories to which we all can relate from the United States, Canada, Italy and Spain. Originally screened at the Festival de Cannes as part of the Beyond Borders Diversity movement, these six films are a direct reflection of the mission to ensure the preservation of the underrepresented story at the Cannes Film Festival and beyond.

In addition to the thought-provoking and heart-pulling stories on film, the International Faith and Family International Film Festival will feature keynote speakers and panelists who represent expertise in all aspects of film making, producing and marketing. This includes:

• Actress Jennifer Hudson, star of the new film, "Winnie Mandela"
• Soledad O'Brien, host of CNN's "Black in America"
• Mary Claire Kendall, columnist covering Hollywood for "Forbes"
• Kirstin Wilder, vice president and managing editor of "Variety"
• Acclaimed director Randall Wallace ("Secretariat," "We Were Soldiers")
• Larry Ross of A. Larry Ross Communications, 30-year spokesman for evangelist Billy Graham
• Tirrell Whittley, visionary CEO of Liquid Soul Media
• Charles King, agent at William Morris Endeavor who brought artists like Tyler Perry and Terrence Howard to prominence

Tickets for the three-day film festival are $99 and include admittance to other MegaFest events, including empowerment sessions for men and women. Discount family and group packages are also available. Registration is available online. For a complete list of scheduled events for the film festival visit mega-fest.com/filmfestival.

About International Faith and Family Film Festival
The first International Faith and Family Film Festival will gather high-level entertainment executives, notable Hollywood directors, writers and talent, and feature exclusive movie screenings. Editors and reporters will moderate industry panels covering topics on marketing faith-based movies, launching faith-based projects and the future of the digital world. The film festival will also provide attendees with information and networking opportunities. Kevin Frasier of "OMG! Insider" will host keynote speakers to hear from their expertise. There will also be master classes for actors and screenwriters led by award-winning actor Anthony Mackie and award-winning author and script consultant Dr. Stan Williams. Featured screenings include the new films, "Winnie Mandela" and "Black Nativity." For more information about the film festival visit mega-fest.com/filmfestival.

About MegaFest
MegaFest has welcomed more than 700,000 attendees since its inception in 2004. Past speakers and performers have included Aretha Franklin, Steve Harvey and Dave Ramsey. This is the first time MegaFest will be hosted in Dallas. For more information and to register for MegaFest please visit mega-fest.com.

About Bishop T.D. Jakes
Bishop T. D. Jakes is the charismatic founder and senior pastor of The Potter's House, a global humanitarian organization and 30,000-member church located in Dallas. Named "America's Best Preacher" by "TIME Magazine," Jakes' voice reverberates globally through extensive charitable works and an empire that spans film, television, radio, best-selling books and conference series. Bishop Jakes made his presence felt in Hollywood with the release of  "Jumping the Broom," an award-winning romantic comedy that debuted as the #1 comedy and grossed nearly seven times its budget in 2011 and "Woman Thou Art Loosed: On the 7^th Day," released in 2012. Celebrating more than 30 years of marriage, Thomas Dexter and wife Serita Jakes are parents to five children and three grandchildren.

SOURCE International Faith and Family Film Festival