The Hollywood Film Festival, celebrating its 22nd year running and 3rd year at Raleigh Studios, was pleased to host the World Premiere of Michael Feifer’s Soldier’s Heart, starring Neal Bledsoe and Val Kilmer, on Saturday, October 5th at the Raleigh Studios Chaplin Theatre.

At 4 p.m., the press began to arrive. The Celebrity Red Carpet started at 4:30 p.m. and ran through 6 p.m.

Soldier’s Heart, premiering as part of an exciting line-up of global films, delves into the story of soldiers afflicted with PTSD, set against the adventurous backdrop of the Wild West in the post-Civil War era. A Western at its core, Soldier’s Heart proves to be a timely story in our war-afflicted times. Michael Feifer wrote and directed the film.

The Hollywood Film Festival has hit its stride this year, showing strong support for global filmmaking, social change, and artistic excellence, and creating conversations driven by the commitment to leverage the power of Hollywood as a global brand and entity that can bring communities together through the cinematic voice.

Aiming to create relationships between filmmakers, producers, and representatives, the Hollywood Film Festival has endeavored to build a bridge between Hollywood and its global counterparts. This year, they will play host to dignitaries representing the good and the great of Africa’s film industry.

Special Director accolades were also given to Komarco Williams for “Environment”, Thiago Dedalt for “Duke”, and Ali Askari for “Falling”. Exceptional Artistry Accolades were also given to actors Josh Hellman (Fury Road, X-Men), Jennifer Alcott (Kate Can’t Swim), and Paul Sorvino (Goodfellas) for their work in “Falling”.

Tsitsi Dangarembga led a powerhouse panel at the premiere. Her book, Nervous Conditions, was dubbed by the BBC as one of the top 100 books that have changed the world. The panel she led delved into the changing global landscape of film and its influence on local indigenous communities. Karine Barclays, Head of the Africa Pavilion at Cannes, also joined this powerhouse-curated conversation on Saturday, Oct. 5th at 1 p.m. at the Chaplin Screening Room at Raleigh Studios.

Highlighting the key social issues of the moment that have gripped our society has always been a goal of HFF, and this year has come to fruition in spades with the esteemed Pamela Guest leading one of HFF’s curated conversations on both the genesis and the after-effects of sexual assault and sexual violence through the two mother-daughter panelists participating in a conversation titled “What is the long-term impact of our hashtag culture on our industry?”.

Panelists included Elizabeth Guest, Angela Rose, Elizabeth Blake Thomas, and Isabella Blake Thomas. The all-female panel touched on sexual consent and sexual assault in our culture and, more specifically, in the entertainment industry. The panel was so impactful that during the Q & A session, members of the audience publicly shared for the first time similar moments from their past that forever changed their lives.

Wendy Estes, of the Hollywood Film Festival, said, “To know we’re creating such an inclusive environment, a place where filmmakers, artists, and entrepreneurs converge to share not only great films but great open conversations, shows the true impact potential this festival has.”

Paving the way for ground-breaking conversations and timely films of cinematic excellence, this year’s Hollywood Film Festival strived to bring together communities of diverse artists, audiences, and industry leaders at its Hollywood Honors Party, highlighted by music, performances, and conversations over cocktails.