Meet Audrey Thomas of Kingdomwood International Film Festival in Tucker and Smyrna

Today we’d like to introduce you to Audrey Thomas.

Audrey Thomas is the founder and CEO of Kingdomwood International Film Festival, a platform to promote the production of family and faith-based films and entertainment. Today, Kingdomwood has more than 10,000 subscribers and is a leading resource for developing new talent and film production in Georgia and worldwide.

Audrey grew up in a Christian-filled home in Detroit, Michigan, and as a child, she showed keen interest in media and television. She would spend many evenings gathered around the television set in their family home watching their favorite TV shows.

This passion for true story-telling and entertainment was nurtured by world-renowned leaders and artists, including Clarence LaVaughn Franklin, during the ’80s. He is better known as Reverend C. L. Franklin, the American Baptist minister and civil rights activist who was also the father of legendary singer-songwriter Aretha Franklin.

I received my degree in Computer Science Engineering from Dallas Mountain View in Dallas Texas. Audrey continued to pursue her college passion by studying Broadcast Management from the University of Texas in Arlington.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Kingdomwood ran into a few obstacles/challenges in the early stages of its 2008 launch. We even once we heard from New Birth Missionary Baptist Church Senior Pastor, Bishop Eddie Long. At that time, he told his then congregation that many celebrities would come to the church and request that he encourage them to see their movies; but later only to be beat-up, sexualized, and cursed-out!

He shouted out to Hollywood; there should be a Kingdomwood! Listening to his sermon from the choir stand, we catch the word Kingdomwood is the atmosphere. I went home and prayed about it. At the next choir rehearsal, I suggested launching a Kingdomwood Christian Film Festival. Everyone loved it, and the entire choir supported the idea, except for Bishop Long. Ten years had passed. Bishop Long asked to meet with me and my business partner Joe Williams to discuss Kingdomwood. However, that was six months before his death. He apologized for not listening to our Kingdomwood vision, and now he wanted to support us. However, it was too late, Bishop had become very ill before our October film festival in 2016 and had passed away the following January 2017. New Birth Missionary Church’s new Pastor appears to be walking in the same direction with no support.

Please tell us about Kingdomwood International Film Festival.
Kingdomwood International Film Festival (KIFF) is a 501c (3) organization founded in 2008 by Audrey Thomas and Joe Williams. Our annual film festival provides a forum for independent filmmakers to screen films that promote and inspire faith-based teaching and values. Kingdomwood launched a Kingdomwood Kids safe virtual program allowing our kids to write and produce stories from their point of view. We have master-class instructors for guidance, with the direction of Jellybeans Production. https://www.kindest.com/campaign/copy-support-our-kids-their-summer-matters

The other program, Audrey is most proud of is Kingdomwood Women in Films (KWIF). It was launch in 2017. KWIF is a networking group that recognizes and supports the achievements of women in the industry. We create true stories. We will produce movies about love, hope, friendship, reconciliation, forgiveness, and redemption, focusing on Kingdom’s plan to help relationships, marriages, and families. Our Kingdomwood Men in Films is currently building its membership at a 50% month-over-month increase.

For more information, please visit: kingdomwood.com/KMIF.

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
Joe Williams has always been my teammate! He is an Entrepreneur, Visionary Counselor, Elder and Manager. He has proved himself in guiding our film Industry guest, young and old with gentle but firm encouragement developed through an inner creativity and strength. Joe is an accomplished play scriptwriter, speaker, consultant and corporate trainer after 25+ years.

Among the many hats that he wears, Joe is now the co-founder of Kingdomwood International Film Festival (www.kingdomwood.com) a faith-based annual 3-day film festival event that allows independent filmmakers to showcase their films, get industry updates, network, meet industry professionals, and industry celebrities. Currently, Joe been by my side for 12 years.

Joe’s key service areas include:
• Leadership Development
• Evaluation, Program Development & Training
• Strategic Planning
• Organizational Assessment
• Moderating & Execution of Process Development

To name just a few of Joe’s former accomplishments
• Elder Chair First Christian Church of Atlanta (in Tucker, GA)
• 100 Black Men of DeKalb County (former member & Chair of largest fundraiser)
• National Black MBA, (former Director of Conferences & Meetings)
• Former Member of DeKalb Chamber of Commerce (Lead Facilitator of meetings)
• Owner/Operator Entertainment Studio; D1 @ Park Central
• Retired National Sales Manager, Freeman Decorating (Largest special events in America)
• University of Nebraska Co-Captain (Two-Time All-America Wrestling)

Peggy A. Starks: “Working with Ms. Audrey T. Thomas, CEO and Founder of Kingdomwood International Film Festival has been truly a blessing. Her strong sense of determination to strive to make Kingdomwood successful has been most beneficial for all.” Ms. Peggy A. Starks, the Director of Administration and Graphic Art Designer worked for Kingdomwood for the past 11 years. Ms. Starks is a native of Chicago, Illinois, who is known as a highly experienced top-flight Office Administrator, and a highly efficient Document Specialist and Graphic Art Designer/Publisher. Her career, spanning 30+ years, began in Chicago with working as a secretary at a major Insurance Company.

Ms. Starks started focusing on her most rewarding professional assignments; that is consulting with and working on behalf of the Kingdomwood International Film Festival/Kingdomwood Christian Film Festival (KIFF/KCFF). From 2009 to 2020, Ms. Starks served as KIFF’s/KCFF’s Director of Administration and Graphic Art Design. In so doing, she was a major internal catalyst for KIFF’s/KCFF’s successful public outreach marketing campaign to “Reach, Teach & Inspire”, forging working partnerships and relationships, bridging the gap between various communities, community leaders, church leaders, various entertainers, and friends and family to encourage our upcoming filmmakers’ and screenwriters’ projects. Our mission was and is to be that platform, that voice and avenue for current and future faith-based filmmakers, directors, producers, screenwriter, actors and those in the movie and filming industry, either behind the camera or in front. We are there to assist and be one of those avenues to help guide them in their journey. Let us all continue to “Reach, Teach & Inspire those along their path! Whatever path that is to better man-kind!!!!

Debra Chapman has been Kingdomwod’s financial advisor for year, she severed and attended many of our film festivals. Debra retired from Ford Motor Company where she received a certificate of Appreciation for her outstanding and devoted service as a UAW-Ford Quality Operating System Coordinator. However, year after year Audrey pulls together a talented group of people that loves the Lord to put Kingdomwood Film Festival in from of the masses. With prayer and Determination, her film festivals are a success. Sometimes without reward or recognition Audrey P.U.S.H. forward because she seeks to help, uplift, and give opportunities to God’s people. There are many people called but only a few answers. Please honor Audrey for answering the call.

Pricing:

• 3 Day All Access Festival Pass $250
• 1 Day All Access Festival Pass $100
• All Day Movie Screening Passes $50
• All Day Workshop Passes $50

Contact Info:

• Address: First Christian Church of Atlanta
  4532 LaVista Rd, Tucker GA. 30084
• Website: Locations are subject to change to always check website for updates www.kingdomwood.com
• Phone: 678 671-0244
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kingdomwoodfilmfestival/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kingdomwood
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/Kingdomwood

Image Credit:
Eugene Bradley

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