On the Scene: Opening Night of the Urban World Film Festival with ‘Devotion”

To celebrate its 26th year, the Urban World Festival opened with the film “Devotion” which stars the festival’s official ambassador this year—Jonathan Majors. 

The Urban World Film Festival is celebrating their 26th anniversary with a new slate of amazing films, and the festival started off with the J.D. Dillard film “Devotion.” 

On the red carpet, founder of the festival and founding CEO of Movie Pass Stacy Spikes told us, “We’re glad to be back. The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that persistence prevails. Don’t give up. Fight for your dreams. Fight for your movie. Fight for those ideas that you have. Keep things moving and don’t give up hope. I think that the festival, filmmakers, talent, the industry itself is about perseverance through good times and those tough times.”

The Urban World Film Festival is a festival focused on amplifying the films of smaller, underrepresented filmmakers. The five day event is a celebration of different cultures, countries, and identities. “Devotion” was the spotlight film of the festival and the opening night showcase. 

Spikes said, “Devotion” is what we are and what we do with the filmmaking community. We’re devoted to making sure we have a landscape that they’ll be able to show those works. From what I can tell from the movie, it’s intent without giving anything away. Its intention is to say devotion is commitment to something and that commitment is beyond anything.” 

Devotion follows the true story of Navy pilots Thomas Hudner and Jesse L. Brown. The men served together during the Korean War, and formed a bond that was unheard of at the time because of their races. Jonathan Majors and Glen Powell star alongside each other as the titular duo. 

Majors was in attendance for the Urban World Film Festival Screening along with Christina Jackson, and director J.D. Dillard 

Majors served as the ambassador for the festival. Majors expressed on the red carpet how much the moment meant to him. “Urban World to me feels avant garde. It’s the front guard really. Those from all walks of life. Those from marginalized walks of life coming together and 26 years strong now have been pushing this festival forward. To have “Devotion” involved in this, furthermore, opening up the festival is a huge honor.” 

Prior to the screening Majors was honored as the official ambassador and given a special photo by the festival committee. Following the release of Devotion, he will later star in “Creed III” and “Antman and the Wasp: Quantumania.”