Bell Atlantic Salutes African-Americans in Cinema as Sponsor of Kiss-FM's Black Film Festival

Bell Atlantic Salutes African-Americans in Cinema as Sponsor of Kiss-FM's Black Film Festival

February 4, 1998

NEW YORK -- Four classic African-American movies will be showcased
during the 98.7 KISS-FM Black Film Festival sponsored by Bell
Atlantic. The theme of this year's festival, being hosted throughout
Black History Month, is "Defining Moments in Black Cinema." Each
Wednesday in February an African-American film will be the featured
attraction at the historic Sony-Astor Theater, located at 44th and
Broadway in Manhattan. Proceeds from the special screenings will
benefit the New York-based Black Filmmakers Foundation.

"Movies communicate stories from our past, chronicle the present and
speculate about the future," said Marquita Carter, staff director of
Ethnic Marketing, Communications for Bell Atlantic. "We are proud to
share these diverse and creative films with several generations of
moviegoers, some of whom will see these masterpieces on the silver
screen for the first time. And, we are honored to support the many
talented filmmakers associated with the Black Filmmakers Foundation."

KISS-FM's radio personalities will host a half-hour chat with actors,
actresses and celebrities who have either starred in the featured
films or been inspired by the films' impact. Morning disc-jockey and
legendary singer Isaac Hayes, actor Richard Roundtree and director
Gordon Parks will be on hand beginning at 7:00 p.m. today for the
first screening of the action-thriller "Shaft." Hayes composed the
original Academy Award-winning score for the Parks-directed film in
which Roundtree played the lead role.

Festival attendees can ask the stars about the making of the films,
Hollywood's relationship with African-Americans in front of and behind
the camera and more insightful questions about the film industry.

The festival line-up and special guests for the pre-film chat sessions
also include "Superfly" on February 11th with actress Sheila Frazier;
"Cooley High" or "Cleopatra Jones" on February 18th (TBD), and "Foxy
Brown" on February 25th. All screenings start at 7:00 p.m. Bell
Atlantic will offer festival attendees the opportunity to win prizes
and giveaways, as well as a chance to sign-up for Bell Atlantic's new
"Simple Savings Days" promotion which features Caller ID, Home Voice
Mail, Three-Way Calling and Call Waiting. The promotional campaign
which runs through April 12, is supported by radio and television ads
featuring gospel and R&B music. Well-known producer Nile Rodgers
developed the jingles for the ads.

For more information on the KISS-FM Black Film Festival, call The
Darnell Group at 212-929-8279.

Bell Atlantic -- formed through the merger of Bell Atlantic and NYNEX
-- is at the forefront of the new communications, information and
entertainment industry. With 40.5 million telephone access lines and
six million wireless customers worldwide, Bell Atlantic companies are
premier providers of advanced wireline voice and data services, market
leaders in wireless services and the world's largest publishers of
directory information. Bell Atlantic companies are also among the
world's largest investors in high-growth global communications
markets, with operations and investment in 21 countries.