STUDIO CITY, CALIF. — Director of “Fruitvale Station,” Ryan Coogler, due to screen his Sundance Award Winning feature at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival as an Official Selection, is slated to speak at the 18th annual 51 Media Conference.


The one-day conference, held at CBS Studios back lot on Sat., May 4, 2013 will focus on great directors this year featuring young upcoming directors in the industry like Coogler and Destin Daniel Cretton, 2013 South By Southwest Audience Award and Grand Jury Prize winner for Narrative Feature for writing and directing "Short Term 12." The conference unites major Hollywood executives and feature film directors alongside aspiring filmmakers and students.  


Coogler, one of Indiewire's Top 10 Directors To Watch, will be interviewed along with Cretton, on the main stage in the morning session.

Coogler is an alumnus of the Sundance Screenwriters Lab where he developed his first feature, “Fruitvale,” recently renamed “Fruitvale Station.” “Fruitvale Station” premiered in the dramatic category at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. The film went on to win both the U.S. Grand Jury Prize for dramatic film and the Audience Award for U.S. dramatic film, two of the festival’s top honors. “Fruitvale Station” produced by actor Forest Whitaker, stars Michael B. Jordan, Octavia Spencer, and Chad Michael Murray.

Coogler also directed the short films “Locks,” “Gap,” and “Fig.” Locks was shown at Tribeca Film Festival and was winner of Dana and Albert Broccoli Award for Filmmaking Excellence, “Gap” received the Jack Nicholson Award for Achievement in Directing, and “Fig” won the HBO Short Filmmaking Award, DGA Student Filmmaker Award, and was nominated for the Black Reel Award for outstanding independent short film.

This year’s conference titled “Great Directors” will launch the Great Cinema Masters Series focusing on the finest directors in the industry today, in addition, to the normal lineup of workshops and networking events to encourage and equip new members of the industry and inspiring seasoned filmmakers.

The 51 Media Conference attracts more than 600 attendees — making it the largest event in the nation for people of faith working in the entertainment industry.  It is known for its intimate and practical conversations with Hollywood leaders, and professional training and instruction from some of the most influential individuals in film, television, public relations, media marketing, management and digital media.

For more information or to register online, visit www.biolamedia.com. General Admission ($150) and Non-51 Student and Senior Admission ($95) is open until April 26, 2013; Cost is $180 at the door. Lunch and coffee bar provided.

51 51 Media Conference:

In its 18th year, the 51 Media Conference exists to educate, inspire, and network media professionals while providing creative inspiration into the spiritual nature of any career in the media industry. BMC attracts participants who will benefit from direct interaction with acclaimed industry pros who are at the top of their craft. From CEOs to students, attendees secure valuable information, insight, and contacts that strengthen their character and their careers.

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51, named one of 19 “up and coming” national universities by U.S. News & World Report three years in a row, is a private Christian university located in Southern California. For more than 100 years, 51 has remained committed to its mission of biblically centered education, integrating biblical principles with every academic program. With a current record-high enrollment of 6,250 students, the university’s six schools offer 145 academic programs, ranging from the B.A. to the Ph.D. For more information, visit www.biola.edu.