The Urbanworld Film Festival, presented by BET Networks, will launch its five-day festival at Magic Johnson Theaters Harlem (300 W. 125th St.) on Wednesday, September 10 with the stand-up comedy extravaganza, Steve Harvey: Still Trippin’. Steve Harvey, a film festival favorite since Urbanworld’s presentation of The Original Kings of Comedy in 2000, returns to Urbanworld presenting his newest film success.In an all-new live stand-up performance presented by Codeblack Entertainment, Still Trippin’ features Steve Harvey once again commanding the stage. On a trip where no topic is off limits, from tattoos and family weddings to polygamous compounds and diaper-wearing astronauts, Harvey keeps it real and never misses a beat. Filmed in New Jersey to a packed house, his energy and comedic timing are second to none.

“We’re very excited to have Steve Harvey return to the festival,” states Stacy Spikes, founder of Urbanworld. “He has always been an Urbanworld audience favorite.”

“Having fan favorite Steve Harvey join us on opening night will ensure the Urbanworld festival starts off in an incredible way,” said Alvin Bowles, Senior Vice President, Integrated Marketing, BET Networks. “BET Networks supports Urbanworld’s inherent ability to continuously attract such high quality talent from both in front of and behind the camera to be a part of the festival.”

“With its broad list of marquee sponsors, this year’s Urbanworld festival showcases the importance of the event’s unique selling environment,” said Louis Carr, President, Broadcast Media Sales, BET Networks. “In our partnership with Urbanworld, we are proud to embrace the affinity our audience shares with the world of film.”

The Urbanworld Film Festival, with 2008 Honorary Chair Queen Latifah, is dedicated to the exhibition of independent and mainstream cinema by and about people of color. Urbanworld will screen 85 films in New York City from September 10 through 14. With the exception of the opening film, all festival screenings will be held at the AMC Loews 34th Street Theaters.

A recent addition to the festival slate, the Cinemax presentation of the new original series Zane’s Sex Chronicles will preview at The Urbanworld Film Festival. In association with New York Times best-selling author Zane and Oscar® nominee and two-time Emmy® winner (Harlem raised) Suzanne de Passe, this new series will debut Friday, October 10 (midnight ET), with new episodes on subsequent Fridays at the same time, exclusively on Cinemax. This new urban late-night series — based on the wildly popular book series by the same name — follows heroine Patience James and her girlfriends Maricruz, Lyric, Eboni and Ana Marie as they take on their lives in the big city, look for love and empower themselves — both in and out of the bedroom.

OPENING NIGHT FILM Steve Harvey: Still Trippin’ (Presented by Codeblack Entertainment) Magic Johnson Theaters Harlem (300 W. 125th St.) September 10, 2008 Approximately 7:30pm www.urbanworld.org