Stacy Spikes
Founder
Stacy Spikes is considered one of the pioneers of minority filmed entertainment, currently serving as Founder and Chairman Emeritus of the Urbanworld Film Festival, the premiere festival presentation of urban and ethnic film content. The Urbanworld Film Festival began as an impassioned idea that Spikes jotted down on a restaurant napkin and premiered in August 1997 with 35 films.
Over the years, Spikes' goal of showcasing and celebrating filmmakers of color has successfully created a bridge in Hollywood between studio fare and independent films. Now in its 12th year, Spikes unveils the 2008 Urbanworld Film Festival with renewed energy and a powerful, three-year partnership with BET Networks.
This unique partnership, bolstered by BET’s position as the leading media and entertainment provider for African Americans and consumers of Black culture, will further establish the festival as one of the world’s largest competitive film festivals. With a slate boasting various high profile studio premieres and diverse independent works across the features, shorts, documentary, and screenplay categories, 2008 Urbanworld Film Festival will continue to redefine and enhance the roles of multicultural constituents in contemporary cinema.
In 1985, Stacy Spikes left his native Texas with $300.00 in his pocket and a desire to work in the entertainment industry. He landed a job in Los Angeles as a Production Manager at American Video. Still in his teens during his time there, he was responsible for the worldwide distribution and sales of video titles including ESPN and Marilyn and the Kennedy’s.
In 1989 Spikes accepted a position at Motown Records. Through print and television ads, promotional tours and strategically placed publicity, Spikes helped create and promote the images of many artists. By the age of 23, Spikes was the product manager for Boys II Men, Stevie Wonder, Spike Lee, Queen Latifah, and Eddie Murphy.
A promotion to Director of Marketing at Motown facilitated Spikes' moving to New York City and to Columbia Records. At Columbia, Spikes worked with artists Dionne Ferris and Diana King. He worked on feature film soundtracks including: Jungle Fever, Bad Boys, House Party 1 and 2, Pret-a-Porter and Darnell Martin’s I Like It Like That.
Spikes' love of storytelling brought him back to film, joining Miramax Films and then October Films, both as Vice-President of Marketing. At Miramax, Spikes used theatrical trailers, print and television ads, and websites, along with nationwide promotions, to help launch unprecedented marketing campaigns that leveraged films including Trainspotting, The Crow 2, Don’t Be a Menace, Emma and the first epic of the teenage horror phenomenon Scream. At October Films, Spikes worked on similarly well-known independent hits such as Secrets & Lies, Lost Highway, Year of the Crazy Horse, Breaking the Waves, and Career Girls.
Spikes marketed Film and Music projects have grossed more than $3 billion dollars worldwide to date.
His career in film at major studios within the industry ultimately evolved into the entrepreneurial venture known as Urbanworld, a nonprofit organization which manages the Urbanworld Film Festival and other annual film platforms such as the Urbanworld College Tour, where Spikes lectures with College Students who have interest in the Media Industry.
Spikes has been featured in various publications including Fortune, Crain’s, Variety, Black Enterprise, Hollywood Reporter, among others.
Stacy Spikes resides in New York City with his wife and daughter.
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