UNITED FILMMAKERS - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Vice President of Sales and Marketing
Julian Haffner, Esq. heads the legal department of United Filmmakers, LLC. Mr. Haffner is an experienced entertainment and corporate attorney practicing principally in the area of music, television, film and corporate law, serving as general counsel to filmmakers, entertainers and business people throughout the United States. Throughout his career he has represented businesses and artist from start-up ventures and emerging artist to established professionals and market leaders. Mr. Haffner works with the United Filmmakers management team and acquisition department in structuring company agreements, distribution agreements and customizing operating, partnership and shareholder agreements, protecting valuable trade secrets and confidential information, and advising management on best practices for internal corporate controls.
A former Chair of the Maryland State Bar Association's Entertainment and Sports Law Section, Mr. Haffner also has experience representing the business interests of professional athletes including NBA, NFL and Olympians.
Koby Maxwell (Maxwell K. Okwensy) oversees the acquisition and distribution of "Nollywood" films and television series for United Filmmakers. A multi-talented artiste, Mr. Maxwell is an award winning "Nollywood" film producer and an accomplished musical artist who has been making his mark on the music industry both in his adopted home of the USA and his birth place of Ghana.
A gifted bass player, singer, lyricist and composer, Mr. Maxwell brings a unique music mix blended with a taste of Europe, a twist of America and a squeeze of Africa all stirred up to create a colorful and powerful sound fusion.
As the oldest of six children, this native-born Ghanaian arrived in the States 18 years ago and has been tirelessly working on his God-given musical gifts and abilities which have ushered him into prominence and seen him perform in venues like the Kennedy Center in the US capital of Washington DC and the Radio City Music Hall in the Big Apple; New York City. Additionally, he has shared the stage with prestigious artists like Nancy Wilson, Chaka Khan and Dionne Warwick.
The year 2010 can be said to be one of the busiest periods in the life of this multi-talented artist. Ever the perfectionist, and despite a grueling tour schedule, Mr. Maxwell y found time between tour dates to produce and star in the critically acclaimed "Nollywood" movie "Paparazzi-Eye in the Dark". Paparazzi won 6 awards in 2011 after receiving nominations in 12 different categories, and later that year was selected as best movie in the African Movie Academy Award (AMAA).
In 2013 Mr. Maxwell produced and starred in the critically acclaimed "Nollywood" drama "One Night in Vegas". The film stars an international all-star cast that includes Hollywood actors Jimmy Jean-Louis and Michael Blackson, former Ms. Universe Sarodj Bertin, and Nollywood stars John Dumelo, Yvonne Nelson and Van Vicker. One Night in Vegas is the winner of several awards including the 2013 NAFCA (Nigerian and African Film Critics Award) Best Cinematography, 2013 NAFCA Best Film in Diaspora, 2013 NAFCA Best Actor in a Supporting Role and eleven other NAFCA nominations.
Shuaib Mitchell oversees the acquisition and distribution of independent African-American films and television series for United Filmmakers. A member of the prestigious Director's Guild of America (DGA), Mr. Mitchell is a graduate of Howard University (Washington, DC) where he studied film and television production under an esteemed faculty that included internationally acclaimed filmmaker Haile Gerima. He began his professional career at C-SPAN, where he later directed the live nationally televised viewer call-in shows. His independent filmmaking career was launched in 1992 with the one-hour documentary film, "Straight Up Go Go", which he produced and directed. The film was distributed internationally by ATA Trading Corp. and has aired numerous times on PBS Television. In 2007 Brother Shuaib directed and produced his first narrative feature length motion picture entitled "Too Saved". The "faith-based" romantic comedy was acquired for world-wide distribution by Maverick Entertainment Group, Inc. and won numerous awards including the prestigious Dove "Family-Approved" Seal (receiving a 4-star rating), and "Best Film" awards at several film festivals. In addition, the film aired several times on the Conerstone Television Network.
In 2012 Brother Shuaib completed production on a feature length motion picture entitled "Nocturnal Agony". The film stars veteran Hollywood actors Lawrence-Hilton Jacobs, Vernee' Watson, Rae'Ven Larrymore Kelly and Grammy award winning gospel recording artist Hezekiah Walker. Nocturnal Agony has won numerous awards including the prestigious 2014 TIVA-DC Bronze Peer Award (for Independent Feature), the 26 th Annual Larry Neal Writer's Award, the 14 th Annual Fade-In Awards Screenplay Competition, and is one of the highest rated films on Amazon Prime, receiving a 4 Star rating (out of a possible 5). Nocturnal Agony is currently available in Wal-Mart, RedBox and various other retail outlets nationwide.
Brother Shuaib is a recent recipient of the Howard University Alumni Association (HUAA) Golden Bison Award as an Outstanding Howard University Alumnus in the field of entertainment. The award was presented as part of the HUAA 50 th Anniversary Celebration's Blue Carpet Reception. Mr. Mitchell was honored among 32 other distinguished Howard University Alumni from various fields including Aviation, Medicine, Public Service, Religion, Business and Entertainment. Mr. Mitchell's latest film entitled "The Game That Changed College Basketball" is a feature-length documentary on the historic 1974 ACC Championship Game between N.C State and the University of Maryland. The film is scheduled for world -wide release in 2021.