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The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) Announces Actress Regina Hall as 2017 Celebrity Ambassador

THE ABFF RETURNS TO MIAMI JUNE 14-18, 2017

NEW YORK, NEW YORK (December 15, 2016) – The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) announced today that actress Regina Hall has been selected as its 2017 celebrity ambassador. The ABFF will celebrate its 21st year with an exciting lineup of film screenings and expanded schedule of networking opportunities and events June 14-18, 2017, in Miami, FL. The highly anticipated festival is the nation’s largest gathering of Black film and television enthusiasts.

Regina Hall has emerged as one of Hollywood’s most sought after comedic actresses. Her career started in the late 1990s while she was earning a master’s degree from New York University. Recently, Hall was seen on the big screen in Sony Screen Gems’ When the Bough Breaks with Morris Chestnut. She also appeared in Warner Bros’ Barber Shop 3 with Ice Cube, Cedric the Entertainer, Common, Eve and Nicki Minaj, Universal Pictures’ comedy The Best Man Holiday, the sequel to the hilarious The Best Man opposite Terrence Howard, Taye Diggs and Sanaa Lathan, and is well known for her roles in Think Like A Man, Think Like A Man Too and Scary Movie. Hall will next be seen in Girl Trip, co-starring alongside Queen Latifah, Jada Pinkett Smith and Tiffany Haddish. Directed by Malcolm D. Lee and produced by Will Packer, the film is scheduled for release by Universal Pictures in the summer of 2017.

“I am so excited to be an ambassador at this year’s ABFF. This festival represents art, entertainment, commerce and people of color, and I’m honored to be a part of it,” says Regina Hall.

“We are delighted to welcome Regina Hall to the ABFF family. She is a true artist and one of the most talented and versatile actors in the business. We feel very fortunate to have her as our 2017 ambassador and thank her for supporting the festival and its mission,” said Jeff Friday, ABFF founder.

Sponsors of the 2017 American Black Film Festival to date are: HBO (Founding/Presenting); the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) (Host/Presenting); TV One, Cadillac (Presenting); and American Airlines, Verizon (Official).

Follow us on our Social Media Platforms:

For festival registration, passes, partner hotel and film submission information, visit www.ABFF.com.

ABOUT ABFF:
The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) is an annual event dedicated to showcasing quality film and television content by and about people of African descent. Founded by Jeff Friday, who is committed to the belief that Black artists deserve the same opportunities as their mainstream counterparts, supports emerging artists to foster a wider range of images, stories and storytellers represented in the entertainment industry. Recognized as the preeminent pipeline to new Black talent both in front of and behind
the camera, the ABFF is regarded as one of the leading film festivals in the world. Annually held during the month of June, the festival is comprised of five action-packed days of films, engaging panels, networking events and more…from the star-studded opening night screening to the inspirational closing filmmaker ceremony. The ABFF is produced by ABFF Ventures, a partnership between Film Life Inc. and Black Enterprise.

CONTACT:
Strategic Heights Media
Michelle Huff Elliott
michelle@strategicheights.com
Simone Smalls
simone@strategicheights.com
212-886-9581

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21st Annual American Black Film Festival Announces 2017 Dates

HBO Celebrates 20th Anniversary as Founding and Presenting Sponsor

NEW YORK, (October 20, 2016) – The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) today announced that the 21st annual event will be held in Miami, June 14-18, 2017. In addition to the best of Black film and TV, the five-day festival will offer an innovative program with new experiences, including The Byron Lewis Careers in Entertainment Center, a multiday educational forum with lectures led by industry experts to provide insight into job opportunities in front of and behind the camera at studios and networks; and ABFF Immersive, where festivalgoers are introduced to virtual reality, 360° video and immersive storytelling through panel discussions, hands-on demos and immersive experiences that demonstrate how technology can impact storytelling. HBO, the ABFF’s founding and presenting sponsor, will be marking the 20th anniversary of the widely acclaimed HBO Short Film Competition at the festival.

Festival passes go on sale November 1 at www.abff.com, providing three different levels of access to festival screenings, official and premium events. Questions regarding registration may be directed to info@abffventures.com.

Submission rules and complete eligibility criteria for feature-length films, documentaries, shorts and web originals will be available at www.abff.com November 1.

ABFF SOCIAL MEDIA:

ABOUT ABFF:
The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) is an annual event dedicated to showcasing quality film and television content by and about people of African descent. It supports emerging artists to foster a wider range of images, stories and storytellers represented in the entertainment industry. The festival is committed to the belief that Black artists and content creators deserve the same opportunities as their mainstream counterparts. ABFF founder Jeff Friday conceived the festival in 1997 as a vehicle to promote diversity in the motion picture industry, and strengthen the Black filmmaking community through resource sharing, education, artistic collaboration and career development. Today, the ABFF is recognized as the preeminent pipeline to new Black talent, both in front of and behind the camera, and is regarded as one of the leading film festivals in the world. The ABFF is a property of ABFF Ventures, a multifaceted entertainment company specializing in the production of live events, television and digital content targeted to upscale African American audiences.

CONTACT:
ABFF Ventures
Melanie Sharee
info@abffventures.com
212-886-9581

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Star-Studded Lineup of Entertainers Celebrate 20th Anniversary of the American Black Film Festival

FESTIVAL CLOSES WITH TOP HONORS TO “DESTINED” FOR BEST ACTOR & BEST DIRECTOR

Miami, Florida (June 27, 2016) – The 20th annual American Black Film Festival (ABFF) announced the winners of its competition categories at an awards ceremony on Saturday, June 18, at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel. Top awards went to Destined, Daddy Don’t Go and Service to Man.

This year’s ABFF was filled with informative and innovative programming that included film premieres, panels, workshops and master classes led by Hollywood notables.

The star-studded lineup included Common, Omari Hardwick, Robert Townsend, Cedric the Entertainer, Gabrielle Union, Nate Parker, Will Packer, Tichina Arnold, Teyonah Parris, Nicole Bahari, Soledad O’Brien and T.D. Jakes, who joined in the festival’s activities in support of new filmmakers and artists of color.

The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) presented the festival’s opening film, Central Intelligence. The charismatic buddy action film, starring Kevin Hart and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, was screened at the historic Olympia Theater in downtown Miami. The film’s leading lady, Danielle Nicolet, greeted attendees and introduced the film, along with a video welcome from her two leading co-stars.

Following the screening, the opening night party, always well attended, proceeded at one of South Beach’s hottest night spots: Story. The wildly popular DJ D-Nice provided sounds well into the night, later joined by this year’s ABFF Celebrity Ambassador, Common, for an impressive spontaneous performance.

The ABFF master classes continue to be a high point for those with interests centered on film and television. This year’s classes included “Writing for Television,” with Comcast NBCUniversal’s SVP of Programming Talent Development & Inclusion for NBC Entertainment and Universal Television Studios.

Karen Horne; “TV Production – The HBO Way” presented by Bruce Richmond, EVP of Production; and the Actor’s Boot Camp, led by Bill Duke.

“A Conversation With,” presented by American Airlines, is part of the ABFF’s top-rated Talk Series. The intimate and powerful exchange between TV One host and journalist Roland Martin and ABFF Celebrity Ambassador Common was particularly revealing and compelling, as they discussed the industry, what it means to be a person of color within it and how levels of success are achieved.

Spotlight Screenings, Master Classes, Industry Coaching Seminars, and informative panel discussions, among other exciting events, comprise the five-day festival.

ABFF First Look: The Birth of a Nation, presented by the MPAA, courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures. Journalist and author Star Jones moderated a discussion with filmmaker and actor Nate Parker (Beyond the Lights, Red Tails) and actor Gabrielle Union (“Being Mary Jane,” Bad Boys II) about this provocative film and the journey from conception to distribution. The Making of Almost Christmas, presented by Comcast NBC Universal, provided an inside look at Universal’s new comedy with writer/director/executive producer David E. Talbert (Baggage Claim), producer Will Packer (Roots, Think Like A Man) and actor Gabrielle Union (“Being Mary Jane,” Bad Boys II). Another highlight of the festival was an Industry Coaching Seminar with Akil Productions, where husband and wife team Salim Akil and Mara Brock-Akil presented how to navigate a career in screenwriting and introduced a new ABFF initiative: ABFF Women’s Writers Lab.

The Spotlight Screening schedule was filled with informative and stimulating topics and conversations, including a screening of TBS’s Angie Tribeca and Q&A with star Deon Cole; Stepping Up: Stories of Jazz & Caregiving, sponsored by AARP; United Shades of America screening and conversation with W. Kamau Bell, courtesy of CNN Original Series; the world premiere of TV One’s Bad Dad Rehab followed by a Q&A with the cast, Malik Yoba, Wesley Jonathan, Robert Riley, Rick Gonzalez and Robert Ri’chard; and Next On HBO, presented by HBO, a conversation with Jacob Anderson, Andre Holland, Nathalie Emmanuel (Game of Thrones), Jazmyn Simon and John David Washington (Ballers).

ABFF is filled with great connecting and networking opportunities for attendees. This year’s “Power Lounge,” sponsored by Cadillac, was a three-day lounge for Deco passholders and included meet and greets with actors Omari Hardwick and Tichina Arnold. McDonald’s sponsored ABFF Game Night, hosted by actress and blogger Skye Townsend. Guests enjoyed complimentary McDonald’s breakfast sandwiches and pies, specialty cocktails, courtesy of Zacapa Rum, and of course games, including air hockey, pool, poker, karaoke and traditional card games. Time Warner hosted a Mojito Mixer for Writers with the goal of connecting with emerging content creators. Kwese’ Media was the host of a private reception to discuss international distribution options with festival filmmakers.

ABFF consistently partners with companies to establish and maintain meaningful relationships and, most importantly, to offer opportunities for creative individuals aspiring to succeed in film and television. To that end, ABFF has created the following competitions and workshops:

For the past three years, HBO and ABFF have partnered to find the next comedy star with the Comedy Wings Competition. This year’s host was Cedric the Entertainer. Out of five finalists, Daphnique Springs deservingly took home the coveted award.

The McDonald’s “My Community” Video Competition encourages filmmakers to produce a 90-second video illustrating what being deeply rooted in your community means. Director Tyshun Wardlaw won the film equipment prize package valued at $2,500 for her film, Be the Seed.

Comcast NBCUniversal partnered with ABFF for two talent initiatives at the festival this year: The Star Project, searches to find the next fresh face for film and television, and the NBC Television Hosting Workshop, designed to help emerging TV hosts sharpen their skills and identify dynamic personalities ready for on-air opportunities.

TV One’s 2nd annual Screenplay Competition highlighted three new writers who received an all-expense-paid trip to the ABFF, where each finalist got an opportunity to direct a scene from their script. Professional actors in front of a live audience at TV One’s “Celebrity Scene Stealers” performed each script during the festival.

VH1 partnered with the ABFF for the first annual Unscripted Workshop, where they selected and hosted five individuals with interesting show concepts. Programming executives spent two days working with them to discuss the business of show creation and provide tips to further develop their projects.

In celebration of 20 years, ABFF ALL ACCESS captured interviews with participating talent, Gabrielle Union, Robert Townsend, Common and more, to discuss their ABFF experiences and stories. All interviews will be available on the ABFF website. Cadillac commissioned artist Brandon Odums to create a mural celebrating ABFF’s 20th year. The installation honored the past by looking toward the future and asked attendees to jot down their ideas for African American characters and storylines missing in today’s movies, and then placed them on the art at the end of each festival day. The finished piece will be displayed in Detroit, Michigan.

ABFF prides itself on supporting its own, and this year it presented special screenings of ABFF alumni work, including writer-director Steve Caple Jr.’s skateboard film The Land, director Randy Wilkin’s documentary on Roy Jones Jr., titled 86-32, and Ringside, the TV One film from radio personality and director Russ Parr. In addition to screenings, ABFF hosted the ABFF Alumni Filmmaker Reunion, sponsored by BET, at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel.

Hosted by actor and comedian Chris Spencer, the 20th anniversary celebration concluded with “Best of the Festival” awards, a star-studded ceremony celebrating the achievements and successes of filmmakers, writers and actors. ABFF’s closing night party, sponsored by Hennessy, capped the night off.

“We are more than honored to have had the opportunity to serve the community of diverse artists and creators over the past twenty years,” said Jeff Friday, ABFF Founder. “We are encouraged that the industry has awakened to the power of inclusion. We salute all of our partners who have sustained us over our journey, with special thanks to founding sponsor HBO and this year’s presenting sponsors Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, TV One, Cadillac and McDonald’s. Through their support we have been able to realize goals that 20 years ago we could only dream.”

The top winners at the “Best of the Festival” awards were The Fix, taking the coveted “Audience Award,” presented by BET; “Best Screenplay,” presented by Time Warner, went to How To Tell You’re a Douchebag, written by Tahir Jetter; and Destined, directed by Qasim Basir received the award for “Best Director,” presented by Cadillac, with the festival’s highest cash prize of $25,000. Cory Hardrict took top honor as “Best Actor” for Destined and gave a powerful acceptance speech in honor of his mother.

Giving back to the community provided the perfect theme for the conclusion of the 20th anniversary celebration of the American Black Film Festival. As part of Miami Film Month, the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau partnered with the ABFF to host a Community Day film-screening event on Father’s Day at the Lyric Theater, located at 819 NW 2nd Avenue in Historic Overtown. The host for these festivities was singer and actress Brave Williams. Attendees had an opportunity to view three films from the 2016 ABFFs screening schedule, including Bad Dad Rehab, which will air on TV One on July 3, the documentary Through My Lens, which will air on Aspire TV in October during National Anti- Bullying Month, and Love Under New Management: The Miki Howard Story, directed by Christine Swanson and starring Teyonah Parris. Throughout the day there were scheduled speakers, including Malik Yoba and Lamman Rucker.

Following the 2016 ABFF, BET Networks and the American Black Film Festival (ABFF) unveiled a programming partnership, ABFF Encore at BET Experience, at the BET Experience @ L.A. LIVE, June 24-26. ABFF Encore at BET Experience featured select films from the 2016 ABFF (How to Tell You Are a Douchebag, Destined and Everything But A Man), along with master classes in a variety of disciplines including acting, directing and producing. This year’s classes were led by filmmaker/producer Robert Townsend, creator/producer Kenya Barris and actor/producer Tasha Smith.

Links to Images:

ABFF Encore @ BET Experience Master Class
http://assignments.gettyimages.com/mm/nicePath/gyipa_public?nav=pr442564115

ABFF Encore @ BET Experience Screening Destined
http://assignments.gettyimages.com/mm/nicePath/gyipa_public?nav=pr442565448

ABFF Encore @ BET Experience Screening How To Tell You’re A Douchebag
http://assignments.gettyimages.com/mm/nicePath/gyipa_public?nav=pr442564448

ABFF Encore @ BET Experience Screening The Life of a Showrunner / Master Class
http://assignments.gettyimages.com/mm/nicePath/gyipa_public?nav=pr442564456

2016 AMERICAN BLACK FILM FESTIVAL AWARD WINNERS

THE “BEST OF FESTIVAL” AUDIENCE AWARD
(Presented by BET)

THE FIX
Director: Paris Bauldwin
Writer: Paris Bauldwin
Producers: Paris Bauldwin, Kenny Lofton, Brenton Earley
Cast: Meta Golding, Eric Roberts, Asia Queen, Nicole Steinwedell, Blaine Gray, Jeremy Suarez, Sean O’Bryan, Timon Kyle Durrett, Jeremy Luke

GRAND JURY PRIZE FOR BEST SCREENPLAY
(Presented by Time Warner)

HOW TO TELL YOU’RE A DOUCHEBAG
Director: Tahir Jetter
Writer: Tahir Jetter
Producers: Julius Pryor, Marttise Hill, Tahir Jetter
Cast: Charles Brice, DeWanda Wise, Jenna Williams, William Jackson Harper, Tonye Patano, Alexander Mulzac

GRAND JURY AWARD FOR BEST DIRECTOR
(Presented by Cadillac)

DESTINED
Writer/Director: Qasim Basir
Producers: Tommy Oliver, Rick Rosenthal, Matt Ratner
Cast: Cory Hardrict, Jesse Metcalfe, Margot Bingham, Robert Christopher Riley, Zulay Henao, Jason Dohring, Mo McRae, La La Anthony, Hill Harper, James McCaffrey, Curtiss Cook

GRAND JURY AWARD FOR BEST NARRATIVE FEATURE
(Presented by Prudential)

SERVICE TO MAN *World Premiere
Directors: Aaron Greer, Seth Panitch
Writer: Seth Panitch
Producers: Aaron Greer, Seth Panitch
Cast: Morgan Auld, Christopher Livingston, Lamman Rucker, Keith David

GRAND JURY AWARD FOR BEST ACTOR

Cory Hardrict
Destined
Writer/Director: Qasim Basir
Producers: Tommy Oliver, Rick Rosenthal, Matt Ratner

HBO® SHORT FILM COMPETITION
(Presented by HBO)

FLOWERS *World Premiere
Directors: Nikyatu Jusu, Yvonne M. Shirley
Writers: Nikyatu Jusu, Yvonne M. Shirley
Producers: Nikyatu Jusu, Yvonne M. Shirley
Cast: Amee Apedo, Belle LeGrand, Grant Tambellini

BEST WEB ORIGINAL
(Presented by Comcast Xfinity)

2 SELF HELP BOOKS AWAY FROM BEING PERFECT
Director: Lopez Williams
Writer/Creator: Kimberly Young
Producers: Lopez Williams, Kimberly Young, Morris Young, Richard Monroe, Lori Stewart Tannis, Sam Baumel
Cast: Kimberly Young, DJ Cipha Sounds, Nate Gill, Carmen Lynch, Sharron Paul, Jourdan Guyton, Jared Prudoff-Smith, Lauren Besser, Gibran Saleem, Godfrey Taylor, Jr., Sue Berch

BEST DOCUMENTARY
(Presented by Hennessy)

DADDY DON’T GO
Director: Emily Abt, Andrew Osborne
Writer: Emily Abt
Producers: Emily Abt, Keryn Thompson, Suzette Burton, Omar Epps, Malik Yoba

ABFF TALENT DISCOVERY PROGRAMS

COMEDY WINGS COMPETITION WINNER
(Presented by HBO)
Daphnique Springs

MCDONALD’S “MY COMMUNITY” VIDEO COMPETITION WINNER
Be the Seed
Directed by: Tyshun Wardlaw

STAR PROJECT
(Presented by NBC)
Kelcy Griffin

TV ONE SCREENPLAY COMPETITION WINNER
Tale of a Script
Written by: N’Zuri Za Austin

Join the conversation on social media by logging on to ABFF’s multiple social media platforms:

Sponsors for the 2016 American Black Film Festival are HBO® (Founding and Presenting Sponsor), Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (Host and Presenting Sponsor), TV One, Cadillac and McDonald’s (Presenting Sponsors); BET, Comcast NBCUniversal, Hennessy and Prudential (Platinum Sponsors); AARP, American Airlines, Coors Light, Kwesé Media, Miami Beach Visitor & Convention Authority (MBVCA), Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), Time Warner and VH1 (Official Sponsors); Planned Parenthood of America, Tanqueray and TBS (Supporting Sponsor); 21st Century Fox, ABC, ASPiRE, Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Film & Entertainment, CAA, CNN Original Series, Facebook, Fox Searchlight Pictures, Miami-Dade County Tourist Development Council (TDC), Motion Picture Editors Guild, RLJ Entertainment, SAGIndie, The Root, and Walter Kaitz Foundation (Industry Partners); Black Enterprise, Ebony Magazine, MIA Magazine, Upscale and TheYBF.com (Media Partners); and Blacknoir.com and The JDot Agency (Promotional Partners).

ABOUT ABFF:
The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) is an annual event dedicated to showcasing quality film and television content by and about people of African descent. The festival is committed to the belief that Black artists and content creators deserve the same opportunities as their mainstream counterparts. ABFF founder Jeff Friday conceived the festival in 1997 as a vehicle to promote diversity in the motion picture industry, and strengthen the Black filmmaking community through resource sharing, education, artistic collaboration and career development. Today, the ABFF is recognized as the preeminent pipeline to new Black talent, both in front of and behind the camera, and is regarded as one of the leading film festivals in the world. The ABFF is a property of ABFF Ventures, LLC., which is a partnership between Film Life, Inc., and Black Enterprise.

CONTACT:
Strategic Heights Media
info@strategicheights.com
212-634-7176

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The 20th American Black Film Festival Will Screen a Wide and Diverse Selection of Narratives, Documentaries, Short Films and Webisodes in Miami, June 15-19

“CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE” WITH DWAYNE JOHNSON AND KEVIN HART TO PREMIERE AS OPENING NIGHT FILM AT THE ABFF

— OMARI HARDWICK SERVES AS ABFF JURY PRESIDENT–

New York, New York (June 1, 2016) – The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) announced today the lineup of over 25 narrative features, web originals, short films and documentaries that will be showcased at the Olympia Theater, Colony Theatre and Regal Cinemas in Miami Beach, Florida, June 15-19.

Director Rawson Marshall Thurber’s Central Intelligence, presented by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures, will make its debut at the festival opening night, Wednesday, June 15, at 7:45 p.m. at the Olympia Theater, located at 174 East Flagler Street. Starring Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart, the action comedy is one of the most talked about film releases of the 2016 summer season. The film also stars Amy Ryan, Aaron Paul and Danielle Nicolet.

The films in this year’s competition will be voted on by a prestigious group of industry tastemakers, executives and filmmakers, led by jury president, actor Omari Hardwick.

The 2016 ABFF selection of narratives, web originals, shorts and documentaries showcases diverse content creators, exploring a broad range of topics including love, sex, race, self-identity, politics, relationships, crime and fame.

“This year’s films not only reflect diverse storytelling and diversity within the Black experience, but also the technological advances of the times — from the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games, to a narrative feature film shot entirely on the iPhone 6s. We have people coming from all around the nation to support the work of these talented filmmakers, and we hope that the local community will take part in ABFF as well,” said Jeff Friday, ABFF CEO and Founder.

The complete list of films selected for the Narrative Features, Web Originals and Documentary sections, as well as the HBO® Short Film Competition is as follows:

OPENING NIGHT FILM

CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE
Sponsored by the Motion Picture Association of America
Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
Director: Rawson Marshall Thurber
Writer: Rawson Marshall Thurber, Ike Barinholtz, David Stassen
Producers: Scott Stuber, Peter Principato, Paul Young, Michael Fottrell
Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Amy Ryan, Aaron Paul, Danielle Nicolet

“Central Intelligence” follows a one-time bullied geek, Bob (Dwayne Johnson), who grew up to be a lethal CIA agent, coming home for his high school reunion. Claiming to be on a top-secret case, Bob enlists the help of former “big man on campus,” Calvin (Kevin Hart), now an accountant who misses his glory days. But before the staid numbers-cruncher realizes what he’s getting into, it’s too late to get out, as his increasingly unpredictable new friend drags him through a world of shoot-outs, double-crosses and espionage that could get them both killed in more ways than Calvin can count.

NARRATIVE FEATURES “IN COMPETITION”

DESTINED
Writer/Director: Qasim Basir
Producers: Tommy Oliver, Rick Rosenthal, Matt Ratner
Cast: Cory Hardrict, Jesse Metcalfe, Margot Bingham, Robert Christopher Riley, Zulay Henao, Jason Dohring, Mo McRae, La La Anthony, Hill Harper, James McCaffrey, Curtiss Cook

“Destined” tells the parallel stories of Sheed and Rasheed (Cory Hardrict) as they explore the idea of destiny as well as how the smallest incident can become a life-changing event.

EVERYTHING BUT A MAN *World Premiere
Writer/Director: Nnegest Likké

Producers: Nnegest Likké, Jimmy Jean-Louis, Steven J. Wolfe
Cast: Monica Calhoun, Jimmy Jean-Louis, Camille Winbush

A successful career woman has a life-changing romance with a mysterious man from another culture, whose radical lifestyle differences challenge her perspective on love, relationships and what it means to be a “strong” woman.

THE FIX
Director: Paris Bauldwin
Writer: Paris Bauldwin
Producers: Paris Bauldwin, Kenny Lofton, Brenton Earley
Cast: Meta Golding, Eric Roberts, Asia Queen, Nicole Steinwedell, Blaine Gray, Jeremy Suarez, Sean O’Bryan, Timon Kyle Durrett, Jeremy Luke

Abigail witnesses the shooting of an unarmed teen by an LAPD officer, with whom she is carrying on an affair. To further complicate things, a teenaged girl appears claiming to be the daughter Abigail gave away at birth.

HOW TO TELL YOU’RE A DOUCHEBAG
Director: Tahir Jetter
Writer: Tahir Jetter
Producers: Julius Pryor, Marttise Hill, Tahir Jetter
Cast: Charles Brice, DeWanda Wise, Jenna Williams, William Jackson Harper, Tonye Patano, Alexander Mulzac

A womanizer falls in love in this modern romantic comedy about chauvinism, courtship and millennial woes.

SERVICE TO MAN *World Premiere
Directors: Aaron Greer, Seth Panitch
Writer: Seth Panitch
Producers: Aaron Greer, Seth Panitch
Cast: Morgan Auld, Christopher Livingston, Lamman Rucker, Keith David

Two outsiders from radically different backgrounds struggle to find a common purpose within the pressure cooker of Nashville’s all-black medical school in the 1960s.

NARRATIVE FEATURES “WORLD SHOWCASE”

HALFWAY
Director: Ben Caird
Writer: Ben Caird
Producer: Jonny Paterson
Cast: Quinton Aaron, Jeffrey DeMunn, Gillian Zinser, Amy Pietz, TJ Power, Marcus Henderson

A recently released convict finds himself trapped between his urban criminal past and his new life on probation as the only back man in a conservative, white Wisconsin farming town.

9 RIDES
Director: Matthew A. Cherry
Writer: Matthew A. Cherry
Producers: Jerome Caldwell, Matthew Keene Smith, Datari Turner, Monica Young, Natasha Ward, Jaia Thomas, R. Vaughn Gill
Cast: Dorian Missick, Omar J. Dorsey, Robinne Lee, Xosha Roquemore, Amin Joseph, Thomas Q. Jones, Skye P. Marshall, Aasha Davis, Sujata Day, Tracie Thoms

On the busiest night of the year, an Uber driver in Los Angeles gets life-changing news.

FINDING HER *U.S. Premiere
Director: Vlad Feier
Writers: Vlad Feier, Peter Gutter
Producers: Vlad Feier, Ana Paula Rivera, Regina Bang
Cast: Johnny Whitworth, Maurice McRae, Afton Williamson, Jeremy Holm, Larry Pine, Danny Johnson

Monique Watson goes missing. Police are not doing anything to find a lead. The mission drops on the desk of journalist Christian Baker.

KILLING LAZARUS
Director: Desmond Faison
Writer: Desmond Faison
Producer: Jahmela Biggs
Cast: Deji LaRay, Tracey Dukes, Wade Maurice Johnson, Jr., Robert Davis, Jahmela Biggs, Rome Green, Jr., Amanuel Richards, Shayla Hale, Billy Mayo

Childhood friends turned adult drug dealers struggle to define what’s next in their strained friendship. Anything but typical, “Killing Lazarus” is unlike anything you’ve seen.

SECRETS
Director: Juwan Lee
Writers: Juwan Lee, Jamal Hill
Producers: Jamal Hill, Kia Hicks Freeman, Gregory Freeman
Cast: Harold Moore, Denyce Lawton, Denise Boutte, Dennis White, Tobias Truvillion

When a successful businessman has a sexual appetite larger than what’s on his plate at home, chaos erupts. Tarron’s irresistible co-worker serves it up, while his wife, who’s ironically named Secret, releases a few secrets of her own.

ILLICIT *World Premiere
Director: Corey Grant
Writers: Corey Grant, Lanett Tachel
Producers: Kevin Fleming, Lanett Tachel Corey Grant, McKinley Freeman, David Ramsey
Cast: David Ramsey, Shireen Crutchfield, McKinley Freeman, Michele Weaver, Lanett Tachel, Dean Cain, Vivica A. Fox, Dionne Gipson, Michael Monks, Essence Atkins, Vincent A. Ward, Sade Kimora Young, Durrell “Tank” Babbs, Charlie Farrell, Adam Senn

Sasha and Guy’s marriage is tested when they are independently seduced by sexy, young lovers, both with dark pasts and hidden nefarious agendas.

HBO® SHORT FILM COMPETITION

*A panel of HBO executives will judge the final entries during the festival. A grand prize of $10,000 will be awarded by HBO to one filmmaker at the ABFF Awards on June 16, 2016, with runners-up each receiving $5,000. All finalists will have the opportunity to have their entries licensed by HBO for exhibition on the HBO service, HBO Go, and HBO Now.

THE BIG CHOP *World Premiere
Director: Derek Dow
Writer: Alisha Cowan
Producer: Katrelle Kindred, Cayman Grant
Cast: Simone Missick, Chinedu Unaka, McKenzie Franklin, Kevin Kilumbu

“The Big Chop” takes a look inside the world of natural hair, following a child’s once positive outlook on her hair, through to her adult years, when her perspective is shaken by negative hints from peers, family and media.

FLOWERS *World Premiere
Directors: Nikyatu Jusu, Yvonne M. Shirley
Writers: Nikyatu Jusu, Yvonne M. Shirley
Producers: Nikyatu Jusu, Yvonne M. Shirley
Cast: Amee Apedo, Belle LeGrand, Grant Tambellini

When Brooklyn teens Mya and Erin seek revenge on a teacher their well-calculated plans quickly spiral out of control.

GUBAGUDE KO (Blood Is Upon Them) *World Premiere
Director: Philiane Phang
Writer: Philiane Phang
Producers: Annick Jaegy
Cast: Mahershala Ali, Erica Tazel

A man witnesses a young woman’s rape and experiences the guilt of his inaction.

ON TIME *World Premiere
Director: Xavier Burgin
Writers: Xavier Burgin, Tiara Marshall
Producers: Tony Ducret, Kendra Cole, Tim Astor, Angelica Lopez
Cast: Inger Tudor, Araija DaCosta, Kevin Craig West, John Marrot, Louis Baker, Jordana Berliner, Amani Starnes

Renee Johnson, a mother living in South Central LA, must make a difficult decision when she’s late for her job interview.

UGLY *World Premiere
Director: LeRon Lee
Writer: LeRon Lee
Producer: Derrick Williams
Cast: Devon Moyd, Andrea-Rachel Parker, Jamal Steven Defreitas, Jo Lee, Kevin Bennett, Jr.

A coming-of-age story about a boy looking for love in the wrong place…his own environment.

ABFF WEB ORIGINALS

2 SELF HELP BOOKS AWAY FROM BEING PERFECT
Director: Lopez Williams
Writer/Creator: Kimberly Young
Producers: Lopez Williams, Kimberly Young, Morris Young, Richard Monroe, Lori Stewart Tannis, Sam Baumel
Cast: Kimberly Young, DJ Cipha Sounds, Nate Gill, Carmen Lynch, Sharron Paul, Jourdan Guyton, Jared Prudoff-Smith, Lauren Besser, Gibran Saleem, Godfrey Taylor, Jr., Sue Berch

In “2 Self Help Books Away from Perfect,” we follow Kimmy Monroe, a bright-eyed Brooklynite who, through a series of hilarious and sometimes awkward events, learns that finding true love first begins by accepting one’s true self.

BLACK ACTRESS
Director: William Alexander Runnels
Writers: Andrea Lewis, Austin Hall
Producers: Andrea Lewis, Brian Walker, Essence Atkins, Tatyana Ali
Cast: Andrea Lewis, Allison Edwards Crewe, Rob Vincent, Tristan Wilds

“Black Actress” is a scripted meets documentary style series. Every episode opens with the testimony of a celebrity Black actress, while viewers get to follow the life of Kori Bailey (Andrea Lewis), a struggling Black actress living in New York City, who desperately needs to get out of her own way.

FIRST DATES
Director: Talibah Newman
Writers: Talibah Newman, Uzo Ometu
Producers: Talibah Newman, Uzo Ometu
Cast: Angela Wildflower, Justin Sams, Shana Solomon, Laci Mosley, Andre Columbus

Samantha, a newly divorced political consultant, tries to get her love life back in order, only to find men, friends and her career getting in the way of finding true love.

GET YOUR LIFE
Directors: Amanda Seales, James Bland
Writers: Amanda Seales, Steven Chew
Producers: Amanda Seales, Issa Rae, Benoni Tagoe, Quan Lateef-Hill, Marshon Thomas
Cast: Amanda Seales, Lil Rel, Godfrey, Issa Rae, Yvonne Orji, BT Kingsley, Tehran

“Get Your Life” is an edgy scripted comedy about the very non-scripted life of comedian/actress Amanda Seales and her continuing effort to keep it real and find the funny amidst dating cornballs, Hollywood BS and being a new New Yorker to Los Angeles.

KINGMAKERS OF OAKLAND
Director: Cheo Tyehimba Taylor
Writer: Cheo Tyehimba Taylor
Producers: Christopher Chatmon, Judd Flemming, Shaka Jamal
Cast: Christopher Chatmon, Jerome Gourdine, Baayan Bakari, Jahi, AAMA students

“Kingmakers of Oakland” follows the teachers and students of OUSD during the 2015-16 school year as they overcome obstacles both at school and home, and redefine what it means to be a “king.”

THE MOVEMENT
Directors: Christian Mazza, Jimmy Shelton, Justine Bo
Writers: Antonia Hylton, Darnell Moore, Jimmy Shelton
Producers: Antonia Hylton, Regina Delea, John Lagomarsino

“The Movement” is an original docuseries that explores the work of individuals fighting to reclaim and recover marginalized communities and spaces across America.

ABFF DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION

DADDY DON’T GO
Director: Emily Abt, Andrew Osborne
Writer: Emily Abt
Producers: Emily Abt, Keryn Thompson, Suzette Burton, Omar Epps, Malik Yoba

“Daddy Don’t Go” explores the crisis of fatherlessness in America, documenting two years in the lives of four disadvantaged fathers in New York City as they fight to defy the odds against them. It provides compelling portraits of men who are unwavering in their commitment to parenthood despite the challenges they encounter.

JIM BROWN’S AMER-I-CAN DREAM
Director/Writer: Aurora Ferlin
Producers: Monique Brown, Aurora Ferlin, Keith Cardwell, Ronnie Barron
Cast: Jim Brown, Monique Brown, Ray Lewis, John Wooten, Rockhead Johnson, Ronnie Barron, Aqeela Sherrills, Julian Mendoza, Tonie Jackson, Anthony Blanks, Jacques White-Barron

NFL legend Jim Brown forges an unlikely coalition with former convicts and gang members to stop the deadly wave of violence on America’s streets.

OLYMPIC PRIDE, AMERICAN PREJUDICE
Director: Deborah Riley Draper
Writer: Deborah Riley Draper
Producer: Deborah Riley Draper
Executive Producer: Blair Underwood, Dr. Amy Tiemann, Michael Draper, Deborah Riley Draper
Cast: Isiah Thomas, Carl Lewis, Ambassador Andrew Young, Joanna Hayes, Dr. Tommie Smith, Anita DeFrantz

In 1936, when 18 African American athletes, dubbed the “black auxiliary” by Hitler, participated in the Berlin Olympic Games, defying Nazi Aryan supremacy and Jim Crow racism, history forgot all except one – Jesse Owens. This is the story of the other 17.

To purchase passes and tickets for events, panels and screenings at the American Black Film Festival, log on to www.ABFF.com.

Join the conversation on social media by logging on to ABFF’s multiple social media platforms:

Sponsors for the American Black Film Festival are HBO® (Founding and Presenting Sponsor), Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (Host and Presenting Sponsor), TV One, Cadillac, and McDonald’s (Presenting Sponsors); Apple, BET, Comcast NBCUniversal and Prudential (Platinum Sponsors); AARP, American Airlines, Coors Light, Kwesé Media, Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), Time Warner, and VH1 (Official Sponsors); Planned Parenthood of America, and TBS (Supporting Sponsor); 21st Century Fox, ABC, ASPiRE, Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Film & Entertainment, CAA, CNN Original Series, Fox Searchlight Pictures, Motion Picture Editors Guild, RLJ Entertainment, SAGIndie, Walter Kaitz Foundation (Industry Partners); Black Enterprise, Ebony Magazine, MIA Magazine, Upscale and TheYBF.com (Media Partners); and Blacknoir.com and The JDot Agency (Promotional Partners).

ABOUT ABFF:
The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) is an annual event dedicated to showcasing quality film and television content by and about people of African descent. The festival is committed to the belief that Black artists and content creators deserve the same opportunities as their mainstream counterparts. ABFF founder Jeff Friday, conceived the festival in 1997 as a vehicle to promote diversity in the motion picture industry, and strengthen the Black filmmaking community through resource sharing, education, artistic collaboration and career development. Today, the ABFF is recognized as the preeminent pipeline to new Black talent, both in front of and behind the camera, and is regarded as one of the leading film festivals in the world. The ABFF is a property of ABFF Ventures, LLC., which is a partnership between Film Life, Inc., and Black Enterprise.

CONTACT:
Strategic Heights Media
info@strategicheights.com
212-634-7176

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“Central Intelligence” Starring Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart, to Screen as Opening Night Film at the 20th American Black Film Festival on June 15, 2016 in Miami

ABFF FIRST LOOK CONVERSATIONS CONFIRMED WITH NATE PARKER, AJA NAOMI KING AND GABRIELLE UNION FOR “THE BIRTH OF A NATION” AND GABRIELLE UNION, DAVID E. TALBERT AND WILL PACKER FOR “ALMOST CHRISTMAS”

PRESENTED BY THE MOTION PICTURE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA, INC. (MPAA), WITH COURTESY FROM WARNER BROS. PICTURES, FOX SEARCHLIGHT PICTURES AND UNIVERSAL PICTURES

New York, New York (May 24, 2016) – The new action comedy Central Intelligence, from director Rawson Marshall Thurber (We’re the Millers, Dodgeball) will screen on opening night of the 20th American Black Film Festival on Wednesday, June 15, at the Olympia Theater, 174 East Flagler Street, Miami. The opening night film is presented by the Motion Picture Association of America, Inc. (MPAA), courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures, in advance of its nationwide release.

Starring Dwayne Johnson (San Andreas, Hercules, Furious 7) and Kevin Hart, (Ride Along, The Wedding Ringer, Get Hard), Central Intelligence follows a one-time bullied geek, Bob (Johnson), who grew up to be a lethal CIA agent, coming home for his high school reunion. Claiming to be on a top-secret case, Bob enlists the help of former “big man on campus,” Calvin (Hart), now an accountant who misses his glory days. But before the staid numbers-cruncher realizes what he’s getting into, it’s too late to get out, as his increasingly unpredictable new friend drags him through a world of shoot-outs, double-crosses and espionage that could get them both killed in more ways than Calvin can count.

A New Line Cinema and Universal Pictures presentation distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, Central Intelligence also stars Oscar-nominee Amy Ryan (Gone Baby Gone), Aaron Paul (TV’s Breaking Bad), and Danielle Nicolet (TV’s The Game, Born Again Virgin) and will open in theaters June 17.

“The MPAA is thrilled to sponsor the American Black Film Festival for the fourth year in a row and the Opening Night film for the second year. We are pleased to partner with one of our member studios, Warner Bros., to bring their new film, “Central Intelligence,” starring Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart, to the festival audience. I want to commend my good friend, Jeff Friday, and everyone at the American Black Film Festival for the amazing job they have done over the past 20 years. MPAA’s ongoing partnership with the ABFF underscores my belief that our industry is best served when we present a wide array of diverse stories,” said Senator Chris Dodd, Chairman and CEO of the Motion Picture Association of America.

ABFF FIRST LOOK is a new signature panel event at the ABFF, and will give festival attendees an inside look into two of the Fall’s most talked about films: The Birth of a Nation and Almost Christmas.

THE BIRTH OF A NATION, presented by MPAA, courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures, will include an enlightening conversation with The Birth of a Nation filmmaker and actor Nate Parker (Beyond the Lights, Red Tails), along with actress Aja Naomi King (How To Get Away with Murder) and actress Gabrielle Union (Being Mary Jane, Bad Boys II). They will showcase behind-the-scenes clips on the making of the film, as well as discuss the film’s incredible journey to date. The panel will take place on Friday, June 17 at 11:00 a.m. at the Ritz Carlton Miami.

Set against the antebellum South, THE BIRTH OF A NATION follows Nat Turner (Nate Parker), a literate slave and preacher, whose financially strained owner, Samuel Turner (Armie Hammer), accepts an offer to use Nat’s preaching to subdue unruly slaves. As he witnesses countless atrocities – against himself and his fellow slaves – Nat orchestrates an uprising in the hopes of leading his people to freedom. The film opens in theaters October 7.

Images: http://wdrv.it/1QiLQjL
Teaser Trailer: http://wdrv.it/1XzK2Zu
Hashtag: #TheBirthofaNation

“Senator Dodd and the MPAA team have been wonderful partners over the past four years and have proven their commitment to supporting diversity in the motion picture industry,” says ABFF Founder Jeff Friday. “We are excited about their expanded footprint at this year’s festival including hosting our opening night film and inaugural ABFF First Look panel series.”

THE MAKING OF ALMOST CHRISTMAS, sponsored by Comcast NBCU, courtesy of Universal Pictures, an MPAA studio, will bring the ABFF audience a first-look at Universal’s new comedy from writer/director/executive producer David E. Talbert (Baggage Claim) and producer Will Packer (Ride Along, Think Like a Man series, This Christmas). The all-star cast is led by Kimberly Elise, Danny Glover, John Michael Higgins, Romany Malco, Mo’Nique, JB Smoove, Gabrielle Union, Omar Epps, Nicole Ari Parker, Jessie Usher and DC Young Fly.

Almost Christmas tells the festive story of a beloved patriarch who asks his family for one gift this holiday season: to get along. If they can honor that wish and spend five days under the same roof without killing one another, it will be a Christmas miracle.

Talbert, Packer and Union (who also executive produces the comedy) will participate in a panel discussion for festivalgoers about the making of Almost Christmas on Friday, June 17 at 2:00 p.m. at the Ritz Carlton Miami. The panel will be moderated by Buzzfeed Pop Culture Editor, Sylvia Obell.

Almost Christmas arrives in theaters on November 11.

Images: http://wdrv.it/1QiLQjL
Teaser Trailer: Watch
Hashtag: #AlmostChristmas

To purchase passes, tickets for events, panels and screenings at the American Black Film Festival, log on to www.ABFF.com.

Join the conversation on social media by logging on to ABFF’s multiple social media platforms:?

Sponsors for the American Black Film Festival are HBO® (Founding and Presenting Sponsor), Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (Host and Presenting Sponsor), TV One, Cadillac, and McDonald’s (Presenting Sponsors); BET, Comcast NBCUniversal and Prudential (Platinum Sponsors); AARP, American Airlines, Coors Light, Kwesé Media, Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), Time Warner, and VH1 (Official Sponsors); TBS (Supporting Sponsor); 21st Century Fox, ASPiRE, Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Film & Entertainment, CNN, Fox Searchlight Pictures, RLJ Entertainment, SAGIndie, Walter Kaitz Foundation (Industry Partners); Black Enterprise, Ebony Magazine, MIA Magazine, Upscale and TheYBF.com (Media Partners); and Blacknoir.com (Promotional Partner).

ABOUT ABFF:
The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) is an annual event dedicated to showcasing quality film and television content by and about people of African descent. The festival is committed to the belief that Black artists and content creators deserve the same opportunities as their mainstream counterparts. ABFF founder Jeff Friday, conceived the festival in 1997 as a vehicle to promote diversity in the motion picture industry, and strengthen the Black filmmaking community through resource sharing, education, artistic collaboration and career development. Today, the ABFF is recognized as the preeminent pipeline to new Black talent, both in front of and behind the camera, and is regarded as one of the leading film festivals in the world. The ABFF is a property of ABFF Ventures, LLC., which is a partnership between Film Life, Inc. and Black Enterprise.

ABOUT MPAA:
The Motion Picture Association of America Inc. (MPAA) serves as the voice and advocate of the American motion picture, home video and television industries from its offices in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. Its members include: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures; Paramount Pictures Corporation; Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc.; Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation; Universal City Studios LLC; and Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

CONTACT:
Strategic Heights Media
info@strategicheights.com
212-634-7176

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The American Black Film Festival to Launch “ABFF Creators Summit”

A one-day intensive program for diverse emerging content creators hosted by Creative Artists Agency

New York, New York (April 25, 2016) – In Fall 2016, the American Black Film Festival (ABFF) will unveil the “ABFF Creators Summit” in Los Angeles, CA. Hosted by Creative Artists Agency (CAA), the one-day summit for a select group of writers, producers and directors will include award-winning filmmakers from the 2016 American Black Film Festival. The goal of this intensive program is to provide diverse storytellers valuable insights into the process of pitching and developing film, television and web-based projects. Attendees will also be connected with studio and network executives, agents and industry experts, who will help foster their career and will provide them with advice and knowledge about the entertainment industry.

“Programs like this are vital to broadening the perspectives of storytelling, where artists are schooled on how to prepare for real business opportunities and given access points otherwise extremely difficult to come by. We can’t thank CAA enough for hosting the ABFF and valuing diverse voices,” said Melanie Sharee, Programming Director at ABFF.

The “ABFF Creators Summit” is by invitation only. Participants will be selected from filmmakers whose projects have previously premiered at the ABFF.

“CAA has long been committed to fostering the development of the next generation of diverse storytellers,” said Ryan Tarpley, Head of Diversity, CAA. “We are proud to work with the ABFF to help create opportunities for emerging filmmakers to tell stories that are reflective of the world in which we live.”

For more information about the American Black Film Festival, log on to www.ABFF.com.

ABOUT ABFF:
The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) is an annual event dedicated to bringing awareness of quality entertainment content made by and about people of African descent to a worldwide audience. Committed to the belief that Black artists deserve the same opportunities as their mainstream counterparts, ABFF founder Jeff Friday conceived the festival in 1997 as a vehicle to encourage diversity in the film and television industry. Today, the ABFF is widely recognized for supporting emerging talent, both in front of and behind the camera, and is regarded as one of the leading film festivals in the world. This year the ABFF will celebrate its 20th anniversary June 15-19 in Miami Beach, Florida.

ABOUT CREATIVE ARTISTS AGENCY (CAA):
Leading entertainment and sports agency Creative Artists Agency (CAA) represents many of the most successful and innovative professionals working in film, television, music, video games, theatre, fashion, and digital content, and provides a range of strategic marketing and consulting services to corporate clients. CAA is also a leader in sports, representing more than 1,000 of the world’s top athletes in football, baseball, basketball, hockey, soccer, tennis, and golf, and works in the areas of broadcast rights, corporate marketing initiatives, licensing, and sports properties for sales and sponsorship opportunities.

CONTACT:
Strategic Heights Media
info@strategicheights.com
212-634-7176

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The American Black Film Festival Continues to Expand its List of Talent Discovery Programs in Partnership with HBO®, Comcast NBCUniversal, TV One and McDonald’s

FESTIVAL CONTINUES ITS COMMITMENT TO DISCOVERING AND NURTURING TALENT IN FRONT OF AND BEHIND THE CAMERA

THE ABFF RETURNS TO MIAMI FOR ITS 20THYEAR CELEBRATION, JUNE 15 – 19, 2016

New York, New York (March 15, 2016) – Helmed the largest gathering of African American film and television enthusiasts, The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) prides itself on creating unique opportunities and partnerships, as well as working to diversify Hollywood. Since its inception in 1997, the ABFF has partnered with HBO®, Comcast NBCUniversal, TV One and McDonald’s to develop talent discovery programs for up-and-coming actors, comedians, filmmakers and television hosts. These platforms provide exposure for tomorrow’s rising stars and leaders in entertainment.

“The American Black Film Festival’s Talent Discovery Programs introduce dynamic content creators and artists to a broader audience. These programs are a rich mine for discovering new talent, and offer career springboards outside of the traditional film platform and entertainment industry,” says Melanie Sharee, ABFF Programming Director.

Comcast NBCUniversal will partner with ABFF for two talent competitions at the festival this year. The Star Project searches to find the next fresh face for film and television. This highly successful competition has discovered Hollywood’s “next big star,” such as 2011 winner Emayatzy Corinealdi (Miles Ahead, Roots, Middle of Nowhere). If you are an actor ready to compete for the opportunity to audition in front of judges who are executives and casting directors from NBC, this is the competition for you. Submission and deadline info: https://www.abff.com/miami/star-project/.

Returning to the festival is Comcast NBCUniversal’s Television Hosting Workshop designed to help emerging TV hosts sharpen their skills and identify dynamic personalities ready for on-air opportunities. Submission and deadline info: https://www.abff.com/miami/nbcu-tv-hosting-workshop/.

ABFF’s 4th annual Comedy Wings Competition, sponsored by HBO®, is a national search to identify outstanding comedic talent — people who demonstrate a natural ability to be funny. The Comedy Wings Competition has been created to showcase talented yet undiscovered comedians and introduce them to the industry at large. Zainab Johnson is a Comedy Wings alum, who has appeared on television comedy shows, tours and film and was a finalist on Last Comic Standing.

Up to ten semi-finalists will be selected from the 2016 pool of competition entries, to perform at a renowned Los Angeles comedy club in May, to secure a position as a finalist. The four finalists will be flown to the 2016 ABFF in June to perform before a panel of judges, and one winner will be chosen. Submission and deadline information: https://www.abff.com/miami/comedy-wings/.

The HBO® Short Film Competition is regarded as one of the country’s most prestigious short film screening series. Each year, five filmmakers (writers and/or directors of African descent) are selected to screen their film at the American Black Film Festival in Miami, where one winner will be selected to receive the HBO® Short Film Award and cash prize of $10,000. Previous winners of this competition include Director Ryan Coogler (Creed, Fruitvale Station, Black Panther), who won this competition in 2011 for his short film, Fig and Director Stephen Caple, Jr. (The Land, Class) won the competition in 2015 for his short film, A Different Tree. Submission and deadline information: https://www.abff.com/miami/submissions/shorts/.

The McDonald’s Video Competition offers an exciting opportunity for aspiring filmmakers and challenges them to create a 90-second video based on the concept of McDonald’s 365Black mantra, “Deeply Rooted in Your Community.” Three finalists will be selected to attend the ABFF and screen their video before the festival audience, where one winner will be selected. In addition, finalists will attend a private “Mentor Luncheon” with director Malcolm D. Lee (The Best Man, Barbershop, The Best Man Holiday). Submission and deadline info: https://www.abff.com/miami/mcdonalds-video-competition/.

TV One’s 2nd annual Screenplay Competition will highlight three new writers who will receive an all- expense paid trip to the ABFF, where each finalist will get to direct a scene from their script. Each script will be performed by professional actors in front of a live audience at TV One’s “Celebrity Scene Stealers” event during the ABFF. The 2015 TV One Screenplay Competition winner Kiki McKnight, will premiere her film Deadbeat Dad Rehab at this year’s festival. This film centers around four men who are in denial of their poor parenting skills and attend a rehab for deadbeat dads that uses unusual methods to help them become true fathers and real men. Submission and deadline info: https://www.abff.com/miami/tv-one-screenplay-competition/.

Sponsors are HBO® (Founding and Presenting Sponsor), GMCVB (Host and Presenting Sponsor), TV One, Cadillac, and McDonald’s (Presenting Sponsors); Comcast NBCUniversal and Prudential (Platinum Sponsors); American Airlines (Official Sponsor); Motion Picture Association of America (Supporting Sponsor); and Black Enterprise, Ebony Magazine and MIA Magazine (Media Partner). To purchase passes, tickets and/or book hotel rooms for the 2016 American Black Film Festival, go to www.ABFF.com.

About The American Black Film Festival
The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) is an annual event dedicated to showcasing quality film and television content by and about people of African descent. The festival is committed to the belief that Black artists and content creators deserve the same opportunities as their mainstream counterparts. ABFF founder Jeff Friday, conceived the festival in 1997 as a vehicle to promote diversity in the motion picture industry, and strengthen the Black filmmaking community through resource sharing, education, artistic collaboration and career development. Today, the ABFF is recognized as the preeminent pipeline to new Black talent, both in front of and behind the camera, and is regarded as one of the leading film festivals in the world. The ABFF is a property of ABFF Ventures, LLC., which is a partnership between Film Life, Inc. and Black Enterprise.

Join the conversation on social media by logging on to ABFF’s multiple social media platforms:

CONTACT:
Strategic Heights Media
info@strategicheights.com
212-634-7176

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McDonald’s and American Black Film Festival Return with National Video Competition for Rising Filmmakers

Barbershop: The Next Cut film director, Malcolm D. Lee, to mentor finalists

OAK BROOK, Ill. (Feb. 15, 2016) – Back for its second year, McDonald’s USA and the American Black Film Festival invite emerging filmmakers to enter McDonald’s “My Community” Video Competition. Filmmakers are challenged to create one 90-second video that illustrates McDonald’s 365Black mantra, “Deeply Rooted in Your Community.” Aspiring filmmakers nationwide are encouraged to enter their best, original submissions by 11:59 p.m. EDT April 15, 2016, for their chance to win the grand prize. Three finalists will be selected to attend the 20th annual American Black Film Festival in Miami, June 15 – 19 and have an exclusive opportunity to be mentored by critically-acclaimed film director Malcolm D. Lee (The Best Man; The Best Man Holiday; Barbershop: The Next Cut), who will provide finalists with invaluable film industry tips and advice.

The submissions will be judged by a panel of industry experts and the top three short videos will premiere at the highly-anticipated 20th anniversary festival. Submissions will be critiqued on creativity, implementation of concept and quality. One finalist will take home the grand prize — a film equipment package valued at $2,500 and an opportunity to have their video featured on prominent websites, including McDonald’s 365Black.com and other media entities. More information about the competition can be found at www.abff.com.

“We are proud to partner with McDonald’s on bringing this opportunity to emerging content creators. Without a doubt, this competition is a catalyst for introducing undiscovered talent to the industry-at-large,” said Jeff Friday, ABFF founder and CEO.

“I look forward to returning as mentor to the finalists in the McDonald’s ‘My Community’ Video Competition,” said Malcolm D. Lee. “There is so much great talent out there in the film industry and it’s always inspiring to connect with them and hopefully do my part to support the next generation of great filmmakers.”

Furthering their relationship with filmmakers, McDonald’s is also working with writer/director/producer Reginald Hudlin (House Party; Boomerang), who will star in an All Day Breakfast commercial airing this month.

McDonald’s 365Black mantra, Deeply Rooted in Your Community, will inspire what the brand does in 2016, extending to this video competition. By focusing on ‘my community’, the campaign provides an opportunity to showcase various communities and allow consumers to celebrate the communities that they are part of. Not confined to just the neighborhood in which they live, ‘my community’ includes shared passions, hobbies, interests, churches and social organizations.

“This partnership with ABFF allows us to affect meaningful and impactful change in the communities we serve and be a catalyst in cultivating stories from African American communities nationwide through these aspiring filmmakers,” said Marty Gillis, Chairman, McDonald’s African American Consumer Marketing Committee. “We are looking forward to the creativity that will come out of this competition and hope that it sparks inspiration and excitement in the film industry.”

Last year’s winner, Richard T. Fields, won the competition with his short video “Puppy Love.” The ‘My Community’ Video Competition and ABFF’s vision to promote diversity in the film and television industry align with McDonald’s 365Black platform — an initiative that celebrates the pride, heritage and achievements of African-Americans year round. McDonald’s encourages those interested in the competition to follow @365Black on Twitter and join the conversation using #365BlackFilm. To learn more about the 365Black initiative, visit www.365Black.com.

To learn more about the American Black Film Festival and the ‘My Community’ Video Competition, visit www.abff.com. Follow @ABFF on Twitter and @AmericanBlackFilmFestival on Instagram and join the conversation using #ABFF20.

About McDonald’s
McDonald’s USA, LLC, serves a variety of menu options made with quality ingredients to more than 27 million customers every day. Nearly 90 percent of McDonald’s 14,000 U.S. restaurants are independently owned and operated by businessmen and women. Customers can now log online for free at approximately 11,500 participating Wi-Fi enabled McDonald’s U.S. restaurants. For more information, visit www.mcdonalds.com, or follow us on Twitter @McDonalds and Facebook www.facebook.com/mcdonalds. To learn more about the 365Black initiative, visit www.365Black.com and follow @365Black on Twitter.

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About The American Black Film Festival
The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) is a four-day event dedicated to showcasing quality film and television content by and about people of African descent. Annually held during the month of June, the ABFF is committed to the belief that Black artists and content creators deserve the same opportunities as their mainstream counterparts. ABFF founder Jeff Friday, conceived the festival in 1997 as a vehicle to promote diversity in the motion picture industry. Today, the festival is widely recognized for showcasing established and new Black talent, both in front of and behind the camera, and is regarded as one of the leading film festivals in the world. The ABFF is produced by Film Life, Inc. and Black Enterprise.

McDonald’s and 365Black are trademarks of McDonald’s Corporation and its affiliates.
© 2016 McDonald’s

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Kristen Wells, McDonald’s USA
[email protected]
(630) 623-2901

Chevonne Nash, Burrell Communications
[email protected]
(312) 297-9857

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BET Networks Partners with the American Black Film Festival to produce the 2016 ABFF Awards: A Celebration of Hollywood Premiering Tuesday, February 23rd at 8pm ET/PT

DON CHEADLE, REGINA KING AND RYAN COOGLER JOIN DIAHANN CARROLL AND WILL PACKER AS HONOREES FOR AN EVENING CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE IN ENTERTAINMENT

Los Angeles, CA – (February 8, 2016) Today, ABFF Ventures and BET Networks announced their partnership to produce the “ABFF Awards: A Celebration of Hollywood,” hosted by actor and comedian Mike Epps and premiering on BET and Centric Tuesday, February 23rd at 8 p.m. ET/PT. The Awards celebrates Black culture and recognizes individuals, movies and television shows of the past year that have had a significant impact on American entertainment, as well as the people who have been proponents in championing diversity and inclusion in Hollywood. This year’s event will be taped on Sunday, February 21st at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles.

In addition to recognizing the top television shows and films of the year, the “ABFF Awards: Celebration of Hollywood” will pay tribute to film legends along with today’s creative forces, who together inspire the filmmakers and entrepreneurs of tomorrow. Iconic actress Diahann Carroll will be presented with the Hollywood Legacy Award, and television and film producer Will Packer will receive the Distinguished ABFF Alumni Award at the 2016 ABFF Awards: A Celebration of Hollywood.

Joining our illustrious list of honorees, we are excited to reveal the Excellence in the Arts Award (male and female), to Actors/Directors Don Cheadle and Regina King. Our Rising Star Award honoree is Director Ryan Coogler.

“Twenty years ago, I created the American Black Film Festival to spotlight the rich diversity of talent and achievement. It was born out of my love for film and desire to ensure that Black people gained opportunity and equity in every arena of Hollywood. I am truly honored to partner with BET to showcase the work of our most talented artists.” – Jeff Friday, ABFF Founder and CEO

“It’s clear that there’s a need for this show. BET is very excited to partner with Jeff and ABFF to present A Celebration of Hollywood. We will unabashedly acknowledge performances and achievements of African-Americans on screen from this past year and give special honor and recognition to artists that have thrilled us during their highly-acclaimed careers. 2015 was ripe with tremendous and inspiring performances by African-Americans and we are beyond thrilled to be the ones to recognize them with class and admiration.” – Stephen Hill, President of Programming, BET Networks

With a resume that’s as varied and expansive as it is rich in depth of the characters he brings to life, Academy Award nominee Don Cheadle is, without question, one of the most highly sought after and premier actors of his generation. Turning in consistently powerful performances, Don has not only taken on challenging roles, but put his talents into producing projects he believes in as well.

Don currently stars as ‘Marty Kaan’ on the critically acclaimed Showtime series House of Lies. House of Lies has earned multiple nominations for the series and Don himself, including four Emmy Nominations, a Golden Globe® Award and two additional Golden Globe® nominations and a SAG Award nomination. Recently Don directed his first feature film, Miles Ahead, which he also co-wrote and produced. Don also stars in the film, based on the life of legendary jazz artist, Miles Davis, along with Ewan McGregor.

Don is well known for his passionate performances on stage and screen, stemming from his breakout performance opposite Denzel Washington in with Devil in A Blue Dress, where he was named Best Supporting Actor by the Los Angeles Film Critics. In 2012 Cheadle garnered critical acclaim for his role in Robert Zemeckis’ Flight. Additional film credits include Talk To Me; the 2006 Oscar® winning Best Picture, Crash, which Cheadle also produced; Hotel Rwanda, for which his performance garnered Academy Award®, Golden Globe®, Broadcast Film Critics Award and Screen Actors Guild® Award nominations for Best Actor; Ocean’s Eleven, Ocean’s Twelve and Ocean’s Thirteen, Boogie Nights, Bulworth, Swordfish, Mission To Mars, Rosewood, for which Cheadle earned an NAACP Image Award nomination.

Regina King’s distinguished talents have not gone unnoticed by Hollywood. She has recently been seen in recurring roles on CBS’s hit show The Big Bang Theory, Showtime’s critically acclaimed series Shameless and FX’s thriller The Strain. The skilled actress wrapped the fifth and final season of TNT’s drama Southland in 2013. In addition to directing episodic television for ABC’s Scandal and BET’s Being Mary Jane, King also helmed the teleplay adaptation of the best-selling book, Let the Church Say Amen, for BET Networks. Regina is currently a series regular on two critically-hailed television dramas including HBO’s “The Leftovers,” as well as the John Ridley ABC anthology American Crime, which has garnered her very first Emmy Award Nomination, as well as her first Golden Globe Nomination for “Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television.” Regina also starred opposite Sandra Bullock in the comedy Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous, as well as voiceovers for the animated film, Ant Bully and the hit television show, The Boondocks. Her appearance in the Oscar-nominated film Ray, opposite Jamie Foxx, garnered King critically-acclaimed praise, as well as her role as Cuba Gooding Jr.’s wife Marci, in the blockbuster film, Jerry Maguire.

Regina made her television debut on the hit sitcom “227.” After five seasons, King made the leap to the silver screen with a role in John Singleton’s powerful directorial debut, Boys N the Hood. She would soon collaborate with Singleton again in Poetic Justice and Higher Learning. This committed actress has always been consistent in showing her dynamic range, bouncing effortlessly from dramatic material to comedic performances, like in the hit film Friday with Ice Cube and in A Thin Line Between Love and Hate, opposite Martin Lawrence.

American Black Film Festival alum Ryan Coogler, was born in Oakland, CA and always harbored a talent for storytelling. Ryan discovered his own passion for filmmaking as a college freshman, and began shooting shorts with his teammates and friends. After being admitted into the USC School of Cinematic Arts, he went on to create his award winning shorts Locks, Fig and Gap. After receiving his M.F.A., he began to work as a juvenile hall counselor before creating a short film which won the HBO Short Film Competition at the American Black Film Festival in 2011 and then directed his first feature film, Fruitvale Station, which debuted at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival. Ryan has received much success with his recent feature, Creed, and has recently been tapped to direct Marvel Comics’ Black Panther.

“The ABFF Awards: A Celebration of Hollywood,” presented by the American Black Film Festival and BET Networks, will be one of the highlights of the Hollywood Awards season and Black History Month. The event is an ABFF Ventures production and is executive produced by show creator Jeff Friday, Debra Lee, Stephen Hill, Jesse Collins, Suzanne de Passe and Connie Orlando. Sponsors are Cadillac (Presenting Sponsor), Hilton Worldwide, Moet Hennessy, and Prudential Inc. (Gold Sponsors), and Morgan Stanley and Verizon (Silver Sponsors).

For more information on the American Black Film Festival and the ABFF Awards: A Celebration of Hollywood, go to www.ABFF.com, www.ABFF.com/ABFFAwards, www.BET.com and BET.com/ACelebrationOfHollywood.

Join the conversation on social media by logging on to ABFF and BET’s multiple social media platforms:

  • On Twitter by using hashtag: #BETCelebratesHollywood; follow us @BET and @ABFF
  • On Facebook by liking the fan page at facebook.com/BET and at facebook.com/American-Black-Film-Festival
  • On Instagram by liking the fan page at Instagram.com/BET and Instagram.com/AmericanBlackFilmFestival

ABOUT THE ABFF
The American Black Film Festival (ABFF), founded in 1997, is an annual event dedicated to showcasing quality film and television content by and about people of African descent. The festival is committed to the belief that Black artists and content creators deserve the same opportunities as their mainstream counterparts. ABFF founder Jeff Friday, conceived the festival in 1997 as a vehicle to promote diversity in the motion picture industry, and strengthen the Black filmmaking community through resource sharing, education, artistic collaboration and career development. Today, the ABFF is recognized as the preeminent pipeline to new Black talent, both in front of and behind the camera, and is regarded as one of the leading film festivals in the world. The ABFF is a property of ABFF Ventures LLC., which is a partnership between Film Life, Inc. and Black Enterprise. Celebrating its 20th year, the 2016 ABFF will take place June 15-19, 2016 in Miami, Florida.

ABOUT BET NETWORKS
BET Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), is the nation’s leading provider of quality entertainment, music, news and public affairs television programming for the African-American audience. The primary BET channel reaches more than 90 million households and can be seen in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom and sub-Saharan Africa. BET is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of business extensions: BET.com, a leading Internet destination for Black entertainment, music, culture, and news; Centric, the first network dedicated to Black women; BET Digital Networks – BET Soul, BET Jams and BETGospel, attractive alternatives for cutting-edge entertainment tastes; BET Home Entertainment, a collection of BET-branded offerings for the home environment including DVDs and video-on-demand; BET Event Productions, a full-scale event management and production company with festivals and live events spanning the globe; BET Mobile, which provides ringtones, games and video content for wireless devices; and BET International, which operates BET in the United Kingdom and oversees the extension of BET network programming for global distribution.

CONTACTS

For ABFF Ventures:
Strategic Heights Media
Michelle Huff Elliott; Simone Smalls
[email protected]
212-634-7176

For BET Networks:
Sonia Koo
[email protected]
310-481-3732

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ABFF HONORS Announces its “Television Show of the Year” and “Film of the Year” Nominees

Inaugural Awards Gala to honor Diahann Carroll, Will Packer and more for their excellence in entertainment on Sunday, February 21, in Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA – (January 20, 2016) Today, the American Black Film Festival (ABFF) announced the 2016 ABFF Honors’ television and film nominees. ABFF Honors is an annual gala saluting excellence in motion pictures and television. Its mission is to celebrate Black culture by recognizing individuals, movies and television shows that have had a significant impact on American entertainment, as well as those who are proponents of championing diversity and inclusion in Hollywood. Actor and comedian Mike Epps will host this year’s ceremony on February 21 at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles.

The winners of both the television and film categories will be determined by the 2016 ABFF Honors Awards Jury, a blue ribbon panel of actors, filmmakers, film critics and entertainment diversity executives. To qualify for nominations, a film must feature a lead actor of African descent and have had a U.S. theatrical release in 2015. Television nominees must feature a lead actor of African descent or be created by a person of African descent. The show must also have had a U.S. season premiere in 2015.

This year’s “Film of the Year” nominees addressed many current political, social and economic issues. Included are two biopics: one about hip-hop’s most revolutionary rap group, and the other about a doctor who challenged the NFL. Two nominees take us on the journey through the eyes of a child: one into the life of a child soldier, while the other follows a student from being a geek to being dope. Another contender stepped into the ring to give us a reboot of the “Rocky” franchise. Our final nominee pushed the envelope in a satire, which focused on the violence in Chicago based on an ancient Greek comedy. Our nominees for “Film of the Year” are:

BEASTS OF NO NATION (Netflix)
CHI-RAQ (Amazon Studios, Roadside Attractions)
CONCUSSION (Sony Pictures Entertainment)
CREED (Warner Bros. Entertainment)
DOPE (Open Road Films)
STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON (Universal Pictures)

Many television shows over the past year have had us glued to our screens. There are five that topped our list to receive the “Television Show of the Year” honor. Four had us tuned in weekly to see what will happen next in the lives of the Lyons and Johnson families, as well as asking ourselves “Will Mary Jane ever find true love?” and “Will Ghost continue to live a double life?” Our final nominee gives new definition to “innocent until proven guilty.” The nominees for “Television Show of the Year” are:

BEING MARY JANE (BET)
black-ish (ABC)
EMPIRE (FOX)
HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER (ABC)
POWER (STARZ)

“I have always believed that the Black artists in Hollywood would be more empowered if they were more committed to supporting one another, attending celebrations of their culture and relied less on mainstream validation of their work. I hope that the success of ABFF Honors will change things,” said Jeff Friday, President and CEO, ABFF Ventures and Creator of ABFF Honors.

In addition to recognizing the top television shows and films of the year, ABFF Honors will pay tribute to film legends, along with today’s creative forces, who together inspire the filmmakers and entrepreneurs of tomorrow. Iconic actress Diahann Carroll will be presented with the Hollywood Legacy Award, and television and film producer Will Packer will receive the Distinguished ABFF Alumni Award at the 2016 ABFF Honors. The Excellence in the Arts Award and Rising Star Award honorees will be announced in the coming weeks.

ABFF Honors will be one of the highlights of the Hollywood Awards season and Black History Month. The event is produced by ABFF Ventures (a partnership between Film Life and Black Enterprise) in association with de Passe Jones Entertainment. The 2016 ABFF Honors sponsors are Cadillac and BET Networks (Presenting Sponsors), Prudential Inc. and Moet Hennessy (Gold Sponsors) and Hilton Worldwide and Morgan Stanley (Corporate Sponsor).

For more on sponsorship opportunities and media credentials, log on to www.abffhonors.com.

Also, follow us on our social media platforms:
Twitter: http://twitter.com/abff
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/American-Black-Film-Festival/47321635722
Instagram: http://www.Instagram.com/AmericanBlackFilmFestival
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/ABFFTV/featured
Hashtags: #ABFFHonors; #ABFF20

ABOUT THE ABFF
The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) is an annual event dedicated to bringing awareness of quality entertainment content made by and about people of African descent to a worldwide audience. Committed to the belief that Black artists deserve the same opportunities as their mainstream counterparts, ABFF founder Jeff Friday conceived the festival in 1997 as a vehicle to encourage diversity in the film and television industry. Today, it is widely recognized for supporting emerging talent, both in front of and behind the camera, and is regarded as one of the leading film festivals in the world. This year the ABFF will celebrate its 20th anniversary June 15-19 in Miami Beach, Florida.

For more information about the festival, visit www.ABFF.com.

Strategic Heights Media
Michelle Huff Elliott; Simone Smalls
[email protected]
212-634-7176