The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) Develops an Array of Talent Pipeline Programs in Partnership with HBO®, Comcast NBCUniversal, Turner and TV One

FESTIVAL EXTENDS ITS LEGACY OF SUPPORTING TALENT IN FRONT OF AND BEHIND THE CAMERA

THE 22nd ANNUAL ABFF RETURNS TO MIAMI JUNE 13 – 17, 2018

New York, New York (December 20, 2017) – The 22nd annual American Black Film Festival (ABFF) returns to Miami from June 13-17, 2018. ABFF has a rich history of prestigious talent pipeline programs designed to identify, showcase and introduce talented artists, including directors, actors, writers and other content creators to the industry at large. These unique programs are partnered with major entertainment media companies such as HBO, Comcast NBCUniversal, Turner, TV One and more and provide industry awareness and cash prizes, along with career-enhancing opportunities within mainstream Hollywood.

Born from ABFF founder Jeff Friday’s conviction that Black artists deserve the same opportunities as their mainstream counterparts, the talent pipeline programs act as a valuable conduit between Hollywood and emerging talent including Ryan Coogler (Black Panther, Fruitvale Station, Creed), Stephen Caple, Jr. (The Land, Creed 2), Clement Virgo (Greenleaf), Omari Hardwick (Power, Being Mary Jane), Emayatze Corinealdi (Roots, Miles Ahead, Ballers), Keronda Kiki McKnight (Bad Dad Rehab), Ben Watkins (Hand of God) and Saladin K. Patterson (The Big Bang Theory) are among the festival’s beneficiaries of these unique opportunities.

Comcast NBCUniversal is partnering once again with the American Black Film Festival on the NBCUniversal Hosting Workshop, which is designed to help emerging TV hosts sharpen their skills, and identify dynamic personalities ready for on-air opportunities.

Approximately twenty five (25) candidates are selected to participate in a three day workshop. Two promising hosts are selected to attend the festival and gain hands-on experience conducting red-carpet interviews live from the 2018 American Black Film Festival in Miami.

The 6th annual ABFF Comedy Wings Competition, sponsored by HBO, is a national search to identify people with a natural ability to be funny and have the chops to become outstanding comedic talent. The ABFF Comedy Wings Competition was created to showcase talented, yet undiscovered comedians and introduce them to the industry at large.

Semi-finalists are selected from the pool of entries to perform at a renowned Los Angeles comedy club and prove themselves funny enough to secure a position as a finalist. Up to five finalists will be flown to the 2018 ABFF in June to perform before a panel of esteemed judges, where one will be crowned the winner and receive a $5,000 cash prize along with the opportunity to meet with an HBO comedy executive.

Now in its 21st year, the HBO Short Film Competition is regarded as one of the most prestigious short film showcases in the country. Each year five filmmakers (writers and/or directors of African descent) are selected as finalists to receive a trip to the ABFF in Miami, FL (inclusive of airfare and hotel accommodations) to screen their film during the festival. One of the five films is selected at the festival to receive the HBO® Short Film Award and a cash prize of $10,000.

Turner Broadcasting has partnered with ABFF for a second year, seeking new writing talent through the ABFF Turner TV Writing Contest. Two winners are selected in the genres of Comedy and Drama, with each winner will receiving a cash prize and the opportunity to meet with the original programming development teams at Turner’s TBS and TNT Networks.

The ever-popular TV One Screenplay Competition searches for a feature film writer with a contemporary story, focused on the American black cultural experience that has wide audience appeal. TV One selects three (3) finalists to attend the ABFF in Miami (inclusive of airfare and hotel accommodations). One winner is selected and announced at the ABFF Awards Presentation during the festival. The winner will receive a $5,000 cash prize and will have an opportunity for their film to be produced and air on TV One, the following year.

For complete submission details and to review all eligibility requirements for the ABFF Talent Pipeline Programs go to https://www.abff.com/miami/talent-pipeline-platforms/.

Festival passes are on sale now at www.ABFF.com, offering three different levels of access to festival events. Questions regarding registration should be directed to [email protected].

ABFF SOCIAL MEDIA:

Sponsors of the 2018 American Black Film Festival are HBO® (Founding and Presenting Sponsor); Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (Host and Presenting Sponsor); TV One (Presenting Sponsor); Comcast NBCUniversal (Presenting Sponsor); Turner (Premier Sponsor); American Airlines (Official Sponsor) and Walter Kaitz Foundation (Industry Partner).

To apply for media credentials, please go to https://www.abff.com/miami/media/media-credentials/.

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. For more than two decades, the ABFF has been the standard-bearer of excellence in independent Black cinema, having premiered the works and supported the careers of many of today’s most successful artists, including Ryan Coogler (Black Panther), Anthony Anderson (Blackish), Will Packer (Girls Trip), Issa Rae (Insecure), Omari Hardwick (Power) and Raoul Peck (I Am Not Your Negro). Today, it is the preeminent pipeline for Black talent, in front of and behind the camera, significantly expanding the range of talent in the entertainment industry at large. The ABFF is a property of ABFF Ventures LLC, a multifaceted entertainment company specializing in the production of live events, television and digital content, targeted to upscale African American audiences. The company is a joint venture between Film Life Inc. and Black Enterprise, two prominent media and event companies, each with legacies of showcasing the best of African American culture and achievement.

PRESS CONTACT:

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

,

The 22nd Annual American Black Film Festival (ABFF) Announces the 2018 Master Class Line Up with Industry Veteran Glendon Palmer and Casting Director Kimberly Hardin

Confirmed Workshops include Nailing Your Audition and Financing Independent Films

New York, New York (December 12, 2017) – The 22nd Annual American Black Film Festival (ABFF) is thrilled to announce the 2018 line up for its highly anticipated Master Class series, taking place in Miami, Florida June 13-17. The master classes are intense workshops designed to help emerging artists hone the craft of filmmaking in various disciplines. The classes will be led by two of the industry’s top experts including Glendon Palmer, SVP of Development and Production at Global Road Entertainment and casting director, Kimberly Hardin.

Glendon Palmer will lead the “Master Class: Film Financing” session, which will instruct indie filmmakers on the task of getting their dramatic and/or documentary feature films financed. This class will provide insider perspectives and frank advice on what it takes to get indie pictures made, as well as how ever-changing technologies, distribution windows, alternative financing opportunities, and working with other countries, impact the financing process. Palmer is the Executive Producer of the films Southside with You, Jumping the Broom and Fifty Shades of Black.

Casting director Kimberly Hardin will teach the “Master Class: Nailing Your Audition” session, which will focus on preparation, how to audition and how to own the room. Hardin’s casting credits includes Cadillac Records, Think Like a Man and Snowfall. Her workshop will demonstrate a comprehensive pragmatic approach to gaining employment, understanding pay rates/contracts, mastering one line and “under-five” auditions, and maintaining a positive attitude, while navigating the business.

Master class tickets are sold separately from the festival passes. They are currently available for purchase at https://www.abff.com/miami/master-classes/.

Festival passes are on sale now at www.ABFF.com, offering three different levels of access to festival events. Questions regarding registration should be directed to [email protected].

ABFF SOCIAL MEDIA:

Sponsors of the 2018 American Black Film Festival are HBO® (Founding and Presenting Sponsor); Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (Host and Presenting Sponsor); Comcast NBCUniversal (Presenting Sponsor); Turner (Premier Sponsor); American Airlines (Official Sponsor) and Walter Kaitz Foundation (Industry Partner).

To apply for media credentials, please go to https://www.abff.com/miami/media/media-credentials/.

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. For more than two decades, the ABFF has been the standard-bearer of excellence in independent Black cinema, having premiered the works and supported the careers of many of today’s most successful artists, including Ryan Coogler (Black Panther), Anthony Anderson (Blackish), Will Packer (Girls Trip), Issa Rae (Insecure), Omari Hardwick (Power) and Raoul Peck (I Am Not Your Negro). Today, it is the preeminent pipeline for Black talent, in front of and behind the camera, significantly expanding the range of talent in the entertainment industry at large. The ABFF is a property of ABFF Ventures LLC, a multifaceted entertainment company specializing in the production of live events, television and digital content, targeted to upscale African American audiences. The company is a joint venture between Film Life Inc. and Black Enterprise, two prominent media and event companies, each with legacies of showcasing the best of African American culture and achievement.

PRESS CONTACT:

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

,

The 2018 American Black Film Festival Honors Announces Nominees for Movie and Television Shows (Drama & Comedy) of the Year

Actor & Comedian Cedric the Entertainer to Host the Annual Event

Show Returns to Los Angeles Sunday, February 25, 2018

#ABFFHonors

New York, NY (December 6, 2017) – Today, ABFF Ventures announced the 2018 ABFF Honors television and movie nominees. The show will return to the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 25, with actor and comedian Cedric the Entertainer as host.

The awards show celebrates individuals of African descent who have made distinguished contributions to American culture through their work, and salutes the year’s best movies and television shows. ABFF Honors was created by American Black Film Festival founder Jeff Friday, to promote camaraderie and a spirit of mutual appreciation among multicultural artists in Hollywood.

This year’s “Movie of the Year” nominees touch on historical figures and subject matters, social and economic issues and women’s empowerment, mixed with a girl’s adventure. Included, is a biopic about Thurgood Marshall and one of his greatest challenges he faced while working as a lawyer for the NAACP; another nominee is an American horror film, which follows an interracial couple and the series of increasingly disturbing discoveries each character faces. Our next nominee takes us on a wild all-girls adventure to New Orleans, during Essence Festival, and along the way they rekindle their sisterhood and rediscover their wild side. Our final nominee highlights two families battling the prejudice of the Jim Crow South and how their lives collide in a dramatic way.

Nominees for “Movie of the Year” are:

  • DETROIT (Annapurna)
  • GET OUT (Universal Pictures)
  • GIRLS TRIP (Universal Pictures)
  • MARSHALL (Open Road Films)
  • MUDBOUND (Netflix)

The “Television Show of the Year” (Drama) nominees are powerful, smart, loyal and authentic. From a powerful criminal attorney who tests everyone’s limits and reveal dark truths, to a night club owner leading a double life as a drug kingpin and an inside look into the world at Georgia A&M, where the newly elected president has her hands full managing personal and professional scandal and drama, to a family struggling to gain a sense of cultural identity, a complicated story of three siblings who inherited a sugarcane farm and finally we take a journey to 1983 for a history lesson on the crack cocaine epidemic in Los Angeles – television over the past year has been captivating, genuine and provocative.

Nominees for “Television Show of the Year” (Drama) are:

  • HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER (ABC)
  • POWER (STARZ)
  • THE QUAD (BET)
  • QUEEN SUGAR (OWN)
  • SNOWFALL (FX)

The “Television Show of the Year” (Comedy) nominees made us laugh every night, while pushing the envelope on subjects of sex, crime, race and politics. From an awkward Black girl who navigates the racy tribulations of modern-day love and friendships and a man who questions cultural assimilation for his family, who lives in an upper-class neighborhood, to five diverse, hardworking manicurists who try to make ends meet in an unstable economy in Central, Florida and a film adaptation, which follows a group of students of color at Winchester University who are faced with a landscape of cultural bias, to a show whose main character struggles to define herself and divide her time amongst her friends, job and her three lovers. Television comedies took risks and entertained us all season.

Nominees for “Television Show of the Year” (Comedy) are:

  • BLACK-ish (ABC)
  • CLAWS (TNT)
  • DEAR WHITE PEOPLE (Netflix)
  • INSECURE (HBO)
  • SHE’S GOTTA HAVE IT (Netflix)

The winners of all three categories will be determined by the 2018 ABFF Honors Awards Committee, comprised of films critics and entertainment editors who vote for the nominees and winner in each competitive award category. In addition to the jury vote, the general public is invited to vote for their favorite television show and movie, online, via www.ABFFHonors.com, from December 20, 2017 through January 22, 2018.

To qualify for “Movie of the Year,” narrative feature films must have been directed by and/or feature a lead actor of African descent and have had a U.S. theatrical release, or broadcast premiere on a cable television or streaming platform during the 2017 calendar year.

To qualify for “Television Show of the Year,” the scripted television series (comedy or drama) must be created by and/or feature a lead actor of African descent and have had a U.S. television premiere on broadcast, basic or premium cable, digital delivery and pay-per-view cable or pay-per-view digital delivery, during the 2017 calendar year. For full details on the 2018 ABFF Honors eligibility and consideration rules, visit www.ABFFHonors.com.

This year, The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) Honors is proud to present legendary actor, singer and writer Billy Dee Williams with the “Hollywood Legacy Award;” actor Omari Hardwick with the “Distinguished ABFF Alumni Award;” actress and comedian Tiffany Haddish with the “Rising Star Award” and director Ava DuVernay with the “Industry Visionary Award.”

The 2018 honorees will join an illustrious list of past ABFF Honors celebrants, including actors Denzel Washington, Regina King, Don Cheadle, Diahann Carroll, Queen Latifah, Issa Rae, Terrence Howard and filmmakers and producers Ryan Coogler, F. Gary Gray and Will Packer.

The event is executive produced by ABFF Ventures founder Jeff Friday and presented in association with de Passe Jones Entertainment.

For media inquiries, apply for media credentials and additional information about the 2018 ABFF Honors, please log on to www.ABFFHonors.com.

Also, follow us on our social media platforms:

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. 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. For more than two decades, the ABFF has been the standard-bearer of excellence in independent Black cinema, having premiered the works and supported the careers of many of today’s most successful artists, including Ryan Coogler (Black Panther), Anthony Anderson (Blackish), Will Packer (Girls Trip), Issa Rae (Insecure), Omari Hardwick (Power) and Raoul Peck (I Am Not Your Negro). Today, it is the preeminent pipeline for Black talent, in front of and behind the camera, significantly expanding the range of talent in the entertainment industry at large. The ABFF is a property of ABFF Ventures LLC, a multifaceted entertainment company specializing in the production of live events, television and digital content, targeted to upscale African American audiences. The company is a joint venture between Film Life Inc. and Black Enterprise, two prominent media and event companies, each with legacies of showcasing the best of African American culture and achievement.

PRESS CONTACTS:
Michelle Huff Elliott
Strategic Heights Media
michelle@strategicheights.com
212-634-7176

,

Billy Dee Williams, Tiffany Haddish and Omari Hardwick Confirmed as Honorees at the 2018 American Black Film Festival Honors

Actor & Comedian Cedric the Entertainer to Host the Annual Event

Show Returns to Los Angeles Sunday, February 25, 2018

#ABFFHonors

New York, NY (November 29, 2017) – The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) Honors is proud to present legendary actor, singer and writer Billy Dee Williams with the “Hollywood Legacy Award;” actor Omari Hardwick with the “Distinguished ABFF Alumni Award;” and actress and comedian Tiffany Haddish with the “Rising Star Award” at the 2018 ABFF Honors. The awards gala will take place on February 25, 2018 at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles.

The awards show celebrates individuals of African descent who have made distinguished contributions to American culture through their work, and salutes the year’s best movies and television shows. ABFF Honors was created by American Black Film Festival founder Jeff Friday, to promote camaraderie and a spirit of mutual appreciation among multicultural artists in Hollywood. Actor and comedian Cedric The Entertainer will host the annual event.

The “Hollywood Legacy Award” is presented to a renowned artist whose trailblazing work and groundbreaking achievements, over at least four decades, have inspired generations and made an enduring contribution to film and television. Billy Dee Williams embodies the true spirit of an industry icon and will be the recipient of this year’s award.

Williams has continued to break barriers in Hollywood and distinguish himself as a talented and driven actor, who has been fearless in pursuing acting jobs and has served as a role model for actors of color. As a veteran actor for the past 50 years, his extraordinary resume of work in film and television include Brian Song, Mahogany and Lady Sings the Blues, which have all become classics in Black cinema.

In the 80’s, George Lucas tapped him to play the scoundrel, Lando Calrissian, in “The Empire Strikes Back,” which he reprised in “The Return of the Jedi.” He also played the district attorney, Harvey Dent, in 1989’s, “Batman.” These roles opened a distinct lane for black actors to pursue roles in science fiction films.

He was duly smooth and charming as a love interest for Diahann Carroll on ABC’s, “Dynasty” and also won strong praise for his portrayal of Motown founder Berry Gordy in the ABC miniseries, “The Jacksons: An American Dream.”

Each year, the ABFF Honors “Distinguished ABFF Alumni Award” is given to an alumnus of the American Black Film Festival, in recognition of their career achievement since their debut at the festival. Omari Hardwick has been a continued advocate of the festival and its mission. He was the first host of “ABFF Independent,” a show which highlighted independent films presented at ABFF festivals throughout the years, and airs on Aspire TV. As an actor, musician and poet, his breakout role in the hit Starz series, Power, has catapulted him to superstar status. Past television and film roles include Tyler Perry’s For Colored Girls (2010), and BET Network’s Being Mary Jane. Hardwick has been a part of the ABFF family for many years and ABFF Honors is proud to applaud him for his significant accomplishments in entertainment.

Tiffany Haddish is quickly establishing herself as one of the most sought-after comedic talents in television and film. Haddish starred in Universal’s hit summer movie, Girls Trip, alongside Jada Pinkett Smith, Queen Latifah and Regina Hall. She will next be seen starring with Tracy Morgan in the new TBS show, The Last O.G and just wrapped production on Universal’s, Night School, with co-star Kevin Hart. Recently, Haddish broke barriers and became the first black female stand-up comedian to host SNL. Upcoming projects she is currently developing include, Limited Partners for Paramount, and The Temp, for Universal, which she will executive produce and star in both.

Haddish’s journey to success has been inspirational to many and ABFF Honors is thrilled to salute her with the “Rising Star Award,” at this year’s ceremony, in acknowledgement of her recent success and future promise.

Award-winning director and producer, Ava DuVernay, will round out our honorary awards for the evening and will receive the “Industry Visionary Award.” This award is presented to a pioneering artist in acknowledgment of their outstanding accomplishments in the motion picture and television industry.

Our 2018 honorees will join an illustrious list of past ABFF Honors celebrants, including actors Denzel Washington, Regina King, Don Cheadle, Diahann Carroll, Queen Latifah, Issa Rae, Terrence Howard and filmmakers and producers Ryan Coogler, F. Gary Gray and Will Packer.

The many high-profile presenters and guests have included Viola Davis, Kerry Washington, Robert Downey Jr., Jamie Foxx, Ice Cube, Cecily Tyson, Lee Daniels, Anthony Anderson, Regina Hall, Taye Diggs, Octavia Spencer, KeKe Palmer, Nia Long, Morris Chestnut, Omari Hardwick and Pharrell Williams, among others.

The event is an elegant and spirited awards dinner, with a presentation of competitive awards and special honors in the following categories: Movie of the Year Award, Television Show of the Year Award (in the categories of Drama and Comedy), Hollywood Legacy Award, Industry Visionary Award, Distinguished ABFF Alumni Award and the Rising Star Award.

In just two years, ABFF Honors has become one of the most talked about Hollywood events, attracting top-tier talent and press coverage in mainstream and African American media outlets including LA Times, Essence, Variety, Deadline, Extra, and The Associated Press. The show had its broadcast premiere on BET Networks.

The event is executive produced by ABFF Ventures founder Jeff Friday and Suzanne de Passe for de Passe Entertainment.

For media inquiries, apply for media credentials and additional information about the 2018 ABFF Honors, please log on to www.ABFFHonors.com.

Also, follow us on our social media platforms:

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. 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. For more than two decades, the ABFF has been the standard-bearer of excellence in independent Black cinema, having premiered the works and supported the careers of many of today’s most successful artists, including Ryan Coogler (Black Panther), Anthony Anderson (Blackish), Will Packer (Girls Trip), Issa Rae (Insecure), Omari Hardwick (Power) and Raoul Peck (I Am Not Your Negro). Today, it is the preeminent pipeline for Black talent, in front of and behind the camera, significantly expanding the range of talent in the entertainment industry at large. The ABFF is a property of ABFF Ventures LLC, a multifaceted entertainment company specializing in the production of live events, television and digital content, targeted to upscale African American audiences. The company is a joint venture between Film Life Inc. and Black Enterprise, two prominent media and event companies, each with legacies of showcasing the best of African American culture and achievement.

PRESS CONTACTS:
Michelle Huff Elliott
Strategic Heights Media
michelle@strategicheights.com
212-634-7176

,

Film Submissions Now Open for the 2018 American Black Film Festival

FILM COMPETITION PRIZE MONEY TOPS $100K FOR THE FIRST TIME

New York, New York (November 28, 2017) – The 22nd annual American Black Film Festival (ABFF) returns to Miami from June 13-17, 2018 and continues to showcase quality film and television content by and about people of African descent. ABFF founder Jeff Friday, created the festival in 1997 as a means to channel diverse talent directly into Hollywood, inspired by the belief that Black artists and content creators deserve the same opportunities as their mainstream counterparts. HBO® is the founding sponsor of the festival.

Film submissions are open and, for the first time in the festival’s history, the cash prizes awarded across the four competitive film categories will top $100,000, affording the winning filmmakers the opportunity to continue creating content.

Festival attendees will have their choice of over seventy programs and events, including celebrity conversations, panels, master classes, spotlight screenings and laser talks, in addition to screenings in four competitive categories: Narrative Features, Documentary Features, Web Series and Short Films. A distinguished panel of jurors, who will be announced, at a later date will determine the winners. Actor Jay Ellis will serve as the 2018 ABFF Celebrity Ambassador.

Below is the list of awards for each category. For complete submission criteria and eligibility visit www.abff.com/submissions.

Narrative Features:

  • Best Director (Jury Award)| $25,000 cash award
  • Best Film (Jury award)| $12,500 cash award
  • Audience Award for Best Film| $12,500 cash award

Documentaries:

  • Best Documentary Feature (Jury Award)| $10,000 cash award

Short Films:

  • HBO® Short Film Award| $30,000 total cash awards

Web Series:

  • Best Web Series (Jury Award)| $10,000 cash award

ABFF remains committed to introducing emerging content creators of African descent to the industry at large and is recognized as one of the leading film festivals in the world. Festival passes are on sale now at www.abff.com, and offer three different levels of access to festival events. Questions regarding registration may be directed to [email protected].

ABFF SOCIAL MEDIA:

Sponsors of the 2018 American Black Film Festival are HBO® (Founding and Presenting Sponsor); Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (Host and Presenting Sponsor); Comcast NBCUniversal (Presenting Sponsor); Turner (Premier Sponsor) and Walter Kaitz Foundation (Industry 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. For more than two decades, the ABFF has been the standard-bearer of excellence in independent Black cinema, having premiered the works and supported the careers of many of today’s most successful artists, including Ryan Coogler (Black Panther), Anthony Anderson (Blackish), Will Packer (Girls Trip), Issa Rae (Insecure), Omari Hardwick (Power) and Raoul Peck (I Am Not Your Negro). Today, it is the preeminent pipeline for Black talent, in front of and behind the camera, significantly expanding the range of talent in the entertainment industry at large. The ABFF is a property of ABFF Ventures LLC, a multifaceted entertainment company specializing in the production of live events, television and film focused on African American culture.

PRESS CONTACT:

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

,

Director Ava Duvernay to Receive the Industry Visionary Award at the 2018 American Black Film Festival Honors

Actor and Comedian Cedric The Entertainer To Host Annual Ceremony

Show Returns to Los Angeles Sunday, February 25, 2018

#ABFFHonors

Los Angeles, CA (November 14, 2017) – Today, ABFF Ventures announced the American Black Film Festival (ABFF) Honors will return to the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 25, with actor and comedian Cedric the Entertainer as host. The awards show celebrates individuals of African descent who have made distinguished contributions to American culture through their work, and salutes the year’s best movies and television shows. ABFF Honors was created by American Black Film Festival founder Jeff Friday, to promote camaraderie and a spirit of mutual appreciation among multicultural artists in Hollywood.

The charismatic Cedric the Entertainer, will bring his energy and talent to the awards stage as host for the evening. Cedric’s career has spanned more than 30 years and he is best known for his crowd-pleasing performances in hit films & television shows such as “Barbershop;” “Be Cool” with John Travolta; “Intolerable Cruelty” with George Clooney; the top-ranking “Madagascar” animated franchise; “Johnson Family Vacation;” “The Original Kings of Comedy,” MTV’S mega-successful documentary feature, directed by Spike Lee; the long-running top-ranked WB sitcom, “The Steve Harvey Show” and his own hit comedy series, “The Soul Man” on TV Land.

Currently, Cedric can be seen in “The Comedy Get Down,” a clever mockumentary TV series, with co-stars George Lopez, DL Hughley, Eddie Griffin, and the late Charlie Murphy on BET Networks.

In addition to recognizing the top television shows and films of the year, the show will honor pioneering artists who have made outstanding accomplishments in the motion picture and television industry. Director and producer Ava DuVernay is a fearless director and storyteller, who has continued to create awareness and opportunities through her art and ABFF Honors is proud to present her with the 2018 ABFF Honors Industry Visionary Award.

Winner of four Emmys, the Peabody Award and the BAFTA for Best Documentary, Ava DuVernay’s Academy Award nominated “13th” was one of the most critically-acclaimed films of 2016. Previously, DuVernay directed the award-winning historical drama, “Selma,” which garnered four Golden Globe nominations and two Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture. Her current directorial work includes the ratings sensation “Queen Sugar” and the upcoming Disney fantasy epic, “A Wrinkle in Time.”

In 2017, she was named one of Fortune Magazine’s 50 Greatest World Leaders. A graduate of UCLA, DuVernay is the founder of ARRAY, a grassroots distribution and advocacy collective dedicated to the amplification of films by people of color and women, which was named one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies.

Ava DuVernay will join an illustrious list of past ABFF Honors celebrants, including actors Denzel Washington, Regina King, Don Cheadle, Diahann Carroll, Queen Latifah, Issa Rae, Terrence Howard and filmmakers and producers Ryan Coogler, F. Gary Gray and Will Packer.

“I am thrilled to honor Ava DuVernay. She is the embodiment of the importance of inclusion in Hollywood and deserves recognition as a creative force, as well as a forward-thinking leader in our industry. I’m equally excited to have the incomparable Cedric the Entertainer at the helm of what will be an enlightening and entertaining show,” says Jeff Friday, ABFF Ventures CEO.

The many high-profile presenters and guests have included Viola Davis, Kerry Washington, Robert Downey Jr., Jamie Foxx, Ice Cube, Cecily Tyson, Lee Daniels, Anthony Anderson, Regina Hall, Taye Diggs, Octavia Spencer, KeKe Palmer, Nia Long, Morris Chestnut, Omari Hardwick and Pharrell Williams, among others.

The event is an elegant and spirited awards dinner, with a presentation of competitive awards and special honors in the following categories: Movie of the Year Award, Television Show of the Year Award (Drama & Comedy), Hollywood Legacy Award, Excellence in the Arts Award, Entertainment Icon Award, Industry Visionary Award, Distinguished ABFF Alumni Award and the Rising Star Award.

In just two years, ABFF Honors has become one of the most talked about Hollywood events, attracting top-tier talent and press coverage in mainstream and African American media outlets including, LA Times, Essence, Variety, Deadline, Extra, and The Associated Press. The show had its broadcast premiere on BET Networks.

The event is executive produced by ABFF Ventures founder Jeff Friday and Suzanne de Passe for de Passe Entertainment.

For more information about the 2018 ABFF Honors, log on to www.ABFFHonors.com. Also, follow us on our social media platforms:

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. 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. For more than two decades, the ABFF has been the standard-bearer of excellence in independent Black cinema, having premiered the works and supported the careers of many of today’s most successful artists, including Ryan Coogler (Black Panther), Anthony Anderson (Blackish), Will Packer (Girls Trip), Issa Rae (Insecure), Omari Hardwick (Power) and Raoul Peck (I Am Not Your Negro). Today, it is the preeminent pipeline for Black talent, in front of and behind the camera, significantly expanding the range of talent in the entertainment industry at large. The ABFF is a property of ABFF Ventures LLC, a multifaceted entertainment company specializing in the production of live events, television and digital content, targeted to upscale African American audiences. The company is a joint venture between Film Life Inc. and Black Enterprise, two prominent media and event companies, each with legacies of showcasing the best of African American culture and achievement.

PRESS CONTACTS:
Michelle Huff Elliott
Strategic Heights Media
michelle@strategicheights.com
212-634-7176

,

Creators Summit, Films, Conversations, Panels and Red Carpet Events Made the 2017 American Black Film Festival the Most Memorable Year Ever

Miami, FL (June 18, 2017) – The 2017 American Black Film Festival was held in Miami this past week from June 14-18. More than 7,000 attendees flooded the streets of Miami Beach and attended an array of screenings, celebrity conversations, panels and special events to celebrate the festival’s 21st year.

Hollywood’s elite such as Regina Hall, Terrance Howard, John Singleton, Issa Rae, Kofi Sirobe, Lance Gross, NeYo, Boris Kodjoe and more walked red carpets, participated on panels and attended events throughout the five days.

Other highlights from the week included:

  • ABFF Announced Partnership with Lightbox to create diversity in Documentary Filmmaking. For more information, go to www.ABFFVentures.com/Films.
  • OWN premiered “Queen Sugar” Season 2, episode 1 with the entire cast present
  • HBO Celebrated 20 Year Partnership with ABFF and the 20th anniversary of the HBO Short Film Competition
  • HBO premiered its new docuseries, The Defiant Ones, along with the season 2 premiere of “Insecure,” followed by a discussion with the cast to ABFF
  • FX brought the cast and director John Singleton to ABFF to premiere first episode of “Snowfall”
  • Universal Pictures and MPAA premiered “Girl’s Trip” at ABFF as the Opening Night film
  • ABFF welcomed first time ABFF sponsors: Google, A+E Networks, Comcast Spotlight, FX, Hilton, Shea Moisture, OWN, and Verizon
  • Cast of FOX’s “Star” performed at ABFF Filmmakers Awards Presentation
  • In 21 years of ABFF, I can truly say that this year we received an overwhelming amount of support from the studios, networks and our corporate partners. The programming was rich in content and it was so uplifting to see Black writers, directors, showrunners and actors, with major credits able to showcase their work with the full support of the associated studio or network. It is a very optimistic time to be a content creator, said Jeff Friday, ABFF Founder.

On the last day of the festival, we take time to celebrate all the 2017 filmmakers during the awards presentation. Here are our 2017 American Black Film Festival Winners:

2017 ABFF WINNERS LIST

2017 HBO SHORT FILM AWARD, presented by HBO (Prize: $10,000)
“Amelia’s Closet” written and directed by Halima Lucas

2017 STAR PROJECT WINNER, presented by NBC (Prize: $1,000 grant and casting meetings)
Duain Richmond

2017 TV ONE SCREENPLAY COMPETITION WINNER (Prize: $5,000 and a production deal)
“Down for Whatever” – a drama written by Tim Folsome

2017 TURNER TV WRITING CONTEST WINNERS, presented by Turner (Prize: $500 and executive meetings)
Darrin Dortch “Short Changed” (Comedy)
Derege Harding “Fulfillment” (Drama)

2017 BEST WEB ORIGINAL WINNER, presented by Comcast Xfinity (Prize: $2,500)
“Brooklyn.Blue.Sky”
created by Rhavynn Drummer and Dui Jarrod

2017 GRAND JURY AWARD BEST NARRATIVE FEATURE, presented by Prudential (Prize: $5,000)
“Ambition’s Debt”
directed by Devin E. Haqq

2017 GRAND JURY AWARD BEST DIRECTOR, presented by Cadillac (Prize: $25,000)
Eden Marryshow
“Bruce”

2017 COMEDY WINGS WINNER, presented by HBO (Prize: $5,000)
TuRae

NBC TV HOSTING WORKSHOP WINNERS, presented by NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment (Prize: Red Carpet hosting opportunities and meetings with talent executives from NBC, E! and Bravo)
Andrea Laing
Megan Thomas

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

Sponsors for the 2017 American Black Film Festival are HBO® (Founding and Presenting Sponsor); Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (Host and Presenting Sponsor); TV One, Cadillac, Comcast NBCUniversal (Presenting Sponsors);Prudential Financial, Turner, BET (Premier Sponsors); American Airlines, ASPiRE, Codeblack Films, Comcast Spotlight, Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), Hilton, Shea Moisture, Verizon (Official Sponsors); and A+E Networks, Facebook, FX Networks, Google, Laugh Out Loud!, McDonald’s, Miami Beach Visitors and Convention Authority, Planned Parenthood of America, OWN, and Time Warner (Supporting Sponsors); AIDS Health Foundation, Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Film & Entertainment, Creative Artists Agency (CAA), Fox Searchlight Pictures, JARO Media Services, Lightbox, Motion Picture Editors Guild, SAGIndie, Streampix, Urban Movie Channel-UMC, Walter Kaitz Foundation (Industry 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. 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.

PRESS CONTACT:

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

,

The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) and Lightbox Announce Partnership to Foster Diversity in Documentary Filmmaking

Films to be developed and produced by Lightbox and the newly formed ABFF Films division and executive produced by ABFF CEO Jeff Friday and Lightbox co-founders Simon Chinn and Jonathan Chinn

Partnership to begin with an initiative to fund development of feature documentaries, sponsored by 21st Century Fox and National Geographic

New York, New York (June 9, 2017) – Today, The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) and Lightbox, a multi-platform media company focused on creating high quality non-fiction programming for film, television and digital platforms, announced they will collaborate on a new initiative to foster diversity in the feature documentary arena.

This multiyear program will leverage Lightbox’s success in producing award-winning and commercially successful documentaries with the ABFF’s unparalleled pipeline and record of accomplishment for identifying many of the industry’s most promising Black filmmakers.

To jumpstart this initiative, ABFF and Lightbox are announcing the ABFF’s inaugural Feature Documentary Competition and a national ‘call to action’ will be made the week leading up to the start of the 2017 American Black Film Festival, which runs June 14-18 in Miami Beach. The competition will be open to all African-American documentary filmmakers and any documentary filmmakers interested in exploring non-fiction stories and themes that speak directly to the African-American experience.

Selected films will be developed and produced by Lightbox and the newly formed ABFF Films division and executive produced by ABFF Ventures CEO Jeff Friday and Lightbox co-founders Simon Chinn and Jonathan Chinn. The first of the ABFF’s annual Feature Documentary Competition is being co-sponsored by National Geographic and 21st Century Fox, who will fully fund the development of the selected films.

Based in London and Los Angeles, Lightbox has produced several acclaimed documentaries that speak directly to the experience of people of color in America, including ESPN’s “Fantastic Lies” about the 2006 Duke Lacrosse scandal; National Geographic’s “LA 92” that marked the 25th anniversary of the civil unrest in Los Angeles following the verdicts in the Rodney King beating case; and company is currently in production on the only authorized documentary about the life and legacy of the late Whitney Houston.

“We are honored to be partnering with the ABFF to encourage further diversity in the documentary genre.” said Lightbox co-founders Jonathan Chinn and Simon Chinn. “The documentary community has a rich tradition of embracing creative voices from a wide array of demographics and perspectives, but there is clearly more work for us to do to support African-American and filmmakers from minority communities who want to express themselves through the powerful medium of documentary story telling.”

For the past 21 years, ABFF has been deemed as the nation’s most prominent film festival, which recognizes and provides a platform for African American filmmakers. This collaboration will help to elevate unique perspectives and vision in the documentary space.

“We’re so encouraged by the public’s growing appetite for documentary films and are excited to partner with Lightbox, National Geographic and 21st Century Fox Studios to provide this unprecedented opportunity,” says Jeff Friday, CEO of ABFF Ventures.

Details of the National Geographic/ 21st Century Fox sponsored competition and submission guidelines can be found at the ABFF’s website: www.ABFFVentures.com/films.

Details of the initiative will also be announced following a special screening of National Geographic and Lightbox’s feature documentary “LA 92” in Miami as part of the American Black Film Festival. The film, directed by Daniel Lindsay and TJ Martin, will screen on Friday June 16th at 1:45pm at The Miami Beach Cinematheque.

“As we expand our push into premium programming, and especially look for new projects to present under our National Geographic Documentary Films banner, I cannot think of a better opportunity to foster new talent and discover new voices with important stories to tell,” said Tim Pastore, President of Original Programming for National Geographic Channel. “The opportunity to join our parent company in partnering with Jonathan, Simon and the team at ABFF is incredibly exciting. I cannot wait to see what talent we discover.”

Jeff Friday and Lightbox are represented by Creative Artists Agency (CAA).

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

ABOUT LIGHTBOX:
Headquartered in London and Los Angeles, Lightbox is a multinational media company focused on creating high quality non-fiction programming for film, television and digital platforms. It was founded in 2014 by Academy Award and Emmy winning producers and cousins Simon Chinn and Jonathan Chinn. Simon and Jonathan’s partnership represents a seamless melding of two distinct but compatible backgrounds and a strongly shared creative sensibility. Since its founding in 2014, Lightbox has produced many notable projects including documentary films Atari: Game Over and The Thread, for Xbox Entertainment Studios; an ESPN 30 for 30 film about the 2006 Duke Lacrosse scandal entitled Fantastic Lies; as well as several series for both the UK and US markets such as The Traffickers for Fusion, Inside British Vogue for BBC, The Runner-Up for Esquire, War Child for Channel 4 and the groundbreaking Captive for Netflix. Lightbox recently released its first theatrical feature documentary LA 92, about the 1992 LA Riots for National Geographic’s Documentary Films Division, and is currently in production on the first and only authorized documentary about legendary pop icon Whitney Houston, which is slated to hit theatres in 2018. Prior to co-founding Lightbox, Simon Chinn became one of the world’s most successful feature documentary producers with two Academy Award-winning documentaries, Man on Wire and Searching for Sugar Man, to his credit. His other prior producing credits include Project Nim, The Imposter, The Green Prince, My Scientology Movie. Jonathan Chinn co-founded Lightbox on the heels of a successful career as one of the most respected non-fiction television showrunners in the US, winning an Emmy for American High (Fox/PBS) and the Television Academy’s prestigious Honors Award for 30 Days (FX), the latter of which went on to become FX’s highest rated unscripted series. Other producing credits include Kid Nation (CBS), Push Girls (Sundance) and Hotel Hell (FOX).

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.

ABOUT NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC PARTNERS, LLC:
National Geographic Partners LLC (NGP), a joint venture between National Geographic and 21st Century Fox, is committed to bringing the world premium science, adventure and exploration content across an unrivaled portfolio of media assets. NGP combines the global National Geographic television channels (National Geographic Channel, Nat Geo WILD, Nat Geo MUNDO, Nat Geo PEOPLE) with National Geographic’s media and consumer-oriented assets, including National Geographic magazines; National Geographic studios; related digital and social media platforms; books; maps; children’s media; and ancillary activities that include travel, global experiences and events, archival sales, licensing and e-commerce businesses. Furthering knowledge and understanding of our world has been the core purpose of National Geographic for 128 years, and now we are committed to going deeper, pushing boundaries, going further for our consumers … and reaching over 730 million people around the world in 171 countries and 45 languages every month as we do it. NGP returns 27 percent of our proceeds to the nonprofit National Geographic Society to fund work in the areas of science, exploration, conservation and education. For more information visit natgeotv.com or nationalgeographic.com, or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google+, YouTube, LinkedIn and Pinterest.

PRESS CONTACT:

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

,

The 2017 American Black Film Festival Announces Films in Competition and Documentary Lineup

Annual Festival Returns to Miami June 14-18

New York, New York (May 10, 2017) – Today, The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) announced their 2017 lineup of narrative features and short films in competition and documentaries that will showcase at the Olympia Theater, Colony Theatre, MB Cinematheque and Regal Cinemas in Miami Beach, Florida, June 14-18.

With an overwhelming number of submissions this year, the ABFF is excited to provide a platform for more than 50 films to screen their artistic works to 10,000 festivalgoers.

This year’s ABFF selection of narratives, shorts and documentaries showcase diverse content creators, exploring a broad range of topics including love, sex, education, race, self-identity, struggle, politics, relationships, crime and reflection.

“There’s never been a more exciting landscape for content creators. The opportunities for filmmakers of color have grown considerably and this year’s festival lineup reflects the breadth and scope of diverse storytellers that exist. We’re looking forward to showcasing the dynamic work of these talented artists,” says Jeff Friday, CEO of ABFF Ventures.

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

OPENING NIGHT FILM

GIRLS TRIP
Sponsored by the Motion Picture Association of America, Courtesy of Universal Pictures
Director/Producer: Malcolm D. Lee
Writer: Kenya Barris, Tracy Oliver, Erica Rivinoia
Producers: Will Packer, James Lopez, Preston Holmes
Cast: Regina Hall, Tiffany Haddish, Jada Pinkett Smith, Queen Latifah, Larenz Tate, Kate Walsh, Mike Colter and Kofi Siriboe

When four lifelong friends—Regina Hall (Think Like a Man, The Best Man Holiday), Tiffany Haddish (Keanu, A Christmas Wedding), with Jada Pinkett Smith (Gotham, Bad Moms) and Queen Latifah (Star, Bessie)—travel to New Orleans for the annual Essence Festival, sisterhoods are rekindled, wild sides are rediscovered, and there’s enough dancing, drinking, brawling and romancing to make the Big Easy blush.

CLOSING NIGHT FILM

ALL EYEZ ON ME
Presented by Lionsgate, Codeblack Films and Morgan Creek Productions
Director: Benny Boom
Writer: Jeremy Haft, Eddie Gonzalez, Steven Bagatourian
Producers: LT Hutton, David Robinson and James G. Robinson
Cast: Kat Graham, Lauren Cohan, Hill Harper, Jamal Woolard, Danai Gurira, Jamie Hector, Cory Hardrict, Demetrius Shipp, Jr.

All Eyez On Me tells the true and untold story of prolific rapper, actor, poet and activist Tupac Shakur. The film follows Shakur from his early days in New York City to his evolution into being one of the world’s most recognized and influential voices, before his untimely death at the age of 25. Against all odds, Shakur’s raw talent, powerful lyrics and revolutionary mind-set propelled him into becoming a cultural icon whose legacy continues to grow long after his passing.

NARRATIVE FEATURES (IN COMPETITION)

AMBITION’S DEBT
Director: Devin E. Haqq
Writer: William Shakespeare (adapted by Devin E. Haqq)
Producer: Josh Wick, Devin E. Haqq, Brandt Adams, George Lyon, Tony Grocki
Cast: Nathan Darrow, Peter McRobbie, Kathleen Chalfant, Billy Eugene Jones, Carra Patterson, Pernell Walker

Set against the backdrop of a post-apocalyptic world, the story follows the downfall of Rome’s most honored citizen, Marcus Brutus, as he conspires to assassinate Julius Caesar.

BRUCE!!!
Director: Eden Marryshow
Writer: Eden Marryshow, Jesse Marryshow
Exec Producer: Gene Pope, Sasha Lewis, and Eden Marryshow
Producer: Sasha Lewis, Cesa Pledger, and Eden Marryshow
Cast: Eden Marryshow, Jason Tottenham, Mlè Chester, Cesa Pledger

Bruce is an asshole. He’s shitty to everyone, until he falls hopelessly in love and is forced to grow the fuck up…in his thirties.

A HUNDRED BLOCKS
Director: Diaunte Thompson
Writer: Arthur Walls
Exec Producer: Marshawn Lynch
Producer: Arthur Walls, Michael Revolvalcke, Diaunte Thompson, Arthur Walls,Lathan Hodge
Cast: David A. Green, Robert D. Jordan, JaMaurae Birden, Tina Gilton

Jaleel finally has enough cash saved up to leave Oakland and avoid the violent fate of his father, along with so many of his peers. When a friend promises to triple those savings, Jaleel goes against his better judgment and says yes. The added money will let Jaleel realize his goal of opening a gym in the new town—a dream inspired by his father.

TRAFFIK
Writer and Director: Deon Taylor
Producer: Roxanne Avent, Paula Patton, Dean Taylor
Cast: Paula Patton, Omar Epps, Luke Gross, Laz Alonso

Journalist Brea and her boyfriend John are off for a romantic weekend in the mountains. On their way up the coast they stop in a small town and are accosted a group of men on motorcycles. Barely avoiding a fight, Brea and John continue on their trip, unaware that they have inadvertently come into possession of a cell phone…a cell phone that the bikers are desperate to retrieve. Now, alone in the mountains in an isolated rental home, Brea and John must defend themselves against the bikers who will stop at nothing to get the phone, destroy the evidence it holds and kill anyone who would tell their story.

The American Black Film Festival continues to provide a platform for aspiring creatives in film. The competitors in this category will compete for the Grand Jury Awards for Best Director, sponsored by Cadillac (Prize: $25,000) and Best Narrative Feature, sponsored by Prudential Financial (Prize: $5,000).

NARRATIVE FEATURES (WORLD SHOWCASE)

CREATED EQUAL
Director: Bill Duke
Writer: Ned Bowman, Michael Ricigliano Jr., Joyce Renee Lewis
Producer: Thada Catalon
Cast: Aaron Tveit, Edy Ganem, Lou Diamond Phillips, Gregory Alan Williams, Yohance Myles

Desperate to become a priest, a woman files suit against the Archdiocese of New Orleans for sex discrimination without justifiable cause.

GOOK
Writer and Director: Justin Chon
Producer: James Yi, Alex Chi
Cast: Simone Baker, Justin Chon, David So, Curtiss Cook Jr.,Omono Okojie, Sang Chon,Ben Munoz, Cesar Garcia, Isaiah Jarel, Kirlew Vilbon

Eli (Chon) and Daniel (So) are two Korean American brothers that run their late father’s shoe store in a predominantly African American community of Los Angeles. These two brothers strike up a unique and unlikely friendship with an 11-year-old African American girl, Kamilla (Baker). As Daniel dreams of becoming a recording artist and Eli struggles to keep the store afloat, racial tensions build to a breaking point in L.A. as the “infamous” L.A. Riots break out.

NOEM MY SKOLLIE: CALL ME THIEF
Director: Daryne Joshua
Writer: John W. Fredericks
Exec Producer: David Max Brown, Moshidi Motshegwa, Jan du Plessis
Producer: David Max Brown, Moshidi Motshegwa
Cast: Dann-Jaques Mouton, Gantane Kusch, Christian Bennett, Gershwin Mias,Austin Rose

The true story of a young “so-called coloured” man in 1960’s Cape Town who barters his status with the prison gangs by becoming a storyteller but soon after his release is arraigned for a murder he did not commit and faces the hangman’s noose. The film is based on the life story of the scriptwriter, John W. Fredericks and is set in Cape Town in the 1960’s.

LOVE BY CHANCE
Director: Samad Davis
Writer: Dani Renee, Samad Davis
Producer: Samad Davis, Ty Johnston, Dumi Gumbi, Cati Weinek
Cast: Altovise Lawrence, Atandwa Kani, Terri J. Vaughn, Clifton Powell, E. Roger Mitchell, Lil Zane, Carl Anthony Payne II, Desi Banks

Two aspiring actors from South Africa who are independently in America trying to crack into an extremely difficult and over saturated Hollywood industry, meet by chance. Between the everyday struggle of auditioning, dealing with daily rejection, self-doubt, financial hardship, crazy friends and a crazy dating scene, who has time for Love.

EXECUTOR
Director: Moziko Wind
Writer: Michael Marcelin screenplay adapted by Moziko Wind
Producer: Markiss McFadden
Cast: Markiss McFadden, Paul Sorvino, Mischa Barton, Robert Miano

Ruthless assassin Kyle (Markiss McFadden) was raised by corrupt priest, (Paul Sorvino) who trained him to murder under the guise of executing God’s justice.

HBO® SHORT FILM COMPETITION

Celebrating 20 years as an ABFF founder sponsor, HBO will continue its mission to support independent filmmakers. 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 Filmmaker Awards Presentation on June 17, 2017, 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.

AMELIA’S CLOSET
Writer and Director: Halima Lucas

Amelia steals items from her classmates in retaliation for being bullied. After she’s caught, her father gives her the tools to gain true empowerment.

GEMA
Writer and Director: Kenrick Prince

After an emotional day with her family, Gema Walker comes home to face meeting her fiancé’s parents for the first time. Upon discovering that her future in-laws plan to drop by their Brooklyn apartment before dinner, Gema is forced into an emotional confrontation when Sam admits that he’s still harboring a sensitive and potentially damaging truth from his parents.

PLAQUEMINES
Writer and Director: Nailah Jefferson

Trapped in the dwindling fishing town of Plaquemines, Ethan, an inquisitive boy, collects whatever he can find to feed his imagination and desire to break out into a world different from his own. His father, Reve, an out of work fishermen, holds stubbornly to his belief that fishing will soon return and that Ethan will follow in the family tradition. Reve’s tight grasp on the past cause a rift in the family and leave Ethan to seek escape however possible. As fishing conditions worsen and family bonds become strained, Ethan and Reve are forced to face the reality of their actions- taking both in different directions, just over the horizon.

SEE YOU YESTERDAY
Writers: Frederica Bailey and Stefon Bristol
Director: Stefon Bristol

Presented by Spike Lee, two Brooklyn teenage science prodigies build a time machine to stop one’s brother from being wrongfully killed by the police.

WE LOVE MOSES
Writer and Director: Dionne Edwards

Ella reflects on how her teenage obsession with her brother’s best friend Moses left her with a secret she still carries.

ABFF DOCUMENTARIES

BEHIND THE CURTAIN: ECLIPSED
Writer and Director: Collin Harris
Executive Producer: Ava L. Hall, Michael D. Armstrong
Producer: Collins Harris IV, Michaela Angela Davis, Stephen Byrd , Alia Jones-Harvey, Tamara Scurlock Briggs
Cast: Danai Gurira, Saycon Sengbloh, Liesl Tommy, Akosua Busia, Zainab Jah, Lupita Nyong’o, Stephen C. Byrd, Alia Jones-Harvey, Clint Ramos, Cookie Jordan

A multi-part documentary series chronicling the ascent and realization of Eclipsed; a Broadway play written, directed and acted by all women of African descent. Inspirational and sobering, the series documents the fearless women using art to combat social injustice and give voice to the voiceless. This series captures history in the making and the courageous women standing center stage.

MILWAUKEE 53206
Director: Keith McQuirter
Exec Producer: CarolAnne Dolan, Nick Stuart
Producer: Adam Miller, , Katie Taber
Cast: Beverly Walker, Chad Wilson, Dennis Walton, Muhibb Dyer

MILWAUKEE 53206 chronicles the lives of those affected by incarceration in America’s most incarcerated ZIP code. Through the intimate stories of three 53206 residents, we witness the high toll mass incarceration takes on individuals and families that make-up the community. The film not only examines Milwaukee’s ZIP code 53206, but also illuminates the story of people from across the United States who live with the daily effects of mass incarceration.

TELL THEM WE ARE RISING: The Story of Black Colleges and Universities
Director: Stanley Nelson
Writer: Marcia Smith
Producers: Cyndee Readdean, Stacey L. Holman, Marco Williams

A haven for Black intellectuals, artists and revolutionaries-and path of promise toward the American dream – Black colleges and universities have educated the architects of freedom movements and cultivated leaders in every field. They have been unapologetically Black for 150 years. For the first time ever, their story is told.

For a complete festival schedule and to purchase passes, tickets for events, panels and screenings at the American Black Film Festival, log on to https://www.abff.com/miami/festival-passes/.

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 (Presenting Sponsors); Comcast NBCUniversal, Prudential Financial, Turner, BET (Premier Sponsors); American Airlines, ASPiRE, Codeblack Films, Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), Sundial Brands, Verizon (Official Sponsors); and A+E Networks, McDonald’s, Miami Beach Visitor and Convention Authority (MBVCA), OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network, Planned Parenthood of America, and Time Warner (Supporting Sponsors); Motion Picture Editors Guild, SAGIndie, Streampix, UMC – Urban Movie Channel, and Walter Kaitz Foundation (Industry 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. 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.

PRESS CONTACT:

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

,

The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) Announce the Finalists in the 5th Annual Comedy Wings Competition

EMERGING COMEDIANS WILL COMPETE FOR THE TOP SPOT AT THE 2017 ABFF IN MIAMI ON FRIDAY, JUNE 16

New York, New York (April 21, 2017) – The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) announced today their selection of finalists who will compete at the 5th annual Comedy Wings Competition, presented by HBO, during the American Black Film Festival in Miami June 16th at The New World Center. Each finalist will also receive an all-expense paid trip to Miami and attend a meeting with HBO talent executives.

Last night, the semi-finalists fought for the five finalist spots at the Uptown Comedy Club in Atlanta, hosted by comedian and radio host Rodney Perry. They were judged by accomplished artists and industry executives, including “Def Comedy Jam” producer Bob Sumner; Owner & Chief Managing Partner of Winsome Sinclair & Associates, Winsome Sinclair; television executive and producer Rikki Hughes; Executive Producer at Bobbcat Film, Angi Bones; and television executive Tracey Tooks.

“The Comedy Wings Competition has been a dynamic partnership with HBO and has created a pathway to opportunities within the industry for emerging comedians. Over the past five years, we have discovered talented comedians whose careers have catapulted because of the competition,” says ABFF Ventures CEO, Jeff Friday.

“HBO has been proudly supporting the Comedy Wings Competition for the past 5 years,” said Dennis Williams, Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility, HBO. “We are thrilled to be able to open doors and provide opportunities to unique and groundbreaking comedic talent. We know that the comedians showcased here are well on their way to future success. “

Our aspiring finalists come from across the United States and backgrounds vary. See our complete list below:

Brandall Cole
Blowing in from the windy city, comedian, actor, director and producer B. Cole has spent the past decade molding himself as one of these generations’ greatest entertainers. Starting his career at a young age B. Cole has performed at clubs and colleges all over the United States. He made his television debut at the age of twenty on BET’s Comic View, hosted by D. L. Hughley. B. Cole reached a pinnacle when he was awarded his own one-hour Grandstand Special on BET’s Comic View. He was a founding member of The Second City’s first urban sketch comedian ensemble Forgotten City.

Cyrus Steele II
Cyrus Steele has been performing onstage for years as a Theater major, but fell in love with stand-up comedy soon after graduating from college. Growing up in the small town of Savannah, GA, there weren’t a lot of outlets for an aspiring comic. So in 2005, Cyrus moved to Atlanta in the hopes of finding a career in comedy. Since then, he has established himself as a hilarious force of nature and master impressionist, imitating everyone from Kevin Hart, to Barack Obama and even Donald Trump! Dedicated to giving his audience more than a show, Cyrus most recently won the title of “The South’s Funniest Accountant” at Marietta’s “Rev’d Up Comedy Showcase.”

Jason Weems
A native of Baltimore, Jason Weems is striving to become a comedic great. His very engaging and conversational style on stage, leaves audiences feeling like they’ve just finished talking to a close friend, and it simultaneously acts as free therapy for him. Jason has been seen at the most prestigious “By Invitation Only” comedy festival, The “Just For Laughs” festival in Montreal and recently added a featured semi-finalist credit to his name on the hit NBC series “Last Comic Standing.” In December 2010, he filmed his first hour comedy special entitled Jason Weems, Vol. 1: Intellectual Property in his hometown of Baltimore, Maryland, which has been released independently.

Shereen Kassam
She calls herself the, “Funny Brown Girl”, and that is exactly what she is. Much of Shereen’s comedy is focused on her relationship with her Muslim parents. She also draws on her dating experiences as an intelligent, beautiful woman, and has no problem spilling all. She is a regular host on iHeart Media’s “Monsters in the Morning” talk radio show.

TuRae Gordon
TuRae’s comedy career began in the 1990’s while attending Temple University. Encouraged by friends, he entered and won his first open mic competition at the famous Philadelphia Laff House. The club immediately named him house MC, providing the opportunity to develop his thoughtful and unique point of view. Drawing on his urban upbringing and experiences, he demonstrates an engaging and earnest style of comedy with broad appeal. In 2007, he traveled to London, England where he won the World Cup Comedy Clash at London’s Hackney Empire Theater. TuRae headlines clubs and colleges and has competed in and won a number of competitions including the Def Jam Comedy Competition and The WB’s, Comedy After Midnight.

The Comedy Wings Competition is one of several platforms innovated by the ABFF designed to uncover talent and introduce them to a broader audience. ABFF has always participated in the cultivation of Black talent and has provided a stage over the years for dynamic performers such as Kevin Hart, Cedric the Entertainer, Craig Robinson, Tommy Davidson and Bill Bellamy. To purchase passes, tickets for events, panels and screenings at the American Black Film Festival, log on to https://www.abff.com/miami/festival-passes/.

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 (Presenting Sponsors); Comcast NBCUniversal, Prudential Financial, Turner, BET (Premier Sponsors); American Airlines, ASPiRE, Codeblack Films, Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), Sundial Brands, Verizon (Official Sponsors); and Planned Parenthood of America, Time Warner and OWN (Supporting Sponsors); Motion Picture Editors Guild, SAGIndie, Streampix, Walter Kaitz Foundation (Industry 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. 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.

PRESS CONTACT:

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