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American Black Film Festival Honors Announces 2020 “Movie of the Year” Award Nominees

VIP Fan Experience Presented by American Airlines Offers Opportunity to Attend Gala

Los Angeles, CA (December 18, 2019) – The American Black Film Festival Honors, the preeminent awards event celebrating Black culture and artists who have made distinguished contributions to the entertainment industry either through their work or as champions of diversity and inclusion in Hollywood, today announced the nominees for the “Movie of the Year” award.

The ABFF Honors’ “Movie of the Year” award is a competitive award presented to the best feature length film of the year directed by and/or starring a lead actor or actress of African descent.

This year’s nominees are Black & Blue, directed by Deon Taylor, starring Academy Award-nominee Naomie Harris and Tyrese Gibson; Dolemite Is My Name, directed by Craig Brewer, starring Academy Award-nominated Eddie Murphy, Keegan-Michael Key, Mike Epps, Craig Robinson, Tituss Burgess, and Wesley Snipes; Harriet, directed by Kasi Lemmons and starring Golden Globe and SAG Award nominee Cynthia Erivo, who – as previously announced – is set to receive the 2020 ABFF Honors’ “Rising Star” Award, which has previously been presented to Tiffany Haddish (Kids Say the Darndest Things), Issa Rae (Insecure) and Ryan Coogler (Black Panther); Just Mercy, directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, starring Michael B. Jordan and Academy Award-winner Jamie Foxx; The Last Black Man in San Francisco, directed by Joe Talbot, written by and starring Jimmie Fails; Queen & Slim, directed by two-time Grammy Award-winner Melina Matsoukas, starring Daniel Kaluuya and Jodie Turner-Smith; and Us, written and directed by Jordan Peele, starring Academy Award-winner Lupita Nyong’o.

“These films collectively represent the diversity and complexity of the African American experience in America,” said ABFF Ventures CEO, Jeff Friday. “This has been a phenomenal year for black content and we are excited to celebrate its universal appeal and the community of creators behind it.”

2020 “Movie of the Year” Award Nominees:

BLACK & BLUE – An action thriller about a rookie cop (Naomie Harris) who inadvertently captures the murder of a young drug dealer on her body cam. After realizing that the murder was committed by corrupt cops, she teams up with the one person from her community who is willing to help her (Tyrese Gibson) as she tries to escape both the criminals out for revenge and the police who are desperate to destroy the incriminating footage.

DOLEMITE IS MY NAME – Eddie Murphy portrays real-life legend Rudy Ray Moore, a comedy and rap pioneer who proved naysayers wrong when his hilarious, obscene, kung-fu fighting alter ego, Dolemite, became a 1970s Blaxploitation phenomenon.

HARRIET – Based on the thrilling and inspirational life of an iconic American freedom fighter, Harriet tells the extraordinary tale of Harriet Tubman’s (Cynthia Erivo) escape from slavery and transformation into one of America’s greatest heroes. Her courage, ingenuity, and tenacity freed hundreds of slaves and changed the course of history.

JUST MERCY – After graduating from Harvard, Bryan (Michael B Jordan) might have had his pick of lucrative jobs. Instead, he heads to Alabama to defend those wrongly condemned, with the support of local advocate Eva Ansley (Brie Larson.) One of his first, and most incendiary, cases is that of Walter McMillian (Jamie Foxx,) who, in 1987, was sentenced to die for the notorious murder of an 18-year-old girl, despite a preponderance of evidence proving his innocence and the fact that the only testimony against him came from a criminal with a motive to lie. In the years that follow, Bryan becomes embroiled in a labyrinth of legal and political maneuverings and overt and unabashed racism as he fights for Walter, and others like him, with the odds-and the system-stacked against them.

THE LAST BLACK MAN IN SAN FRANCISCO – A young man (Jimmie Fails) searches for home in the changing city that seems to have left him behind.

QUEEN & SLIM – Slim (Daniel Kaluuya) and Queen’s (Jodie Turner-Smith) first date takes an unexpected turn when a policeman pulls them over for a minor traffic violation. When the situation escalates, Slim takes the officer’s gun and shoots him in self-defense. Now labelled cop killers in the media, Slim and Queen feel that they have no choice but to go on the run and evade the law. When a video of the incident goes viral, the unwitting outlaws soon become a symbol of trauma, terror, grief and pain for people all across the country

US – In order to get away from their busy lives, the Wilson family takes a vacation to Santa Cruz, California with the plan of spending time with their friends, the Tyler family. On a day at the beach, their young son Jason almost wanders off, causing his mother Adelaide (Lupita Nyong’o) to become protective of her family. That night, four mysterious people break into Adelaide’s childhood home where they’re staying. The family is shocked to find out that the intruders look like them, only with grotesque appearances.

Each year, the nominees are determined by a jury from the ABFF’s Entertainment Journalist Committee (EJC), who then vote in conjunction with national consumers to determine the winner. Voting for the general public is available via an online ballot at www.ABFFHonors.com/vote. Voting begins on December 28, 2019 and runs through January 15, 2020.

For the second year, American Airlines will sponsor the ABFF Honors “VIP Fan Experience,” which is an opportunity for one consumer to attend this exclusive event and celebrate Black excellence among the most influential artists, executives, and stakeholders in the entertainment industry. One fan will be randomly selected by the ABFF organization from the pool of individuals who vote for the “Movie of the Year”, and receive two (2) tickets for the ceremony, two (2) round trip domestic economy-class tickets on American Airlines, hotel accommodations and a chance to walk the “red carpet” on the night of the ceremony. The announcement will be made on or about January 20, 2020.

Presented by ABFF Ventures, the 2020 ABFF Honors will be hosted by Emmy-nominated comedian and actor Deon Cole, taking place on Sunday, February 23, 2020 in Los Angeles. Sponsors include American Airlines, Cadillac and Hilton (Red Carpet), and Prudential Financial and Sony Pictures Entertainment (Supporting).

ABOUT ABFF HONORS:
ABFF Honors is an annual awards season gala dedicated to saluting excellence in the motion picture and television industry. The ceremony celebrates Black culture by recognizing artists who have made distinguished contributions to American entertainment through their work, as well as those who champion diversity and inclusion. Individual recognition awards include Hollywood Legacy, Lifetime Achievement, Rising Star, Industry Visionary and Pro Hollywood. Recognition of outstanding content awards include Movie of the Year and Classic Television Award. Previous honorees and presenters include Denzel Washington, Don Cheadle, Robert Downey, Jr. Regina King, Will Packer, Ryan Coogler, Ava DuVernay, Tiffany Haddish, Issa Rae, Viola Davis, Cicely Tyson, Octavia Spencer, Armie Hammer, the late Diahann Carroll and more. To learn more about ABFF Honors and to stay up-to-date on upcoming announcements for the 2020 ceremony, visit www.ABFFHonors.com

ABOUT ABFF VENTURES:
ABFF Ventures LLC (ABFFV) is a multifaceted entertainment company specializing in the production of live events and branded content. Its mission is to entertain and inspire communities of color while promoting diversity in Hollywood. Headquartered in Los Angeles, ABFFV was formed to stimulate business growth through expansion into other events and services. Its tent-pole properties are the American Black Film Festival (ABFF), cited by MovieMaker magazine as “One of the Coolest Festivals in the World;” and “ABFF Honors,” an annual awards gala saluting the top stars of film and television. In creating ABFF Ventures, CEO Jeff Friday channeled his passion for film and television, as well as his discomfort with the underrepresentation of people of color in Hollywood, into an organization with the ultimate goal of advocating for diversity within the entertainment industry. Through his vision and perseverance, ABFF Ventures has become a highly respected enterprise, generating goodwill throughout the Hollywood and corporate communities.

CONTACT:
MPRM Communications
[email protected]
323-933-3399

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Submissions Open For 2020 American Black Film Festival’s HBO Short Film Competition

NEW YORK, NY, (December 12, 2019) – Film submissions are now open for the American Black Film Festival (ABFF)’s 23rd Annual HBO Short Film Competition. The five filmmakers selected as finalists will receive a trip to the festival in Miami Beach, Florida (including airfare and hotel accommodations), which runs from June 17-21, 2020. The winning prize for the ABFF’s HBO Short Film Award is $10,000 and each finalist will receive $5,000. In addition, all five films will be made available to stream on HBO.

The HBO Short Film Competition is regarded as one of the most prestigious short film showcases in the country. Prior winners include Ryan Coogler (“Black Panther”), Steven Caple Jr (“Creed II”), Kiel Adrian Scott (“The Bobby Brown Story”), Saladin K. Patterson (“The Big Bang Theory”) and Ben Watkins (“Burn Notice”).

HBO has been a presenting sponsor of ABFF since its inception in 1997 and is dedicated to furthering ABFF’s mission to showcase quality film and television content by and about people of African descent. Last year’s five finalists included “Cap,” written and directed by Marshall Tyler, “Wednesday,” written by Jessica D. Shields and directed by Daniel Willis, “Fisherman,” written and directed by Zoey Martinson, “Evelyn x Evelyn,” written and directed by Eric Pumphrey and “Flight,” written by Kia Moses and codirected by Kia Moses and Adrian McDonald.

Hosted by Bevy Smith (“Page Six TV”), the competition will be held in the New World Center Performance Hall on Friday, June 19, at 4:30 p.m. The winner will be announced during the Best of the ABFF Awards Presentation on Saturday, June 20 at 9:30 p.m.

For complete submission criteria and eligibility visit www.abff.com/submissions. Submission deadline is February 15, 2020 at 11:59 PT.

ABFF SOCIAL MEDIA:

Presenting Sponsors for the 2020 American Black Film Festival include HBO (Founding); Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau and WarnerMedia.

ABOUT ABFF:
ABFF Ventures LLC (ABFFV) is a Los Angeles-based entertainment company founded by Jeff Friday as a platform to produce live events, television and film focused on African American culture. Its mission is to entertain and inspire communities of color while promoting diversity and inclusion in Hollywood. Its tent-pole properties are the American Black Film Festival (ABFF), cited by MovieMaker magazine as “One of the Coolest Festivals in the World;” and “ABFF Honors,” an annual awards ceremony saluting career achievement in film and television. In creating ABFF Ventures, CEO Jeff Friday channeled his passion for entertainment as well as his discomfort with the under-representation of people of color in Hollywood to create an organization with the ultimate goal of advocating for diversity within the industry. Through his vision and perseverance, ABFFV has become a highly respected enterprise, generating goodwill throughout the Hollywood and corporate communities. ABFF’s momentum continues to build. In 2019, the company expanded its international footprint with the highly successful launch of ABFF London as part of its Global Film Series. In addition, the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) in Washington, D.C., has acquired ABFF photographs and other archival materials to be included in its permanent collection. With the support of major entertainment, media and consumer product companies, the ABFF continues to lead the way promoting diversity and inclusion, helping to open doors to opportunities in the motion picture and television industries.

ABOUT HBO:
HBO® is one of the most respected and innovative entertainment brands in the world, serving iconic, award-winning programming to 140 million subscribers globally. A subsidiary of WarnerMedia, HBO is the world’s most successful pay TV service with an extensive array of programming that includes some of the most notable titles to be on television including Game of Thrones®, Big Little Lies®, Westworld®, The Sopranos®, Sex and the City®, Band of Brothers®, and The Wire®. In the United States, HBO® and sister network Cinemax® are available across multiple platforms including HBO On Demand®, Cinemax On Demand®, HBO GO® and MAX GO®, as well as HBO NOW®. Internationally, HBO branded services, including television networks and the standalone streaming product HBO GO®, are available in more than 70 countries across Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean. HBO and Cinemax programming is also sold into more than 150 countries worldwide.

Questions? Contact [email protected]

Contact:
New York: [email protected]

homeboxoffice.com
https://medium.com/hbo-cinemax-pr
http://twitter.com/hbopr

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Cynthia Erivo to Receive the ‘Rising Star’ Award at the 2020 American Black Film Festival Honors

Show Returns to Los Angeles Sunday, February 23, 2020

#ABFFHonors

Los Angeles, CA (November 26, 2019) – Today, ABFF Ventures announced Cynthia Erivo will receive the “Rising Star Award” at the 2020 ABFF Honors. The fourth annual ceremony, hosted by actor and comedian Deon Cole, will take place on Sunday, February 23, 2020 at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles.

ABFF Honors is the American Black Film Festival’s awards season gala dedicated to saluting excellence in the motion picture and television industry. The event celebrates Black culture by paying tribute to individuals who have made significant contributions to American entertainment through their work, as well as those who champion diversity and inclusion in Hollywood. In addition to the acclamations, the show presents a competitive award for “Movie of the Year” and a “Classic Television Award” in recognition of a time-honored series that has made an indelible impact on audiences.

Each year, ABFF Honors presents a “Rising Star Award” in recognition of an individual’s recent success and future promise in the film and television industry. Previous recipients have included Tiffany Haddish (Kids Say the Darndest Things), Issa Rae (Insecure) and Ryan Coogler (Black Panther).

Cynthia Erivo is a Tony®, Emmy®, and Grammy® award-winning actress who burst onto West End and Broadway stages in The Color Purple and has taken the big screen by storm. Erivo’s film debut was in 2018 in Drew Goddard’s Bad Times at the El Royale. She then went on to star as “Belle” in Steve McQueen’s drama Widows, opposite Viola Davis, Michelle Rodriguez and Elizabeth Debicki. Erivo made her Broadway debut reprising her starring role as “Celie”, which she first played in 2013 at London’s Menier Chocolate Factory, in the critically acclaimed revival of The Color Purple.

Erivo currently stars in Kasi Lemmons’ Harriet, bringing the legacy of Harriet Tubman to the big screen. She will soon start production starring as Aretha Franklin in the next installment of the Emmy-winning global anthology series Genius: Aretha. Erivo can next be seen in the HBO series The Outsider, which will premiere on January 12, 2020. Upcoming, Erivo will star alongside Daisy Ridley and David Oyelowo in the highly anticipated sci-fi thriller, Chaos Walking. She will also star in John Ridley’s Needle in a Timestack, alongside Orlando Bloom, Freida Pinto and Leslie Odom Jr. In addition, Erivo is set to executive produce and star in Warner Brothers’ musical take on the American folk tale “Rip Van Winkle.”

“When an artist as talented as Cynthia Erivo shares their gifts with the world, we have to recognize their brilliance. We are delighted to present Ms. Erivo with the 2020 ABFF Honors ‘Rising Star Award.’ Her versatility and ability to push boundaries is undeniable and deserves to be celebrated,” says Nicole Friday, Executive Producer.

The confirmed sponsors to date include American Airlines, Cadillac, and Hilton (Red Carpet Sponsors); Prudential Financial and Sony Pictures Entertainment (Supporting Sponsors).

To learn more about ABFF Honors, including the awards categories and past awards ceremonies and honorees, visit www.ABFFHonors.com.

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

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Actor and Comedian Deon Cole to Host the 2020 American Black Film Festival Honors on February 23 in Los Angeles

HBO’s “The Wire” to Receive the Classic Television Award

#ABFFHonors

LOS ANGELES, (November 19, 2019) – ABFF Ventures, an entertainment company specializing in the production of live events, television and film focused on African American culture, announced today that actor and comedian Deon Cole will host the fourth annual ABFF Honors awards ceremony. The event will take place on Sunday, February 23, 2020, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

ABFF Honors is an annual awards season gala dedicated to saluting excellence in the motion picture and television industry. The ceremony celebrates Black culture by recognizing individuals who have made distinguished contributions to American entertainment through their work as well as those who champion diversity and inclusion in Hollywood. In addition to the tributes, the show presents a competitive award for “Movie of the Year” and a “Classic Television Award” in recognition of a time-honored series that has made an indelible impact on audiences.

ABFF Honors stems from the American Black Film Festival (ABFF) founded by Jeff Friday in 1997 and born from his conviction that Black artists deserve the same opportunities as their mainstream counterparts. For more than two decades, the festival has been the standard-bearer of excellence for Black creativity, having premiered the work and supported the careers of many of today’s most successful filmmakers and actors. In just four years “ABFF Honors” has become one of the most prominent events of the industry’s awards season during Black History Month.

Straight from his hilarious Netflix original comedy special, Deon Cole: Cole Hearted, Cole will bring to the ABFF Honors stage his unique style and delivery that have made him a wildly popular performer with both fans and critics. He is best known for his role as adjunct college professor “Charlie” on ABC’s hit series Black-ish, now in its fifth season. In 2018, Cole brought the beloved character to the spin-off series Grown-ish. Over the years, he has received numerous award nominations for his outstanding body of work in television writing and performances.

ABFF Honors will pay tribute to HBO’s critically acclaimed television series The Wire where cast and crew will gather for a celebration and special presentation of this year’s “Classic Television Award.” Created by David Simon, the series premiered the first of its five seasons on HBO in 2002 and is widely regarded to be one of the greatest television shows of all time. The cast mainly consisted of then unknown actors, including Idris Elba (Hobbs & Shaw), Wendell Pierce (Jack Ryan), Andre Royo (Empire), Michael K. Williams (Motherless Brooklyn), Wood Harris (Empire), Sonja Sohn (The Chi), Clarke Peters (Harriet), Reg E. Cathey (House of Cards), Jamie Hector (Queen of the South), Tristan Wilds (Shots Fired), Dominic West (The Affair) and Michael B. Jordan (Black Panther) who have gone on to become major players in Hollywood.

“This has been an incredible year for diverse content and we are very excited to celebrate the many successes, milestones and breakout moments experienced by Black artists. At the heart of the ABFF organization is our commitment to community – unifying artists in appreciation of one another’s work, and to encourage and uplift each other. ABFF Honors is our platform to accomplish this,” said ABFF Ventures CEO Jeff Friday.

Previous honorees of the awards ceremony include Denzel Washington (Equalizer 2), Ava DuVernay (When They See Us), Regina King (Watchmen), Tiffany Haddish (Kids Say the Darndest Things), Ryan Coogler (Black Panther), Don Cheadle (Black Monday), Will Packer (Little), Queen Latifah (Star), Terrence Howard (Empire), F. Gary Gray (Men in Black International), Billy Dee Williams (Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker), Issa Rae (Insecure), Omari Hardwick (Power), the late Diahann Carroll and the cast of the classic television show Martin.

The 2020 ABFF Honors confirmed sponsors to date include Cadillac and American Airlines (Red Carpet Sponsor); Sony Pictures and Entertainment and Prudential (Supporting Sponsor).

To learn more about ABFF Honors, including the awards categories and past awards ceremonies and honorees, visit www.ABFFHonors.com.

PRESS CONTACT:

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

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Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture Acquires Objects, Photographs and Documents from The American Black Film Festival

LOS ANGELES, (October 10, 2019) – Today, ABFF Ventures, LLC., announced that objects, photographs, documents and other memorabilia from The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) archives have been acquired by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C. The items will join the museums’ permanent collection and commemorate the ABFF’s rich 24-year history.

The American Black Film Festival (formerly Acapulco Black Film Festival), was first held in June 1997 by its original founders, Jeff Friday, Byron E. Lewis and Warrington Hudlin. In 2002, the Festival moved stateside to continue its commitment to community, providing a platform for up-and-coming filmmakers of color and bringing together creatives in appreciation of one another’s work, to challenge, encourage and uplift each other. ABFF is dedicated to recognizing black talent and showcasing quality film and television content by and about people of African descent, and continues to be a vehicle to strengthen the black entertainment community by fostering resource sharing, education and artistic collaboration.

Ryan Coogler (Black Panther), Steven Caple, Jr. (Creed II), Will Packer (Girls Trip), Issa Rae (Insecure), Omari Hardwick (Power) and Kevin Hart (Night School), are among the beneficiaries of ABFF’s unique and prestigious talent pipeline programs designed to identify, introduce and showcase artists — including directors, actors, writers and other content creators — to the industry at large.

The museum has selected 10 American Black Film Festival artifacts to join its historical collection:

  • Awards: ABFF Wood Trophy/Award designed by fine artist and sculptor Cheryl R. Riley, presented to Bill Duke in 1997 for Distinguished Career Achievement as a Filmmaker
  • Documents: 1997 ABFF Program Guide, 1997 ABFF All Access Pass and VIP Pass, “Hav Plenty” VHS video tape (1997)
  • Photographs: A collection of six (6) photographs of celebrity attendees by photographer Karl Crutchfield. Celebrities include Bill Duke, Halle Berry, Denzel Washington, and more.
  • Objects: Watch, Sterling Silver Necklace, Sterling Silver Bracelet. Items given to VIP attendees at the 1997 Festival. Recipients included: Debbie Allen, Morgan Freemen, Halle Berry and more.

The above items were donated by Nicole and Jeff Friday.

“Recognizing the cultural significance and historical import of the long-standing American Black Film Festival, it is thrilling to have objects from ABFF join the museum’s permanent collection. For nearly a quarter century, ABFF has been at the forefront of celebrating the history and cultural value of African American storytelling and image-making, so receiving objects that highlight the vision and creative spirit of ABFF was deeply important,” said Rhea Combs, Supervisory Museum Curator of Photography & Film, Smithsonian, National Museum of African American History and Culture.

“Being a part of the NMAAHC’s prestigious collection of historical artifacts is an amazing honor and significant milestone for the ABFF. It brings a great sense of pride and excitement that ABFF’s legacy is recognized as an important piece of African American history and culture,” said Jeff Friday, ABFF Ventures CEO.

The American Black Film Festival has been helmed a “top Festival” by reputable media outlets, including One of the Coolest Festivals in the World by MovieMaker Magazine; 10 Best Film Festivals by USA Today; Top 100 Events in Miami by BizBash Magazine and One of the Best Events Around the World by PROHBTD.

ABFF Ventures continues to expand the Festival programming initiatives and will grow its brand year-round to include the About Women Conference, ABFF Global Series (ABFF London debuted September 2019), ABFF Fit (Health and Wellness series) and ABFF Honors (annual awards show honoring Hollywood creatives).

ABFF SOCIAL MEDIA:

ABOUT THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE:
The National Museum of African American History and Culture opened Sept. 24 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Occupying a prominent location next to the Washington Monument, the nearly 400,000-square-foot museum is the nation’s largest and most comprehensive cultural destination devoted exclusively to exploring, documenting and showcasing the African American story and its impact on American and world history. For more information about the museum, visit nmaahc.si.edu or call Smithsonian information at (202) 633-1000.

ABOUT ABFF VENTURES:
ABFF Ventures LLC (ABFFV) is a multifaceted entertainment company specializing in the production of live events and branded content. Its mission is to entertain and inspire communities of color while promoting diversity in Hollywood. Headquartered in Los Angeles, ABFFV was formed to stimulate business growth through expansion into other events and services. Its tent-pole properties are the American Black Film Festival (ABFF), cited by MovieMaker magazine as “One of the Coolest Festivals in the World;” and “ABFF Honors,” a televised annual awards gala saluting the top stars of film and television. In creating ABFF Ventures, CEO Jeff Friday channeled his passion for film and television, as well as his discomfort with the underrepresentation of people of color in Hollywood, into an organization with the ultimate goal of advocating for diversity within the entertainment industry. Through his vision and perseverance, ABFF Ventures has become a highly respected enterprise, generating goodwill throughout the Hollywood and corporate communities.

PRESS CONTACT:

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

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First American Black Film Festival Global Film Series Event in London is a Resounding Success

(October 2, 2019) – The first installment of the American Black Film Festival’s (ABFF) Global Film Series event, held in London (September 27-29), delivered on its promise of encouraging collaboration and promotion between Black British and Black American filmmaking communities.

The three-day event sponsored by Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE), held at Picturehouse Central in London’s West End, confirmed why this international screening series, an extension of the American Black Film Festival, held in association with Screen Nation, the leading UK platform showcasing Black British film talent, was so necessary in creating a fresh narrative between the two countries.

This was best illustrated with Friday’s historic opening night launch and gala screening of Screen Gems’ Black and Blue, the forthcoming cop action thriller released later this month. The film’s two stars Britain’s Academy Award and BAFTA nominated actress Naomie Harris and American co-star, actor and Grammy nominated singer-songwriter Tyrese Gibson, both appeared on the red carpet, with their presence exemplifying the message of cultural collaboration between the respective countries. Also present was the film’s director Deon Taylor, who exuded an excitement and energy for the event which proved infectious and got the festival off to a memorable and resounding start.

More importantly, the subsequent Q&A with Harris, Gibson and Taylor, illuminated how film’s like Black and Blue are attempting to shift the dial in honestly depicting black stories on the big screen. The powerful testimony of a very animated Taylor in sharing stories of countless rejections on the road to getting his film made was a timely reminder of the many challenges black filmmakers still face within the industry.

Saturday’s industry panel, ‘Creating Blue Oceans in Hollywood’, explored how black filmmakers are attempting to navigate their way within the film industry. The panel of Jeff Friday, ABFF Founder, Charles Thompson, MBE, Founder, Screen Nation, Frances-Anne Solomon, director of Hero and Marshall Tyler, the 2019 ABFF/HBO Short film winner, delivered a very practical discussion on how investors can identify projects from projects from new voices and emerging talent can get their stories heard. Tyler echoed the thoughts of many when he declared “Don’t let anything stop you.”

In addition, the well-attended screenings of Nijla Mu’min’s debut feature, Jinn, a coming of age tale, and Numar Perrier’s emotive Jezebel, which earned her ABFF’s 2019 Best Narrative Feature and Best Director prizes, were both well received by festival audiences hungry for diverse female-led stories. Their respective Q&A’s were equally enlightening with Perrier sharing the journey of her semi-autobiographical drama with moderator Lisa Bent.

The Saturday evening’s packed preview screening of Farming, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje’s directorial debut, based on his own childhood, proved intense viewing and had visible impact on the audience by the time the final credits had rolled. During his very insightful Q&A, Adewale eloquently shared his 14 year struggle to get the film made and why he felt compelled to tell his very unique Black British story. Speaking at the event, he declared: “Nobody’s ever spoken about the African journey. People like me who went through the farming practice became part of the first Black British generation to be born on British soil and consequently a part of British history.

On the Sunday screening, it was the turn of a new generation of filmmakers to take the spotlight. The screening of five exciting entries from this year’s ABFF HBO Short Films competition (Cap, Evelyn x Evelyn, The Fisherman, Flight and Wednesday) demonstrated the importance of giving a platform to emerging directorial talent with distinct stories to tell. Three of the five directors, Marshall Tyler (Cap, 2019 ABFF HBO Short Film Award winner), Zoey Martinson (The Fisherman) and Kia Moses (Flight) took part in the Q&A moderated by award-winning UK director Julius Amedume, a recent addition to the membership of the Academy. Their perceptive sharing of their respective individual journeys on learning their craft, securing funds and trying to establish a foothold in the film industry, was very much a universal theme which would be appreciated on either side of the Atlantic.

Meagan Good’s directorial debut feature (with Tamara LaSeon Bass) If Not Now, When, a crowd-funded sisterhood indie film brought the three-day event to a close. The film was received warmly by the sold-out audience and Good’s special appearance taking part in the film’s Q&A. Excellently moderated by broadcaster and presenter Jasmine Dotiwala, Good’s words of wisdom were a fitting way to bring the curtain down on a historical and important weekend for filmmakers across the Diaspora.

ABFF festival founder and ABFF Ventures CEO, Jeff Friday, commented: “London was a great place to kick-off our first Global Film Series and with support of leading Black film actors and filmmakers from both sides of the Atlantic it has been a resounding success. Going forward, we aim to debunk the perception that black film does not travel and the roll out of our Global Film Series in different major cultural cities will definitely prove that.”

Wayne Garvie, President of International Production, Sony Pictures Television said: “ABFF in London was terrific, a wonderful showcase for a great range of talent and films. We at Sony Pictures were honoured to support the festival and build a bridge between the American and British creative communities. Here’s to next year!”

Screen Nation founder and CEO, Charles Thompson MBE, commented: “This event has kick-started an important dialogue between black film talent in the UK and US, which I believe has laid really solid foundations for navigating the industry in the future and offers a fresh and exciting shared vision between the two organisations.”

Richard Adeshiyan [email protected] +44(0)7956 106627

Notes to Editors:

  1. ABFF London, in association with Screen Nation, was held from September 27-29, 2019 at Picturehouse Central, Corner of Shaftesbury Avenue, Piccadilly Circus, London W1D 7DH.

  2. Black and Blue is a fast-paced action thriller about rookie cop (Naomie Harris) who inadvertently captures the murder of a young drug dealer on her body cam. After realizing that the murder was committed by corrupt cops, she teams up with one person from her community who is willing to help her (Tyrese Gibson) as she tries to escape both the criminals out for revenge and the police who are desperate to destroy the incriminating footage.

    Directed by Deon Taylor. Written by Peter A. Dowling. Produced by Sean Sorensen. Joshua Throne and Roxanne Taylor serve as executive producers. The film stars Naomie Harris, Tyrese Gibson, Frank Grillo, Mike Colter, Reid Scott, Beau Knapp and Nafessa Williams.

ABOUT ABFF GLOBAL FILM SERIES
ABFF Global Film Series (ABFF Global) is an international screening series and extension of the American Black Film Festival (ABFF), the premier event in the United States showcasing the work of content creators of African descent. The series mission is to promote the universal appeal of films by and about people of color and encourage collaboration between content creators throughout the African Diaspora, with the objective of expanding distribution opportunities for black content on an international scale. The ABFF Global Film Series will visit other major cultural hubs, after London, including Madrid, Cape Town and Paris in 2020.

ABOUT ABFF
The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) is an annual event dedicated to empowering black artists and showcasing quality film and television content by and about people of African descent. Committed to the belief that diverse artists deserve the same opportunities as their mainstream counterparts, ABFF founder & CEO Jeff Friday conceived the festival in 1997 as a vehicle to strengthen the black filmmaking community by encouraging resource sharing, education and artistic collaboration. He ultimately envisioned it as a cornerstone of diversity in Hollywood. Since its inception, the ABFF has been a platform for emerging black artists, having premiered the early work and showcasing the talent of many of today’s most successful actors, producers, writers, directors and stand-up comedians. Today, the festival is the pre-eminent pipeline for black artists in front of and behind the camera, and has significantly expanded the range of talent working in Hollywood. For more information, please visit https://www.abff.com/miami/.

ABOUT SONY PICTURES ENTERTAINMENT
Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE’s global operations encompass motion picture production, acquisition, and distribution; television production, acquisition, and distribution; television networks; digital content creation and distribution; operation of studio facilities; and development of new entertainment products, services and technologies. SPE’s Motion Picture Group production organizations include Columbia Pictures, Screen Gems, TriStar Pictures, Sony Pictures Animation, Stage 6 Films, AFFIRM Films, and Sony Pictures Classics. For additional information, visit http://www.sonypictures.com/corp/divisions.html.

ABOUT SCREEN NATION
The Screen Nation Film & TV Awards, formerly the bfm (black filmmaker) Film and TV Awards, was founded in September 2003 by independent film producer Charles Thompson MBE as a platform to raise the profile of black British and international film and television talent of African heritage. The awards ceremony – dubbed the “Black BAFTAs brings together actors, actresses, directors and filmmakers from the British and international film and TV industry.

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The American Black Film Festival Announces 2020 Dates and Calls for Submissions

ABFF Returns to Miami Beach June 17-21, 2020 with Presenting Sponsor, The Greater Miami Conventions & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB)

LOS ANGELES, CA, (September 27, 2019) – The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) announced its 24th annual Festival will return to Miami June 17-21, 2020. Since its inception in 1997, ABFF has been a platform for emerging artists and a pipeline for showcasing quality film and television content by and about people of African descent. Submissions for the 2020 Festival are now open in four categories: Narrative Features, Documentary Features, Web Series, World Showcase and Social Impact Showcase. Winners will be awarded at the Festival’s Best of ABFF Awards presentation on Saturday, June 20.

ABFF will continue its tradition of curating a program that unites storytellers of color as well as creating unique experiences for attendees with more than seventy events including celebrity conversations, panels, master classes, spotlight screenings, community partnerships and hospitality lounges. Filmmakers also have the opportunity to connect with some of the most influential film and television professionals in the industry during the five-day event.

The American Black Film Festival has been helmed a “top Festival” by reputable media outlets, including One of the Coolest Festivals in the World by MovieMake Magazine; 10 Best Film Festivals by USA Today; Top 100 Events in Miami by BizBash Magazine and One of the Best Events Around the World by PROHBTD. The Festival’s dynamic program continues to evolve. Next year, it will expand to include the John Singleton Award for Best First Feature Film, one of ABFF founding advisory board members; “ABFF Fit,” the festival’s new health and wellness initiative; and “ABFF Pride,” this year’s social impact showcase theme centered on the LGBTQIA community.

The 2019 Festival featured a slate of diverse films including: Jury Award winner for Best Director and Best Narrative Feature “Jezebel” written and directed by Numa Perrier; Audience Award winner for Best Narrative Feature “All In,” directed by Ibrahim Yilla and produced by Kia Freeman, Gregory Freeman, Tressa Azarel Smallwood, and Audrea Topps-Harjo; Jury Award winner for Best Web Series “Little Apple” written and directed by Riley S. Wilson; Jury Award winner for Best Screenplay “Strive,” written by Piper Dellums and Sha-Risse Smith; and Jury Award winner for Best Documentary “One Child Left Behind: The Untold Atlanta Cheating Scandal,” directed by Jodi Gomes.

In 2020, participants will compete for the following awards:

  • Jury Award – Best Narrative Feature
  • Jury Award – Best Director, Narrative Feature
  • Jury Award – Best Screenplay, Narrative Feature
  • Jury Award – Best Actor, Narrative Feature
  • John Singleton Award – Best First Feature
  • Jury Award – Best Documentary Film
  • Jury Award – Best Web Series

Submission deadline information below:

Narrative Feature and Documentary Feature

Early Submission Deadline: December 31, 2019

Regular Submission Deadline: February 1, 2020

Web Series

Regular Submission Deadline: January 31, 2020

World Showcase and Social Impact Showcase

Regular Submission Deadline: January 24, 2020

For complete submission criteria and eligibility, visit www.abff.com/submissions. Festival passes are also on sale now at www.abff.com.

ABFF SOCIAL MEDIA:

ABOUT ABFF:
The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) is an annual event dedicated to empowering black artists and showcasing quality film and television content by and about people of African descent. Committed to the belief that diverse artists deserve the same opportunities as their mainstream counterparts, ABFF founder & CEO Jeff Friday conceived the festival in 1997 as a vehicle to strengthen the black filmmaking community by encouraging resource sharing, education and artistic collaboration. He ultimately envisioned it as a cornerstone of diversity in Hollywood. Since its inception, the ABFF has been a platform for emerging black artists, having premiered the early work and showcasing the talent of many of today’s most successful actors, producers, writers, directors and stand-up comedians. Today, the festival is the pre-eminent pipeline for black artists in front of and behind the camera and has significantly expanded the range of talent working in Hollywood. For more information, please visit https://www.abff.com/miami/.

PRESS CONTACT:

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

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Academy Award® and BAFTA Nominated Naomie Harris Set to Open the American Black Film Festival’s First Ever Global Film Series

(September 25, 2019) – Oscar nominee Naomie Harris, the star of the forthcoming Screen Gems action thriller Black and Blue, will be attending the film’s Gala screening at Picturehouse Central, in central London, on Friday, September 27, 2019.

The film’s director, Deon Taylor, will also be present at the screening, which officially opens the American Black Film Festival’s (ABFF) first Global Film Series (Sept 27-29), held in association with Screen Nation, and sponsored by Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE).

The well-documented recent success of black actors and filmmakers who have collectively reimagined the Hollywood landscape, especially at the box office, provides a suitable backdrop to the London launch. That Black British actors have been an integral part in shaping this exciting new cinematic narrative underlines the importance of this event. The weekend of screenings and panel discussions are aimed at encouraging collaboration and promotion between filmmakers throughout the African Diaspora. Significantly, a panel called ‘Creating Blue Oceans in Hollywood’ (Sept 28) will explore solutions to support inclusion of underrepresented talent in the industry and the ABFF’s HBO Shorts programme (Sept 29) that helped launch the careers of talent like Ava DuVernay (When They See Us) and Ryan Coogler (Black Panther). This will showcase five short films with a Q&A hosted by recent Academy inductee British filmmaker Julius Amedume with the HBO short competition winner Marshall Tyler.

ABFF festival founder and ABFF Ventures CEO, Jeff Friday, who will appear in one of the festival’s panel discussions, commented: “ABFF’s Global Film Series provides a unique platform for black actors and filmmakers internationally to forge new alliances and share their work. The London event provides an important first step in developing these synergies which can help inform the African Diaspora as a whole. We’re very appreciative to Sony Pictures Entertainment for supporting the launch of this series.”

“I am delighted that Sony Pictures Entertainment is partnering with ABFF to support its international expansion,” said Wayne Garvie, President of International Production, Sony Pictures Television. “London is a vibrant, important source of diverse creative talent and a fantastic place to showcase emerging content. We are excited to launch the ABFF Global Film Series in London, which highlights Sony Pictures Entertainment’s commitment to harnessing the power of diversity and promoting inclusivity so that talented people can thrive.”

Screen Nation founder and CEO, Charles Thompson MBE, commented: “We are very excited to be partnering ABFF UK in this timely initiative and proud that the Global Film Series will be kicking off in London. In the past fourteen years Screen Nation Awards has been at the vanguard of recognising black film talent in the UK and we have complemented this by acknowledging the impressive historical gains of US black actors and filmmakers across the Diaspora.”

The line-up also features popular US actress Meagan Good’s directorial debut feature (with Tamara LaSeon Bass) of her crowd-funded sisterhood indie film, If Not Now, When. The added bonus for UK audiences is Good (Think Like A Man, Think Like A Man Too, Shazam) will be attending the film’s UK premiere. There is also a preview screening of British feature Farming, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje’s much-anticipated autobiographical directorial debut, starring Damson Idris, Kate Beckinsale and Gugu Mbatha-Raw.

For further press information and interview requests please contact: Richard Adeshiyan [email protected] +44(0)7956 106627

Notes to Editors:

  1. ABFF London, in association with Screen Nation, will be held from September 27-29, 2019 at Picturehouse Central, Corner of Shaftesbury Avenue, Piccadilly Circus, London W1D 7DH. The Gala screening of Black and Blue will be screened at 6.30pm (Arrival of talent tbc).

  2. Black and Blue is a fast-paced action thriller about rookie cop (Naomie Harris) who inadvertently captures the murder of a young drug dealer on her body cam. After realizing that the murder was committed by corrupt cops, she teams up with one person from her community who is willing to help her (Tyrese Gibson) as she tries to escape both the criminals out for revenge and the police who are desperate to destroy the incriminating footage.

    Directed by Deon Taylor. Written by Peter A. Dowling. Produced by Sean Sorensen. Joshua Throne and Roxanne Taylor serve as executive producers. The film stars Naomie Harris, Tyrese Gibson, Frank Grillo, Mike Colter, Reid Scott, Beau Knapp and Nafessa Williams.

ABOUT ABFF GLOBAL FILM SERIES
ABFF Global Film Series (ABFF Global) is an international screening series and extension of the American Black Film Festival (ABFF), the premier event in the United States showcasing the work of content creators of African descent. The series mission is to promote the universal appeal of films by and about people of color and encourage collaboration between content creators throughout the African Diaspora, with the objective of expanding distribution opportunities for black content on an international scale. The ABFF Global Film Series will visit other major cultural hubs, after London, including Madrid, Cape Town and Paris in 2020.

ABOUT ABFF
The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) is an annual event dedicated to empowering black artists and showcasing quality film and television content by and about people of African descent. Committed to the belief that diverse artists deserve the same opportunities as their mainstream counterparts, ABFF founder & CEO Jeff Friday conceived the festival in 1997 as a vehicle to strengthen the black filmmaking community by encouraging resource sharing, education and artistic collaboration. He ultimately envisioned it as a cornerstone of diversity in Hollywood. Since its inception, the ABFF has been a platform for emerging black artists, having premiered the early work and showcasing the talent of many of today’s most successful actors, producers, writers, directors and stand-up comedians. Today, the festival is the pre-eminent pipeline for black artists in front of and behind the camera, and has significantly expanded the range of talent working in Hollywood. For more information, please visit https://www.abff.com/miami/.

ABOUT SONY PICTURES ENTERTAINMENT
Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE’s global operations encompass motion picture production, acquisition, and distribution; television production, acquisition, and distribution; television networks; digital content creation and distribution; operation of studio facilities; and development of new entertainment products, services and technologies. SPE’s Motion Picture Group production organizations include Columbia Pictures, Screen Gems, TriStar Pictures, Sony Pictures Animation, Stage 6 Films, AFFIRM Films, and Sony Pictures Classics. For additional information, visit http://www.sonypictures.com/corp/divisions.html.

ABOUT SCREEN NATION
The Screen Nation Film & TV Awards, formerly the bfm (black filmmaker) Film and TV Awards, was founded in September 2003 by independent film producer Charles Thompson MBE as a platform to raise the profile of black British and international film and television talent of African heritage. The awards ceremony – dubbed the “Black BAFTAs brings together actors, actresses, directors and filmmakers from the British and international film and TV industry.

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The American Black Film Festival, in Partnership with Sony Pictures Entertainment, Launches ABFF Global Film Series in London

Event to be held September 27-29, 2019 at Picturehouse Central in London’s West End

Los Angeles, CA, (August 28, 2019) – The hugely influential American Black Film Festival (ABFF) will make a timely and historic entrance into the UK next month, with the launch of the ABFF Global Film Series September 27-29, 2019. The first installment will be held in London at the Picturehouse Central, in partnership with Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE).

ABFF London is an integral part of the international screening series and extension of the American Black Film Festival, the leading event in the U.S. showcasing black filmmakers. The three-day event is in association with Screen Nation, the leading UK platform which has raised the profile of black British and international film and television talent of African Caribbean heritage.

The well-documented recent success of black actors and filmmakers who have collectively reimagined the Hollywood landscape, especially at the box office, provides a suitable backdrop to the London launch. Black British actors have also contributed to shaping this exciting new cinematic narrative underlining the importance of this event. The weekend of screenings and panel discussions are aimed at encouraging collaboration and promotion between filmmakers throughout the African Diaspora.

The American Black Film Festival founder and ABFF Ventures CEO, Jeff Friday, who will appear in one of the festival’s panel discussions, commented: “ABFF’s Global Film Series provides a unique platform for black actors and filmmakers, internationally, to forge new alliances and share their work. The London event provides an important first step in developing these synergies which can help inform the African Diaspora as a whole. We’re very appreciative to Sony Pictures Entertainment for supporting the launch of this series.”

“I am delighted that Sony Pictures Entertainment is partnering with the ABFF to support its international expansion,” said Wayne Garvie, President of International Production, Sony Pictures Television. “London is a vibrant, important source of diverse creative talent and a fantastic place to showcase emerging content. We are excited to launch the ABFF Global Film Series in London, which highlights Sony Pictures Entertainment’s commitment to harnessing the power of diversity and promoting inclusivity so that talented people can thrive.”

Screen Nation founder and CEO, Charles Thompson MBE, commented: “We are very excited to be partnering ABFF UK in this timely initiative and proud that the Global Film Series will be kicking off in London. In the past fourteen years Screen Nation Awards has been at the vanguard of recognizing black film talent in the UK and we have complemented this by acknowledging the impressive historical gains of US black actors and filmmakers across the Diaspora.”

The program will boast an impressive line-up with the Gala premiere screening of action thriller Black and Blue, starring movie star Naomie Harris, alongside actor Tyrese Gibson. The event will also feature actress Meagan Good’s directorial debut feature (with Tamara LaSeon Bass) of her crowd-funded sisterhood indie film, If Not Now, When. There will also be a preview screening of the British feature Farming, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje’s much-anticipated autobiographical directorial debut, starring Damson Idris, Kate Beckinsale and Gugu Mbatha-Raw.

ABFF LONDON SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Friday, Sept 27: 6:30 pm & 9:00 pm
Opening Night Film: Black and Blue, courtesy of Sony Pictures, with Welcome Reception to follow.

Black and Blue, directed by Deon Taylor
Starring: Naomie Harris and Tyrese Gibson
Black and Blue is an action thriller about a rookie cop (Naomie Harris) who inadvertently captures the murder of a young drug dealer on her body cam. After realizing that the murder was committed by corrupt cops, she teams up with the one person from her community who is willing to help her (Tyrese Gibson) as she tries to escape both the criminals out for revenge and the police who are desperate to destroy the incriminating footage.

Saturday, Sept 28:

2:00 pm Jinn (92 min), directed by Nijla Mu’min (Q&A to follow)
Starring: Simone Missick, Zoe Renee and Ashlei Foushée
Summer is a carefree, black teenage girl whose world is turned upside down when her mother abruptly converts to Islam and becomes a different person. At first resistant to the faith, she begins to reevaluate her identity after becoming attracted to a Muslim classmate, crossing the thin line between physical desire and piety.

5:00 pm Jezebel (88 min), directed by Numa Perrier (Q&A to follow)
Starring: Tiffany Tenille, Numa Perrier, Stephen Barrington, Bobby Field and Brett Gelman
In the last days of her mother’s life, 19-yearold Tiffany crashes with five family members in a Las Vegas studio apartment. In order to make ends meet, her older sister, a phone sex operator, introduces her to the world of internet fetish cam girls.

7:30 pm Farming (107 min), directed by Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje (Q&A to follow)
Starring: Kate Beckinsale, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje and Damson Idris
Based on the writer/director’s childhood, this is the story of a young Nigerian boy ‘farmed out’ by his parents to a white British family in the hope of a better future. Instead, he becomes the feared leader of a white skinhead gang.

Sunday, Sept 29:

12:00 pm 2019 ABFF HBO Short Films (70 min) (Q&A to follow)

Cap*, directed by Marshall Tyler
*The 2019 ABFF/HBO Short Film Competition Winner
15-year-old Manny Bennitt learns the hard way the price of being cool.

Evelyn X Evelyn, directed by Eric Pumphrey
Grief can be overwhelming for just us to tackle alone.

The Fisherman, directed by Zoey Martinson
An aging fisherman goes out to sea one day and returns with a talking fish.

Flight, directed by Kia Moses and Adrian McDonald
A Jamaican boy sets out on a dream, ten times his size, to fly to the moon, despite his circumstances and father’s opposition.

Wednesday, directed by Daniel Willis
Recently homeless and living in a car with her mother, a teenage girl, desperate to rescue a vestige of their former life, commits a reckless act.

3:00 pm Soleseekers (75 min Documentary), directed by Emil Collins (Q&A to follow)
Trainers break gender, cultural and class backgrounds. Collectors, Inspectors and respecters of sneakers, affectionately known as “sneakerheads” can come from any background, race or religion, all with one common purpose, the appreciation of trainer culture. With the UK Sportswear Market worth Billions, this documentary will chart the highs and lows of the culture in the UK.

6:00 pm If Not Now, When? (114 min), directed by Meagan Good and Tamara Bass (Q&A to follow)
Starring: Meagan Good, Meagan Holder, Mekia Cox, Tamara Bass, Valarie Pettiford
A story about love, forgiveness, sisterhood and second chances.

8:30 pm Closing Night Remarks by Jeff Friday (ABFF Founder), Charles Thompson (Screen Nation Founder) and Sony Pictures.

Tickets for ABFF London will be on sale September 1, 2019. For more information, go to picturehouses.com/abff.

ABOUT ABFF GLOBAL FILM SERIES
ABFF Global Film Series (ABFF Global) is an international screening series and extension of the American Black Film Festival (ABFF), the premier event in the United States showcasing the work of content creators of African descent. The series mission is to promote the universal appeal of films by and about people of color and encourage collaboration between content creators throughout the African Diaspora, with the objective of expanding distribution opportunities for black content on an international scale. The ABFF Global Film Series will visit other major cultural hubs, after London, including Madrid, Cape Town and Paris in 2020.

ABOUT ABFF
The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) is an annual event dedicated to empowering black artists and showcasing quality film and television content by and about people of African descent. Committed to the belief that diverse artists deserve the same opportunities as their mainstream counterparts, ABFF founder & CEO Jeff Friday conceived the festival in 1997 as a vehicle to strengthen the black filmmaking community by encouraging resource sharing, education and artistic collaboration. He ultimately envisioned it as a cornerstone of diversity in Hollywood. Since its inception, the ABFF has been a platform for emerging black artists, having premiered the early work and showcasing the talent of many of today’s most successful actors, producers, writers, directors and stand-up comedians. Today, the festival is the pre-eminent pipeline for black artists in front of and behind the camera and has significantly expanded the range of talent working in Hollywood. For more information, please visit https://www.abff.com/miami/.

ABOUT SONY PICTURES ENTERTAINMENT
Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE’s global operations encompass motion picture production, acquisition, and distribution; television production, acquisition, and distribution; television networks; digital content creation and distribution; operation of studio facilities; and development of new entertainment products, services and technologies. SPE’s Motion Picture Group production organizations include Columbia Pictures, Screen Gems, TriStar Pictures, Sony Pictures Animation, Stage 6 Films, AFFIRM Films, and Sony Pictures Classics. For additional information, visit http://www.sonypictures.com/corp/divisions.html.

ABOUT SCREEN NATION
The Screen Nation Film & TV Awards, formerly the bfm (black filmmaker) Film and TV Awards, was founded in September 2003 by independent film producer Charles Thompson MBE as a platform to raise the profile of black British and international film and television talent of African heritage. The awards ceremony – dubbed the “Black BAFTAs brings together actors, actresses, directors and filmmakers from the British and international film and TV industry.

PRESS CONTACT:

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

Richard Adeshiyan
[email protected]
+44(0)7956 106627

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Sony Pictures Entertainment Partners with The American Black Film Festival on its “ABFF 365” Diversity Initiative

PARTNERSHIP TO INCLUDE THE LAUNCH OF THE “ABFF GLOBAL” FILM SERIES IN LONDON

LOS ANGELES, (August 26, 2019) – Today, ABFF Ventures, LLC, announced that Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is the first entertainment studio to support the American Black Film Festival (ABFF) on its newly formed global diversity initiative, “ABFF 365,” targeted to creatives and audiences of African heritage. The program expands the ABFF brand beyond its annual film festival, now in its 23rd year, to include other experiential events and screenings showcasing the work of black content creators and promoting camaraderie among multicultural artists in the motion picture and television industries.

Through this partnership, Sony Pictures Entertainment will have a presence at multiple ABFF-produced events throughout 2019, including the American Black Film Festival (Miami Beach), ABFF UK (London) and ABFF Honors (Los Angeles). In addition, ABFF Ventures CEO Jeff Friday will serve as an adviser to SPE on its diversity outreach and programming.

“For the past 23 years, our film festival has led the way in showcasing the work of Black artists and content creators with support from many blue chip companies. We are thrilled to have Sony Pictures as a committed partner of our “ABFF 365″ initiative as we expand the footprint of the ABFF brand throughout the year and around the world,” says Jeff Friday, festival founder and ABFF Ventures CEO.

“Sony Pictures’ commitment to diversity and inclusion extends beyond the borders of the U.S. We are excited to partner with ABFF on an international scale for this important initiative,” said Paul Martin, SVP & Chief Diversity Officer, Sony Pictures Entertainment.

“I am delighted that Sony Pictures Entertainment is partnering with the ABFF to support its international expansion,” said Wayne Garvie, President of International Production, Sony Pictures Television. “London is a vibrant, important source of diverse creative talent and a fantastic place to showcase emerging content. We are excited to launch the ABFF 365 programme here, which highlights SPE’s commitment to harnessing the power of diversity and promoting inclusivity so that talented people can thrive working with us.”

The ABFF/SPE partnership successfully kicked off at the American Black Film Festival recently held in Miami, FL. (June 12-16), with SPE presenting two dynamic sessions. The first, a panel discussion, “Beyond the Spider-Verse: What’s Next for Sony Pictures Animation,” offered a look at what made the Academy Award®-winning Spider-ManTM: Into the Spider-Verse a global hit and explored the road ahead for the rapidly expanding studio. In addition, SPE premiered the pilot episode of its upcoming series “For Life”, a fictional serialized legal and family drama. Inspired by the life of Isaac Wright, Jr., the story follows the life of a prisoner who becomes a lawyer, litigating cases for other inmates while fighting to overturn his own life sentence for a crime he didn’t commit.

“ABFF 365” program will continue this year with the initiation of ABFF Global, an international film series and extension of the American Black Film Festival. Its mission is to promote the universal appeal of films by and about people of color and encourage collaboration between content creators throughout the African diaspora, with the objective of expanding distribution opportunities for black content on an international scale. SPE is the founding sponsor of the first installment of the series, ABFF UK, which will take place in London, September 27-29, 2019. The three-day program will be held at Picturehouse Central, and offer award-winning features, short films and web series from the 2019 Festival. ABFF Global will visit other major cultural hubs around the world, including Madrid, Cape Town and Paris, in 2020.

“ABFF 365” culminates with ABFF Honors, an annual awards show that salutes excellence in the motion picture and television industry. The ceremony celebrates black culture by recognizing individuals who have made distinguished contributions to American entertainment through their work, as well as those who champion diversity and inclusion in Hollywood.

ABOUT SONY PICTURES ENTERTAINMENT:
Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE’s global operations encompass motion picture production, acquisition, and distribution; television production, acquisition, and distribution; television networks; digital content creation and distribution; operation of studio facilities; and development of new entertainment products, services and technologies. SPE’s Motion Picture Group production organizations include Columbia Pictures, Screen Gems, TriStar Pictures, Sony Pictures Animation, Stage 6 Films, AFFIRM Films, and Sony Pictures Classics. For additional information, visit http://www.sonypictures.com/corp/divisions.html.

ABOUT THE ABFF:
The American Black Film Festival is an annual event dedicated to recognizing black artists and showcasing quality film and television content by and about people of African descent. Committed to the belief that diverse artists deserve the same opportunities as their mainstream counterparts, ABFF founder Jeff Friday conceived the festival in 1997 as a vehicle to strengthen the black filmmaking community by encouraging resource sharing, education and artistic collaboration. Since then, the annual festival has become a cornerstone of diversity in Hollywood, providing a platform for emerging black artists—many of who have become today’s most successful actors, producers, writers, directors, and stand-up comedians. Among those are Ryan Coogler (Black Panther), Will Packer (Girls Trip), Issa Rae (Insecure), Omari Hardwick (Power) and Steven Caple Jr. (Creed II). For more information, visit https://www.abff.com/miami/.

PRESS CONTACT:

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