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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Television and Film Producer Will Packer to Receive “Distinguished ABFF Alumni Award” at the 2016 ABFF Honors

Annual Awards Gala to Salute Excellence in Motion Pictures and Television Sunday, February 21, in Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA – (December 21, 2015) – The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) Honors is proud to announce it will be presenting television and film producer Will Packer with the “Distinguished ABFF Alumni Award” at the 2016 ABFF Honors. The awards gala will be held February 21, 2016, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, CA.

ABFF Honors’ mission is to celebrate Black culture by honoring individuals, movies and television shows that have had a significant impact on American entertainment, as well as the people who are proponents of championing diversity and inclusion in Hollywood. This year’s event will be hosted by actor and comedian Mike Epps.

“We are very excited about ABFF Honors this year, and the opportunity to pay tribute to my friend Will, who got his start at the ABFF, and who continues to support the efforts and mission of the festival,” said Jeff Friday, President and CEO, ABFF Ventures.

Packer’s long-standing history and relationship with the American Black Film Festival began in 1999 when his independent film Trois premiered at the ABFF. It became the fastest African American distributed film to surpass $1 million in sales. Since then, Will Packer has premiered and screened six other films at the ABFF including This Christmas and Takers. Most recently, Think Like A Man Too opened the festival in 2014.

Producer Will Packer has established himself as one of Hollywood’s blockbuster hit makers. In 2014, he accomplished the rare feat of producing two of the top six films at the box office, and is one of the only African American producers to have seven films debut at number one during opening weekend.

In 2013, Packer signed first;look production deals with Universal Pictures and Universal Television. Under both deals he develops new projects for the studios under his Will Packer Productions company.

His most successful film to date is Ride Along, starring Ice Cube and Kevin Hart, that debuted number one at the box office in 2014, with record;breaking receipts totaling over $48 million during the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday weekend opening of the film, making it one of the biggest January opening box office tallies of all time. The film also went on to be number one at the box office for three consecutive weeks and grossed over $154 million worldwide. Packer also executive produced the box office hit Straight Outta Compton, which has grossed over $200 million to date and is the highest grossing music biopic on record.

Packer’s number one films also include No Good Deed (2014), Think Like A Man Too (2014), Think Like A Man (2012), Takers (2010), Obsessed (2008) and Stomp The Yard (2007). His most recent release this year, The Wedding Ringer, starring Kevin Hart and Josh Gad, holds the world record as the #1 R-rated comedy opening in January. His next film, Ride Along 2, will debut in theaters on January 15, 2016, followed by A Meyers Christmas, that hits theaters November 11, 2016.

Collectively, Packer’s films have grossed over $780 million, making him one of Hollywood’s most bankable producers.

Also making a major foray into prime time TV, Packer is the executive producer of two new comedies, Truth Be Told (NBC) that premiered in 2015 and Uncle Buck (ABC), that will debut in early 2016. Packer is also set to executive produce Roots, a remake of one of the most celebrated TV programs of all time as an event series that will air simultaneously on The History Channel, A&E and Lifetime networks in 2017.

ABFF Honors will be one of the highlights of the Hollywood Awards season and Black History Month. The event is produced by ABFF Ventures (a partnership between Film Life and Black Enterprise) in association with de Passe Jones Entertainment. The 2016 ABFF Honors sponsors are Cadillac (Presenting Sponsor) and Prudential (Gold Sponsor).

For more information about the 2016 ABFF Honors, log on to www.abffhonors.com. Also, follow us on our social media platforms:

Twitter: http://twitter.com/abff
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/American-Black-Film-Festival/47321635722
Instagram: http://www.Instagram.com/AmericanBlackFilmFestival
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/ABFFTV/featured
Hashtags: #ABFFHonors; #ABFF20

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

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

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

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Actress, Singer and Author Diahann Carroll to Receive “Hollywood Legacy Award” at the 2016 ABFF Honors

Annual Awards Gala to Salute Excellence in Motion Pictures and Television Sunday, February 21, in Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA – (December 14, 2015) – Continuing its tradition of providing platforms showcasing work of people of African heritage and promoting camaraderie among multicultural artists in Hollywood, the American Black Film Festival (ABFF) is proud to announce legendary singer, actress and author Diahann Carroll will be the recipient of the “2016 ABFF Honors Hollywood Legacy Award.” ABFF Honors will be held February 21, 2016, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, Beverly Hills, CA.

Hosted by Mike Epps, the event will feature a presentation of nine awards, including Film of the Year, Television Show of the Year, Excellence in the Arts, Hot In Hollywood and the Hollywood Legacy Award. Invited guests to this private affair will include artists and other prominent members of the Hollywood community. The evening will begin at 4 p.m. with red carpet arrivals, followed by an elegant and spirited awards dinner and after-party.

The mission of the awards gala is to celebrate Black culture by honoring individuals, movies and television shows that have had a significant impact on American entertainment, as well as the people who are proponents of championing diversity and inclusion in Hollywood.

In paying tribute to Ms. Carroll, ABFF Honors looks to illuminate a distinguished career that has spanned more than sixty years. She has moved effortlessly between the worlds of film, television, music and the stage, earning her the designation Hollywood legend. She is an Oscar nominee, a Tony Award winner, a Golden Globe winner, a four-time Emmy nominee, a Grammy nominee and a best-selling author.

Diahann Carroll made her Broadway debut starring in the Harold Arlen/Truman Capote musical House of Flowers. After seeing her in that production, Richard Rodgers created his own starring vehicle for her, the Broadway musical No Strings, for which she won a Tony Award.

Perhaps best known for her groundbreaking lead role as a nurse and single mom in the critically acclaimed television series Julia, which debuted in 1968 and ran for three years, Diahann Carrroll earned her first Emmy nomination. Her extensive television career includes the game-changing role as “Dominique Devereaux” on the internationally popular television series Dynasty, as well as recurring roles on USA’s hit series White Collar, ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy and A Different World.

On the big screen, Ms. Carroll received an Oscar nomination for Best Actress and a Golden Globe award for her starring role opposite James Earl Jones in Claudine. Other notable films include Carmen Jones, Paris Blues, Porgy and Bess, Hurry Sundown, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings and Eve’s Bayou.

“Diahann Carroll is one of the most talented and distinguished artists in American history. We are looking forward to paying tribute to her rich trailblazing legacy,” said Jeff Friday, president & CEO of Film Life, Inc. and ABFF Ventures.

Promising to be a highlight of the Hollywood awards season and Black History Month, ABFF Honors is produced by ABFF Ventures (a partnership between Film Life, Inc., and Black Enterprise), in association with de Passe Jones Entertainment.

2016 ABFF Honors sponsors include: Presenting Sponsor – Cadillac and Gold Sponsor – Prudential.

For more information about the 2016 ABFF Honors, log on to www.abffhonors.com. Also, follow us on our social media platforms:

Twitter: http://twitter.com/abff
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/American-Black-Film-Festival/47321635722
Instagram: http://www.Instagram.com/AmericanBlackFilmFestival
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/ABFFTV/featured
Hashtags: #ABFFHonors; #ABFF20

ABOUT THE ABFF
Founded in 1997, 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 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 #1 source for 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 festival is produced by ABFF Ventures (a partnership between Film Life, Inc., and Black Enterprise). Celebrating its 20th year, the 2016 ABFF will be held June 15-19, 2016, in Miami, Florida. For more information about the festival, visi www.ABFF.com.

Michelle Huff Elliott
HUFF Events & PR/Strategic Heights Media
245 Fifth Avenue
Suite 1902
New York, NY 10016
212-634-7176

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Actor and Comedian Mike Epps Confirmed as Host of the 2016 American Black Film Festival (ABFF) Honors

Annual Awards Gala to Salute Excellence in Motion Pictures and Television Sunday, February 21 in Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA – (October 27, 2015) – ABFF Ventures announced today that actor and comedian Mike Epps will host the 2016 ABFF Honors on February 21 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles. This annual gala is a celebration of Black culture, recognizing individuals, movies and television shows that have had a significant impact on American entertainment, as well as those who are proponents of championing diversity and inclusion in Hollywood. The guest list of the invitation-only awards dinner, which will be held one week before the Academy Awards, includes influential artists, executives and stakeholders in the Hollywood community.

To kick off this inaugural year, ABFF Honors has chosen a host who is a talented and dedicated actor and comedian. Mike Epps’ career has evolved over the years and his work in both film and television continues to garner praise and admiration from peers and critics alike, in Hollywood and beyond. Among his many notable achievements are the Starz’ hit series Survivor’s Remorse, the ABC series Uncle Buck, HBO’s Emmy-winning biopic Bessie and the much anticipated Lee Daniels’ film Pryor, featuring Oprah Winfrey, Eddie Murphy and Kate Hudson, where he will play the title role of comedy icon Richard Pryor.

“I am very proud to be hosting this year’s ABFF Honors celebrating the best in film and television. To be in a room with such amazing talent and creativity will make for an exciting night, and you know I’ll be ready to hit the stage and entertain,” says Epps.

The ABFF Honors ceremony is a hybrid of the Kennedy Center Honors and the Golden Globes Awards, featuring Competitive Awards as well as Special Tributes. The 2016 Awards Committee, comprised of artists, journalists and industry influencers, determines the honorees and competitive award winners. The evening will begin with Red Carpet Arrivals at 5:00 p.m., followed by an elegant and spirited Awards Dinner and Post-Awards Honoree Party.

“I am encouraged that a handful of Black artists are now being acknowledged at high-profile mainstream award ceremonies, but work of the majority of our artists continues to be unheralded. ABFF Honors will change this and there’s no better person to host our first show than Mike Epps. He is an inspiration to many standup comics and living proof that talent combined with focus and perseverance will eventually bring success. I plan to be laughing all night,” says Jeff Friday, Executive Producer and President of ABFF Ventures.

ABFF Honors will be one of the most prominent events of the Hollywood Awards season and Black History Month. The event is produced by ABFF Ventures (a partnership between Film Life and Black Enterprise) in association with de Passe Jones Entertainment.

The ABFF Honors Award Categories include:

COMPETITIVE AWARDS

FILM OF THE YEAR

Presented to the most outstanding theatrically distributed motion picture released in 2015.

TELEVISION SHOW OF THE YEAR

Presented to the most outstanding original scripted television series distributed by a network or Internet-based platform in 2015.

SPECIAL HONORS

HOLLYWOOD LEGACY AWARD

Honoring a highly acclaimed artist whose trailblazing work and groundbreaking achievements, over at least four decades, have inspired generations and made an enduring contribution to film and television.

EXCELLENCE IN THE ARTS AWARD (female)

Honoring an actress in recognition of her distinguished career achievement who has earned critical acclaim.

EXCELLENCE IN THE ARTS AWARD (male)

Honoring an actor in recognition of his distinguished career achievement who has earned critical acclaim.

EXCELLENCE IN THE ARTS AWARD (content creator)

Honoring an individual in recognition of commercial success and/or critically acclaimed work as a writer, producer and/or director.

HOT IN HOLLYWOOD

Celebrating a contemporary artist in acknowledgment of recent success and future promise.

ENTERTAINMENT ICON AWARD

Presented to a multitalented artist in recognition of groundbreaking commercial success across multiple entertainment disciplines, including television, film and live performance.

DISTINGUISHED ABFF ALUMNI AWARD

Presented to an American Black Film Festival (ABFF) alumnus in recognition of career achievement, post-festival.

For more information about the 2016 ABFF Honors, log on to www.abffhonors.com. Also, follow us on our social media platforms:

Twitter: http://twitter.com/abff
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/American-Black-Film-Festival/47321635722
Instagram: http://www.Instagram.com/AmericanBlackFilmFestival
#ABFF20

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

For additional information about the Awards and festival, visit www.ABFF.com.

CONTACT: Strategic Heights Media
Michelle Huff Elliott; Simone Smalls
info@strategicheights.com
212-634-7176