American Black Film Festival returns to Greater Miami and The Beaches with a three-year commitment starting with Festival’s 20th Anniversary June 15-19, 2016

MIAMI, FL – (August 11, 2015) – Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) President & CEO William D. Talbert, III, CDME and American Black Film Festival (ABFF) Founder Jeff Friday officially announced today the return to Miami of the American Black Film Festival (ABFF) June 15-19, 2016. The ABFF will celebrate its 20th anniversary with an exciting line-up of film screenings and an extensive schedule of events and networking opportunities to be announced in the months ahead. The highly anticipated ABFF is considered the nation’s largest gathering of Black film and TV enthusiasts. “We are thrilled with the return of the American Black Film Festival to Miami and look forward to welcoming the thousands of attendees expected for this highly anticipated event,” said Talbert. “The diverse multicultural fabric of our community will provide the ideal setting for the festival’s 2016 milestone celebration.” The 2016 ABFF will coincide with the GMCVB’s fourth annual Miami Film Month and includes a commitment by the ABFF to hold their annual event in Miami for the next three years. “I am so happy to celebrate the American Black Film Festival’s 20th anniversary in Miami next year,” said ABFF Founder Jeff Friday. “Aside from being one of the most desirable destinations in the world and a big attraction for festival-goers, the community has always embraced ABFF and its mission to showcase and provide a platform for African Americans in film and television. 2016 marks our eleventh festival in Miami and I’m proud to call the GMCVB a committed partner. We look forward to the celebratory four day weekend with tremendous enthusiasm – it’s great to be back!”

About the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau
The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) is an accredited, independent not-for-profit sales and marketing organization whose mission is to attract visitors to Greater Miami and the Beaches for leisure, business and conventions. To get further engaged with Miami and the Beaches, join the conversation by following us on our social media channels at Facebook.com/visitmiami, Twitter.com/miamiandbeaches, Instagram.com/miamiandbeaches and Pinterest.com/miamiandbeaches.

About the American Black Film Festival
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 promote diversity in the film and television industry. Today the festival is widely recognized for showcasing new talent, both in front of and behind the camera. Through its film screenings and prestigious talent competitions, including the HBO Short Film Award, it annually introduces the top echelon of emerging artists to the industry at large. The ABFF is regarded as one of the leading film festivals in the world and will celebrate its 20th anniversary June 15-19 in Miami Beach, Florida. The event is produced by Film Life Inc. and Black Enterprise through its partnership, ABFF Ventures LLC. For more information, visit www.ABFF.com.

CONTACT:
Media Relations – 305 539-3084
Jennifer Diaz – 305 539-3111
Ginny Gutierrez -305 213-1613

***MEDIA ADVISORY***
INTERVIEW, B-ROLL & PHOTO OPPORTUNITY
TUESDAY, AUGUST 11, 2015 @ 10:00 AM

GREATER MIAMI CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU JOINS AMERICAN BLACK FILM FESTIVAL TO ANNOUNCE THE FESTIVAL’S RETURN TO MIAMI IN JUNE 2016

American Black Film Festival to bring an audience of artists, entertainment executives and film enthusiasts from around the world for its 20th anniversary to be held in Miami Beach with events scheduled throughout Greater Miami

WHAT: The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) and the American Black Film Festival (ABFF) will officially announce the return to Miami of the ABFF June 15-19, 2016. The ABFF will celebrate its 20th anniversary with an exciting line-up of film screenings and an extensive schedule of events and networking opportunities. The highly anticipated ABFF is considered the nation’s largest gathering of Black film and TV enthusiasts.

WHO:

  • William D. Talbert, III, CDME, GMCVB President & CEO
  • Connie Kinnard, GMCVB Vice President Multicultural Tourism & Development
  • Jeff Friday – Founder, American Black Film Festival
  • Commissioner Keon Hardemon, City of Miami
  • Other Community Leaders and VIP Guests

WHEN: Tuesday, August 11, 2015, 10:00 a.m.

WHERE: Historic Lyric Theater, 819 NW 2nd Ave, Miami, FL 33136

Note: Media check-in onsite, Complimentary parking in Lyric Theater East parking lot

About the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau
The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) is an accredited, independent not-for-profit sales and marketing organization whose mission is to attract visitors to Greater Miami and the Beaches for leisure, business and conventions. To get further engaged with Miami and the Beaches, join the conversation by following us on our social media channels at Facebook.com/visitmiami, Twitter.com/miamiandbeaches, Instagram.com/miamiandbeaches and Pinterest.com/miamiandbeaches.

About the American Black Film Festival
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 promote diversity in the film and television industry. Today the festival is widely recognized for showcasing new talent, both in front of and behind the camera. Through its film screenings and prestigious talent competitions, including the HBO Short Film Award, it annually introduces the top echelon of emerging artists to the industry at large. The ABFF is regarded as one of the leading film festivals in the world and will celebrate its 20th anniversary June 15-19 in Miami Beach, Florida. The event is produced by Film Life Inc. and Black Enterprise through its partnership, ABFF Ventures LLC. For more information, visit www.ABFF.com.

CONTACT:
Media Relations – 305 539-3084
Jennifer Diaz – 305 539-3111
Ginny Gutierrez -305 213-1613

TARAJI P. HENSON, JOE MORTON, TRACEE ELLIS ROSS, LORRAINE TOUSSAINT, LARRY WILMORE, JOHN SINGLETON, GAYLE KING AND MORE PARTICIPATE IN INTIMATE CONVERSATIONS, PANEL DISCUSSIONS AND MORE AT THE 2015 AMERICAN BLACK FILM FESTIVAL

JENIFER LEWIS HONORED WITH CAREER ACHIEVEMENT AWARD AT THE ABFF AWARDS

THE NIGHT BEFORE AND THE LAST NIGHT EACH WIN TWO ABFF AWARDS

THE 19TH ANNUAL ABFF WAS HELD IN NEW YORK CITY FROM JUNE 11 – 14, 2015

New York, New York (June 18, 2015) – This year’s American Black Film Festival (ABFF), with founding sponsor HBO®, was filled with informative and insightful programming that included film screenings, panels, workshops and master classes, led by renowned experts in Hollywood.

Thursday, the Hollywood Creative Forum EAST, presented by the Walter Kaitz Foundation, brought together diverse talent with executives from cable’s creative and business community to meet, greet and exchange ideas.

Attendees then headed over to the SVA Theatre, located at 333 West 23rd Street for the opening night film and NY premiere of DOPE. Director Rick Famuyiwa and the Motion Picture Association of America, brought ‘Dope’ to the ABFF along with cast members Shameik Moore, Tony Revolori, Kiersey Clemons, Chanel Iman, Blake Anderson, A$AP Rocky and Quincy Brown.

A dope after party followed with performances by hip-hop legends Doug E. Fresh, Grand Poobah, Vinnie Brown of Naughty by Nature and sounds by DJ D-Nice at Stage 48. Roxanne Shante, on behalf of the Hip Hop Hall of Fame, presented and Outstanding Achievement in Entertainment Award to ABFF founder Jeff Friday for contributions and achievements in the entertainment and creative industries.

ABFF’s master classes, presented by the Time Warner Foundation, are always a highlight to those interested in film and television. Class schedule included: Writing for Television, instructed by NBCUniversal’s Karen Horne, an Actor’s Workshop instructed by actress Tasha Smith and Fundamentals of Independent Film Production instructed by Roger Bob.

The NY Hilton Midtown was abuzz when festival attendees found out ‘Empire’s’ Cookie was in the building. ABFF Celebrity Ambassador, Taraji P. Henson, shared an intimate conversation with ‘CBS This Morning’ Host Gayle King, during an empowering “A Conversation With” discussion about her career, trials and tribulations in Hollywood and staying grounded in Hollywood, presented by American Airlines.

Many studios and partners bought along their casts for our Spotlight Screenings at the AMC Empire 25. Critics Choice Award Winner Lorraine Toussaint joined her cast members Aisha Hinds, A. Russell Andrews, Thomas Q. Jones and Erica Tazel for the screening of TV One’s “Runaway Island.” Director Datari Turner shared the screening of his film, “Supermodel” with cast Tyson Beckford, Angela Simmons, and Jennifer Williams. Walmart and the Bentonville Film Festival showcased the New York Premiere of “In My Father’s House,” followed by a Q&A with star/rapper Rhymefest. Hennessy held the world premiere of “An Unexpected History: The Story of Hennessy and African Americans”, a documentary highlighting the companies hundred-year relationship with African Americans, while Turner Movie Classics’ presented the screening of Boyz in the Hood, and a Q&A with film director John Singleton. The premiere of ABFF Independent, a showcase of festival films on the ASPiRE network, gave the audience a sneak peek of the fourth season, with a Q&A with hip hop artist and host David Banner.

The four day festival continued with a lineup of panels including The Men Of TNT, with actors Joe Morton (“Proof”) and Charles Purnell and Jocko Sims (“The Last Ship”) and Ruben Santiago-Hudson (“Public Morals”), Inside BLACK-ISH panel, presented by Macy’s, with writer/creator Kenya Barris and star Tracee Ellis Ross, moderated by Larry Wilmore, TV One’s Celebrity Scene Stealers panel with Lorraine Toussaint, the Hot in Hollywood panel, presented by Cadillac, with Hollywood’s hottest actors including Lance Gross (“Temptation”), Naturi Naughton (“Power”) and YaYa DaCosta (“Whitney”), Comcast Xfinity’s How to Create and Monetize a Successful Web Series with creators of popular web shows Numa Perrier & Dennis Dortch (“BlackandSexy.tv”), Andrea Lewis (“Black Actress”), Life of a Showrunner panel, presented by Prudential, Inc., with Chris Spencer (“Real Husbands of Hollywood”), Janine Sherman Barrois (“Criminal Minds”), Mara Brock Akil and Salim Akil (“Being Mary Jane”) and an Empire Talk Back: Inside the Writers Room, presented by FOX HBCU Media Alliance, a discussion with the hit show’s writing team.

Festival passholders relaxed and enjoyed the refreshments in the American Airlines Lounge in between sessions, while other attendees enjoyed coffee and tea service in the Cadillac main lobby area throughout the day. HBO, UPtv, ASPiRE, and VH1 each held
invitation-only events to give filmmakers the opportunity to connect with network executives and build relationships.

The American Black Film Festival prides itself in partnering with companies to establish meaningful relationships and most importantly opportunities for creative individuals aspiring to exceed in film and television. With that in mind, ABFF has created the
following competitions and workshops:

For the past three years, HBO and ABFF have partnered to find the next comedy star with the Comedy Wings Competition. This year, our show was hosted by actor/comedian Godfrey. Out of four finalists, Chastity Washington from Milwaukee, WI, deservingly took home the coveted award.

The McDonald’s Lovin’ Video Competition encouraged filmmakers to produce a 90 second to 2 minute video which communicates McDonald’s philosophy “a little more lovin’ can change a lot.” The three finalists attended a mentor luncheon with filmmaker Malcolm D. Lee during the weekend. Writer and Director Richard T. Fields won the film equipment prize package valued at $2,500 for his film, “Puppy Love” that can be viewed on https://www.365Black.com.

NBC TV Hosting Workshop, presented by NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment, produced a TV hosting workshop, for 20 selected candidates, to cultivate & discover exceptional on-camera host talent. Taught by premiere host instructor, Marki Costello, this two-day workshop was targeted for intermediate and advanced level hosts who want to sharpen their hosting skills and techniques.

The first multicultural “Film and Television Expo” was a free two-day event where networks and broadcasters showcased their programs and diversity initiatives to our festival attendees. Actresses Essence Atkins, Terry Vaughn, Gabrielle Beauvais and Malinda Williams, the cast of “Girlfriends Getaway 2,’ stopped by the TV One booth for a meet and greet with fans. There were also free giveaways, snacks and more. Prudential highlighted the connection of fashion and film by hosting discussions and a fashion presentation with designer Byron Lars and actress Tasha Smith, in partnership with Harlem Fashion Row.

The festival concluded with “The Best of The ABFF” Awards, a star-studded ceremony celebrating the achievements and successes of filmmakers, writers and actors. Actress Jennifer Lewis was presented with the Career Achievement Award by fellow “Black-ish” co-star Tracee Ellis Ross and honored with a tribute video with appearance by Laurence Fisbourne, Anthony Anderson and George C. Wolfe. Jenifer’s heartfelt and inspiring words captivated the audience: “When a door closes, take the steps,” says Ms. Lewis.

“This year’s festival has had an incredible show of support from studios, networks and artists – all collaborating with us to showcase their latest projects. Media companies value and respect the pipeline of diverse talent ABFF sources for them in terms of new writers, directors, producers, content creators and on-camera talent,” said ABFF Founder, Jeff Friday. “No one has understood the value of creating a consistent platform for this more than our founding sponsor HBO.”

The top winners at the ABFF Awards were Last Night, winning the “Audience Award” and “Best Screenplay” and The Night Before winning for “Best Narrative” and “Best Director.” A full list of winners is below.

Sponsors of the 2015 American Black Film Festival, to date, are HBO® (Presenting & Founding); TV One, Cadillac and Walmart (Presenting); Comcast NBCUniversal and Prudential, Inc. (Premier); AMC Theatres, American Airlines, Coors Light, McDonald’s and TNT (Signature); Fox | HBCU Media Alliance, Macy’s, Moet Hennessy, Time Warner Foundation, and VH1 (Official); ASPiRE, BET, Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Rhythm One and UPtv (Supporting); 21st Century Fox, CreativeFuture, Nielsen, SAGIndie. Turner Classic Movies, The Swirl Group, The Walter Kaitz Foundation, UMC – Urban Movie Channel (Industry Partners); Uptown Magazine, EBONY and The YBF (Media Partners); and Afrostream, NYCgo.com, NY Urban League Young Professionals, Madiba Harlem, MoMA, Teaneck Film Festival, and The JDot. Agency (Promotional Partners).

About ABFF
The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) is a four-day event dedicated to showcasing quality film and television content by and about people of African descent. Annually held during the month of June, the ABFF is committed to the belief that Black artists and
content creators deserve the same opportunities as their mainstream counterparts.

ABFF Founder Jeff Friday conceived the idea for the festival in 1997 as a vehicle to promote diversity in the motion picture industry. Today, the festival is widely recognized for showcasing established and new Black talent, both in front of and behind the camera, and is regarded as one of the leading film festivals in the world. The ABFF is produced by Film Life Inc. and BLACK ENTERPRISE.

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


2015 AMERICAN BLACK FILM FESTIVAL WINNERS LIST

“BEST OF THE ABFF” AUDIENCE AWARD (TIE)

(Presented by VH1)

KNUCKLEHEAD
Directed by: Ben Bowman
Written by: Bryan Abrams, Ben Bowman
Produced by: Gbenga Akinnagbe, Ben Bowman
Executive Producers: Jonathan Gray, Debra Azemar
Cast: Gbenga Akinnagbe, Alfre Woodard, Amari Cheatom, Justin Myrick, Nikiya Mathis, Carla Duren

AND

LAST NIGHT
Directed by: Harold Jackson III
Written by: Harold Jackson III
Produced by: Harold Jackson III, Hope Taylor, Prince Levy Jr., Latecia Durham
Cast: Judi Blair, Danny Gavigan, Benton Greene, Nedra McClyde, Nikkole Salter

GRAND JURY PRIZE FOR BEST SCREENPLAY

(Presented by Time Warner Foundation)

LAST NIGHT
Directed by: Harold Jackson III
Written by: Harold Jackson III
Produced by: Harold Jackson III, Hope Taylor, Prince Levy Jr., Latecia Durham
Cast: Judi Blair, Danny Gavigan, Benton Greene, Nedra McClyde, Nikkole Salter

GRAND JURY AWARD FOR BEST DIRECTOR

(Presented by Cadillac)

THE NIGHT BEFORE
Directed by: Kenny Young
Written by: Kenny Young
Produced by: Phil James, Lisa D. Washington, Kim Hardin
Executive Producers: Angela White, Felicia James
Cast: Colin Egglesfield, David Faustino, Fred Willard, Anna Hutchinson, Brian White, Gary Owen

GRAND JURY AWARD FOR BEST NARRATIVE

(Presented by Prudential)

THE NIGHT BEFORE
Directed by: Kenny Young
Written by: Kenny Young
Produced by: Phil James, Lisa D. Washington, Kim Hardin
Executive Producers: Angela White, Felicia James
Cast: Colin Egglesfield, David Faustino, Fred Willard, Anna Hutchinson, Brian White, Gary Owen

GRAND JURY AWARD FOR BEST ACTOR

(Presented by ASPiRE)

LISA ARRINDELL ANDERSON
IN
THE SIN SEER

Directed by: Paul D. Hannah
Written by: Paul D. Hannah
Produced by: Paul D. Hannah, Angela White, Isaiah Washington

HBO® SHORT FILM COMPETITION

STANHOPE
Directed by: Solvan Naim
Written by: Solvan Naim
Produced by: Solvan Naim, Akshay Bhansali
Cast: Malik Lockett, Johnnie Mae, Rob Morgan, Nedra McClyde, Simeon Buresch

BEST WEB ORIGINAL

(Presented by Comcast NBCUniversal)

AMERICAN KOKO
Directed by: Diarra Kilpatrick & Miles Orion Feld
Written by: Diarra Kilpatrick
Produced by: Anna Micayla Feld
Cast: Diarra Kilpatrick, Terrence Colby Clemons, Miles Orion Feld, Elaine Kao, Cedric Sanders

BEST DOCUMENTARY

(Presented by BET Networks)

ALTHEA
Directed by: Rex Miller
Produced by: Nancy Buirski, Elisabeth Haviland James, Rex Miller
Executive Producers: John Amos, Billie Jean King, William Ackman
Principal Subject(s): Billie Jean King, Nick Bollettieri, David Dinkins, Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe

ABFF TALENT COMPETITIONS

COMEDY WINGS COMPETITION WINNER

(Presented by HBO)

Chastity Washington

MCDONALD’S LOVIN’ VIDEO COMPETITION WINNER PUPPY LOVE

Written and Directed by Richard T. Fields

STAR PROJECT

(Presented by NBCUniversal)

Female – Asha Kamali
Male – Rahmell Peebles

TV ONE SCREENPLAY COMPETITION

DEADBEAT DAD REHAB
Written by Keronoda “Kiki” McKnight

CAREER ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Jenifer Lewis


Follow ABFF 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
#ABFF2015

CONTACT: HUFF Events & PR
Michelle Huff Elliott
michelle@huffent.com

PRESENTED BY THE MOTION PICTURE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA, INC. (MPAA), COURTESY OF OPEN ROAD FILMS

­-The American Black Film Festival’s Exciting Slate of Events and Screenings Will Take Place at the New York Hilton Midtown, AMC Theatres and SVA Theatre June 11 – June 14, 2015

New York, New York (May 11, 2015) – Film director Rick Famuyiwa’s critically acclaimed film, Dope, sponsored by the Motion Picture Association of America, will open the 19th annual American Black Film Festival (ABFF) on Thursday, June 11, at the SVA Theatre, 333 West 23rd Street, NYC. With its New York City premiere, Dope is one of the buzziest and most talked about film releases of the 2015 summer season.

ABFF CEO and Founder Jeff Friday says, “Dope couldn’t be a more fitting film to open the festival. Rick Famuyiwa has taken a classic genre and told a unique story within it, combining all the elements that make a great film–outstanding writing, directing, cast and music. Our audience will truly enjoy the journey,” The mission of the ABFF is to promote quality Black films to a wide range of audiences, and to encourage investment and artistic collaboration.

“We are excited to continue enhancing our ongoing partnership with the American Black Film Festival by sponsoring this year’s Opening Night Film. I would like to give a big thank-you to our good friends at Open Road Films for collaborating with us to bring their fantastic film, Dope, to the festival audience. Having a film of this caliber, as well as exclusive previews from the MPAA’s member studios’ upcoming slate of films, will ensure a wonderful experience for all those in attendance,” says MPAA CEO and Chairman Senator Chris Dodd.

Dope is a coming-of-age comedy/drama for the post hip-hop generation; its main characters are obsessed with ‘90s hip-hop. Malcolm (Shameik Moore) is warily surviving life in “The Bottoms” in Los Angeles, while juggling college applications, academic interviews and SATs. His dream is to attend Harvard. A chance invitation to an underground party leads him into a gritty adventure filled with offbeat characters and bad choices that could allow him to go from being a geek to being dope to ultimately being himself. Open Road Films will release the film nationwide on June 19, 2015.

Dope stars Shameik Moore, Tony Revolori, Kiersey Clemons, Blake Anderson, Zoë Kravitz, A$AP Rocky, Chanel Iman and Quincy Brown and is produced by Forest Whitaker and Nina Yang Bongiovi (Fruitvale Station). Pharrell Williams, Michael Y. Chow (Fruitvale Station), Rick Famuyiwa (The Wood, Brown Sugar) and David Lonner are executive producers. Sean “P. Diddy” Combs is co-executive producer, and Mimi Valdes and Caron Veazy are co-producers.

Following the screening, the ABFF will host an old-school hip-hop after-party to celebrate Dope at Stage 48, 605 West 48th Street, NYC. The evening will be hosted by the legendary Doug E. Fresh and perfectly mixed sounds provided by former Boogie Down Productions member DJ D-Nice. There will be special performances by iconic hip-hop artists throughout the party. Dope will also have an encore screening during the festival on Sunday, June 14, at the AMC Empire 25 Theatre on 42nd Street in New York City.

Sponsors of the 2015 American Black Film Festival to date are HBO® (Presenting & Founding); TV One and Cadillac (Presenting); Comcast NBCUniversal and Prudential Financial Services (Premier); AMC Theatres, American Airlines, McDonald’s and TNT (Signature); Macy’s (Official); ASPIRE, Motion Picture Association of America and UPtv (Supporting); RLJ Entertainment, SAGIndie and Walter Kaitz Foundation (Industry Partners); UPTOWN Magazine, EBONY and The YBF (Media Partners); NYCgo.com, New York Urban League Young Professionals, Madiba Harlem, MoMA and The JDot. Agency (Promotional Partners).

About ABFF:
The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) is a four-day event dedicated to showcasing quality film and television content by and about people of African descent. Annually held during the month of June, the ABFF is committed to the belief that Black artists and content creators deserve the same opportunities as their mainstream counterparts.

ABFF Founder Jeff Friday conceived the idea for the festival in 1997 as a vehicle to promote diversity in the motion picture industry.

Today, the festival is widely recognized for showcasing established and new Black talent, both in front of and behind the camera, and is regarded as one of the leading film festivals in the world. The ABFF is produced by Film Life Inc. and BLACK ENTERPRISE.

For festival passes, tickets and additional information, visit www.ABFF.com.

Twitter: http://twitter.com/abff
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/American-Black-Film-Festival/47321635722
Instagram: http://www.Instagram.com/AmericanBlackFilmFestival
#ABFF2015

Official Film Site: http://YouAreDope.com
Official Facebook: http://Facebook.com/DopeMovie
Official Twitter: http://Twitter.com/DopeMovie
Official Instagram: http://Instagram.com/DopeTheMovie
YouTube: http://YouTube.com/OpenRoadFilms
Official Snapchat: DopeMovie

CONTACT: HUFF Events & PR
Michelle Huff Elliott
michelle@huffent.com
917-405-3453

Jenifer Lewis is one of Hollywood’s most familiar faces, with more than 300 appearances in film and television. Her latest movie, The Wedding Ringer (Sony Pictures), marks the fourth time she has starred alongside Kevin Hart. Known as the “Black Mother of Hollywood,” Jenifer currently guest stars on the hit show Black-ish (ABC), in the recurring role of “Ruby.”

Jenifer is a multi-talented entertainer who performed to an electrifying standing ovation at Carnegie Hall when she sang with the New York Pops orchestra in April 2014.

Recently, Jenifer appeared in Think Like A Man, Think Like A Man Too (Sony Pictures) and Baggage Claim (Fox Searchlight.) The Magic City, an independent film for which Jenifer won the Best Actress award at the BronzeLens Film Festival, will debut in 2015.

Jenifer delivered legendary performances as Tina Turner’s mother in What’s Love Got to Do With It and in The Preacher’s Wife as the mother of Whitney Houston’s character. She portrayed the distraught mother, “Candace,” opposite Matt Damon in Clint Eastwood’s Hereafter and for director Tyler Perry, Jenifer created unforgettable characters in Madea’s Family Reunion and Meet the Browns. In the movie Castaway, Jenifer portrayed Tom Hanks’ boss.

In animated films, Jenifer’s uniquely recognizable voice is adored by Disney fans worldwide in roles such as “Flo” in Cars and Cars 2 and as “Mama Odie” in The Princess and the Frog.

Jenifer’s TV roles have ranged from regular appearances as “Aunt Helen” on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air to guest star roles on Friends, Boston Legal and Girlfriends. For six seasons, Jenifer portrayed “Lana Hawkins” on Lifetime’s hit series Strong Medicine.

In September 2012, Jenifer premiered in a self-produced webseries, Jenifer Lewis and Shangela, available on YouTube.

Music and Theater

Although best known for her Hollywood success, Jenifer has enjoyed a wide-ranging and varied career in music and theater for more than 30 years. In 2013, Jenifer won a Bistro Award for her show titled Black Don’t Crack, which drew standing-room only crowds to 54 Below cabaret in New York City.

Jenifer began performing on Broadway within one month of graduating with a degree in theater arts. Over the years, she has graced the Broadway stage in four shows, most recently in the hit show Hairspray as “Motormouth Maybelle.” Also in New York, Jenifer enjoyed critical acclaim co-starring opposite Meryl Streep in the Shakespeare in the Park production of Brecht’s Mother Courage and Her Children. In Seattle, Jenifer wowed audiences as Dolly Levi in the venerable 5th Avenue Theatre’s production of Hello Dolly! In 2012, Jenifer returned to her hometown as a guest performer with the 90-piece St. Louis Symphony, accompanied by a chorus of more than 100 voices.

As a solo performer early in her career, Ms. Lewis toured colleges with her tribute From Billie to Lena and delighted audiences worldwide with a string of cabaret shows, including the award-winning The Diva is Dismissed. Briefly, she toured as a “Harlette” with Bette Midler. All told, Ms. Lewis has presented more than 200 concerts, performing in 49 states and four continents.

Giving Back

In addition to her achievements as a performer, Jenifer is committed to community issues. Having lost many friends to the AIDS epidemic, Jenifer is a forceful proponent for AIDS education and treatment and has performed at more than 15 AIDS walks around the country. Jenifer has presented four one-woman shows to raise funds for youth housing at the Los Angeles LGBT Center and in November 2014, the Human Rights Campaign recognized Jenifer with its Ally for Equality Award.

Jenifer also advocates on behalf of mental health issues. In 2007, Jenifer chose The Oprah Winfrey Show as a platform to reveal that she has bipolar disorder. She continues to speak nationally for the eradication of stigma against people with mental illness.

Jenifer was born and raised in Kinloch, Missouri. She holds a bachelor’s degree in theater arts from Webster University in St. Louis, which will grant her an honorary doctorate in May 2015. Fans can follow Jenifer on Twitter (@JeniferLewis) and Facebook (Jenifer Lewis For Real.)

ACTRESS AND PRODUCER TARAJI P. HENSON SELECTED AS 2015 CELEBRITY AMBASSADOR

New York, New York (March 13, 2015) – The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) will host the first multicultural Television & Media Expo to provide broadcasters the opportunity to promote programming and showcase diversity initiatives to more than 7,000 consumers. The ABFF Television & Media Expo will take place in New York City, June 13 and 14, from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the New York Hilton Midtown.

The ABFF Television & Media Expo is a unique, two-day promotional event for network, cable, and Internet/digital media broadcasters during the 19th annual ABFF, June 11–14. This expo will provide an open forum for companies to generate awareness and excitement their brand and to create a word-of-mouth and positive experience with the ABFF consumer.

“The success of today’s multicultural programming proves that Americans want to see a diverse cross section of our world on television, as well as at the movies. We have found that diverse programming translates into box-office and ratings success and is a true reflection of our nation. We are excited to offer companies the opportunity to connect with multicultural consumers and talent in this unique way,” states Film Life Inc. CEO Jeff Friday.

Expo participants include HBO®, Comcast Xfinity, NBCUniversal, TV One, UP TV and Aspire.

Sponsors of the 2015 American Black Film Festival, to date, are HBO® (Presenting & Founding); TV One (Presenting); Cadillac, Comcast NBCUniversal and Prudential Financial Services (Premier); American Airlines, AMC Theatres and McDonald’s (Signature); Motion Picture Association of America (Supporting); and Uptown Magazine and The YBF (Media Partners).

For festival passes, tickets and film submission information, www.ABFF.com.

About ABFF:
The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) is a four-day event dedicated to showcasing quality film and television content by and about people of African descent. Annually held during the month of June, the ABFF is committed to the belief that black artists and content creators deserve the same opportunities as their mainstream counterparts. ABFF Founder Jeff Friday conceived the idea for the festival in 1997 as a vehicle to promote diversity in the motion picture industry.

Today, the festival is widely recognized for showcasing established and new black talent, both in front of and behind the camera, and is regarded as one of the leading film festivals in the world. The ABFF is produced by Film Life Inc. and BLACK ENTERPRISE.

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

CONTACT: HUFF Events & PR
Michelle Huff Elliott
michelle@huffent.com
917-405-3453

New York, New York (March 4, 2015) – ABFF announced today that Oscar-nominated actress Taraji P. Henson, has been selected as the 2015 American Black Film Festival’s (ABFF) celebrity ambassador. The 19th annual Festival will be held June 11-14, 2015, in New York City at the New York Hilton, AMC Empire 25 and the historic Ziegfeld Theater.

Actress and Producer Taraji P. Henson has a stellar body of work, including such memorable roles as Yvette in Baby Boy, Shug in Hustle and Flow and Queenie in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, for which she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. Henson also co-starred in the CBS drama Person of Interest and currently stars on the hit FOX musical drama series, Empire.

“I want to thank Jeff Friday and everyone at ABFF for the honor of serving as your 2015 Ambassador. It is a privilege to join my fellow filmmakers to celebrate and support Black artists and the artistry that resides in all of us.” -Taraji P Henson

“I have a great deal of admiration and respect for Taraji. She is one of the industry’s finest actors and has a true sense of community; allowing others to stand in her light. We are extremely pleased to have her as our 2015 Ambassador,” says ABFF Founder Jeff Friday.

Film Life, Inc. Founder and CEO Jeff Friday and Black Enterprise President and CEO Earl “Butch” Graves Jr. recently created a new joint venture, representing a partnership between two prominent black-owned media and event companies with powerful brands, each with legacies of showcasing the best of African American culture and achievement. Black Enterprise and Film Life Inc. have formed ABFF Ventures, an equity partnership to produce the American Black Film Festival (ABFF), and the return of the Black Movie Awards, formally on TNT and other content focused on the entertainment, film and television industries.

Sponsors of the 2015 American Black Film Festival are: HBO (Presenting & Founding), TV One (Presenting), Cadillac, Comcast NBCUniversal and Prudential Financial Services (Premier Sponsors), American Airlines, AMC Theatres and McDonald’s (Signature Sponsors), Motion Picture Association of America (Supporting), Uptown Magazine and The YBF (Media Partners).

For Festival passes and ticket information, visit www.ABFF.com.

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

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

CONTACT: HUFF Events & PR
Michelle Huff Elliott
[email protected]
917-405-3453

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

THE 19TH ANNUAL ABFF RETURNS TO NEW YORK CITY FROM JUNE 11 – 14, 2015

February 19, 2015, New York, New York – Being the largest and longest running film festival for African American filmmakers, the American Black Film Festival (ABFF) prides itself on carving out unique opportunities and partnerships. With this being said, ABFF has partnered with HBO, Comcast NBCUniversal and McDonald’s, to create showcases for up and coming actors, comedians, filmmakers and television hosts. These platforms provide exposure for tomorrow’s rising stars and leaders in television and film.

“The opportunities for minorities in Hollywood are still marginalized, and it’s as necessary as ever to push to promote diversity throughout the industry, from the images projected on screen, to the creative forces behind the scenes. We work with our partners to help advance talented newcomers with their careers,” stated ABFF Founder & CEO, Jeff Friday.

Comcast NBCUniversal is partnering once again with the American Black Film Festival on The Star Project, to find the next fresh face for daytime television.

If you are an actor ready to compete for the opportunity to audition in front of executive judges and casting directors from NBC, perform two of NBC’s selected monologues on videotape and submit by March 20, 2015. Visit https://www.abff.com/miami/festival-program/talent-contests/ for full details.

New to ABFF this year, Comcast NBCUniversal will launch a Television Host Workshop designed to help emerging TV hosts sharpen their skills, and identify dynamic personalities ready for on-air opportunities. Details to be announced at www.abff.com by mid-March.

ABFF’s 3rd annual Comedy Wings Competition, sponsored by HBO, is a national search to identify outstanding comedic talent. People who demonstrate a natural ability to be funny! The Comedy Wings Competition has been created to showcase talented, yet undiscovered comedians and introduce them to the industry at large.

Up to ten semi-finalists will be selected from the 2015 pool of entries, to perform at a renowned NYC comedy club in April/early May and will prove themselves funny to secure a position as a finalist.

The four finalists will be flown to the 2015 ABFF in June, to perform before a panel of esteemed judges, where one will be crowned the winner. Enter by March 20, 2015. Visit https://www.abff.com/miami/festival-program/talent-contests/ for full details.

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 to screen their film at the American Black Film Festival in NYC, where one winner will be selected to receive the HBO Short Film Award and cash prize of $10,000. Submission deadline is March 10, 2015. Visit https://www.abff.com/miami/festival-program/talent-contests/ for full details.

The inaugural McDonald’s Lovin’ Video Competition offers an exciting new opportunity for aspiring filmmakers. McDonald’s is challenging you to create a 90-second to 2-minute video, based on their “Lovin” concept. Use your imagination and show us what “Lovin” means to you!

Three finalists will be selected to attend the Festival, screen their “Lovin” video before the festival audience, where one winner will be selected. In addition, finalists will attend a private “Mentor Luncheon” with Director Malcolm D. Lee (The Best Man, The Best Man Holiday). Submit your video by March 24, 2015. Visit https://www.abff.com/miami/festival-program/talent-contests/ for full details.

Sponsors of the 2015 American Black Film Festival are: HBO (Presenting & Founding), Cadillac, Comcast NBCUniversal and Prudential Financial Services (Premier Sponsors), AMC, American Airlines and McDonald’s (Signature Sponsors), MPAA (Supporting), Black Enterprise and Uptown Magazine (Media).

For Festival passes and ticket information, visit www.ABFF.com.

About ABFF:

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

Follow us on our Social Media Platforms:

Twitter: http://twitter.com/abff

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/American-Black-Film-Festival/47321635722

Instagram: www.Instagram.com/AmericanBlackFilmFestival

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Best Man Holiday film director, Malcolm D. Lee, to mentor finalists

OAK BROOK, Ill. (Feb. 10, 2015)McDonald’s USA and the American Black Film Festival are joining forces to launch the McDonald’s Lovin’ Video Competition. To complement the new “Lovin” campaign, up-and-coming filmmakers are challenged to create one 90-second film that brings to life McDonald’s philosophy that, “A little more lovin’ can change a lot.”

Aspiring filmmakers nationwide are encouraged to enter their best, original submissions by 11:59 p.m. Eastern March 24, 2015, for their chance to win the grand prize and earn accolades from film industry leaders. Three finalists will be selected to attend the 19th annual American Black Film Festival in New York City, June 11 -14 and have an exclusive opportunity to be mentored by critically-acclaimed film director Malcolm D. Lee (Best Man; Best Man Holiday), who will provide the finalists with invaluable film industry tips and advice.

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

“We are excited to partner with McDonald’s USA on this most unique digital video contest,” said Jeff Friday, American Black Film Festival founder and chief executive officer. “The ABFF is committed to supporting emerging artists and providing trailblazing opportunities for them to gain exposure and visibility in the film and television industry.”

“I’m honored to mentor our next generation of aspiring filmmakers through ‘Lovin’ Video Competition’,” said Malcolm D. Lee. “Many have mentored and guided me along my journey to make an impact in film, and it’s important for all of us to do our part to bring the next generation up.”

McDonald’s newest campaign reignites the spirit of “i’m lovin’ it” and will inspire everything the brand does moving forward. By focusing on the lovin’ people show each other every day, the campaign provides an opportunity to celebrate and bring more lovin’ to customers.

“McDonald’s is excited to embark on this initiative with ABFF and the filmmakers of the future from the communities we serve,” said Kristen Wells, External Communications Manager, McDonald’s USA. “We hope that the idea of sharing love throughout our communities will motivate and inspire the filmmakers as they work tirelessly to make their dreams a reality.”

The Lovin’ Video Competition and ABFF’s vision to promote diversity in the film and television industry align with McDonald’s 365Black platform — an initiative that celebrates the pride, heritage and achievements of African-Americans year round.

McDonald’s encourages those who live out lovin’ in their lives each day to follow @365Black on Twitter and join the conversation using #365LovinFilm. To learn more about the 365Black initiative, visit www.365Black.com.

To learn more about the American Black Film Festival and the Lovin’ Video Competition, visit www.abff.com. Follow @ABFF on Twitter and @AmericanBlackFilmFestival on Instagram.

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

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

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

© 2015 McDonald’s

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

Taryn Williams-Clark, Burrell Communications
(312) 297-9886
[email protected]

FESTIVAL EXPANDS TO SHOWCASE DIVERSITY IN TELEVISION

REGISTRATION AND FILM SUBMISSIONS BEGIN DECEMBER 5

November 19, 2014, New York, New York – Film Life, Inc., is pleased to announce the 19th annual American Black Film Festival (ABFF) will take place in New York City, June 11-14, 2015, at the New York Hilton Midtown and AMC Empire 25 Theater. Originally established to increase diversity in the film industry, the four-day festival is expanding its program to include a TV Writers Workshop, Network Expo, and case studies of popular current television shows. HBO® returns as the festival’s founding sponsor.

“With the renewed prestige of mainstream television and the proliferation of multi-platform distribution, the ABFF will now feature more television-related content that networks can draw on to connect with and promote programming to African American viewers,” said Jeff Friday, founder and CEO. “The festival hopes to attract new broadcast partners – network, television and Internet – who are strongly committed to speaking to a diverse audience.”

“HBO® is proud to be the Founding Sponsor of the ABFF and of our deep partnership with Jeff and his team over the 18 years of continued support. HBO® has the privilege to work with the best creative talent and our support of the ABFF via the HBO® Short Film Competition and Comedy Wings has introduced us to a new generation of emerging talent – many of whom will use this festival as a springboard for successful careers in our industry,” said Dennis Williams, Vice President, Corporate Social Responsibility.

The American Black Film Festival is a four-day event dedicated to showcasing quality films by and about people of African descent. Committed to the belief that Black content creators and artists deserve the same opportunities as their mainstream counterparts, Jeff Friday conceived the festival in 1997 as a vehicle to promote diversity in the film and television industry. The festival’s annual program includes film premieres, panels, celebrity and movie industry conversations, master classes, networking and “The Best of the ABFF” Awards presentation.

The ABFF is widely recognized as an important pipeline bringing new Black talent to prominence both in front of and behind the camera, and is regarded as one of the leading film festivals in the world. It is anticipated that the 2015 ABFF, centered in midtown Manhattan, will attract more than 25,000 people, making it the nation’s largest gathering of Black film and TV enthusiasts.

Sponsors and partners confirmed to date include HBO (Founding and Premier), AMC (Signature), Black Enterprise and Uptown magazines (Media Partners) and the Motion Picture Association of America (Industry Partner).

Festival registration and submissions will be open as of December 5, 2014 at www.abff.com.

About Film Life
Film Life, Inc. is a multi-faceted entertainment company headquartered in New York City. The company was founded in 2001 by Jeff Friday, its current CEO. While best known for creating the American Black Film Festival (ABFF), the company’s operations center on developing and licensing innovative content across all forms of media and providing strategic advisory services to a wide range of corporations in the entertainment, media and consumer product industries. Its scope of consulting services includes event management, film marketing and distribution, educational program development, talent procurement and video production.

About HBO®
Home Box Office, Inc., is the premium television programming subsidiary of Time Warner Inc. and the world’s most successful pay TV service, providing two television services – HBO® and Cinemax® – to approximately 114 million subscribers worldwide. The services offer the most popular subscription video-on-demand products – HBO On Demand®, Cinemax On Demand®, HBO GO® and MAX GO® – as well as HD feeds and multiplex channels. Internationally, HBO – branded television networks, along with the subscription video-on-demand products HBO On Demand and HBO GO, bring HBO services to over 70 countries. HBO and Cinemax programming is available in over 150 countries worldwide.

Follow ABFF on Social Media
Twitter: http://twitter.com/abff
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/American-Black-Film-Festival/47321635722
Instagram: http://www.Instagram.com/AmericanBlackFilmFestival

CONTACT: HUFF Events & PR
Michelle L. Huff
michelle@huffent.com
212.239.1732