The Abduction of Jesse Bookman Wins for Best Actor and ABFF Best Film

Los Angeles, CA – August 11, 2008 – Film Life wrapped up its 12th American Black Film Festival (ABFF) at the ABFF Awards Presentation that was held Sunday, August 10, 2008, at the WGA Theater in Los Angeles, CA. The festival hosted a week of independent film screenings, workshops, symposiums and exclusive networking events. Among Hollywood’s celebrity movers and shakers in attendance were: Halle Berry, Evan Ross, Lauren London, Tatiana Ali, Columbus Short, Anthony Mackie, Holly Robinson Peete, Nate Parker, Angela Bassett, Lela Rochon, Loretta Devine, Mos Def, Rockmond Dunbar, Michael Ealy, John Singleton, Sanaa Lathan, Malik Yoba, Tina Andrews, Salli Richardson and Dennis Haysbert.

The show was hosted by Niecy Nash of Comedy Central’s “Reno 911” and the Style Network’s home makeover series “Clean House,” who kept the audience energized with her quirky and off-beat brand of comedy. Actors Richard T. Jones (Why Did I Get Married? “Judging Amy”) and Denise Boutte (Why Did I Get Married?) were also in attendance to present awards.

“The American Black Film Festival’s Awards continue to celebrate and honor independent films and filmmakers, as well as help fulfill our vision to provide new opportunities for emerging talent and introduce their work to a broad audience,” said Jeff Friday, ABFF Founder and President, and CEO, Film Life, Inc.

With the support of major U.S. corporations, the festival awards cash and other prizes. The 2008 award winners are as follows:

HBO® Short Film Award, presented by HBO
Premature, directed by Rashaad Ernesto Green. The cash award of $20,000 was presented by Dennis Williams, Manager of Multicultural Marketing, HBO.

Heineken Red Star Award
LA Proper, directed by Barry Canty. The award was presented by Melanie Sharee, ABFF Festival Director. The winner received a full-page profile in Variety magazine, will be featured in a segment on the Independent Film Channel and celebrated at an industry event in Los Angeles at the close of the year.

Allstate® Beyond February “Be Reel” Film Contest Winner, presented by Allstate
The Lucky Suit, written and directed by Roy Clovis. The cash award of $5,000 was presented by Dennis Haysbert, Grand Jury President, and Kimberly Turner, Manager of Integrated Marketing Communications, Multicultural Marketing, Allstate.

Grand Jury Prize for Best Film
The Abduction of Jesse Bookman, directed by Ezra A. Gould. The award, $5,000 worth of film stock from Kodak, was presented by Jeff Friday, Founder of the ABFF.

Grand Jury Prize for Best Actor
Mel Jackson. Presented by actors Richard T. Jones and Denise Boutté.

Target® Filmmaker Award — for Inspiration to Dream in Color
Pip & Zastrow: An American Friendship, directed by Victoria Bruce and Karin Hayes. The cash award of $10,000 was presented by Greg Cunningham, Group Marketing Manager, Target.

The Best Documentary, presented by BET J
Slaying Goliath, directed by Michele Stephenson and Joe Brewster. The cash award of $10,000 was presented by Sean Johnson, Executive Producer of BET J.

“We are pleased with our second year participation,” stated Kimberly Turner of Allstate. “We congratulate the ABFF winners and are excited to be part of a program that promotes and strengthens the immense creativity of the Black filmmaking community.”

Sponsors of the ABFF: Presenting Sponsor Allstate®; Founding Sponsor HBO®; Premier Sponsors luxury automaker Lincoln, Target and BET J; Blockbuster, Heineken (Official Sponsors); Nielsen Media Research, One Village Entertainment, Fox Searchlight Pictures, Codeblack Entertainment, Nickelodeon, Fox Entertainment Group and Grey Goose® Vodka (Supporting Sponsors); SAG Indie, Writers Guild of America West, Kodak, Greater Philadelphia Film Office, Illinois Film Office and FoxxKing Entertainment (Industry Sponsors); Black Enterprise, Uptown, Upscale, Black Noir, Heart&Soul, Precious Times, Automotive Rhythms, Toy Box, Monarch, Hope Today Magazine, NV, Save the Date, KJLH-FM and EUR Web (Media Sponsors).

The ABFF is a property of Film Life, Inc., a New York-based film marketing and distribution company. Its mission is to spearhead the global distribution of quality Black films and be the leading American brand producing Black movies, television, events and digital content. Film Life’s key properties include the American Black Film Festival (abff.com); the Black Movie Awards (blackmovieawards.com); and the ABFF DVD Series (thefilmlife.com), a partnership with Warner Home Video.

Photos available on request.

Contact:
Yvette N. Harris
ABFF Publicity
786.897.8854

Festival to open in Los Angeles August 7-10, 2008

New York, NY, May 25, 2008 – Actor Anthony Mackie, who will star as Tupac Shakur in the biopic, Notorious, scheduled for release by Fox Searchlight Pictures in 2009, has been named today as Ambassador for the Film Life’s 2008 American Black Film Festival (ABFF). The ABFF is the premier international marketplace for films that showcase the best new work by and about people of African descent. The role of the ABFF Ambassador is to broaden public awareness of the festival and its mission to encourage collaboration and support between Hollywood and the independent film community. This year’s festival, whose theme is “Exploring Black Romance and Sexuality in American Cinema,” is scheduled to take place in Los Angeles from August 7-10.

Mackie, who succeeds last year’s Ambassador, Anthony Anderson, will be featured in the upcoming DreamWorks film Eagle Eye, starring Shia LaBeouf, Michelle Monaghan and Billy Bob Thornton. Eagle Eye is scheduled to hit theaters this September. Mackie was an Independent Spirit Award Nominee for his portrayal of Perry, a young homosexual visual artist in the film Brother to Brother. His Broadway and Off-Broadway credits include: Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Drowning Crow, A Soldier’s Play, and Talk” for which he won an Obie Award in 2002. Mackie can also be seen in the films The Manchurian Candidate and Million Dollar Baby, alongside Oscar winning actors Denzel Washington, Clint Eastwood, Morgan Freeman and Hillary Swank; as well as Half Nelson, We Are Marshall, Freedomland, and She Hate Me.

“I am honored to be able to serve as the 2008 ABFF Ambassador to help increase awareness of this great festival that champions creative expression as well as recognizes and rewards emerging talent, who might otherwise remain undiscovered,” Mackie said. Born and raised in New Orleans, Mackie honed his skills at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts before completing his education at Juilliard.

“Anthony exemplifies what the mission of the ABFF is: to recognize, showcase and celebrate emerging African American talent,” said Jeff Friday, CEO of Film Life and founder of the ABFF. “I am always pleased when young, talented actors recognize the importance of what the ABFF has been doing over the past 12 years, and are eager to give back and support our mission,” Friday continued.

Allstate is the Presenting Sponsor of the 2008 festival and HBO® is the festival’s Founding Sponsor. Other sponsors on board for this year include luxury automaker, Lincoln, as well as Target, BET J (Premier); Blockbuster, Heineken (Official); Nielsen Media Research, One Village Entertainment, Fox Searchlight Pictures, Codeblack Entertainment, Nickelodeon, Fox Entertainment Group (Supporting); SAG Indie, Writers Guild of America West, Greater Philadelphia Film Commission (Industry); Black Enterprise, Uptown, Upscale, Black Noir, Heart&Soul, Precious Times, Automotive Rhythms, Toy Box, Monarch, Hope Today Magazine, NV, Save the Date and EUR Web (Media).

The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) is the nation’s largest publicly held personal lines insurer. Widely known through the “You’re In Good Hands With Allstate®” slogan, Allstate helps individuals in approximately 17 million households protect what they have today and better prepare for tomorrow through approximately 14,900 exclusive agencies and financial representatives in the U.S. and Canada. Customers can access Allstate products and services such as auto insurance and homeowners insurance through Allstate agencies, or in select states at allstate.com and 1-800 Allstate®. Encompass® and Deerbrook® Insurance brand property and casualty products are sold exclusively through independent agents. The Allstate Financial Group provides life insurance, supplemental accident and health insurance, annuity, banking and retirement products designed for individual, institutional and worksite customers that are distributed through Allstate agencies, independent agencies, financial institutions and broker-dealers.

The ABFF, cofounded by Jeff Friday in 1997, is a property of Film Life, Inc., a New York-based film marketing and distribution company. Its mission is to spearhead the global distribution of quality Black films and be the leading American brand producing Black movies, television, events and digital content. Film Life’s key properties include the American Black Film Festival (abff.com); the Black Movie Awards (blackmovieawards.com); the Turks and Caicos International Film Festival (www.turksnadcaicosfilmfest.com); and the ABFF DVD Series (thefilmlife.com), a partnership with Warner Home Video.

For general registration information visit www.abff.com, call 646- 375-2144, ext. 1, or contact the festival via e-mail at [email protected].

Allstate® signs on as festival Presenting Sponsor

New York, NY, April 1, 2008 – Film Life’s 12th annual American Black Film Festival (ABFF) will take place August 7-10, 2008, in Los Angeles, CA, it was announced by the festival founder and CEO of Film Life, Inc., Jeff Friday. “We are very exited about once again being in Los Angeles and providing the opportunity to link the independent Black film community with Hollywood,” Friday stated.

Festival activities will be centered in West Hollywood and Beverly Hills. Allstate® has signed on as the 2008 presenting sponsor. HBO®, the festival’s founding sponsor, returns along with BETJ and Lincoln as premiere sponsors. Film submissions for consideration for the 2008 ABFF are being accepted from now through June 3, 2008. Submission forms, deadlines and eligibility criteria are available online at www.abff.com.

“We are excited about moving up to the presenting sponsor level and taking the film screenings to several local communities,” said Raleigh Floyd, communications manager for Allstate. “As part of our “Beyond February” initiative, the 2008 Allstate Be Reel Film Contest is an acknowledgement of the important role the arts play in strengthening communities, and another way Allstate demonstrates its commitment to the African-American community year-round,” he added.

The mission of the festival, which was founded in 1997, is to strengthen the Black filmmaking community through resource sharing, education, artistic collaboration and career development. Since its inception, over 400 independent films have been screened, seventy per cent having gone on to secure theatrical or DVD distribution. Festival alumni include director Sylvain White (Stomp the Yard) and producers Rob Hardy and Will Packer (This Christmas and Stomp the Yard), producer Roger M. Bobb (Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married and Daddy’s Little Girls) and writer/director Frank E. Flowers (Haven). The ABFF was born out of the need to generate distribution opportunities for independent Black films and promote cultural diversity within the motion picture industry. It is widely considered the premier Black film market. Festival attendance is expected to exceed 5,000 people.

“The theme of this year’s festival is Exploring Black Sexuality in Cinema. We plan to present an exciting panel as well as screen several films with sexuality at their core,” said Reggie Scott, executive director of the ABFF. “Additionally, we intend to work closely with the studios to create a potent marketplace for buyers and producers of independent Black cinema,” Scott added.

In addition to its cinematic showcases, the ABFF nurtures artists in a variety of disciplines, offering workshops, symposiums, exclusive parties, high-level networking and signature events including: panel discussions, ABFF Honors, the HBO Short Film Competition and “A Conversation with…” For the past eleven years, HBO has collaborated with the ABFF to bring the best emerging Black filmmakers to the forefront.

Official festival screenings are organized into four sections, Short Films, feature length Narratives, Documentaries and Animation,. The best films of the ABFF are recognized at the ABFF Awards Announcement (August 10) and rewarded with the ABFF Independent Film Award, cash and other prizes. Through the support of Film Life and a wide variety of corporate partners, the American Black Film Festival continues with its mission to fortify the Black filmmaking community and make films by and about people of color more accessible to mainstream audiences.

Additional sponsors and media partners include: Heineken and Blockbuster (Official); Nielsen Media Research and One Village Entertainment (Supporting); Black Enterprise, Uptown Magazine, Heart & Soul, Upscale, Black Noir, EUR Web, Monarch and Toy Box (Media)

The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) is the nation’s largest publicly held personal lines insurer. Widely known through the “You’re In Good Hands With Allstate®” slogan, Allstate helps individuals in approximately 17 million households protect what they have today and better prepare for tomorrow through approximately 14,900 exclusive agencies and financial representatives in the U.S. and Canada. Customers can access Allstate products and services such as auto insurance and homeowners insurance through Allstate agencies, or in select states at allstate.com and 1-800 Allstate®. Encompass® and Deerbrook® Insurance brand property and casualty products are sold exclusively through independent agents. The Allstate Financial Group provides life insurance, supplemental accident and health insurance, annuity, banking and retirement products designed for individual, institutional and worksite customers that are distributed through Allstate agencies, independent agencies, financial institutions and broker-dealers.

The ABFF, cofounded by Jeff Friday in 1997, is a property of Film Life, Inc., a New York-based film marketing and distribution company. Its mission is to spearhead the global distribution of quality Black films and be the leading American brand producing Black movies, television, events and digital content. Film Life is the producer of the American Black Film Festival (abff.com), The Turks & Caicos International Film Festival (turksandcaicosfilmfest.com), The Black Movie Awards (blackmovieawards.com), and the ABFF DVD Series (thefilmlife.com), a partnership with Warner Home Video.

Festival and registration information is available online at www.abff.com, or by e-mail: [email protected].

FESTIVAL OPENS OCTOBER 25TH IN LOS ANGELES

New York, NY, September 25, 2007 – Film Life’s 11th annual American Black Film Festival (ABFF) will kick-off Thursday October 25th in Los Angeles with the special screening of the upcoming Sony/Screen Gems film This Christmas, starring Delroy Lindo, Idris Elba, Loretta Divine, Mekhi Phifer and Regina King. Festival passes and tickets for the ABFF are on sale now at ticket web (www.ticketweb.com) or by visiting www.abff.com. “We are excited to be kicking off this year’s festival with this highly anticipated film, produced by ABFF alumni Will packer and Preston A. Whitmore II,” said Jeff Friday, founder/CEO of Film Life, Inc. and the ABFF.

In addition to the opening night screening of This Christmas, Bill Duke’s acclaimed Actors Boot Camp will be held for three days as will the popular Filmmakers Workshop, which will feature instruction from F. Gary Gray and John Singleton. Producer Tracey Edmonds and Writer/Directors Kasi Lemmons and Reggie Rock Bythewood as well as writer, Norman Vance, Jr., will be on hand at Lincoln’s “Off the Red Carpet” program. In addition, celebrities such as Boris Kodjoe, Julie Dash, and Gabrielle Union will participate in panel discussions and screenings. Actor Anthony Anderson is the 2007 ABFF Ambassador and Director Antoine Fuqua will serve as the President of the 2007 ABFF Grand Jury.

Founded in 1997, the mission of the festival is to strengthen the Black filmmaking community through resource sharing, education, artistic collaboration and career development. Since its inception, over 500 independent films have been screened, seventy percent of which have gone on to secure theatrical or DVD distribution.

Festival alumni include director Sylvain White (Stomp the Yard), producers Rob Hardy and Will Packer (Stomp the Yard), producer Roger M. Bobb (Daddy’s Little Girls) and writer/director Frank E. Flowers (Haven). The ABFF was born out of the need to generate distribution opportunities for independent Black films and promote cultural diversity within the motion picture industry. It is widely considered the premier Black film market. Festival attendance is expected to exceed 5,000 people.

“The support of our corporate partners, led by founding and title sponsor HBO, Lincoln, Allstate®, and BET J, allows the festival to continue to grow and nurture artists in a variety of disciplines offering workshops, symposiums, exclusive parties, high-level networking and signature events including: ABFF Feature Panel Discussion, A Conversation With…, and the HBO Short Film Competition,” added Friday.

Other 2007 Festival sponsors include: Blockbuster, Nokia, Paper Denim & Cloth, Heineken, Kodak, Fox Entertainment Group, Nielsen Media Research, Inta Juice, Nickelodeon, The Word Network, Golden Street Entertainment, Codeblack Entertainment, First Look Studios, Sofitel LA, One Village Entertainment, MTV Networks, Target, IFP, SAG Indie, Black Enterprise, heart & soul, Uptown, Upscale, DV Republic, Black Noir, NV magazine, and VIBE. V100-FM is the official radio partner.

The ABFF’s four film sections – Shorts, U.S. Features, International Features and Documentaries – will provide increased visibility to the films that will be screened this year. Filmmakers will be recognized and rewarded with cash and other prizes at the ABFF’s Independent Film Awards Presentation on October 28th at the WGA. Festival ticket prices are as follows: Festival Passes $675, Actors Boot Camp Passes $350, Filmmaker Workshop Passes $350, Symposium Passes $30, and Movie Screening Tickets $12. To purchase passes or tickets visit www.abff.com or www.ticketweb.com

The ABFF, co-founded by Jeff Friday in 1997, is a property of Film Life, Inc., a New York-based film marketing and distribution company. Its mission is to spearhead the global distribution of quality Black films and be the leading American brand producing Black movies, television, events and digital content. Film Life’s key properties include the American Black Film Festival (abff.com); The Black Movie Awards on TNT (blackmovieawards.com); and the ABFF DVD Series (thefilmlife.com), a partnership with Warner Home Video.

Home Box Office, Inc., is the premium television programming subsidiary of Time Warner Inc., providing two 24-hour premium television services — HBO and Cinemax-to over 40 million U.S. subscribers. The services offer the most popular subscription video on demand products, HBO On Demand and Cinemax On Demand, as well as multiplex channels and HD feeds. Internationally, HBO’s branded television networks, along with the subscription video on demand products HBO on Demand and HBO Mobile, bring HBO services to over 50 countries.

Festival and registration information is available online www.abff.com, via phone 212.966.2411, ext. 400, or by e-mail: [email protected].

Contact:
Ghana Odet Wilson, ABFF Publicity
212-966-2411 ext 411
[email protected]

New York, NY, August 27, 2007 – Today, actor Anthony Anderson was named ambassador for the 2007 American Black Film Festival (ABFF). The ABFF is the premier international marketplace for films that showcase the best new work by and about people of African descent. The role of the ABFF ambassador is to broaden public awareness of the festival and its mission to strengthen Black filmmaking through collaboration and support between Hollywood and the independent film community. The 2007 ABFF is scheduled to take place in Los Angeles from October 25-29.

Anderson, who received the festival’s Rising Star Award in 2000, is ABFF’s first ambassador. In this role, he will serve as the media spokesperson for the festival and serve as an adviser for the festival’s philanthropic endeavors.

“I am so pleased to be able to serve as the 2007 ABFF ambassador and increase awareness of this great festival that champions creative expression, as well as recognizes and rewards emerging talent–filmmakers and artists–who might otherwise remain undiscovered,” Anderson said.

Born and raised in California, Anderson, 36, is a graduate of the Hollywood High School Performing Arts Center and Howard University. He has amassed nearly 50 film and television credits. His most recent credits include The Transformers, the summer blockbuster directed by Michael Bay, and The Departed (2006), director Martin Scorsese’s Oscar®-winning film. Anderson can also be seen in the upcoming FOX TV series K-Ville (2007), as Marlin Boulet, a cop in New Orleans post Hurricane Katrina.

“Anthony personifies the mission of the ABFF, to recognize, showcase and celebrate emerging African-American talent,” said Jeff Friday, CEO of Film Life and co-founder of ABFF. “A dynamic performer with a huge screen presence, Anderson has been an almost ubiquitous feature player beginning in 1999, and his career has continued along unabated, making him the perfect person to champion the ABFF,” Friday added.

The 2007 ABFF will mark its 10th year of support from HBO®, the festival’s founding and title sponsor. This year’s premier sponsors will include Lincoln, Allstate and BET J. Official sponsors will include Blockbuster, Nokia, Paper Denim & Cloth, VIBE, Black Enterprise and Upscale, and supporting sponsors will include Nielsen Media Research, Fox Searchlight Pictures, Codeblack Entertainment, Nickelodeon, Golden Street Entertainment, The Word Network, UrbanWorks Entertainment, Heineken, Uptown, Black Noir, Heart & Soul, and the Sofitel LA.

Home Box Office, Inc., is the premium television programming subsidiary of Time Warner Inc., providing two 24-hour pay television services–HBO and Cinemax–to more than 40 million U.S. subscribers. The services offer the popular subscription video on demand products, HBO On Demand and Cinemax On Demand, as well as multiplex channels and HD feeds. Internationally, HBO On Demand and HBO Mobile, along with branded joint ventures, bring HBO services to more than 50 countries. HBO programming is sold in more than 150 countries.

The ABFF, co-founded by Jeff Friday in 1997, is a property of Film Life, Inc., a New York-based film marketing and distribution company. Its mission is to spearhead the global distribution of quality Black films and be the leading American brand producing Black movies, television, events and digital content. Film Life’s key properties include the American Black Film Festival (abff.com); The Black Movie Awards on TNT (blackmovieawards.com); and the ABFF DVD Series (thefilmlife.com), a partnership with Warner Home Video.

Film submissions to the 2007 ABFF are being accepted now through August 15. For eligibility criteria, submission forms and general registration information, visit www.abff.com; call 212.966.2411, ext. 400; or e-mail the festival at [email protected].