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American Black Film Festival Goes Virtual

Online Edition Scheduled for August 21-30, 2020

LOS ANGELES, CA, (June 11, 2020) – ABFF Ventures LLC., today announced that the 24th annual American Black Film Festival (ABFF) will take place online August 21-30, 2020 at abff.com. The ABFF Online Edition will continue the tradition of the live festival, featuring the best of independent black cinema, studio premieres, conversations and panels, business of entertainment seminars, along with virtual networking events.

The ABFF will also use its platform for social change in response to the scourge of racial injustice in our country, as well as educate and support its community in an effort to help in its recovery from the coronavirus. This year’s festival theme is “Community First!”

“While we will surely miss being with our ABFF community in Miami Beach this year and connecting in person, what truly binds us together is our shared commitment to ensure inclusion in Hollywood and sustaining a place of inspiration for diverse storytellers. We will persevere through this year and end up a stronger community on the other side of this crisis.” said ABFF Ventures CEO, Jeff Friday.

The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) was conceived in 1997 as a vehicle to strengthen the Black entertainment community and provide a platform for emerging artists. It has become one of the leading film festivals in the world and a place of inspiration and community for many. The destination festival, which has typically attracted 7,000 to 10,000 attendees to Miami Beach, will open its virtual doors to a global audience, offering most of its programming free of charge.

Previously announced, Iconic Grammy Award® winning and Academy Award® nominated singer, songwriter, actress, producer and philanthropist Mary J. Blige serves as this years’ ambassador.

Sponsors to date include Warner Media, HBO® (Founding), Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (Presenting Sponsors); Comcast NBCUniversal, Amazon Studios (Premier Sponsors); Motion Picture Association (MPA), Sony Pictures Entertainment, Jeff Friday Media, UMC – Urban Movie Channel, Verizon Media (Official Sponsors); Accenture (Supporting Sponsor); Blackfilm.com (Media Partner).

For more information on ABFF and up-to-date news, go to www.abff.com and follow @ABFF on Twitter and @AmericanBlackFilmFestival on Instagram and Facebook. Join in on the conversation by using #ABFF20 and #WeAreABFF.

ABOUT ABFF:
The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) is an annual event dedicated to recognizing black talent and showcasing quality film and television content by and about people of African descent. Dedicated to the belief that diverse artists deserve the same opportunities as their mainstream counterparts, ABFF founder Jeff Friday conceived the festival in 1997 as a vehicle to strengthen the black entertainment community by fostering resource sharing, education and artistic collaboration.

After 24 years, the festival has become a cornerstone of diversity in Hollywood, providing a platform for emerging black artists — many of who have become today’s most successful actors, producers, writers, directors and stand-up comedians, including Ryan Coogler (Black Panther), Will Packer (“Girls Trip”), Issa Rae (“Insecure”), Kevin Hart (“Night School”), Omari Hardwick (“Power”) and Steven Caple Jr. (“Creed II”). The ABFF is the preeminent pipeline for black artists in front of and behind the camera, and has significantly expanded the range of talent working in the entertainment Industry.

As “the nation’s largest gathering of black film and television enthusiasts” the ABFF attracts a broad audience of celebrity talent, emerging artists, upscale consumers and industry stakeholders. Approximately 7,000 to 10,000 people travel to Miami Beach each year for the five-day event. The festival opens with the premiere of an upcoming Hollywood release followed by a full schedule of intriguing independent film screenings, master classes, panels, celebrity talks, live entertainment, and a variety of networking and hospitality events.

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

PRESS CONTACT:

MPRM Communications
[email protected]
323-933-3399

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American Black Film Festival Postponed due to Coronavirus

Now Scheduled for October 21-25, 2020

LOS ANGELES, CA, (March 24, 2020) – ABFF Ventures LLC., today announced that it has postponed the 2020 American Black Film Festival (ABFF). The 24th annual event scheduled to take place June 17 – 21 in Miami Beach has been rescheduled for October 21-25, 2020.

The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) was conceived in 1997 as a vehicle to strengthen the black entertainment community and provide a platform for emerging artists. It has become one of the leading film festivals in the world and a place of inspiration and community for many.

“ABFF is a destination event that attracts participants from around the world, which is why we made the difficult but necessary decision to postpone the 24th American Black Film Festival,” said ABFF Ventures CEO, Jeff Friday. While we remain committed to providing a program for storytellers who rely on ABFF to showcase their work, at this time, our main priority is the health of our staff, attendees, and corporate partners.”

The decision was made based on guidance from the CDC, NIH, and with the support of leading sponsors, which include the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB), WarnerMedia, HBO, Comcast NBCUniversal, Motion Picture Association (MPA), Cadillac and
Sony Pictures Entertainment.

“The GMCVB is proud to have a long-standing partnership with ABFF”, said William D. Talbert, III, CDME, President and CEO of GMCVB. “We applaud the ABFF for being proactive during this global health pandemic and for their commitment of rescheduling the festival back in Miami at a later date. As a premiere global events town, Greater Miami looks forward to the opportunity to roll out the red carpet and welcome ABFF.”

Festival passes will go back on sale June 1st. For the latest updates, please check www.abff.com.

ABOUT ABFF:
The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) is an annual event dedicated to recognizing black talent and showcasing quality film and television content by and about people of African descent. Dedicated to the belief that diverse artists deserve the same opportunities as their mainstream counterparts, ABFF founder Jeff Friday conceived the festival in 1997 as a vehicle to strengthen the black entertainment community by fostering resource sharing, education and artistic collaboration.

After 24 years, the festival has become a cornerstone of diversity in Hollywood, providing a platform for emerging black artists — many of who have become today’s most successful actors, producers, writers, directors and stand-up comedians, including Ryan Coogler (Black Panther), Will Packer (“Girls Trip”), Issa Rae (“Insecure”), Kevin Hart (“Night School”), Omari Hardwick (“Power”) and Steven Caple Jr. (“Creed II”). The ABFF is the preeminent pipeline for black artists in front of and behind the camera, and has significantly expanded the range of talent working in the entertainment Industry.

As “the nation’s largest gathering of black film and television enthusiasts” the ABFF attracts a broad audience of celebrity talent, emerging artists, upscale consumers and industry stakeholders. Approximately 7,000 to 10,000 people travel to Miami Beach each year for the five-day event. The festival opens with the premiere of an upcoming Hollywood release followed by a full schedule of intriguing independent film screenings, master classes, panels, celebrity talks, live entertainment, and a variety of networking and hospitality events.

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

CONTACT:

MPRM Communications
[email protected]
323-933-3399

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Mary J. Blige to Serve as 2020 American Black Film Festival Ambassador

LOS ANGELES, CA, (March 3, 2020) – ABFF Ventures LLC., today announced iconic Grammy Award® winning and Academy Award® nominated singer, songwriter, actress, producer and philanthropist Mary J. Blige as the ambassador for the 2020 American Black Film Festival (ABFF), which will be held in Miami Beach June 17 – 21, 2020. As ambassador, Blige will help bring media awareness to the ABFF’s mission and its 24-year legacy, as well as headline a one-on-one conversation during the Center Stage Talk series on Thursday, June 18th. The discussion will spotlight Blige’s music career, her transition into film and television and her life’s journey as one of the most successful artists of all time.

“So many incredibly talented Black filmmakers have come out of the American Black Film Festival, many of whom I’ve had the pleasure to work with and many I can’t wait to collaborate with. As an actress and producer, there couldn’t be a more important event to be a part of. I am a longtime supporter and admirer of ABFF and I am honored to be an ambassador and continue to help foster new talent,” said Blige.

Mary J. Blige is a figure of inspiration, transformation and empowerment making her one of the defining voices of the contemporary music era. With a track record of eight multi-platinum albums, nine Grammy Awards (plus a staggering 32 nominations), two Academy Award nominations, two Golden Globe Award® nominations, and a Screen Actors Guild Award® nomination, among many other accolades, Blige has cemented herself as a global superstar. Blige will star in Dreamworks’ Trolls World Tour movie, which is set to release this April, as well as MGM’s Aretha Franklin biopic, Respect, which is set to release this October. She also stars as Monet in Power Book II: Ghost, a spin-off of hit STARZ show, Power, debuting this Summer. Under her production company, Blue Butterfly, she is currently in production on an untitled documentary about her life and legendary career directed by Vanessa Roth.

“Mary J. Blige is a hip hop legend whose artistry has transcended into the film and TV industries. Her body of work personifies the ABFF mission, which is to celebrate and uplift the African American community through entertainment,” said Nicole Friday, General Manager of ABFF Ventures.

Previous ambassadors include Idris Elba, Tracee Ellis Ross, Regina Hall, La La Anthony, Jay Ellis, Morris Chestnut, Omari Hardwick, Common and Taraji P. Henson.

Going into its 24th year, ABFF’s dynamic program continues to evolve. In 2020 it will expand to include the John Singleton Award for Best First Feature Film; “ABFF Fit,” the festival’s new health and wellness initiative programming; and “ABFF Pride,” this year’s social impact showcase theme centered on the Black LGBTQIA community. In addition, the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) in Washington, D.C., recently acquired ABFF photographs and other archival materials to be included in its permanent collection. With the support of the world’s leading entertainment, media and consumer product companies, the festival continues to lead the way promoting diversity in the motion picture and television industries.

ABFF remains committed to introducing emerging content creators of African descent to the industry at large and is recognized as one of the leading film festivals in the world. Festival passes are on sale now at www.abff.com, and offer three different levels of access to the Festival. Questions regarding registration, sponsorship and programming, should be directed to [email protected]. The 2020 Festival will continue the annual celebration of highlighting Black filmmakers. Attendees will enjoy celebrity conversations, panels, master classes, spotlight screenings and independent films and more. Presenting sponsors include HBO (Founding), Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, and WarnerMedia.

For more information on ABFF and up-to-date news, go to abff.com and follow @ABFF on Twitter and @AmericanBlackFilmFestival on Instagram and Facebook. Join in on the conversation by using #ABFF20 and #WeAreABFF.

ABOUT ABFF:
The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) is an annual event dedicated to recognizing black talent and showcasing quality film and television content by and about people of African descent. Dedicated to the belief that diverse artists deserve the same opportunities as their mainstream counterparts, ABFF founder Jeff Friday conceived the festival in 1997 as a vehicle to strengthen the black entertainment community by fostering resource sharing, education and artistic collaboration.

After 23 years, the festival has become a cornerstone of diversity in Hollywood, providing a platform for emerging black artists — many of who have become today’s most successful actors, producers, writers, directors and stand-up comedians, including Ryan Coogler (Black Panther), Will Packer (“Girls Trip”), Issa Rae (“Insecure”), Kevin Hart (“Night School”), Omari Hardwick (“Power”) and Steven Caple Jr. (“Creed II”). The ABFF is the preeminent pipeline for black artists in front of and behind the camera, and has significantly expanded the range of talent working in the entertainment Industry.

As “the nation’s largest gathering of black film and television enthusiasts” the ABFF attracts a broad audience of celebrity talent, emerging artists, upscale consumers and industry stakeholders. Approximately 7,000 to 10,000 people travel to Miami Beach each year for the five-day event. The festival opens with the premiere of an upcoming Hollywood release followed by a full schedule of intriguing independent film screenings, master classes, panels, celebrity talks, live entertainment, and a variety of networking and hospitality events.

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

CONTACT:

MPRM Communications
[email protected]
323-933-3399

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

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

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

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

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

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

ABFF SOCIAL MEDIA:

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

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

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

Questions? Contact [email protected]

Contact:
New York: [email protected]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The above items were donated by Nicole and Jeff Friday.

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

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

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

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

ABFF SOCIAL MEDIA:

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

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

PRESS CONTACT:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In 2020, participants will compete for the following awards:

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

Submission deadline information below:

Narrative Feature and Documentary Feature

Early Submission Deadline: December 31, 2019

Regular Submission Deadline: February 1, 2020

Web Series

Regular Submission Deadline: January 31, 2020

World Showcase and Social Impact Showcase

Regular Submission Deadline: January 24, 2020

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

ABFF SOCIAL MEDIA:

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

PRESS CONTACT:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

PRESS CONTACT:

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

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The 2019 American Black Film Festival Wraps With Diverse Slate of Winning Films Content Creators and Historic Moments

HIGHLIGHTS FROM COMPETITIVE AND SPOTLIGHT SCREENINGS, CONVERSATIONS, PANELS AND RED CARPET EVENTS FILLED THE WEEK WITH EXCITING AND INFORMATIVE PROGRAMMING

New York, NY, (June 17, 2019) – The 2019 American Black Film Festival (ABFF) wrapped another successful year of screenings, red carpet events, panels and talent pipeline competitions and welcomed thousands of film enthusiasts, talent and emerging filmmakers. The 23rd annual Festival took place June 12-16 in Miami Beach.

The Festival kicked off with the ABFF Industry Expo, sponsored by AT&T Dream In Black and the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau at the host hotel, Loews Miami Beach. Warner Bros. presented the opening night screening of SHAFT at the New World Center – Performance Hall. The star-studded cast of Samuel L. Jackson, Jessie T. Usher, Richard Roundtree, Alexandra Shipp, Lauren Velez and Method Man were all in attendance along with other celebrity guests and filmmakers. ABFF Ventures GM, Nicole Friday, welcomed guests and talent, along with this year’s celebrity ambassador, La La Anthony to the Miami Beach premiere before heading down to the Bass Contemporary Art Museum for a beautiful opening night celebration, hosted by Hilton.

The spotlight films that screened throughout the Festival included three films by Netflix: BEATS, with appearances by cast members Anthony Anderson (Black-ish), Khalil Everage and director Chris Robinson, THE BLACK GODFATHER, the documentary on the unlikely rise of Clarence Avant a music executive who influenced Quincy Jones, Muhammad Ali, Hank Aaron, President Barack Obama and more, with a talkback with director Reginald Hudlin and moderator Roland Martin and the Clips & Conversation discussion for the hit, SEE YOU YESTERDAY, which featured a conversation with Spike Lee and ABFF alum Stefon Bristol, moderated by ABFF Ventures Founder and CEO, Jeff Friday; TV One’s THE BOBBY DEBARGE STORY, starring Roshon Fegan (Greenleaf), OWN’s DAVID MAKES MAN starring Tarell Alvin McCraney (Moonlight), Phylicia Rashad (Empire), and Akil McDowell (Criminal Acitivities) and AMBITIONS with Robin Givens, Essence Atkins, Brian White; IFC’s SHERMAN’S SHOWCASE, featuring a talkback with creators and actors Diallo Riddle (Marlon) and Bashir Salahuddin (Glow); AIDS Health Foundation presented BURDEN, with talent appearances by Nathan Hale (Director) and Nic Few, moderated by Imara Canady; FX’s SNOWFALL screened at the Festival, with panelists Dave Andron (Producer), and cast members Carter Hudson, Amin Joseph, Angela Lewis, Isaiah John, and Michael Hyatt, moderated by Lola Ogunnaike; Sony’s FOR LIFE film, featured a talkback with Isaac Wright (Attorney), George Tillman (director), and Jennifer Turner (SVP, Sony Pictures Television), BET’s FIRST WIVES CLUB showed clips from their new show and discussed behind the scenes with Tracy Oliver (Executive Producer) and Nicq Hale (Producer); truTV’s LAFF MOBB’S LAFF TRACKS, courtesy of WarnerMedia, was hosted by Clayon English, with panelists Rita Brent, Brandon Glover, Joyelle Johnson and Ronnie Jordan; and the social impact showcase, FATHERHOOD: THE FOUNDATION OF THE BLACK FAMILY, was hosted by Omar Epps. Each screening was immediately followed by a Q&A session with members of the cast.

At the Loews Miami Beach Hotel, there were several company activations and talkbacks for attendees to experience: AT&T’s Dream in Black presented a captivating panel with the cast of POWER. Omari Hardwick, Larenz Tate, and the 2019 ABFF Ambassador La La Anthony were on hand to give a behind the scenes look at the hit series. TV One delivered an exciting event with their CELEBRITY SCENE STEALERS table read of Demetria Lucas’ “Don’t Waste Your Pretty,” featuring the talented Roshon Fegan (Greenleaf), Chyna Layne (She’s Gotta Have It), Malinda Williams (Chandler Christmas Getaway), and moderated by Extra’s Tanika Ray. UMC presented the I GOT THE HOOKUP 2: THE LIVEST PANEL YOU EVER ATTENDED with panelists Master P. (Writer/Producer/Cast Member), Romeo Miller (Producer/Cast Member), Cymphonique Miller (Cast Member), Fatboy SSE (Cast Member), Funny Mike (Cast Member), JuJu Casteneda (Cast Member) and Pio La Ditingancia(Cast Member), and moderated by Gia Peppers.

A big attraction for aspiring filmmakers and actors were the many Business of Entertainment panels at ABFF. The line-up included RATE MY MOVIE: A CONVERSATION WITH THE LEADERS BEHIND MPAA’s FILM RATINGSwith Marilyn Gordon (Chairman of the Advertising Administration and Vice-Chairperson of CARA), Yulia Dashevsky (Deputy Chairman of the Advertising Administration), and Kelly McMahon (Chairman of the Classification and Rating Administration (CARA), with directors and ABFF alums Qasim Basir, Storm Saulter and Deniese Davis from Issa Rae Productions/Color Creative, moderated by John Gibson, (VP, External & Multicultural Affairs at MPAA); SPOTIFY PRESENTS: BLACK HISTORY IS HAPPENING NOW: A CONVERATION WITH MARSAI MARTIN, was moderated by Essence Magazine’s Danielle Young; THE ART OF DIRECTING panel, sponsored by Capital One Spark Business, discussed deconstructed scenes from blockbuster films with directors Malcolm D. Lee (Night School), Steven Caple Jr. (Creed II), George Tillman Jr. (The Hate You Give) and Boots Riley (Sorry to Bother You), moderated by Black Film’s Wilson Morales.

Other notable business entertainment panels included the Warner Bros. SEE YOURSELF IN THE WORK WE DO panel with Nafessa Williams (Black Lightning), Kofi Siriboe (Queen Sugar), D. Harris-Lawrence (David Makes Man Showrunner), Odetta Watkins (SVP of WBTV) and Kevin E. Fortson(EVP, Production Warner Horizon Television), moderated by Essence Magazine’s Cori Murray; EQUIP YOUR PITCH, sponsored by Verizon Media, highlighted ways to develop and pitch stories for multiple platforms with Caroline Christoper, Brittany Jones-Cooper and Roger Bobb, moderated by Ramces Jean-Louis; MY JOURNEY FROM ABFF TO THE CLAWS WRITING ROOM: THE CINDERFELLA STORY OF 2017 ABFF AWARD WINNER DARRIN DORTCH, included panelists Janine Sherman Barrois(Showrunner) Eliot Laurence (Executive Producer), and Darrin Dortch,(Writer), moderated by Jennifer Williams (Director, Global Inclusion & Diversity, Turner People Development); CASTING: ILLUMINATING THE PROCESS, presented by BET, included Robi Reed (VP of Talent and Casting, BET Networks) and actors Sinqua Walls and Sarunas Jackson and moderated by Yvette Nicole Brown.

Every year, the Festival’s panels are a big hit and this year was no different: the ABOUT WOMEN panel, sponsored by Accenture and Hilton, featured an in-depth discussion with industry tastemakers Tracy Oliver (Girls Trip), La La Anthony (Power), Iyanla Vanzant (Iyanla: Fix My Life), and Connie Orlando (EVP Head of Programming, BET Networks); The HOT IN HOLLYWOODpanel, presented by American Airlines, included the very talented Damson Idris (Snowfall), Damarsis Lewis (BlacKkKlansman), Lil Rel (Uncle Drew) and Marsai Martin (Little). Cadillac sponsored the KEEP RISING KEYNOTE CONVERSATION, an up close and personal discussion with Sanaa Lathan on her road to success, which was moderated by her long time friend and collaborator, director Malcolm D. Lee; NBCUniveral presented THE COME UP: A CONVERSATION WITH THE STARS OF NBC panel featured discussions with stars from various NBC hit series stars including Yaya Decosta (Chicago Med), Ego Nwodim (SNL), Niles Fitch (This is Us) Jocko Sims (New Amsterdam) and LaRoyce Hawkins (Chicago P.D.), THE STORY BEHIND THE MUSIC WITH SONGLANDS ESTER DEAN panel included an intimate conversation with Ester Dean (Pitch Perfect, NBC’s Songland) and Chrissie Fit (Pitch Perfect 2 & 3), as well as the BRAVO MEDIA PRESENTS: FAMILIES & BLACK LOVE panel included a conversation on love, family, and relationships with reality stars Porsha Williams (Real Housewives of Atlanta), Karen Huger (The Real Housewives of Potomac), and Dr. Jacqueline Waters(Married to Medicine) and his informative panel was moderated by Cori Murray, Entertainment Director for Essence Magazine; Sony Pictures Entertainment sponsored the BEYOND THE SPIDER-VERSE: WHAT’S NEXT FOR SONY PICTURES ANIMATION panel and presented a look at what made the Academy Award-winning Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse a global hit. Panelists included Academy award-winner Peter Ramsey (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse), Matthew A. Cherry (Hair Love) and moderated by Karen Toliver (Senior Vice President of Creative for Sony Pictures Animation).

Additional ABFF Talks for film and music enthusiasts included the ABFF SOUND LAB: MUSIC + FILM, a discussion about music, film, and the leverage and opportunities artists have when crossing over into film and television, with Bryan Smiley (Sony), Cassandra Butcher (Bron Studios), Leah Daniels Butler (Casting Director), Cameron Mitchell, Max Gousse (CEO, Artistry Music Group, WMG), and moderated by Shawn Finnie (Associate Director of Membership Relations and Outreach, Academy of Motion Pictures). This panel was sponsored by Crown Royal, programmed in association with Artistry-Curated by Media; The Facebook-sponsored BLACK MAGIC AND THE POWER OF DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKING panel was comprised of panelists Jacqueline Olive (Always in Season) and Michelle Materre (Black Women in Medicine), moderated by Terri Prettyman Bowles and Michelle

The Master Class Series, presented by Prudential Financial, provided opportunities for attendees to acquire knowledge on several facets of business entertainment, including MAKING THE DEAL- KNOWING WHAT MATTERS, a class conducted by entertainment lawyers Lisa Davis, Marcie Cleary, and Sean Jefferson from Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz; PRODUCING FILM AND TELEVISION with Datari Turner, Producer (Shut Up and Dribble; A Boy. A Girl. A Dream) was an informative session for attendees; the WRITING FOR TELEVISION class was led by Karen Horne (SVP of Programming, Talent Development & Inclusion for NBC Entertainment and Universal Television Studios) with guest Kay Oyegun (This Is Us).

Founding and Presenting Sponsor HBO presented interactive events including “ASK HBO” SESSIONS with panelists Kalia Booker (Director, Drama, Programming), Robert Patla (Manager Talent Development), Gena Desclos(Post-production), Natasha Foster-Owens (VP, Production), Jackie Glover(SVP, HBO Docs), Kelly Edwards (SVP, Talent Development) and Amy Hodge(VP, Comedy Programming); TRUE JUSTICE: A CONVERSATION WITH BRYAN STEVENSON was an exclusive conversation with Alabama public interest attorney, founder and executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative; and the HBO POV: CREATORS MIXER, an interactive session hosted by creators behind some of HBO’s biggest titles where attendees networked and mingled with other creators.

Networking opportunities for attendees and filmmakers included the ABFF PASSHOLDER LOUNGE, sponsored by American Airlines featured happy hour cocktails by Crown Royal, COCKTAILS, CONVERSATIONS & FINANCIAL FACTS, hosted by Prudential Financial with panelists Victoria Rowell (The Young & the Restless) and Affion Crockett (Undercover Brother 2).

To tickle your funny, the ABFF COMEDY WINGS COMPETITION, presented by HBO, is always a hit. Hosted by Deon Cole, five aspiring comedians fought for the title of ‘winner’ in front of a sold-out audience and Baltimore native Ty Davis took home the top prize.

The ABFF INDUSTRY EXPO was a heavily anticipated event. The expo included exhibits hosted by the Greater Miami Convention & Visitor’s Bureau, AT&T Dream in Black, Warner Bros., HBO, The DC Office of Cable Television, Film, Music & Entertainement (OCTFME), Comcast NBCUniversal, Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Film and Entertainment, Fulton Films, Arrington & Phillips, LLP and Creative Artists Agency (CAA).

After days of screenings, events, panels and conversations, ABFF knows how to keep the party going, including the LEGENDARY WHITE PARTY at Nikki Beach, with music by DJ D-Nice, the “29 Below” Mixer, presented by AT&T Dream in Black and the “BEST OF ABFF” closing night party at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel, with music by DJ M.O.S. and DJ Kiss.

ABFF continues to support and provide programming for the community, with its ‘Coffee Talks’ and annual Community Day Showcase. Capital One Spark Business presented a Coffee Talk Series with intimate conversations with celebrities discussing hot topics in Hollywood, moderated by The Grio’s Cortney Wills. Guests included Jacob Latimore, LisaRaye McCoy, and Disney and Pixar animators Aphton Corbin and Michael Yates from TOY STORY 4. ABFF COMMUNITY DAY, sponsored by the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) and held at The Black Archives Historic Lyric Theater. The day was filled with entertainment curated for family audiences and the program included a conversation with director and ABFF alum Steven Caple Jr. (Creed II), and a screening of short films created by Miami-based student filmmakers and films selected from the Festival’s Social Impact Showcase.

All films in competition, screened their films to an eager audience at the Regal Cinemas South Beach 18 & IMAX, with Q&A’s immediately following with the producers, director and cast.

ABFF always recognizes the accomplishments of the next generation of filmmakers at their annual awards presentation. Actress Erica Ash (Uncle Drew) hosted the “Best of ABFF” Awards at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel, with a musical performance by Jacob Latimore (The Chi). In memory of John Singleton, founding member of the ABFF Advisory Board and friend, the Festival created “The John Singleton Best First Feature” Award to be presented to an aspiring filmmaker, beginning at next year’s Festival, and was announced by his daughter Justice Singleton. A screening of Boyz n The Hood screened on Saturday evening to close out the Festival screening schedule. To cap off the Festival week, for the first time ever, a woman, Numa Perrier, won the Jury Award for Best Director, presented by Cadillac, for her film, Jezebel. ABFF history was made!

The 2020 American Black Film Festival will be held in Miami Beach from June 17-21, 2020.

Here is the full list of the 2019 American Black Film Festival Winners:

2019 ABFF WINNER’S LIST

Audience Award – Best Narrative Feature (presented by BET Networks: Prize: $10,000)
All In directed by Ibrahim Yilla

Jury Award – Best Narrative Feature (presented by Prudential Financial; Prize: $5,000)
Jezebel directed by Numa Perrier

Jury Award – Best Web Series (presented by Verizon Media; Prize: $2,500)
Little Apple directed by Riley S. Wilson

ABFF HBO Short Film (Prize: $10,000 for winner; $5,000 for finalists)
CAP written and directed by Marshall Tyler

Jury Award – Best Screenplay (presented by ABFF; Prize: $2,500)
Strive written by Piper Dellums and Sha-Risse Smith

Jury Award – Best Documentary (presented by ABFF; Prize $2,500)
One Child Left Behind by Jodi Gomes

Jury Award – Best Performance by a Lead Actor (presented by AT&T Dream in Black; Prize: $2,500)
Essence Atkins in Same Difference

Jury Award – Best Director (presented by Cadillac; Prize: $5,000)
Numa Perrier, Jezebel

Star Project
Alexis Damita

Comedy Wings (Presented by HBO)
Ty Davis

NBC Hosting Workshop Top Performers
Jazmin Bailey, Dennis Pastrorizo, Jasmine Styles, Krystal Vega

WarnerMedia truTV/Comedy
Kim and Domonic Smith-Weston

WarnerMedia Writing Contest TNT/Drama
Darnell Brown

WarnerMedia Writing Contest TBS/Comedy
Claytia Gonsalves

The Sponsors for the 2019 American Black Film Festival are: HBO® (Founding & Presenting); BET, Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, Cadillac, Comcast NBCUniversal (Presenting Sponsors); AT&T Dream in Black, Capital One Spark Business, Hilton, Prudential Financial, WarnerMedia (Premier Sponsors); AMC, American Airlines, Crown Royal, Motion Picture Association of American (MPAA), Netflix, Sony Pictures, TV One (Official Sponsors); Accenture, AspireTV, Facebook, FX, Gentleman Jack, Miami Beach Visitors & Convention Authority, OWN, Spotify, truTV, UMC, Verizon Media, Warner Bros. (Supporting Sponsors); ABC, BLACC and initiative of AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Film & Entertainment, Arrington & Phillip’s LLP – Attorneys at Law, Creative Artists Agency (CAA), DC Office of Cable Television, Film, Music & Entertainment, Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz PC, IFC, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Morris Yorn Barnes Levine Krintzman Rubenstein Kohner & Gellman Law Firm, SAGindie, Walter Kaitz Foundation, Walt Disney (Industry Partners); Black Enterprise, Blackfilm.com, Essence, theGrio.com, and Invest Atlanta (Media Partners).

ABFF Social Media Platforms:

ABOUT ABFF:
The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) is an annual event dedicated to empowering black artists and showcasing quality film and television content by and about people of African descent. Committed to the belief that diverse artists deserve the same opportunities as their mainstream counterparts, ABFF founder Jeff Friday conceived the festival in 1997 as a vehicle to strengthen the black filmmaking community by encouraging resource sharing, education and artistic collaboration. He ultimately envisioned it as a cornerstone of diversity in Hollywood. ABFF is the pre-eminent pipeline for black artists in front of and behind the camera and has significantly expanded the range of talent working in entertainment. For more than two decades the festival has been a platform for emerging black artists — premiering the early work and showcasing the talent of many of today’s most successful actors, producers, writers, directors and stand-up comedians. As “the nation’s largest gathering of black film and television enthusiasts” the festival attracts a broad audience of A-list talent, emerging artists, upscale consumers and industry stakeholders. Approximately 7,000 to 10,000 people travel to Miami Beach each year for the event. The five-day festival opens with the premiere of an upcoming Hollywood release followed by independent film screenings, master classes, panels, celebrity talks, live entertainment, and a variety of networking and hospitality events.

PRESS CONTACT:

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

,

The 2019 “Best Of ABFF” Awards Nominess Announced For The 23rd American Black Film Festival

BET, Cadillac, Prudential and AT&T will be presenting sponsors for select awards at the festival which takes place June 12 – 16 in Miami Beach

Los Angeles, CA, (June, 2019) – The 23rd Annual American Black Film Festival (ABFF) will celebrate the winners in the competitive films categories and talent pipeline programs categories for their outstanding achievement in cinema, during the “Best of ABFF” Awards Presentation. The closing ceremony is presented by AT&T|Dream in Black, on the evening of Saturday, June 15th at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel.

The “Best of ABFF” Awards focuses on identifying distinguished projects in the following categories: Audience Award – Best Narrative (presented by BET Networks), Jury Award -Best Narrative Feature (presented by Prudential Financial), Jury Award – Best Director (presented by Cadillac), Jury Award – Best Lead Talent (presented by AT&T|Dream in Black) and Jury Award – Best Screenplay, Best Documentary and Best Web Series. Additionally, the ceremony will also celebrate winners of the following Talent Pipeline programs: ABFF Star Project, NBC Hosting Workshop, Best of ABFF truTV Comedy Competition, Best of ABFF Turner TV Writing Contest, Best Web-Series, Best Documentary Feature film, and the HBO Short Film Competition.

The event will be hosted by actress Erica Ash (Uncle Drew, Survivor’s Remorse) and feature a musical performance by singer and actor Jacob Latimore (The Chi).

The complete list of nominees for the “Best of ABFF” Awards at the 23rd Annual American Black Film Festival are:

Audience Award – Best Narrative Feature (presented by BET Networks)
#Truth
All In
His, Hers & The Truth
If Not Now, When?
Jezebel
Justine
Love Dot Com – The Social Experiment
Perfectly Single
Princess of the Row
Same Difference
Strive
Una Great Movie

Jury Award – Best Narrative Feature (presented by Prudential Financial)
If Not Now, When?
Jezebel

Justine
Same Difference
Princess of the Row

Jury Award – Best Director (presented by Cadillac)
Ibrahim Yilla, All In
Max Carlson, Princess of the Row
Derege Harding Same Difference
Numa Perrier, Jezebel
Tamara Bass & Meagan Good, If Not Now, When?

Jury Award – Best Screenplay (presented by ABFF)
If Not Now, When?, Tamara Bass
Jezebel, Numa Perrier
Justine, Stephanie Turner
Princess of the Row, A. Shawn Austin and Max Carlson
Strive, Piper Dellums and Sha-Risse Smith

Jury Award – Best Performance By a Lead Actor (presented by AT&T|Dream in Black)
Essence Atkins, Same Difference
Tayler Buck, Princess of the Row
Meagan Good, If Not Now, When?
Niatia “Lil Mama” Kirkland, All In
Dorian Missick, #Truth
Tiffany Tenille, Jezebel

Jury Award – Best Web Series (presented by Verizon Media)
Black Girls Guide to Fertility
King Ester
Little Apple
Otis
Platonic
Tales from the Big Apple

Jury Award – Best Documentary (presented by ABFF)
Buckjumping
Chicago at the Crossroad
One Child Left Behind: The Untold Atlanta Cheating Scandal
The Takeover
Vision Portraits

For a full listing of panels and screenings coming to the 2019 American Black Film Festival, please continue to go to the website and also download the American Black Film Festival app TODAY on Apple and Google Play for festival updates.

ABFF remains committed to introducing emerging content creators of African descent to the industry at large and is recognized as one of the leading film festivals in the world. Passes and tickets for screenings and events are on sale at www.abff.com All questions regarding registration may be directed to [email protected].

The Sponsors for the 2019 American Black Film Festival are: HBO® (Founding & Presenting); BET, Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, Cadillac, Comcast NBCUniversal (Presenting Sponsors); Dream in Black | AT&T, Capital One Spark Business, Hilton, Prudential Financial, WarnerMedia (Premier Sponsors); AMC, American Airlines, Crown Royal, Motion Picture Association of American (MPAA), Netflix, Sony, TV One (Official Sponsors); Accenture, AspireTV, Facebook, FX, Gentleman Jack, Miami Beach Vistors & Convention Authority, OWN, Spotify, truTV, UMC, Verizon Media, Warner Bros. (Supporting Sponsors); ABC, BLACC and Intiative of AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Film & Entertainment, Arrington & Phillip’s – Attorney at Law, Creative Artists Agency (CAA), DC Office of Cable Television, Film, Music & Entertainment, Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz PC, IFC, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Morris Yorn Barnes Levine Krintzman Rubenstein Kohner & Gellman Law Firm, SAGindie, Walter Kaitz Foundation, Walt Disney (Industry Partners); Black Enterprise, Blackfilm.com, Essence Magazine, theGrio.com and Invest Atlanta (Media Partners).

ABFF Social Media Platforms:

ABOUT ABFF:
The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) is an annual event dedicated to empowering black artists and showcasing quality film and television content by and about people of African descent. Committed to the belief that diverse artists deserve the same opportunities as their mainstream counterparts, ABFF founder Jeff Friday conceived the festival in 1997 as a vehicle to strengthen the black filmmaking community by encouraging resource sharing, education and artistic collaboration. He ultimately envisioned it as a cornerstone of diversity in Hollywood. ABFF is the pre-eminent pipeline for black artists in front of and behind the camera, and ABFF has significantly expanded the range of talent working in entertainment. For more than two decades the festival has been a platform for emerging black artists — premiering the early work and showcasing the talent of many of today’s most successful actors, producers, writers, directors and stand-up comedians. As “the nation’s largest gathering of black film and television enthusiasts” the festival attracts a broad audience of A-list talent, emerging artists, upscale consumers and industry stakeholders. Approximately 7,000 to 10,000 people travel to Miami Beach each year for the event. The five-day festival opens with the premiere of an upcoming Hollywood release followed by independent film screenings, master classes, panels, celebrity talks, live entertainment, and a variety of networking and hospitality events.

PRESS CONTACT:

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

,

The Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) and The American Black Film Festival Partner for Annual Community Day Showcase on Sunday, June 16

Festival Presents Capital One Spark Business “Coffee Talks” As Free Community Event

Festival takes place June 12-16 in Miami Beach

Los Angeles, CA, (June 6, 2019) – The 23rd annual American Black Film Festival (ABFF), in partnership with the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau (GMCVB), will close out its Festival with the annual Community Day Showcase on Sunday, June 16, 2019 at the Black Archives Historic Lyric Theatre, located in Overtown. The day includes a screening of films selected from the Festival’s Social Impact Showcase, a conversation with Steven Caple, Jr., and a collection of short films created by Miami based student filmmakers.

The ABFF Community Day has been an essential component of the Festival, as it provides the local South Florida community access to some of the talent and films that screened throughout the week. The day will include the following short film compilation from the Festival’s Social Impact Showcase. This year’s slate focuses on the narrative of Black Fathers and highlights the importance of their presence and contribution to the Black Family. Screenings will be followed by a Q& A with the film directors, moderated by Vanessa James and the lineup includes Amelia’s Closet, Training Wheels and Worlds from Home. An intimate conversation with filmmaker Steven Caple, Jr., the director of Creed II, will be moderated by Russell Motely, Editor-in-Chief of MIA and Legacy Magazine.

This event also provides a platform for local and student filmmakers from the Florida Filmhouse’s 1st Take Youth Film Program to showcase their films for the community. This quarterly film camp is dedicated to teaching the underprivileged youth a career and life skills through hands-on coaching from Florida Film House. The program has become an outlet for at-risk youth to express their creativity, tell the stories of their community, flip the narrative, stay off the streets, as well as gain perspective to dream beyond the limited opportunities provided to them. Student films screening this year will be Battle of Love, Intimacy (into-me-see), The Silence of Being Bullied, and Crimes & Charges.

“We are happy to partner again with the Greater Miami Convention & Visitor Bureau team to expand the American Black Film Festival’s program into the Miami community. We hope the event will entertain and inspire people, particularly the young, who have ambitions of working in film & television,” says Jeff Friday, Founder & CEO of ABFF Ventures.

“The ABFF/GMCVB Community Day event is the grand finale to the Festival’s stellar line-up of screenings and workshops and provides an extraordinary opportunity for visitors and residents of the South Florida community to celebrate black film and entertainment. “We are delighted to be a partner of this event and it is a perfect and unique Father’s Day outing for the family as well,” says William D. Talbert, III CDME, President & CEO of the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB).

“It is important that we highlight and promote all of Miami to our visitors and Festival attendees. We are excited about the annual celebration and looking forward to the film screenings scheduled at the Lyric Theater located in historic Overtown. We commend Nicole and Jeff Friday, along with the leadership team of ABFF, for their commitment to diversity by extending the Festival, as well as bringing films, celebrity buzz and additional local business engagement opportunities into our Heritage communities,” states Connie Kinnard, Vice President, Multicultural Tourism & Development of the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB).

In addition to Community Day, Capital One Spark Business will host “Coffee Talks,” a special and up-close conversation with celebrities and industry experts who will discuss hot topics in Hollywood and how to pursue careers in the music, film and television. The talks are moderated by The Grio’s, Cortney Wills. The Capital One Café will be open to the public June 13-15 from 10am – 1pm and from 3pm – 6pm. The “Coffee Talks” schedule is as follows:

  • Thursday, June 13: 1pm – 2pm with actress LisaRaye McCoy
  • Friday, June 14: 1pm – 2pm with singer and actor Jacob Latimore
  • Saturday, June 15: 1pm – 2pm with Disney’s Pixar Animation Studios artists Michael Yates and Aphton Corbin

For a full listing of panels and screenings coming to the 2019 American Black Film Festival, please continue to go to the website and also download the American Black Film Festival app TODAY on Apple and Google Play for Festival updates.

ABFF remains committed to introducing emerging content creators of African descent to the industry at large and is recognized as one of the leading film festivals in the world. Passes and tickets are available at www.abff.com and provide access to film screenings and events. Questions regarding registration may be directed to [email protected].

The Sponsors for the 2019 American Black Film Festival are: HBO® (Founding & Presenting); BET, Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, Cadillac, Comcast NBCUniversal (Presenting Sponsors); Dream in Black | AT&T, Capital One Spark Business, Hilton, Prudential Financial, WarnerMedia (Premier Sponsors); AMC, American Airlines, Crown Royal, Motion Picture Association of American (MPAA), Netflix, Sony, TV One (Official Sponsors); Accenture, AspireTV, Facebook, FX, Gentleman Jack, Miami Beach Visitors & Convention Authority, OWN, Spotify, truTV, UMC, Verizon Media, Warner Bros. (Supporting Sponsors); ABC, BLACC and initiative of AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Film & Entertainment, Arrington & Phillip’s LLP – Attorneys at Law, Creative Artists Agency (CAA), DC Office of Cable Television, Film, Music & Entertainment, Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz PC, IFC, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Morris Yorn Barnes Levine Krintzman Rubenstein Kohner & Gellman Law Firm, SAGindie, Walter Kaitz Foundation, Walt Disney (Industry Partners); Black Enterprise, Blackfilm.com, Essence, theGrio.com, and Invest Atlanta (Media Partners).

ABFF Social Media Platforms:

ABOUT ABFF:
The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) is an annual event dedicated to empowering black artists and showcasing quality film and television content by and about people of African descent. Committed to the belief that diverse artists deserve the same opportunities as their mainstream counterparts, ABFF founder Jeff Friday conceived the festival in 1997 as a vehicle to strengthen the black filmmaking community by encouraging resource sharing, education and artistic collaboration. He ultimately envisioned it as a cornerstone of diversity in Hollywood. ABFF is the pre-eminent pipeline for black artists in front of and behind the camera and has significantly expanded the range of talent working in entertainment. For more than two decades the festival has been a platform for emerging black artists — premiering the early work and showcasing the talent of many of today’s most successful actors, producers, writers, directors and stand-up comedians. As “the nation’s largest gathering of black film and television enthusiasts” the festival attracts a broad audience of A-list talent, emerging artists, upscale consumers and industry stakeholders. Approximately 7,000 to 10,000 people travel to Miami Beach each year for the event. The five-day festival opens with the premiere of an upcoming Hollywood release followed by independent film screenings, master classes, panels, celebrity talks, live entertainment, and a variety of networking and hospitality events.

ABOUT THE GREATER MIAMI CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU (GMCVB):
The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) is an accredited not-for-profit sales and marketing organization whose mission is to attract visitors to Greater Miami and the Beaches for leisure, business, and conventions. For a vacation guide, visit our website at www.MiamiandBeaches.com or call 1.888.76. Miami (US/Canada only) or 305.447.7777. To reach the GMCVB offices dial 305.539.3000. Meeting planners may call 1.800.933.8448 (US/Canada only) or 305.539.3071 or visit www.MiamiMeetings.com. 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 & Pinterest.com/miamiandbeaches.

PRESS CONTACT:

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

Yvette Harris
Harris Public Relations
[email protected]
786-897-8854